APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FASTENING THE LEADING END OF A YARN OR WIRE TO BE REELED

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a yarn or wire clamping and cutting device (31, 32) which in timed relation is auto­ matically transferred from a rest position at the side of the filled reel (R) fitted on the yarn or wire winding ma­ chine, to a position in which this device is in line with the intermediate portion of the reel core and with the yarn or wire guide (G) stopped in the position for fastening the tail end of the reeled yarn or wire. Once the yarn or the wire has been clamped and cut, and the filled reel has been changed with an empty reel, the clamping and cutting device is caused to rotate synchronously with this latter reel, and the yarn or wire guide (G) is caused to perform at least one stroke away from, and near to the said device, so that at least two yarn or wire layers will be wound on the reel core, and the yarn or wire will be thus mechanically fasten­ ed to the said core, whereupon the said device (31, 32) is opened and returned into its rest position.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically fastening the leading end of a yarn or wire to be reeled, directly to the core of a reel which is rotationally driven around its axis, said apparatus being of the kind described in the preamble of claim 1. A known apparatus of this kind is described in the EP-A-0 115 026. This apparatus provides for the automatic, inline string-up of a rapidly advancing filament, particularly a glassy alloy strip, from a high speed continuous casting operation onto a rotating winding wheel. The apparatus comprises a take-up head for capturing the leading segment of the advancing filament. The take-up head is provided with two counter-rotating and interfering brush rollers which grasp the filament. The take-up head is mounted on a carrier arm pivotable about the rotational axis of the winding wheel by means of an actuator mechanism for moving the take-up head from a position interfering with the filament into an angular displaced position. In order to fasten the filament to the core of the winding wheel, the take-up head is brought in the position interfering with the filament and after having captured the leading head of the filament is moved around the winding wheel with an angular displacement of less than one revolution, thus causing a segment of the filament to contact with the winding surface of the winding wheel core. A cut and grip device mounted on the winding wheel itself then cuts the filament at the winding surface and secures the filament to the winding wheel core. Thereafter the inline winding of the filament proceeds. The invention aims to provide an apparatus of the initially described kind which is adapted for automatically fastening the leading end of yarn or wire in the course of being reeled, directly to the core of conventional reel and without the aid of any adhesive tape or any like additional fastening means. The invention solves the above mentioned problem with an apparatus of the kind according to the preamble of claim 1, further showing the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. The operation of the apparatus according to the invention is such that it will produce at least two superposed layers of yarn or wire wound on the reel core, whereby the yarn or wire is mechanically self-fastened to the core. The leading end of the yarn or wire which is left loose by the clamping device will be gradually incorporated into the reel winding and therefore will not cause any problem to arise due to its interference with parts of a machine using the yarn or wire, which is, for example, required with the steel wires for the manifacturing of tyre carcasses. The features of the apparatus according to the invention, and the advantages arising therefrom will clearly appear from the following specification of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is shown merely by way of a non limiting example in the figures of the annexed sheet of drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view with parts in section, showing the apparatus in an intermediate operative condition. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II in Figure 1, showing some constructional details of the said apparatus. Figure 3 is a side view with parts in section, showing further details which do not appear in the view according to Figure 1. Figure 4 is a diagrammtic, side elevational view showing different, significant angular positions that the clamping and cutting device in the apparatus according to the invention, is caused to assume. In Figure 1, numeral 1 denotes the center counterhead of a yarn or wire winding machine, which is rotatably fitted onto one end of a stem 2 being axially guided in cylinder 3 and being prevented from rotating in said cylinder by a key 4 and a groove 5, the said stem being provided upstream and downstream of said groove with pistons 6, 7 