Patent GB-1077858-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for automatic doffing of a spinning machine
IPC: B65H67/06
Filed: 1964-10-14
Abstract: 1,077,858. Donning and doffing apparatus. KOREHA SPINNING CO. Ltd. and TOYAMA MACHINE WORKS Ltd. Oct. 14, 1964 [Oct. 31, 1963; Dec. 5, 1963], No. 41961/64. Headings DID and D1F. [Also in Divisions F1 and F2] Automatic donning and doffing apparatus comprises a carriage adapted to travel along the front of a spinning &c. frame, and means for stopping the carriage accurately at prescribed positions; the carriage has lappet reversing-means bobbin-loosening means, doffing-means for removing a number of bobbins simultaneously, a bobbin receiver for the doffed bobbins, means for raising and lowering the receiver whereby the bobbins are deposited on the receiver and discharged from it, and donning means for applying simultaneously a number of empty bobbins to the doffed spindles, the empty bobbins being moved from the horizontal to the vertical during the doffing operation. Supply of bobbins to carriage; donning mechanism. Figs. 3, 4, not shown. There is a series of units each delivering two bobbins and each comprising an end plate (14), a guide plate (15) two channels (13, 13<1>), a conical roller (12) with a shaped groove (21), and an eccentric roller (11). The area between plate (15) and roller (12) forms a hopper for empty bobbins; as the roller rotates, the groove allows one bobbin to fall into one channel, while another bobbin lodges in the groove and is carried around to be released into the other channel, the eccentric roller, which rotates faster than the conical roller, preventing more than one bobbin being carried around. Cams rotate with the roller (22) to rock a shaft carrying holders to release the lowermost bobbins in the channels to catchers (16, 16<1>). These are pivoted at (17) on arms (33) which can be rocked over a curved path as a shaft (34) is rotated; during this movement the catchers are guided by rollers which are supported initially on arms (32) rockable to a position where they join up with fixed guides (36). Eventually the pivots (17) reach a point where the empty bobbins are vertically above the spindles and a pin (28) is moved hydraulically to move retaining-devices so that the bobbins are released to be impaled. In other forms, (a) the eccentric roller 11 is replaced by a guide-plate, (b) the parts 20, 20<1> are replaced by members extending across the device having four vanes each forming a bobbin-pocket. These are rotated from the grooved roller (12) by geneva-mechanism (Figs. 38, 39, not shown). Doffing mechanism, Figs. 7, 8, not shown. A bar (51, Fig. 2, not shown), has circular openings (53) corresponding in number to the spindles to be doffed at one time, (and to the number of bobbins delivered by the donning- device). Below the bar and slidably secured to it under the action a hydraulic piston and a spring is a bar (62) with elongated openings (63) positioned opposite the openings (53). Associated with each pair of openings is a pair of bobbin-gripping members (69, 70) carried respectively by bars (51, 62), and a rod (54) with a tapered end and a spring (61) which combine with a bar (57) to raise and lower the rod to impale a filled bobbin. Members (52, Fig. 7 not shown), one at each end of bar (51) are pivoted (at 80, 81) respectively to reciprocating arms (82) and rack-bars (79) slidable in arms (72). Pinions (76, 77, 78) are rotated independently by sectors rotatably mounted independently on a shaft and having followers engaging rotated cams. Rotation of pinion (77) operates racks (79) to reciprocate bar (51); rotation of gear (76) rocks the bar (51); and rotation of gear (78) reciprocates arms (82) to "shake" the bar (51). The pivots (80, 81) move along paths to a position above the bobbins waiting to be doffed; here the rods (54) enter the ends of the bobbins and the bar (62) is moved relatively to bar (51) so that the bobbins are gripped by the members (69, 70). The pivots now move in a path to arrive at a position where the bar (62) reverts to release the bobbin-grippers, while the springs (61) are relaxed to discharge the bobbins. Finally the pivots reach a position when empty bobbins are supplied to the vacant spindles. Bobbin-loosening device Fig. 21 (not shown). Pivoted to a bar (167) is a series of wedgeshaped members (168) which, when a rack (171) is pushed by a bar (174) against a spring (173), are rotated through a right-angle from inoperative positions in a