Patent GB-1082408-A (GB)
Title: Cop orientating apparatus
IPC: B65H67/06
Filed: 1964-09-04
Abstract: 1,082,408. Shoots; orientating articles; conveyers; suction holding-appliances. W. REINERS. Sept. 4, 1964 [Sept. 7, 1963], No. 36289/64. Headings B8A, B8H and B8S. [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for orientating spinning cops wound on cores having the base diameter greater than the tip diameter comprises support means which successively receives the cops, means to ascertain the orientation of each cop on the support means by gauging the diameter of at least one end of the cop core, and means effective to release the cops from the support means in a selected uniform orientation dependent upon the gauging. The cops are placed by hand without regard to orientation in a reservoir 2, Fig. 1, from which they issue one at a time through an opening 2b, bridging of the cops being prevented by the reciprocation of a corrugated bottom part 7 of the reservoir. The bottom part 7 is connected by a lever 3 and a rod 4 to a cam lever 5 which is reciprocated by a cam 6 rotated through gearing by a motor 21. A reciprocating suction gripper 8 transfers the cops to pockets 10 attached to a conveying belt 11, the gripper 8 being connected by a pipe 8a, pivoted on a spindle 8b, a lever 12 and a rod 13 to a cam lever 14 which is reciprocated by an eccentric disc 15 also rotated by the motor 21. Suction is provided by a fan 17 connected to the gripper 8 through a conduit 17a, the pivot spindle 8b and the pipe 8a, a pivoted plate valve 9 having an opening 9a being reciprocated by a pin 16 on the pipe 8a to interrupt the suction at the required time. The valve 9 is biased against the pin 16 by being suitably suspended or by a spring. The conveyer belt 11 is driven through a chain drive 19 by the motor 21. The cops drop out of the pockets 10 on to the support means 24 consisting of spaced, pivoted support members 24a, 24b, Fig. 2, controlled by magnets 26a, 25b, one or other of the ends of each cop being released first, in dependence upon the gauging result so that the cop is correctly orientated when it falls into a shoot 26. From the latter the cop is released by flaps 28a, 28b controlled by a magnet 29 to be received by a pocket 27 of a conveying belt 32 leading to a bobbin winding machine. The magnet 29 is controlled by switches 30, 31 which ensure that the cop is released only when an empty pocket 27 is in position. As described with reference to Fig. 3 a measuring device for gauging the core diameter comprises a conical peg 37, the periphery of which is formed by contact springs 37a, 37b which only when the small end of the core is gauged make contact with a cone 38 thus determining which of the magnets 25a, 25b is operated. The cone 38 is axially adjustable. Alternatively, the depth of penetration of a non.compressible contact may be used to control the magnets 25a, 25b. In a second embodiment, Fig. 7, the core diameter is gauged photoelectrically, a light source 34 being provided opposite the support member 24a and a photoelectric cell 36 opposite the support member 24b. The light rays are scattered so that more or less of the light reaches the cell 36 depending on the orientation of the cop. The differences in illumination may be intensified by the provision of a condenser lens 35. In a third embodiment, Figs. 5 and 6, the core diameter is gauged by two pairs of jaws 39, 39a and 40, 40a, the space between the jaws being equal and being smaller than the diameter of the large end of the core but larger than that of the small end. The jaws are adjustable for variation of the size of the space therebetween. The cops drop out of the pockets 10 on to a pivoted troughed member 41 controlled by a magnet 42 and when released by movement of the member 41 drop between the jaws 39, 39a and 40, 40a which ensure that each cop will drop with the small diameter end of the core leading into chambers 43a of a rotatable drum 43. Release of the cop from the drum 43 is controlled by a flap 45 operated by a magnet 44. An electrical circuit for operation of the apparatus when the core diameter is gauged photo-electrically is described with reference to Fig. 9 (not shown). In a further embodiment (not shown) the relative orientation of the cop is determined with the latter disposed vertically, thrust or pull members being used to push or pull the ends of the core out of the support means.