which are operated in a tightly sealed relation with the inner lateral surface of cylinder 3, having the ends closed by a disc 8 and a flange 9 which are provided with respective seals, the whole arrangement being such that two pressure chambers 10, 11 are formed at the interior of said cylinder, which can be alternately connected through suitable ducts and circuits to a pressurized air delivery source, or to a discharge, in order to promote the forward and rearward movement of the center counterhead, as required for its cooperation with the reel R on which the yarn or wire is being wound. Numeral 12 denotes the frame supporting in a cantilevered manner the cylinder 3, and numerals 13 and 14 denote the ducts formed in the cylinder itself and in disc 8, for connection of chambers 10 and 11 with the circuit for axially driving the stem 2. On that section of cylinder 3 which overhangingly extends from the supporting frame 12, a collar 17 is rotatably but not axially movably fitted at a short distance therefrom. Numeral 18 denotes the bearings which allow the relative rotation of members 3 and 17. The collar 17 has at least one integral radial ear 19 with a conical seat 20, which is normally engaged by a spigot 21 driven by a cylinder-and-piston unit 22 which is carried by the frame 12. At least two guide rods 23, 123 arranged parallel to stem 2, are overhangingly secured by one end to collar 17, and lie, when the apparatus is at rest, in a horizontal ideal plane containing the axis of said stem. The rod 23 is not shown in Figure 1 in its real angular position. Slidably mounted on rods 23, 123 is an annular member 24 (see Figures 1, 2, and 3), and a ring 27 is provided in front of said member, and is situated at the interior of the space occupied by the said rods 23, 123, the said ring being connected to the member 24 by supports 28, 29. The support 28 extends radially, away from the annular member 24-ring 27 assembly, in form of a suitably sized arm, which carries in its upper portion a fluid-pressure operated, double acting cylinder-and-piston unit 30 with its axis being arranged parallel to the axis of the center counterhead 1. Secured to the stem of unit 30 is a conical jaw 31 which is caused to act against a complemental conical jaw 32, that is secured to the body of unit 30. The device formed by the jaws 31, 32, incorporates a cutter of the type being commonly used in an apparatus for automatically changing the reel in a yarn or wire winding machine, and such a cutter is not shown in the drawings, since it is conceivable and easily practicable by those skilled in the art reading what is disclosed hereinafter. In Figure 1, the clamping and cutting device 31, 32 is shown in opened condition, as well as in its active position. In this Figure, it appears that the distance between the unit 30 and the axis of the yarn or wire winding machine is such as to avoid that the said unit may interfere with the flanges of the greater diameter reel R which is usable in the yarn or wire winding machine. When the apparatus according to the invention is at rest, the annular member 24-ring 27 assembly is set in its retracted position shown by dash-and-dot lines in Figure 1, and the device 31, 32 is correspondingly moved to the left-hand side of Figure 1, so that it is off the stroke of the winding machine yarn or wire guide G. The assembly 24, 27 is axially moved by at least one cylinder-and-piston unit 25 arranged parallel to the axis of cylinder 3 (see Figures 2 and 3), and having its stem secured to an ear 127 of ring 27, and its body secured to an ear 117 of collar 17. When the said apparatus is set in its operative position shown by solid lines in Figure 1, a friction means 16 of rubber, for example, which through an adjustment means 33 is made integral with the front side of ring 27, is caused to cooperate by its forepart with a disc 15 which is coaxially integral with the center counterhead 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, ducts 34 are longitudinally formed in cylinder 3 and open into a matching number of respective annular recesses 35 being coaxially formed in the inner lateral surface of collar 17, and being isolated the one from the other by annular seals 36. Through ducts 37 (Figure 1) and ducts 38 (Figure 3) which are radially formed in said collar 17, the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the cylinder-and-piston units 25 and 30 are connected to the said annular recesses, so that the said units can be controlled by acting upon the stationary ducts 34. The operation of the apparatus according to the invention, is as follows. Referring also to Figure 4, there is shown that when the apparatus is at rest, the clamping and cutting device 31, 32 is retracted, is opened, and is set in the angular position designated by K1. As soon as the reel has been filled, the yarn or wire winding machine is stopped, with the yarn or wire guide G at standstill in the position shown in Figure 1 by arrow Z1. The tail end of