Winding devices

Abstract

 A winding device (14) for retaining a bobbin tube (16) on which a package of yarn is to be wound, comprises at least one bobbin tube gripping element (27) in the form of a sleeve part (30) with a plurality of resilient fingers (31) extending in an axial direction therefrom. The or each element (27) is mounted on a hollow shaft (17) together with a respective deflecting member (28), at least one of which is slidable along the shaft (17) to cause radially outward deflection of the fingers (31) to grip the bobbin tube (16), due to relative movement between cooperating conical surfaces (29, 33) on the deflecting member (28) and the fingers (31). An actuating rod (22) within the hollow shaft (17) moves the slidable element (27) or deflecting member (28) being biassed by a spring (23) in one direction and actuated by pneumatic means (24) in the opposite direction, the spring (23) actuating means (24), driving means (19) and braking means (21) for the shaft (17) all being located at a drive end of the shaft (17) which is mounted on a turret (12) rotatably mounted on a frame (11) of a winding mechanism (10).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to winding devices of the type wherein a strand material is wound on to a bobbin tube which is mounted on a rotatable spindle. In particular the invention relates to high speed textile filament winding devices, and to means whereby a bobbin tube, on which a textile filament is to be wound, is secured on the rotatable spindle of a high speed winding machine.

[0002] Bobbin securing devices of various types are known. For example in US Patent No 4613092 four independent arms are located in slots in supporting sleeves, and have chamferred ends to co-operate with a conical, axially movably bush. When the bush is moved the arms pivot about their other ends as the chamferred ends slide up the conical surface of the bush to move radially outwardly and grip the internal surface of the bobbin tube. The arms are retained in the slots by a circumferentially extending spring. Such an arrangement is complicated to manufacture and assemble. The bobbin tube is contacted only on a small surface area of the top edges of the arms so that a large torque loading on acceleration or stopping of a heavy package cannot be transmitted without risk of damage to the internal surface of the bobbin tube by the arms.

[0003] Similar disadvantages apply to the arrangements shown in, for example, European Patents Nos. 217276, 219752 and 270826 in which cones located within the hollow drive shaft move axially of the shaft to move bobbin tube gripping elements radially to grip the bobbin tube.

[0004] An alternative arrangement is described in US Patent No 4575015, wherein rubber O rings located on the outer surface of the shaft are compressed in the axial direction to create radial deformation in order to grip the bobbin tube. With such an arrangement when no bobbin tube is present to retain the O rings on the rotating spindle, the centrifugal force on the O rings can cause them to become dislodged. Also the amount of radial deformation is very limited so that a large gap between the inside of the bobbin tube and the outside of the non-compressed O rings cannot be accommodated. In consequence the bobbin tube may be difficult to remove from the spindle when a package is fully wound due to the radial compression of the bobbin tube by the filament windings thereon.

[0005] This latter disadvantage also applies to the arrangement shown in European Patent No 78978, in which a cone moves axially into a conical dish shaped part of a elastomer sleeve to force the dish radially outwardly to grip the bobbin tube.

[0006] In addition most of the above described arrangements require pneumatic actuating elements within the hollow spindle to operate the moving cone devices, and therefore involve complicated and costly means to provide compressed air within the rotating spindle.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a winding device wherein the bobbin tube gripping means are simple to manufacture and assemble and are not subject to the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0008] The invention provides a winding device comprising a rotatable shaft, at least one bobbin tube gripping element mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith and a respective deflecting member also mounted on the shaft,at least one of the or each element and respective deflecting member being movable axially of the shaft, wherein the or each element comprises a sleeve part having a plurality of resilient fingers extending in an axial direction therefrom, and the deflecting member and the fingers have co-operating surfaces whereby the fingers are deflected radially of the shaft on relative axial movement between the deflecting member and the element.

[0009] The fingers may be formed by a plurality of slots in the element extending axially from one end thereof to the sleeve part. The element may be formed of a plastics material.

