Patent GB-1504992-A (GB)
Title: Yarn winding apparatus and device for automatic bobbin changing on a winding machine
IPC: B65H67/04
Filed: 1975-04-10
Abstract: 1504992 Winding up continuously made filamentary material RHONE-POULENCTEXTILE 10 April 1975 [11 April 1974 19 Aug 1974] 14824/75 Heading D1J A continuous winding apparatus comprising at least one horizontal winding spindle 1, Fig. 3; a friction driving cylinder 5 for engagement with a package being wound on a wind-up-tube 2 on the spindle 1; and a fixed yarn guide 31 through which the yarn passes to a reciprocable yarn guide 7 for distributing yarn along the wind-up-tube 2 is characterized in that the apparatus includes:- (a) a loading/unloading unit comprising two parallel spindles 13, 14, Fig. 4, spindle 13 being used to remove a wound yarn package from the winding spindle 1; and spindle 14  for placing an empty wind-up-tube 2 on the spindle 1; the spindles 13, 14 being movable in turn into axial alignment with the winding spindle 1; and (b) a nozzle 23, Fig. 3, for capturing and removing the continuous yarn supply when the package being wound is about to be doffed, the nozzle having a rectilinear slit 42, Fig. 7, communicating with a channel 41 through which a stream of fluid is fed at high speed; means 50 on the nozzle for cutting the yarn, and means, Fig. 3, mounting the nozzle, such that it is movable between (1) a yarn capture position in which it is adjacent and aligned with the yarn where the yarn extends between the fixed guide 31 and the reciprocable guide 7 and (2) a second position adjacent to the spindle 1 to apply the yarn supply to an empty wind-up-tube 2 when positioned on the spindle 1. The doffing and donning spindles 13, 14. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the loading/unloading unit according to Figs. 3 and 4. To remove a wind-up-tube from the spindle 1 the jack E is used to push the doffing spindle 13 into the spindle 1. The spindle 13 carries, at its free end, claws 16 that can be expanded by a jack D such that the claws 16 extend through slits in the spindle 1 to grip the internal surface of the wind-up-tube 2 on the spindle 1. The jack E then retracts the spindle 13 to remove the wind-up-tube 2 from the spindle 1. A jack G then rocks the jack E away from, and a jack F into alignment with, the spindle 1. Jack F is used to reciprocate the donning spindle 14. The spindle 14 comprises a tube of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the empty wind-up-tube 2 such that whilst donning is taking place the wind-up-tube 2 is initially inside the spindle 14. The jack F then moves the spindle 14 towards and onto the spindle 1, and a push rod 19 that is slidable inside the spindle 14 is used to retain the wind-up-tube 2 on the spindle 1 as the spindle 14 subsequently retracts. The spindle 14 can be provided with resilient elements (not shown) such as coiled springs for holding and centring the empty tube.  When doffing and donning has taken place a jack H, Fig. 6, moves the bobbin-changing unit away from the winding spindle 1 to free the area in front of the bobbin-winder. A further jack J then rocks the bobbin-changing unit about the axle 12 to swing the axis of the doffed and fully wound package up into the vertical. This facilitates the gripping and removing of the fully wound package from spindle 13 and the placing of an empty wind-up-tube on spindle 14. First embodiment. In Fig. 3 the loading/ unloading unit is on a trolley 8 that is moved from one wind-up station to the next to effect a bobbin changing operation as and when required. The trolley carries a vertical column 9 and the yarn capturing nozzle 23 moves up and down this column under the control of a jack 30, Fig. 4. Second embodiment. In Fig. 12 (not shown) each winding station comprises an upper and a lower wind-up assembly. The doffing/donning apparatus can be moved to any one of these wind up stations by means permitting the previously described pair of spindles 13, 14 to be vertically displaced to bring them into a working relationship with either the upper or the lower wind-up assembly. In a similar manner the yarn capturing nozzle 23 can also be moved vertically to bring it into operational relationship with either wind-up assembly. There is a single reciprocable yarn guide 7 common to the two wind-up assemblies. Third embodiment. In Fig. 16 each winding station again comprises upper and lower windup assemblies. The upper wind-up assembly comprises three wind-up spindles 1, 101, 102 driven by a common friction drive cylinder 5. Similarly the lower wind-up assembly comprises three wind-up spindles 1, 101, 102 also driven by a common friction drive cylinder 5. To the right of the drawing is a vertically displaceable support 67 carrying a pivoted loading/unloading unit 10 provided with the already described parallel spindles 13, 14. This loading/unloading unit 10 can service either of the upper wind-up spindles 1, 102 as well as either of the lower wind-up spindles 1, 102. At the foot of the drawing is a further loading/unloading unit 10 that is horizontally displaceable so that it can service either of the lower wind-up spindles 1, 101. The lower unit 10 also services either of the upper wind-up spindles 1, 101 on being lifted up to the level of these spindles. The capture head 24 is vertically displaceable and can perform its previously described function on any of the six wind-up spindles. The Specification describes how this embodiment operates automatically to ensure that in each group of three wind-up spindles, two of the spindles can be operational whilst the third spindle is being serviced by a loading/ unloading unit 10. Fourth embodiment. In this embodiment each winding station again comprises upper and lower wind-up assemblies, there being three wind-up spindles (100, 103, 104). Fig. 22 (not shown) associated with a common friction drive cylinder (5') in the upper assembly; and three wind-up spindles (1, 101, 102) associated with a common friction drive cylinder (5) in the lower assembly. For this arrangement the loading/unloading apparatus shown in Fig. 23 is used. A first pair of parallel spindles 13, 14 are mounted on a vertically movable carriage 93 in a frame 86. A second pair of parallel spindles 130, 140 are mounted on a horizontally movable carriage 94 in the frame 86. The spindle pairs 13, 14; 130, 140 operate in the manner already described with reference to the previous spindles 13, 14. The frame 86 carries a vertically movable yarn capture head 24. The frame 86 is horizontally displaceable in a surrounding frame 58; and the frame 58 is vertically displaceable in a frame 52. In this manner the spindle pairs 13, 14 and 130, 140 can be brought into a servicing relationship with the upper or lower wind-up spindles as necessary. A wind-up method for handling four yarns is described with reference to this embodiment. Cutting means. The yarn cutting means 50 associated with the nozzle 23 may be in the form of a tape 50, Fig. 21, passing from a spool 71 to a spool 72 driven by a rachet wheel 74 such that pivoting of the nozzle causes the blade 50 to move in a step-bystep manner such that each cutting operation is always carried out by a new part of the tape.