Patent GB-908981-A (GB)
Title: A doffing device for use in spinning, twisting, doubling and like textile machines
Inventor: DILWORTH STANLEY
IPC: D01H9/08
Filed: 1960-07-06
Abstract: 908,981. Control of A.C. motors. SCRIVEN, F. W. A. July 6, 1960, No. 23576/60. Class 38(3). [Also in Group IX] A doffing and donning device for spinning &c. machines comprises a fixed framework with guides for a double-sided carriage rotatable about an axis to bring either side in alignment with the spindles, means for traversing the carriage along guides towards and away from the spindles, and inter-engaging means on the framework and carriage for imparting partial rotation to the latter during its traverse. General operation.-In Fig. 8, the carriage comprises bars 18, 20, 22, 24 running the length of the machine supported by members 14 on bosses 16; one set of bars carries donning means 32, 34 for holding empty cops and the other set doffing means 26, 28 for gripping full cops. The carriage can rotate about an axle 12 and be moved vertically along guides 13. At the start of a doffing and donning operation, the carriage is at the top of the guides with the longer sides of the members 14 parallel to them and the donning and doffing members in an inclined position, the doffing members being lowermost, and an empty spool in the donning members. It then descends; part way down, after it has passed the drafting-rollers, it is rotated anti-clockwise to bring the doffing- members in alignment with the spindles whereafter it continues to descend for each set of doffing-members to grip a cop. The carriage now ascends, at the position shown it is tilted clockwise to avoid the drafting-rollers and then rotated clockwise through 180 degrees to reverse the position of the doffing and donning means and facilitate removal of the filled cops. It now descends, passing the drafting-rollers owing to its tilt, and is rotated anti-clockwise to bring the empty cop vertically above the spindles and continues to descend. It then ascends, leaving the empty cops on the spindles, tilts clockwise and rotates clockwise through 180 degrees to bring the donning and doffing devices to their original settings, after which it completes its ascent and comes to rest. The doffing devices 26 are of the kind described in Specification 908,982 so that they pass over the filled bobbins as the carriage descends. Tilting and rotating arrangements.-Secured to one end of the carriage are strips 52, 54, Fig. 3, and an actuator; the latter has a part 42 with parallel sides by which it is guided along a fixed strip 44. The strip has upper and lower gaps; at the lower gap 58, as the carriage descends, it tilts when a pin 60 engages a tongue 48 on the actuator, and as it ascends it tilts as the pin engages one of the sides of the part 42. When the carriage passes the gap 58 it is guided by one of the strips 52, 54 engaging between a strip 66 and a rebate 64 in the lower part of strip 44. When the carriage passes over the upper gap it is guided by the engagement of one of two channel pieces 74, 76, Fig. 5, situated on the carriage at the opposite end to actuator with a strip 108 when it is moved outwardly by a spring. The strip can be retracted when a solenoid 106 is energized and is held retracted when the solenoid is de-energized by a spring- urged detent 110 which can be disengaged by energizing a solenoid 118. The carriage also carries a sprocket-wheel 72 which, as the carriage moves and a rack 84 is moved to engage it, rotates the carriage through 180 degrees. The rack is moved into engaging-position when a solenoid 92 is energized, and is held in this position when the solenoid is de-energized by a detent 94 spring-urged to engage beneath a pad 100; the detent is retractable to allow the rack to fall out of engagement when a solenoid 98 is energized. Automatic and manual control.-The cycle of operation of the carriage is carried out by electrical controls, some of which can be adjusted for part of the operation to be under manual control. In Fig. 6, A, B are two-way switches C, D are normally closed, E is closed by lowering the pot-eye board out of spinning position, F is a push-push switch only operated when the carriage ascends, K controls coils S2, S4 of solenoids 118, 98, J controls coils S1, S3 of solenoids 106, 92, while G and H are connected and can be moved to automatic or manual control position. The switches shown in Fig. 7 are mounted in the path of the carriage. With the carriage in its uppermost position, its doffing-means empty and empty cops in the donning-means, switches A2, B1, C, D, E closed and G, H in the auto position, switch AUTODOFF START is closed to establish a circuit from line L2 to line L3 through A2, C, D, E, to energize DOWN coil and close DOWN contact to cause motor M to move the carriage downwardly, the circuit being held by the closure of DOWN LATCH. As the carriage descends, it opens B1, closes B2, leaves F unoperated and closes K to energize solenoids 118, 98 to check that strip 108 is fully projected and rack 84 is in inoperative position. The actuator now passes over the upper gap in strip 44, where it is guided by strip 108 engaging channel 74 or 76; after leaving the gap the carriage closes switch J to energize solenoids 106, 92 to withdraw strip 108 and move rack 84 into operative position, these parts being then held by their detents. The carriage now opens switch D momentarily without effect since G is at AUTO, and passes over gap 58 where the actuator engages pin 62 and the carriage is tilted to bring the doffing-devices vertically-above the spindles. The carriage is now guided by strip 54, and switch C is opened to de-energize DOWN coil and open DOWN contacts to de-energize the motor which accordingly slows. The carriage having completed its descent, the doffing devices engage the bottoms of the full cops, and the carriage opens A2 closes A1 so that UP coil is energized through circuit L2, A1, UP coil L3 and the carriage ascends taking the filled cops with it. Immediately the carriage leaves its lowermost position, switch A reverses, the motor cicuit being maintained through L2, B2 UP LATCH coil L3. C is opened without effect, since it is not in the closed circuit, and the actuator reaches gap 58 where by engagement with pin 62 the carriage is tilted to " starting-angle " so that it avoids the drafting rollers on the remainder of its upward journey and when it next descends. Switch D is now opened momentarily without effect and J closed to operate solenoids 106, 92 to check the inoperative and operative positions of 108 and 84 respectively so that when the carriage reaches the upper gap it is rotated through 180 degrees to reverse the positions of the donning and doffing members. K is actuated to reverse the positions of 108 and 84, switch F is closed and stays closed, and B1 is closed and B2 opened to break circuit to UP coil and slow and finally stop the motor. A2 being closed the circuit already described is closed to reverse the motor and the carriage descends to don empty cops, after which it ascends, being reversed at the upper gap to bring the donning and doffing parts to starting position. In the final upward movement, F is opened and stays open so that when the carriage reaches the top no circuit is closed and it comes to rest. The set of filled cops can now be removed and empty cops put in the donning devices; for this to be done manual controls are provided to lower the carriage to a convenient position. Switches G, H are moved to MAN : position and MAN MOVE DOWN switch is closed so that the carriage descends operating switches BFK and J as before until D is momentarily opened to bring the carriage to rest just above the drafting- rollers. B2 is now closed; the carriage is again raised by closing MAN MOVE UP, J. K, F being operated and B switched to close B1, the carriage during its travel rotating through 180 degrees is then again lowered to a point corresponding to switch D and raised to starting position with a further rotation through 180 degrees. Specifications 152,893, 854,968 and 859,631 also are referred to.