recess in the bar to operative positions where they engage beneath the filled bobbins. The ends of the bar (167) are formed as rods (175) secured to arms (177) that can be rocked to raise the members (168) to detach the bobbins. The bar (174) is pushed by a member operated by a face-cam and the arms (117) are rocked by an edge-cam composite with the face-cam (cams 184, 178, Fig. 22 not shown). Bobbin collection, Fig. 14 (not shown). When the bobbins are released by the doffing- apparatus, they are deposited on a receiver (105) which is lowered to release its bobbins into a compartmented box (117) and is then raised to receiving position. The bobbins are arranged in the box in rows in staggered relation. As the container fills, the path through which the receiver descends and ascends is gradually shortened. The receiver is carried by racks reciprocated by pinions (102, 102<1>), which are driven by a reversing-gear (122) which includes electromagnetic clutches. These are controlled by switches (LS14, LS15) on a plate (138) which is reciprocated by a cam (134) and a spring (137). As the plate reciprocates, the switches are brought alternately into engagement with cams (123, 124) to determine the reversal points of the receiver. To gradually shorten the period of ascent and descent, the cams which are identical, are rotated in opposite directions by meshing gears (127, 128). The receiver consists of plates arranged in pairs in V-formation on a hinge-pin and are controlled by a cam which is rotated first in one direction and then in another to raise one plate and allow the other to fall, so that in successive operations of the cam, the bobbins are directed in such a way as to give the desired staggered relationship of the bobbins in successive rows. The cam is controlled by a rod (113) which can slide in a tube (112) and is rotated as the tube is rotated first one way and then the other by an arm (115) operated by an electro-magnet (116). This is engaged by a switch (LS16) on the plate (138) which is controlled by an additional cam (124<1>, Fig. 17 not shown) on the cam (124). Lappet-raising device (Figs. 19, 20, not shown). A bar carrying magnets, corresponding in number to the spindles to be doffed and donned at one time, is carried by arms which are raised by a cam so that the magnets attract the lappets and lift them clear of the doffing and donning apparatus. The arms are lowered to return the lappets to operative position. Hydraulic pressure unit. A unit is described, Fig. 25, not shown, for supplying oil under pressure to the pin (28, Fig. 3, not shown), of the donning mechanism that operates the bobbin retaining devices at the donning-stage, and the piston (67, Fig. 8 not shown), that operates the bobbin gripping devices at the doffing-stage. Arrangements for moving the carriage and operating the various parts. (Fig. 28 not shown). A motor (235) can drive one of two shafts (239, 89) according to which of two clutches (249, 250) is energized. When shaft (239) rotates, the carriage is moved; shaft (89) provides for the actuation of the various devices already described. With clutch (249) engaged, rotation of shaft (239) rotates shafts (244) on which are grooved wheels running on rails on the spinning &c. frame; knurled rollers run on to secondary rails provided with friction material in the regions where the carriage has to come to a stop. The carriage is stopped when dogs on the frame engage a limit-switch to operate a brake (241) and deenergize clutch (249). Clutch (250) is now engaged and the shaft (89) is rotated through one revolution by meshing pinions (251, 252). These pinions have the same number of toothvalleys, and plain areas (265, 264, Fig. 31 not shown), the former being concave and the latter convex. The angle subtended by an arc (264) represents the range of positions in which it is possible for the pinion (251) to stop after completing one revolution, the arrangement ensuring that shaft (89) always comes to a stop and starts its next rotation in the same angular position, so that the parts which it drives start their operations from the same positions. As the shaft 89 rotates, a pulley (253) with a narrow cam groove having a flared opening, engages a member on the spinning-frame to position the carriage precisely. After the shaft (89) has performed one revolution, a cam (262) operates switch (L.S.18) to apply a brake (261) and reverse the condition of clutches (249, 250), so that the carriage moves on to the next set of bobbins to be doffed.