[0010] The co-operating surfaces may be of substantially conical form. The deflecting member may comprise an annular ring which may be slidably located on the shaft to effect the relative movement. The shaft may be hollow, and the winding device may comprise an actuating rod extending within the hollow shaft. The winding device may also comprise an end cap secured to the actuating rod and located at a free end of the shaft to be movable with the actuating rod axially of the shaft.

[0011] The winding device may comprise a plurality of bobbin tube gripping elements spaced longitudinally of the shaft, and for each element a respective deflecting member. Movement of the actuating rod and end cap may cause each deflecting member and respective element to transmit an actuating force to the next successive deflecting member and respective element to cause relative movement therebetween and consequential radial deflection of the fingers of each element. Alternatively one of each element and its respective deflecting member may be secured to the shaft and the other connected to the actuating rod whereby movement of the actuating rod causes the relative movement and consequential radial deflection of the fingers of each element. The actuating rod may be connected to an element or a deflecting member by means of a radially extending spigot which passes through an axially extending slot in the shaft.

[0012] The winding device may comprise spring means operable to move the actuating rod in a direction to cause the radially outward deflection of the fingers to grip a bobbin tube when mounted on the winding device. The winding device may also comprise actuating means operable to move the actuating rod in the opposite direction to allow radially inward deflection of the fingers to release a bobbin tube when mounted on the winding device. The actuating means may be fluid, for example pneumatic, actuating means.

[0013] The winding device may also comprise driving means for the shaft, and may also comprise braking means for the shaft. The actuating means, the driving means and the braking means may be located at a drive end of the shaft which is mounted in a machine frame of a winding mechanism. The winding mechanism may comprise a turret mounted on the machine frame for rotation relative thereto, and two of the winding devices mounted in the turret. The shafts of the two winding devices may be diametrically opposed and substantially equidistant from the axis of rotation of the turret, and the axes of the shafts may be substantially parallel with that axis of rotation.
The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig 1 is a general arrangement, in longitudinal section, of a first embodiment.

Fig 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1

Fig 3 and 4 are an end view and a section on the line IV - IV respectively, of the bobbin tube gripping device shown in Figs 1 and 2, and

Fig 5 is a view corresponding with Fig 2, of a second embodiment.

[0014] Referring now to Fig 1, there is shown a winding mechanism denoted generally by the numeral 10, comprising a machine frame 11 on which is mounted a turret 12 for rotation relative to the frame 11 about a horizontal axis 13. Mounted in the turret 12 are two winding devices 14, only one being shown for simplicity. The two winding devices 14 are diametrically opposed and equidistant from the turret axis 13, and have axis 15 substantially parallel with the turret axis 13. Upon rotation of the turret 12 through 180° the winding devices 14 move between a winding location and a service location. With a winding device bobbin tubes 16 mounted on the winding device 14. With the winding device 14 in the service location full packages may be doffed from the winding device 14 and new bobbin tubes 16 placed thereon.

[0015] The winding device 14 comprises a hollow tubular shaft 17 having one end mounted in bearings 18 in the turret 12 so as to be rotatable about the shaft axis 15. A pulley 19 receives a drive belt therearound to drive the shaft 17 and a brake device 21 is provided to stop the shaft 17 when required for doffing full packages and donning new bobbin tubes 16.

[0016] An actuating rod 22 extends within the hollow shaft 17 for sliding movement along the axis 15, and is resiliently biassed towards the turret 12 and machine frame 11 by means of a compression spring 23. A pneumatic actuator 24 is operable to move the actuating rod 22 in the opposite direction. Spaced slide discs 25 assist in locating the actuating rod 22 for its sliding movement axially within the hollow shaft 17. An end cap 26 is secured to the free end of the actuating rod 22 to move therewith.

[0017] As can be seen from Fig 1 two bobbin tubes 16 are mounted on the shaft 17. The winding device 10 may be adapted for receiving one or more than two bobbin tubes 16 on each shaft 17 if desired, the appropriate number of bobbin tube gripping arrangements as hereinafter described being provided.

