Abstract:
Apparatus for removing waste rovings from bobbins, in which the bobbins are conveyed in contact with a flocked endless belt driven in an opposite direction to the driven direction of the conveyor for the bobbins, the conveyor accommodating bobbins individually, and being provided with an air nozzle for ejecting compressed air against the bobbins, thereby removing fine fibrous waste therefrom.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing waste rovings remaining on roving bobbins during the returning thereof from a ring spinning frame to a roving frame. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the spinning process, slivers are drawn and twisted into rovings by a roving frame, which rovings are then wound around roving bobbins (hereinafter referred to merely as bobbins) by a fly frame. The bobbins are sent to a ring spinning frame, whereby the rovings are unwound from the bobbins. In this case, previous rovings remain on the bobbins which are returned from the ring spinning frame to the roving frame, and it is necessary to remove them before fresh rovings are wound on the bobbins. 
     To automatically remove such rovings from the bobbins, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,825 discloses a system which includes a first step to keep a moving endless belt in contact with the outer surface of the bobbins while the belt is rotated in a direction in which the waste rovings are unwound, and a second step to convey the bobbins while keeping contact with a moving flocked belt (having flocks planted thereon) so as to remove the remaining rovings from the bobbins. 
     Recently there is a practice to use a cloth commonly called a sticking cloth which has flocks planted on its surface, the sticking cloth being attached to a surface of each bobbin. This is effective to facilitate the automatic operation of a roving frame. The flocks are inclined in one direction so as to entwine the rovings with the flocks, thereby facilitating the winding of the rovings in the fly frame. 
     When the sticking cloth is used, the problem is that the waste rovings also remain on the sticking cloth on each bobbin. The prior art apparatus, such as that disclosed in the noted U.S. Patent, are not suitable for removing the rovings remaining on the sticking cloths. 
     A further problem is that the amounts of waste rovings on the bobbins differ from bobbin to bobbin. When the rovings are removed, the amounts of them must be taken into consideration, but the prior art apparatus has no special expedient for coping with such variations in amount. Especially when a large quantity of rovings remain on the bobbins, the prior art apparatus has difficulty in removing them completely. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims at solving the problems pointed out with respect to the prior art apparatus, and has for its object to provide an apparatus for removing waste rovings from bobbins, the apparatus being adapted for use whether the amount of the rovings is small or large. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for such use, adapted for removing waste rovings not only from the bobbins but also from the sticking cloths attached to the bobbins. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, for the purpose of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for removing waste rovings from bobbins, the apparatus comprising: 
     a body structure having an opening in its top portion; 
     a pair of endless roller chains arranged under the opening of the body structure; 
     a plurality of first and second carrier plates transversely supported on the roller chains so as to accommodate bobbins between the adjacent first and second carrier plates, at least one of two adjacent carrier plates being detachable from the roller chains; 
     a flocked endless belt running under the roller chain, wherein the belt is spaced from the bobbins at such an interval as to allow the flocks on the belt to keep contact with the surface of the bobbins and be driven in an opposite direction to the driven direction of the roller chains; 
     a toothed wheel provided under the flocked belt at such an interval as to allow the teeth thereof to reach the surface of the flocked belt; and 
     an air nozzle provided adjacent to a point where the bobbins become separated from the moving flocked belt, the air nozzle being adapted to eject compressed air against the bobbin and, particularly, against the sticking cloth attached thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing an apparatus embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective analytical view showing part of the carrier; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the carrier of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly broken, showing the air nozzle section; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI--VI in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view exemplifying the air nozzle switching unit; and 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a modified version of the air nozzle switching unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 the apparatus of the present invention comprises a carrier 12 mounted on a body structure 10, the carrier 12 being adapted to carry bobbins (B); an endless belt 40 having flocks or piles planted thereon (hereinafter called &#34;flocked belt&#34;); a comb wheel 41; and an air nozzle 20. 
     Now, suppose that the bobbins (B) are carried by the carrier 12 in the direction of arrow (P) (hereinafter called &#34;forward direction&#34;). The body structure 10 extends in the forward direction (P), with its rear end (the left-hand end in FIG. 1) being inclined in the forward direction. A hopper 11 is provided on the rear end for supplying the bobbins (B) to the carrier 12. The front end (the right-hand end) of the body structure 10 is upright, and it has a discharge port 10b for letting the bobbins (B) out. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 the carrier 12 comprises a pair of roller chains 13; first carrier plates 14, and second carrier plates 15 alternately arranged transversely of the roller chains 13. The roller chains 13 are mounted on the body structure 10 in such a manner that they rotate in the forward direction (P). The first carrier plates 14 and the second carrier plates 15 are connected to brackets 13b fixed to link members 13a of the roller chains 13. The first and second carrier plates 14, 15 are made of ordinary channels, and the first carrier plates 14 are provided with tongue members 14a. The second carrier plates 15 are provided with projections 15b, and they include two plate members 16 and 17 connected thereto, with intermediate plate members 18 being interposed between the plate members 17 and the second carrier plates 15. The reference numeral 19 denotes guide pins. 
