Patent GB-888070-A (GB)
Title: Can changing mechanism for carding engines
IPC: B65H67/04
Filed: 1958-12-15
Abstract: 888,070. Sliver can-changing devices. HESSE, S. Dec. 15, 1958 [Dec. 13, 1957; Aug. 20, 1958], No. 40412/58. Class 120(3) An automatic can-changing mechanism for carding engines having a frame rotatable in a horizontal frame to move a filled can and replace it by an empty one, for moving the cans the frame has at least two guide-rings each embracing the foot of a can, and to prevent the frame from fouling adjacent fixtures and so to enable it to be fitted to existing machines, the axis about which the frame rotates is displaceable rectangularly to the direction of the axis. In Fig. 1, a frame 6a has rings 4, 5; the can in ring 4 being filled rests on a turntable 1 and the other on a platform 3. The axis of rotation 7 is carried by a spring-loaded arm 9a pivoted at 8; as it rotates through 180 degrees, the cans are guided by a strip 11a so that the arm 9a moves for pivot 7 to move to 7a and back again. The drive to the pivot 7 may be derived from the gear-wheel 30, Fig. 3, which drives the turntable; to this end an arm 35 is rotatably mounted on pivot 8, and is moved against the force of spring 36 when an electromagnet 37 is energized for a gear-wheel 31 to engage wheel 30, and thereby rotate pivot 7 through a series of sprockets interconnected by chains. Alternatively, the pivot may be rotated by chains and sprockets from a driving wheel rotatably mounted on pivot 8. The platform 3 may be varied in shape to suit circumstances, e.g. as in Fig. 10, and the frame is rotated through 90 degrees when a filling operation is completed to bring an empty can into position; when this is filled, the frame is rotated back through 90 degrees to bring another empty can into position. In these forms an additional guide strip 10 is provided, and rotation of pivot 7 is effected, e.g. by the arrangement shown in Fig. 13 where pivot 7 is secured to a lever 12 connected at 7 to the pin of a crank-disc 15. When the latter is rotated in the direction of the arrow pivot 7 is rotated through 90 degrees first one way and then the other. In an alternative arrangement, lever 12 is operated by a piston reciprocated in a pneumatic cylinder. In some forms, the arm 9a is positively moved between its two positions, e.g. through a linkage from a cam on pivot 8 rotating with the crank-disc 15 in Fig. 13, or by the arrangement of Fig. 5, where arm 9a is linked to a crank-disc 37 driven from a sprocket 49 which is driven by an electric motor through wormgearing 41, a sprocket fast on the crank-disc also providing, through chains and sprockets, for the rotation of pivot 7 through 180 degrees for one revolution of the crank-disc. The latter has a cam 83 to operate a switch 84 to cut out the motor when the disc has made a complete revolution. In some forms, the platform 3 is dispensed with; both containers may then be supported by turntables mounted on the frame with driving pinions swung alternately into engagement with a driven gear, or they may be supported by containers 45, 46, Fig. 6, the can moving into operative position being lifted as it moves on to the turntable to allow it to rotate freely in the ring. A lid 70 carried by a tube 71 secured to pivot 7 and supported by the coiler head 65 during filling, is rotated free of the head as pivot 7 rotates to change the cans over; it is then free to be pulled down by a spring 72 to prevent the coiled sliver escaping. When the can is filled, the coiler head is given an abrupt jerk upwardly to sever the sliver beneath the feed rolls 62; this is done by a rod normally urged upwardly by a spring in a tube 66 but pulled downwardly by a cable 69 attached to a rod 39, Fig. 5, which cable is released when a cam-piece snaps into a recess in crank-disc 37 just after the latter begins to rotate to turn the frame. Rotation of the frame may be started when a predetermined length of sliver is fed into the can.