[0018] As is best seen in Fig 2, for each bobbin tube 16 the gripping arrangement comprises two bobbin tube gripping elements 27 and respective deflecting members 28. Each deflecting member 28 comprises an annular ring having an outer conical surface 29 at the end thereof adjacent the respective gripping element 27. Each bobbin tube gripping element 27 comprises a sleeve part 30 and a plurality of resilient fingers 31 extending axially therefrom. As can be seen from Figs 3 and 4 the fingers 31 are formed by a plurality of radial slots 32 provided in the element 27 extending from one end thereof to the sleeve part 30. The fingers 31 are provided with an internal conical surface 33 to co-operate with the conical outer surface 29 of the respective deflecting member 28. Both the deflecting members 28 and the elements 27 are slidably mounted on the hollow shaft 17. Spacers 34, also slidably mounted on the shaft 17, ensure transmission of axial forces between successive element and deflecting member assemblies 27, 28.

[0019] Under the influence of the compression spring 23 the actuating rod 15 and end cap 26 are biassed towards the turret 12 and machine frame 11. Movement of the end cap 26 in such direction causes the adjacent deflecting member 28 to move in the same direction and subsequent movement of each successive element 27, spacer 34 and deflecting member 28 along the shaft 17, except for the deflecting member 28 adjacent the turret 12. In consequence there will be relative movement between each deflecting member 28 and its respective element 27 and relative sliding of their conical surfaces 29, 33 as the fingers 31 are deflected radially outwardly. This ensures that, provided the force of spring 23 is adequate, the outer surfaces 34 of the fingers 31 will grip the inner surfaces of the bobbin tubes 16 and transmit the driving or braking torque from the shaft 17 to the tubes 16.

[0020] Operation of the pneumatic actuator 24 moves the actuating rod 15 and end cap 26 in the opposite direction, against the force of the spring 23, to release the gripping forces on the bobbin tubes 16 for doffing and donning purposes.

[0021] Conveniently the bobbin tube gripping elements 27 are of a plastics material for simple and inexpensive manufacture. The embodiment described above also provides for simple and inexpensive manufacture, there being no pneumatic apparatus in the hollow shaft 17 requiring a bore of accurate tolerance, and no slots for actuating mechanisms are required in the shaft 17 surface. However due to friction between the outer surface of the shaft 17 and the deflecting members 28, the elements 27 and the spacers 34 the gripping force on the bobbin tube near to the turret 12 may be less than that near to the end cap 26, and the former may be inadequate. If that is the case an alternative embodiment as shown in Fig 5 may be used.

[0022] In the embodiment of Fig 5 parts corresponding with those of the previous embodiment are identified by corresponding reference numerals. However this embodiment differs from the embodiment of Figs 1 and 2 in that in this case each deflecting member 28 and its respective gripping element 27 operates independently of the other deflecting members 28 and their respective gripping elements 27. It will be seen that the lower part of Fig 5 shows the winding device 10 in the bobbin tube release position, eg for donning or doffing purposes, whilst the upper part of Fig 5 shows the winding device 10 in the bobbin tube gripping position, eg during package winding.

[0023] The deflecting member 28 adjacent the end cap 26 is slidably mounted on the shaft 17. However its respective gripping element 27 is prevented from sliding axially of the shaft 17 by means of an element retaining sleeve 35 which is immovably located on the shaft 17 by retaining pins 36. In consequence movement of the actuating rod 22 axially of the shaft 17 causes relative movement between the deflecting member 28 and the gripping element 27 to grip or release the bobbin tube 16 as previously described.

[0024] In the case of the next deflecting member 28¹ and respective gripping element 27¹, the deflecting member 28¹ is immovably located on the shaft 17 by means of retaining pins 36. However the element retaining sleeve 35¹ is connected to the actuating rod 22 by means of connecting pins 37, each extending through a slot 38 in the shaft 17, and slide disc 25. In consequence movement of the actuating rod 22 axially of the shaft 17 causes the element retaining sleeve 35¹ and the gripping element 27¹ to slide axially of the shaft 17 and relative to the deflecting member 28 to grip or release the bobbin tube 16.

