Patent Description:
As is known, generally the Multilink type textile plants comprise a plurality of spinning machines which feed a winding machine, and a transport system for the bobbins for sending the bobbins from a spinning machine to the winding machine, and a transport system for the empty tubes arriving from the winding machine and destined for a specific spinning machine. As an example, <CIT> discloses a spinning mill system having at least two ring-spinning machines with automatic bobbin changing apparatus which deposit bobbins which have been pulled off onto a transport means, which can be driven and is guided along on the two longitudinal sides of each of the ring-spinning machines, and can remove empty tubes from said transport means, and having at least one automatic bobbin winder, wherein the transport means is common at least to the ring-spinning machines and the ring-spinning machines are connected via a control apparatus in such a way that a doffing process is not initiated until the control apparatus determines the end of the spinning process on both ring-spinning machines and the provision of the regions of the transport means with empty tubes and empty receiving journals for full bobbins with respect to the spindles which are to be doffed, and in which the ring-spinning machines are in a master/slave relationship such that one of the ring-spinning machines controls the work sequence also of the other ring-spinning machine/machines as master.

In this discussion, reference will be made to the handling of the bobbins or tubes, however, the handling of the bobbins takes place through systems suitable for the purpose, for example tube-plate systems, per se known to those skilled in the art.

These systems provide a plate, arranged with a protruding portion, called collar, suitable for being partially inserted into a tube. The plate is guided by the transport system which essentially comprises a conveyor belt on which the plate is placed, and a guide suitable for coupling with the portion of the collar which is not contained inside the tube. The guide may be made, for example, by means of two portions of sheet metal placed side by side but spaced apart, in such a way as to identify a slot just wider than the diameter of the collar.

In traditional systems of the Multilink type, the spinning machines are arranged parallel, with one end aligned, so that they may face a single shared transport system.

Typically, the shared transport system is substantially composed of two conveyor belts, onto which the empty bobbins or tubes are loaded automatically. A first conveyor belt takes care of transporting the bobbins from the respective spinning machine to the winding machine, and a second conveyor belt takes care of transporting the empty tubes from the winding machine to the destination spinning machine.

In this discussion, with conveyor belt or conveyor, we mean a system suitable for transporting the bobbins from one position to another. For this purpose, the conveyors may be of the type indicated above, and may comprise lanes on which the plates may be inserted, and a movable element such as a belt or a chain suitable for moving the plates from one position to another.

Once the winding machine has completed the processing of the yarn by completely emptying the bobbin, the tube thus freed is positioned on the shared transport system and sent to the destination spinning machine.

In this discussion the term thread or monofilament or continuous thread means a single filament or continuous strand (for example in the case of silk, artificial, or synthetic fibers), while the term "yarn" means the set of fibrils of variable length that are parallelized and joined by twisting. In the following, either term will be used indistinctly, it being understood that the applications of the present invention are not limited to one or the other type.

Each bobbin, in order to be assigned correctly, is associated with a plate, on which a tracking device is generally placed which allows said plate and therefore the relative bobbin or tube to be associated to a specific winding unit or to a specific spinning machine.

The transport systems for the bobbin or tubes of the prior art, although widely used and appreciated, are not free from drawbacks.

For example, in the case in which the existing textile plant provides spinning machines aligned with each other, and not arranged in parallel with each other, since these are apparatuses of considerable size and complexity, it is not always possible, easy, or convenient from the economic point of view to change their arrangement over time.

Moreover, precisely because of the position of the spinning machines, the system used to move the bobbins is a complex system, since each spinning machine unloads the bobbins independently of the other spinning machines on the same conveyor belt. Therefore, it is necessary to provide sophisticated systems to prevent the unloading of a bobbin by a spinning machine from conflicting with a bobbin of an unloading of a previous spinning machine which is already on the conveyor belt.

Furthermore, the apparatuses currently used occupy a lot of floor area, which could instead be usable in another way.

The need to solve at least partly the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore felt.

Therefore, the need is felt to provide an apparatus for moving bobbins and tubes for a textile plant, which allows better adaptation to the arrangements of the individual existing apparatuses.

Furthermore, the need is felt for a system that simplifies the spinning machine-winding machine interconnection structure, reducing its overall dimensions and increasing the simplicity of the textile plant.