     The second carrier plates 15 will be more particularly described: 
     The plate member 16 includes a base portion 16a and a tail portion 16b having slots 16c adapted to receive the projections 15b. The base portion 16a is fixed to the bracket 13b of the roller chain 13. The other plate member 17 is made of a short channel having a slot 17a in its top side, the plate member 17 being fixed to the bracket 13b of the opposite roller chain 13. The intermediate plate 18 includes a base portion 18a which is slidably inserted in the plate member 17, and a tail portion 18b having slots 18c adapted to receive the projections 15b. The intermediate plate 18 is slidably fixed to the plate member 17 by means of a bolt 18e which is movably anchored in the slot 17a in the plate member 17 through a hole 18d in the intermediate plate 18. 
     The guide pin 19 is fixed to a block 19a, which has bores 19b adapted to receive bolts 19c. The blocks 19a are fixed to the brackets 18b of the roller chain 13 together with the plate members 17 by means of the bolts 19c in such a manner that the brackets 13b are sandwiched between the plate members 17 and the blocks 19a. The guide pin 19 is provided with an expanding spring 19d whereby the tail portions 18b of the intermediate plates 18 are pressed against second carrier plates 15 as best shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the projections 15b are prevented from withdrawing from the slots 16c and 18c. 
     The second carrier plates 15 are moved in the direction of arrow (C 1 ) against the spring 19d if a force is given in this direction. At this stage, the second carrier plates 15 are ready to come out of the roller chains 13. When the second carrier plates 15 are to be mounted on the roller chains 13, the spring 19d is likewise pressed in the direction of arrow (C 1 ) in FIGS. 3 and 4. The bobbin carrier 12 runs on first to fifth sprockets 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. The fourth sprocket 34 is connected to a motor (M 1 ), and the third sprocket 33 is used for adjusting the tension of the roller chains 13. It is arranged that the carrier 12 runs horizontally between the first and second sprockets 31, 32, and that it rises along the sloping rear end of the body structure 10 between the fifth and first sprockets 35, 31. The body structure 10 has an opening 10a of large space above the horizontal path of the carrier 12 so as to enable an operator to place bobbins directly on the flocked belt 40 therethrough. In addition, the body structure 10 is open toward the hopper 11 in the rising path of the carrier 12. The reference numerals 12a and 12b denote protective covers for preventing the bobbins (B) from falling off the carrier 12. 
     The running speed of the carrier 12 depends upon the rotating speed of the motor (M 1 ). When the carrier 12 runs on the horizontal path between the first and second sprockets 31, 32, the roller chains 13 are supported from below by brackets 13d projecting from the body structure 10 and guide rails 13c provided at the top portions of the brackets 13d as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     The flocked endless belt 40 has flocks or piles of synthetic fiber planted on a substratum. The flocked belt 40 is arranged immediately below the carrier 12 along the horizontal path thereof, and it runs on rollers 36 and 37 in such a manner that the flocks on the belt 40 keep contact with the bobbins (B) on the carrier 12 and moves in the opposite direction to that of the carrier 12 (in the direction of arrow (Q) in FIG. 1). The flocks are slanted in the direction in which the belt 40 runs. The roller 36 is connected to a motor (M 2 ) through a pulley (M 2  a). 
     The comb wheel 41 is a short cylinder having equally spaced teeth 41a on its peripheral surface. The comb wheel 41 is arranged below the flocked belt 40 in such a manner that the tip portions of the teeth 41a keep contact with the flocks on the belt 40. The comb wheel 41 is rotated in the same direction as the flocked belt 40 but at a greater speed than it by a motor (M 3 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the air nozzle 20 is mounted on a shaft 20b, which is transversely supported on brackets 20a, at a forward end section of the body structure 10 wherein the bobbins (B) become separated from the flocked belt 40. Compressed air is ejected through the nozzle 20 in the direction of (X), which is tangential to the bobbins (B) and the sticking cloth (SC) thereon as shown in FIG. 6. 
     It is possible to provide several nozzles 20 on the shaft 20b. It is also possible to shape the opening of the nozzle 20 as desired, such as circular or rectangular. 