the reeled yarn or wire is fastened to the reel winding by a known automatic method. Accordingly, it is provided for the reel to be slowly rotated, and at the same time for a self-adhesive tape to be applied to the tail end of the yarn or wire and to the reel winding. Once the yarn or wire has been thus fastened, the yarn or wire winding machine is again stopped. At this stage, the actuation is commanded of the cylinder-and-piston unit 25, and the device 31, 32 is moved into the position shown by solid lines in Figure 1, in line with the pulley of the yarn or wire guide G, at standstill at Z1. With the device 31, 32 being set in such a position, the friction means 16 abut against the disc 15, and the device 31, 32 is connected for rotation with the center counterhead 1. In phase succession, the retraction of spigot 21 is commanded, and the yarn or wire winding machine is started at a low speed, so as to have the reel rotating in clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4, and the device 31, 32 moved into its upper angular position designated by K2, in which it clamps the length of yarn or wire F extending from the yarn or wire guide G, and fixed to the reel. With the said device 31, 32 being set in its upper angular position K2, the yarn or wire winding machine and the yarn or wire fastening apparatus are automatically stopped. For such a stopping, a sensor 39 secured to frame 12 (Figure 1) is, for example, provided for detecting the angular position of a reference means 40 fixed to collar 17. In phase succession, the actuation is commanded of the cylinder-and-piston unit 30, for closing the clamping and cutting device 31, 32. The yarn or wire extending from the yarn or wire guide G, is being kept clamped in the device 31, 32, and the yarn or wire length extending from this device to the reel, is cut. At this stage, it is provided for the filled reel with the reel winding bound by a self-adhesive tape, to be discharged from the yarn or wire winding machine, while the center counterhead 1 is retracted simultaneously with the device 31, 32. Special means, not shown, since the same are known, prevent the yarn or wire from running over the pulley of the yarn or wire guide G. Once the filled reel has been changed with an empty reel engaged between the center counterhead and the mandrel of the yarn or wire winding machine, the device 31, 32 is returned, along with the yarn or wire leading end, into its angular position in which it is vertically in line with the yarn or wire guide G at standstill at Z1, and is again connected for rotation with the center counterhead. The yarn or wire winding machine is then re-started at a low number of revolutions, and the pulley of the yarn or wire guide G is moved toward the right-hand flange of the reel, to the position shown in Figure 1 by arrow Z2, whereupon the same is moved in the reverse direction. The yarn or wire being held by the clamping and cutting device 31, 32, which is rotated together with the reel, is handled by the yarn or wire guide G, and is wound on the reel core. When the yarn or wire guide G has performed its backward stroke and has arrived at a position shown by arrow Z3 in Figure 1, and which is, for example, defined by a sensor, the yarn or wire guide G is automatically stopped. In such a condition of the yarn or wire guide G, on the first layer of yarn or wire wound on the reel core, a second layer has been formed, which firmly fastens the yarn or wire to the reel core. The yarn or wire winding machine is kept rotating until a reference means 41 on collar 17 will abut against a sensor 42 fixed on frame 12, whereupon the yarn or wire winding machine is automatically stopped. With the yarn or wire winding machine being in stopped condition, the device 31, 32 is again in its angular position shown by K1 in Figure 4, and the collar 17 is again in the condition shown in Figure 1, with the seat 20 being aligned with the spigot 21, which automatically engages the said seat. In an automatic phase succession, the device 31, 32 is opened, and the cylinder-and-piston unit 25 is actuated and retracted (Figure 3), for the said device to be returned into its rest position. The yarn or wire winding machine is nextly re-actuated, and the yarn or wire guide G is caused to run through the entire length of its normal traverse, which is apt to wind the yarn or wire on the whole extent of the reel core. The yarn or wire length that was kept clamped by the device 31, 32 and reached to the reel core, now is gradually incorporated into the reel winding. The friction coupling 15, 16, may be replaced with a front claw coupling. Further changes may concern the pneumatic distributor incorporated in collar 17, which rather than being of the type with lateral seals, may be of the type with front seals. Further changes may concern the clamping and cutting device, which may be only imparted a shifting movement parallel to the axis of the center counterhead, and may be permanently keyed thereto.