Furthermore, the need is felt to make the bobbin and tube moving apparatus modular, so that it may be easily replicated in the case of a textile plant with many spinning machines.

These requirements are met at least partially by an apparatus for moving bobbins and tubes for a textile plant according to claim <NUM>, and by a textile plant comprising such apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:.

Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same reference numerals.

<FIG> schematically shows an apparatus <NUM> for moving bobbins and tubes in a textile plant <NUM> essentially comprising at least one group of at least two spinning machines <NUM>; <NUM> and at least one winding machine <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises an outward conveyor <NUM>; <NUM>, and a return conveyor <NUM>; <NUM> for each spinning machine <NUM>; <NUM>, wherein the outward conveyor <NUM>; <NUM> is adapted for transporting bobbins in output from the respective spinning machine <NUM>, <NUM>; and the return conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> is adapted for transporting tubes entering the respective spinning machine <NUM>, <NUM>.

Moreover, the apparatus comprises a sorting device <NUM>, which comprises a conveyor station <NUM> at which the outward conveyors <NUM>; <NUM> converge, and a redistribution station <NUM> at which the return conveyors <NUM>; <NUM> converge.

The conveyor station <NUM> and the redistribution station <NUM> are connected by means of a conveyor <NUM> and a redistribution conveyor <NUM>, respectively, to a bobbin input line <NUM> to the at least one winding machine <NUM> and to a bobbin output line <NUM> from the at least one winding machine <NUM>.

The conveyor station <NUM> and the redistribution station <NUM> are adapted for redistributing the bobbins or tubes respectively to the conveyor <NUM> or to the return conveyors <NUM>; <NUM> based on predetermined operating parameters of the bobbins and tubes to be redistributed.

As may be seen in <FIG>, the spinning machines <NUM>; <NUM> are substantially aligned with each other.

In this discussion, the term substantially aligned spinning machines means that the respective spinning heads of the spinning machines are substantially aligned with each other. In other words, the spinning machines are aligned with each other in a direction longitudinal to them.

According to a possible embodiment, the outward <NUM> and return <NUM> conveyors of the spinning machine <NUM> placed in proximity to said sorting device <NUM> may be arranged internally with respect to the outward <NUM> and return <NUM> conveyors of the spinning machine <NUM> distal with respect to the sorting device <NUM>.

As may be seen in <FIG>, the outward conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> and the return conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged substantially parallel to each other.

By way of example only, the spinning machines <NUM>, <NUM> may have <NUM>-<NUM> heads.

<FIG> shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

As may be seen in <FIG>, downstream of the sorting device <NUM>, i.e. between the sorting device <NUM> and the at least one winding machine <NUM>, at least one further spinning machine <NUM> may be arranged.

The apparatus <NUM> therefore comprises an outward conveyor <NUM> and a return conveyor <NUM> for the at least one further spinning machine <NUM>. Such conveyors <NUM>, <NUM>, together with the conveyor <NUM> and the redistribution conveyor <NUM> converge on a second sorting device <NUM>, comprising a conveyor station <NUM> and a redistribution station <NUM>.

Advantageously, the second sorting device <NUM> may be entirely similar to the sorting device <NUM>.

The conveyor station <NUM> and the redistribution station <NUM> of the second sorting device <NUM> are connected by means of a conveyor <NUM> and a redistribution conveyor <NUM>, respectively, to a bobbin input line <NUM> to the at least one winding machine <NUM> and to a bobbin output line <NUM> from the at least one winding machine <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, the conveyor station <NUM> of the sorting device <NUM> may comprise a conveyor disc <NUM>. Furthermore, the redistribution station <NUM> may also comprise a redistribution disc <NUM>.

The conveyor disc <NUM> and the redistribution disc <NUM> comprise at least one side seat <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to engage a collar of a plate of a bobbin, and by rotating they move the plate from an input position to the relative station <NUM>, <NUM> and an output position from the station <NUM>, <NUM>.

The rotation of the conveyor disc <NUM> and of the redistribution disc <NUM> may take place in a manner known per se to those skilled in the art, for example through an actuator (not shown) operated by the central control unit <NUM> of the textile plant, or through a dedicated control unit (not shown).