[0025] The next gripping element 27¹¹ is immovably located on the shaft 17 by means of immovably mounted element retaining sleeve 35¹¹ whilst the deflecting member 28¹¹ is movable with the actuating rod 22. Finally the last gripping element 27¹¹¹ is movable with the actuating rod 22, and its element retaining sleeve 35¹¹¹ is immovably located on the shaft 17, either by means of retaining pins 36 or by abutting the bearing 18 in the turret 12 or a step on the shaft 17. With such an arrangement movement of the actuating rod 22 causes equal relative movement between each deflecting member 28 and its respective gripping element 27, so that there is substantially equal radial deflection of the fingers 31 of all gripping elements 27 and hence substantially equal gripping forces applied to the bobbin tubes 16 at all gripping locations.

[0026] Although the gripping elements 27 are preferably made of a plastics material, other materials may be used if required in certain cases, for example steel may be used provided that the cross-sectional dimensions of the fingers 31, at least in the region adjacent the sleeve part 30, are such that the fingers 31 are resiliently deflectable radially outwardly.

Claims

1. A winding device comprising a rotatable shaft, at least one bobbin tube gripping element mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith and a respective deflecting member also mounted on the shaft, at least one of the or each element and respective deflecting member being movable axially of the shaft, characterised in that the or each element (27) comprises a sleeve part (30) having a plurality of resilient fingers (31) extending in an axial direction therefrom, and the deflecting member (28) and the fingers (31) have cooperating surfaces (29, 33) whereby the fingers (31) are deflected radially of the shaft (17) on relative axial movement between the deflecting member(28) and the element (27).

2. A winding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the fingers (31) are formed by a plurality of slots (32) in the element (27) extending axially from one end thereof to the sleeve part (30).

3. A winding device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the deflecting member (28) comprises an annualar ring and in that the cooperating surfaces (29, 33) are of substantially conical form.

4. A winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the shaft (17) is hollow and an actuating rod (22) extends within the hollow shaft, (17) and in that an end cap (26) is secured to the actuating rod (22) and located at a free end of the shaft (17) to be movable with the actuating rod (22) axially of the shaft (17) to effect the relative movement.

5. A winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a plurality of bobbin tube gripping elements (27) are spaced longitudinally of the shaft (17), and for each element (27) there is a respective deflecting member (28).

6. A winding device according to claim 4 and claim 5, characterised in that movement of the actuating rod (22) and end cap (26) causes each deflecting member (28) and respective element (27) to transmit an actuating force to the next successive deflecting member (28) and respective element (27) to produce relative movement therebetween and cosnequential radial deflection of the fingers (31) of each element (27).

7. A winding device according to claim 5, characterised in that an acutating rod (22) extends within the hollow shaft (17) in that one of each element (27) and its respective deflecting member (28) is secured to the shaft (17) and the other is connected to the actuating rod (22), whereby movement of the actuating rod (22) causes the relative movement and consequential radial deflection of the fingers (31) of each element (27).

8. A winding device according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised in that spring means (23) is operable to move the actuating rod (22) in a direction to cause radially outward deflection of the fingers (31) to grip a bobbin tube (16) when mounted on the winding device (14) and in that fluid actuating means (24) is operable to move the actuating rod (22) in the opposite direction to allow radially inward deflection of the fingers (31) to release the bobbin tube (16)

9. A winding mechanism comprising a machine frame having a drive end of at least one winding device according to claim 8 mounted therein, characterised in that driving means (19) and braking means (21) for the shaft (17) are both located, together with the actuating means (24), at the drive end of the shaft (17).

10. A winding mechanism according to claim 9, characterised in that a turret (12) is mounted on the machine frame (11) for rotation relative thereto, and two of the winding devices (14) are mounted on the turret (12) with the axes (15) of the two shafts (17) substantially parallel with the axis of rotation (13) of the turret (12) and diametrically opposed at substantially equal distances from the axis of rotation (13) thereof.

Drawing