Claims: An apparatus for automatically fastening the leading end of a yarn or wire to be reeled directly to the core of a reel (R) which is fitted in a rotatably driven way about its axis on a yarn or wire winding machine and being said apparatus provided with a) a clamping device (31, 32) of the leading end of the yarn or wire (F) which is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the reel (R) on a path extending radially outside the reel (R) and which is movable in a position (K2) in which it interferes with the yarn or wire (F) (interfering position) and clamps or is ready to clamp the yarn or wire (F), b) actuator means for rotating the clamping device (31, 32) in order to wind the yarn or wire (F) at least partially on the core of the reel (R), c) driving means movable coaxially to the reel (R) (23, 123, 24, 27, 28) for alternatively moving said clamping device (31, 32) from the interfering position (K2), in which it is ready for clamping or clamps the yarn or wire (F), into a rest position (K1) at the side of one headside of the reel (R), and viceversa, characterized in that said clamping device (31, 32) is longitudinally slidable parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel (R) and the apparatus further comprises : d) removable rotational coupling means (15, 16, 27, 33) of the clamping device (31, 32) with the reel (R), which are engageable in the said interfering, clamping or ready to clamp position (K2); e) cutting means arranged onto the clamping device (31, 32) for cutting the trailing end of the reeled yarn or wire (F) forming a fresh leading end of the yarn or wire (F) being held by the clamping device (31, 32) and which has to be fastened to the core of an empty reel (R); f) a yarn or wire guide (G) which is alternatively movable in both directions along the entire axial extent of a reel (R) during its rotation; g) control means of the rotation of the reel (R) and control means (25, 30, 34, 37 38; 39, 40; 41, 42) of said clamping device (31, 32), of the cutting means, of the driving means (23, 123, 24, 27, 28) and of the removable coupling means (15, 16, 27, 33), for mantaining said clamping device (31, 32) in the clamping condition of the leading end of the yarn or wire (F) and said removable coupling means (15, 16, 27, 33) of the clamping device (31, 32) with the reel (R) in their engaged condition at least during two successive alternative strokes of the yarn or wire guide (G) one stroke of them away from and the other one nextly near to said clamping device (31, 32). The apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising: a yarn or wire clamping and cutting device (31, 32); a collar (17) being rotatably, but not axially movably fitted on cylinder (3) associated with the center counterhead (1) of the yarn or wire winding machine, and supporting guides (23, 123) which are parallel to the axis of said cylinder (3), and on which the slide (24, 27) carrying in a cantilevered manner the said clamping and cutting device by means of an arm (28), is longitudinally slidable; a spigot (21) by which the said collar is normally fixed in a predetermined angular position (K1), such that the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device (31, 32) can be correctly transferred into its active, operative position; a friction coupling (15, 16), or a coupling of any other suitable type, comprising a first component (33, 16) which is integral with the slide (24, 27) carrying the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device, and a second component (15) which is integral with the element connected to the center counterhead (1), the whole arrangement being such that when the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device is moved into its operative position above the reel, the slide (24, 27) carrying the same, will be connected for rotation with the center counterhead, so that when the spigot (21) is being subsequently disengaged, and the yarn or wire winding machine is being re-actuated, the said device (31, 32) will be moved synchronously with the reel, so as to have the yarn or wire from the filled reel clamped and cut thereby, and as to have the subsequent steps performed for fastening the leading end of the yarn or wire to the fresh reel core. The apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the collar (17) supporting the guides (23, 123) for guiding the rectlinear movement of the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device (31, 32), is also used as a rotary coupling for allowing the piston-and-cylinder units (30, 25) that drive the said device and determine its rectilinear movement, to be fed from a fixed point, the said collar being for this purpose provided with annular recesses (35) in its inner lateral surface, which are selectively set in communication, thanks to seals (36), with respective ducts (34) which are formed in the cylinder (3) associated with the center counterhead (1), and are connected to the pneumatic system for driving the said piston-and-cylinder units (30, 25). The apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device is so provided, and is so arranged and used that it can be operated with reels of a different diameter, and to this end it is provided for the said device to be mounted above the reel, so as to be vertically aligned with the yarn or wire length to be acted upon by the same, whereafter the said device is rotated together with the reel around the axis thereof, so that the said device is caused to clamp the yarn or wire length extending to the reel from the yarn or wire guide (G) at standstill in a predetermined position. The apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device comprises two frustoconical co-axial bodies (31, 32) facing each other by their tapered end sides, so that an annular gap is formed therebetween and is provided with inlet guide portions for the yarn or wire to easily get thereinto, one of these bodies (the 32) being stationary, and the other (31) being axially driven near to, and away from the body (32) by a pneumatic cylinder-and-piston unit (30), and the cutting means being fitted on one or both of said bodies (31, 32), so as to have them acting upon the yarn or wire length portion lying immediately downsteam of the clamped yarn or wire length portion being kept clamped between the said bodies set in their closed position. The apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein position adjustable sensors are provided, which allow an adjustment to be made in the position at which the rectlinear active forward stroke of the yarn or wire clamping and cutting device has to be stopped, so as to conform the said stroke to the different width of any reels to be filled.

Inventors: MACCAFERRI, ANGELO, DR.
Applicants: S.A.M.P. S.P.A. MECCANICA DI PRECISIONE
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65H65
IPC codes: B65H65