Advantageously, the conveyor disc <NUM> and/or the redistribution disc <NUM> may comprise six side seats <NUM>, <NUM>, as shown in the examples of <FIG>.

According to a possible alternative embodiment shown in <FIG>, the conveyor disc <NUM> and/or the redistribution disc <NUM> may comprise three side seats <NUM>, <NUM>.

The side seats <NUM>, <NUM> are adapted to be engaged by a collar of a plate, so as to be able to be repositioned through a rotation of the conveyor disc <NUM> or of the redistribution disc <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, the disc with six side seats <NUM>, <NUM>, whether for conveying or redistributing, given the number of seats on its side surface, may be adapted to rotate in one direction only.

On the other hand, as regards the embodiment which provides a disc with three side seats <NUM>, <NUM>, whether it be for conveying or redistributing, it may be adapted to rotate in both directions.

In both cases, the control unit <NUM> of the textile plant may be adapted to manage these rotations, so that they are, for example, as short as possible, in terms of time or displacement.

According to a possible embodiment, the conveyor station <NUM> and the redistribution station <NUM> may be of different types in the same sorting device <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, which may be seen for example in <FIG>, the conveyor station <NUM> may be provided at each outward conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> with stops <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to selectively block a plate. Said stops <NUM>, <NUM> may be of a mechanical type, electrically or pneumatically actuated. In any case, said stops <NUM>, <NUM> may be of a type known per se to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be further explored.

Again with reference to <FIG>, the redistribution station <NUM> may comprise a diverter <NUM> adapted to divert the plates arriving from the winding machine to one of the return conveyors <NUM>, <NUM>. The diverter <NUM> may be, for example, of a mechanical type, and electrically or pneumatically operated. In any case, the diverter <NUM> may be of a type known per se to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be further described.

As previously mentioned, the conveyor station <NUM> of the sorting device <NUM> receives the bobbins arranged on their tube and respective plate in output from the spinning machines <NUM>, <NUM>. According to a possible embodiment, a stop <NUM> may be provided on the outward conveyor <NUM> of the most distant spinning machine <NUM>. Such stop <NUM> is suitable for preventing jams being created in proximity to the sorting disc and, at the same time, uses the same outward conveyor <NUM>, which is longer, as a temporary storage system for the bobbins. Advantageously, the stop <NUM> may be of the pneumatic type. Furthermore, the stop <NUM> may be managed directly by the control unit <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, shown for example in <FIG>, the return conveyor <NUM> of the spinning machine <NUM> closest to the sorting station <NUM> may be provided with a bypass conveyor <NUM> adapted to directly connect the return conveyor <NUM> to the outward conveyor <NUM> of the spinning machine <NUM>. A diverter <NUM> is arranged in the vicinity of the fork between return conveyor <NUM> and bypass conveyor <NUM> suitable to divert the plates towards the return conveyor <NUM>, or towards the bypass conveyor <NUM>.

The diverter <NUM> may be of a type known per se to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be further described.

The operation of the bypass conveyor <NUM> provides that in the event that the spinning machine closest to the sorting station <NUM> is not able to receive empty tubes, these are sent to the conveyor station <NUM> to be sent back to the winding machine <NUM>. The winding machine <NUM>, detecting the presence of an empty tube, will send it back to the spinning machine. Advantageously, the process may be repeated until the spinning machine returns to operate to receive a tube.

In other words, according to a possible embodiment, the winding machine will recirculate the empty tubes inside the winding machine itself until the spinning machine returns to operate.

According to a possible embodiment, in both the outward conveyors <NUM>, <NUM> coming from the spinning machines <NUM>, <NUM> overflow sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged, adapted to detect the presence of spools and to send this information to the central control unit <NUM> to stop the feeding of the bobbins to the relative conveyors, if necessary. Advantageously, these sensors may be optical presence photocells.

According to a possible embodiment, the conveyor station <NUM> of the sorting device <NUM> may comprise at least one reading device <NUM> of the tracking device arranged on the plate associated with the tube. Said reading device <NUM> is adapted to read said tracking device arranged on the plate for the management of the plate and therefore of the bobbin associated therewith.

According to a possible embodiment, the reading device <NUM> may be adapted to send this detected information to a central control unit <NUM> for managing the plate and therefore the bobbin associated therewith. Furthermore, the reading device <NUM> may be suitable for adding information to the tracking device arranged on the plate.