     The timing for the ejection of air is controlled by means of air valve switching unit 21 provided adjacent to the third roller (tension roller) 33, the air valve switching unit 21 including a lever 23 swingable by the first and second plates 14, 15 and a valve 22 operable by the lever 23. The lever 23, which is swingable about a pin 23a, is provided with a roller 23b at its top end, and with a spring 24 at the opposite end, thereby keeping the lever 23 in contact with an actuator 22a for the valve 22. When the first and second carrier plates 14, 15 alternately come into contact with the roller 23b, they urge the lever 23 to rotate about the pins 23a in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 7. At this stage the valve 22 is operated to supply compressed air into the nozzle 20. 
     As shown in FIG. 8 it is also possible to provide the air valve switching unit 21 alongside the third sprocket 33, which is provided with pins 33b at angular equal intervals around a central shaft 33a. The pins 33b are adapted to keep contact with a roller 22b attached to the actuator 22a. The pins 33b comes into engagement with the roller 22b one after another while the third sprocket 33 rotates, thereby actuating the valve 22 intermittently. 
     In either embodiment, the compressed air is ejected throguh the nozzle 20 in synchronism with the running of the carrier 12 so that the air is ejected toward the bobbins (B) when they come immediately under the nozzle 20. Instead of using the air valve switching unit 21 mentioned above, it is possible to use a photo-electric switch which detects the presence of the bobbins (B) so as to transmit signals to an electromagnetic valve. 
     In operation, the bobbins collected from a ring spinning frame are thrown into the hopper 11, wherein each bobbin is placed in such a manner that the rovings remaining thereon are in the direction in which they are unwound by the flocked belt 40 when the bobbin is on the horizontal path of the carrier 12. 
     The bobbins (B) in the hopper 11 are picked up by the first and second carrier plates 14 or 15 one by one, and they are caused to rise up the protection cover 12a. Each bobbin (B) is maintained in an orderly posture on the carrier 12; that is, it is restrained crosswise by the tongue members 14a and the tail portions 16b, 18b of the plate members 16, 18, and lengthwise by the adjacent first and second carrier plates 14 and 15. 
     After the bobbins (B) have passed around the first sprocket 31, they come into contact with the flocks on the belt 40. As mentioned above, the flocked belt 40 rotates in the opposite direction to the direction in which the bobbins (B) are conveyed. While the bobbins (B) are conveyed, the rovings remaining thereon are unwound and taken away by the flocked belt 40. After the bobbins (B) have passed around the second sprocket 32, they are discharged through the discharge port 10b. 
     The rovings separated from the bobbins (B) tend to adhere to the surface of the flocked belt 40, but the adhering rovings are picked up by the teeth 41a of the comb wheel 41. The picked rovings are discharged outside as fibrous waste. 
     The amount of rovings removed during the conveyance of bobbins on the horizontal path of the carrier 12 depends upon how long the bobbins (B) stay on this path. The longer they stay, the more rovings will be removed. Therefore, the rotating speed of the motor (M 1 ) is reduced to enable the bobbins to stay as long as possible. It is possible to remove all the rovings if the bobbins stay sufficiently long on the horizontal path. 
     FIG. 6 shows a bobbin (B) having a sticking cloth (SC) attached to its surface. In this case, a fibrous waste (S) tends to stick to the flocks (SC 1 ) on the sticking cloth. This fibrous waste (S) is blown away by the compressed air through the nozzle 20 when the bobbin (B) reaches under the nozzle 20. Preferably, the air is blown in the direction in which the flocks on the stiking cloth are slanted, thereby facilitating the removal of fibrous waste. In order to enable the compressed air to reach the entire width of the sticking cloth, the base 20c of the air nozzle 20 is constructed to be swingable with respect to the shaft 20b. The nozzle 20 is swung by a pneumatic cylinder (not shown) provided between the body structure 10 and the base 20c. Alternatively, the base 20c can be provided with an eccentric cam device. 
     When a large quantity of rovings remain on the bobbins, it is not necesary to use the hopper 11, and the bobbins are placed directly on the carrier 12 through the opening 10a produced along the horizontal path. To achieve this, the second carrier plate 15 is temporarily detached in the above-mentioned manner, so as to produce a large space sufficiently to accommodate the bobbins, and the carrier 12 rotates at an extremely reduced speed on the horizontal path, or else it can be stopped, thereby allowing the bobbins to keep contact with the flocks on the belt 40 until the rovings on the bobbins are removed. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second carrier plates 14, 15 are alternately arranged at equal intervals on the carrier 12, and the second carrier plates 15 are detachable from the carrier 12. This arrangement is intended for accommodating bobbins having a large quantity of rovings. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, all the carrier plates can be detachable, or alternatively detachable carrier plates and non-detachable carrier plates can be mixed.