According to a possible embodiment, the reading device <NUM> is arranged below the conveyor disc <NUM>. Advantageously, the reading devices <NUM> may be two, one for each outward conveyor.

Advantageously, the reading device <NUM> may be a radiofrequency reader. In particular, the reading device <NUM> may be a radiofrequency reader adapted to interact with a tracking device of the RFID type.

The redistribution station <NUM> has the purpose of redistributing the tubes coming from at least one winding machine <NUM>, to the corresponding spinning machine and, if the tube is not present, restoring it so that the empty tube always reaches the correct spinning machine ready to be wound in a new bobbin.

To suitably carry out the directing, the redistribution station <NUM> may comprise at least one reading device <NUM> adapted to detect and read a tracking device arranged on a plate associated with a tube. The reading device <NUM> may be adapted to send this detected information to a central control unit <NUM> for managing the bobbins.

According to a possible embodiment, the reading device <NUM> may be arranged below the conveyor disc <NUM>.

The management system will evaluate where to direct the plate and will re-communicate it to the redistribution station <NUM> itself, allowing the plate to be correctly directed.

According to a possible embodiment, shown for example in <FIG> and <FIG>, downstream of the redistribution disc <NUM>, for each return conveyor <NUM>, <NUM> feeding the spinning machines <NUM>, <NUM> there is a tube presence device <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to assess whether there is a tube on the plate in transit. If it were absent, the device would place a new tube by fitting it appropriately on the plate in transit.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show a textile plant <NUM> comprising at least one group of two spinning machines <NUM>, <NUM> and at least one winding machine <NUM>, which comprises an apparatus for moving bobbins and tubes of the type just described.

As may be seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the textile plant <NUM> comprises a bobbin input line <NUM> to the at least one winding machine <NUM>, and a tube output line <NUM> from the at least one winding machine <NUM>.

Furthermore, the textile plant <NUM> may comprise a central control unit <NUM> for managing the bobbins and tubes connected to said at least one sorting device <NUM> and to said at least one winding machine <NUM>.

The advantages of an apparatus according to the present invention are therefore now apparent.

In the first place, an apparatus has been provided for moving bobbins and tubes for a textile plant which may better adapt to the arrangements of the individual existing apparatuses.

In other words, the possible spinning machine arrangements are much more versatile than the traditional Multilink model and also allow making better use of the limited space between the spinning machines.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to the present invention is easily replicable, both in different systems but also within the same system, as may be seen in the example shown in <FIG>.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to the present invention allows already constituted textile plants to be improved, without the need to move the already installed spinning machines.

Claim 1:
Apparatus (<NUM>) for moving bobbins and tubes in a textile plant (<NUM>) comprising at least one group of at least two spinning machines (<NUM>; <NUM>) and at least one winding machine (<NUM>);
said apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
- an outward conveyor (<NUM>; <NUM>), and a return conveyor (<NUM>; <NUM>) for each spinning machine (<NUM>; <NUM>); said outward conveyor (<NUM>; <NUM>) being adapted for transporting bobbins in output from the respective spinning machine (<NUM>, <NUM>); said return conveyor (<NUM>, <NUM>) being adapted for transporting tubes entering the respective spinning machine (<NUM>, <NUM>);
- a sorting device (<NUM>) comprising a conveyor station (<NUM>) at which the outward conveyors (<NUM>; <NUM>) converge, and a redistribution station (<NUM>) at which the return conveyors (<NUM>; <NUM>) converge;
said conveyor station (<NUM>) and said redistribution station (<NUM>) being connected by means of a conveyor (<NUM>) and a redistribution conveyor (<NUM>) respectively to a bobbin input line (<NUM>) to said at least one winding machine (<NUM>) and to a bobbin output line (<NUM>) from said at least one winding machine (<NUM>);
said conveyor station (<NUM>) and said redistribution station (<NUM>) being adapted for redistributing the bobbins or tubes respectively to the bobbin input line (<NUM>) or to the return conveyors (<NUM>; <NUM>) based on predetermined operating parameters of the bobbins and tubes to be redistributed;
wherein said spinning machines (<NUM>; <NUM>) are aligned with each other in a direction longitudinal to them.