Machine for automatically loading empty bobbins or support tubes, in particular for tape or filament of synthetic material of polypropylene, polyethylene or similar type for industrial use, into automatic winding units

Abstract

 A machine (1) for automatically loading empty bobbins or support tubes (11), in particular for tape or filament (7) of synthetic material of polypropylene, polyethylene or similar type for industrial use, into automatic winding units (8) used in spinning plants, and from these latter unloading bobbins (12) already wound with said tape or filament (7) and arranged on rotating spindles (16), said machine comprising means (6) for gripping and cutting the filament or tape (7) travelling towards an already wound bobbin (12), movable means (10) for supporting at least one empty tube (11) and arranged to receive the wound bobbin (12) after its removal from the machine (1), and axially movable and rotating transfer means (15) arranged to cooperate with the wound bobbin (12) in such a manner as to extract it from the respective spindle (16) and to cooperate with the empty tube (11) in such a manner as to mount it on said spindle (16), stop means being provided to halt the movement of said spindle before its unloading.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a machine for automatically loading support tubes, in particular for tape or filament of synthetic material of polypropylene, polyethylene or similar type for industrial use, into automatic winding units in spinning plants, and from these latter unloading bobbins already wound with said tape or filament and arranged on rotating spindles.

[0002] Automatic winding units of the aforesaid type enable fibres, such as synthetic fibres in continuous filament form for industrial use, for example for forming the underside of carpets or for forming bags, to be wound onto a plurality of bobbins, As is well known, these winding units are arranged in positions corresponding with usual synthetic fibre production machines and comprise a series of spindles arranged in superposed parallel planes.

[0003] When a bobbin has been wound with a suitable mass of filament, the bobbin is unloaded from its respective spindle and replaced by an empty bobbin or support tube.

[0004] This is generally done manually, with the obvious drawbacks connected with this manner of working and its cost.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting and sucking-in the filament, removing the wound bobbin, automatically loading empty tubes or bobbins onto the spindles of the winding unit and automatically restarting the winding of the filament on the empty tube.

[0006] A particular object of the invention is to provide a machine which automatically performs the aforesaid operations without any human intervention,

[0007] A further object is to provide a machine of the aforesaid type which achieves reliable and exact positioning of the empty bobbins on the spindles,

[0008] A further object is to provide a machine of the aforesaid type which is able to remove from a spindle an already wound bobbin and replace it with an empty bobbin independently of the height at which said spindle is located from the floor.

[0009] These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a machine of the aforesaid type, characterised by comprising means for gripping and cutting the filament or tape travelling towards an already wound bobbin to be replaced with an empty bobbin, movable means for supporting at least one empty bobbin and arranged to receive the wound bobbin after its removal from the spindle, and axially movable and rotating transfer means arranged to cooperate with the wound bobbin in such a manner as to extract it from the respective spindle and to cooperate with the empty bobbin or tube in such a manner as to mount it on said spindle after the wound bobbin has been removed.

[0010] The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of a detail of the machine of Figure 1 in a different position of use from that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front view of a detail of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a schematic view of another part of the machine of Figure 1.

[0011] With reference to said figures and in particular to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine of the invention is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a column 2 with a head or upper part 3 (with respect to said figures) arranged to cooperate with a guide or track 4 (for example in the form of an overhead rail). Along the column 2 there moves a carriage or support member 5 movably carrying a gripping and cutting unit 6 for a filament 7 fed to a bobbin winding unit 8 (of known type), a unit 10 for supporting empty bobbins or tubes 11 (shown by dashed lines in Figure 1) and filament-wound bobbins 12 removed from the winding unit 8, and transfer means 15 arranged to cooperate with the bobbins 12 to be removed from usual spindles 16 of said winding unit and with the empty tubes 11 to be loaded onto said spindles.

[0012] The head 3 of the machine 1 supports a first drive member 20 able by known means (for example by a driven toothed wheel 21 cooperating with the guide 4) to move the machine along the fixed guide, and a second drive member 23 driving a toothed wheel 24 to which it is connected and about which a cog belt 25 connected to the carriage 5 passes.

[0013] On rotating the wheel 24 the carriage moves vertically along lateral guides 27 provided along the column 2.

[0014] The movement of the carriage can be achieved in other known ways, for example by chains, racks or the like.

[0015] On the head 3 of the machine 1 there are also provided a usual encoder 30 for verifying the movements of the machine along the guide 4 and members 31 for retaining the machine on said guide.

[0016] The carriage 5 supports a plurality of elements 32 (for example grooved wheels as shown in Figure 3) for cooperating with the guides 27 of the column 2. These elements secure the carriage to the guides and enable it to move along them.

[0017] In the example, the carriage comprises a bracket 34 to which said belt 25 is connected.

[0018] Figures 4 and 6 show the support unit 10. This comprises two arms 35 and 36 carrying at their free ends 35A and 36A spindles 37 for supporting respectively a filament-wound bobbin 12 and an empty bobbin or tube 11. The two arms 35 and 36 are arranged at an angle to each other and are associated with a common arm 39 connected at its free end 39A to a movable shaft 40. This latter rotates within a sleeve 41 provided in a part 5A of the carriage 5, the shaft 40 being associated with said support via usual mechanical decoupling members or bearings 43.

[0019] The sleeve is fixed, (eg welded) to said part 5A. The movable shaft carries at its free end 45 a forked member 46 with arms 47 and 48 arranged perpendicular to the axis K of the shaft 40.

[0020] These arms cooperate with a pin 49 rotating within eyelets 50 in said arms and secured to the head 51 of the piston 52 of a pneumatic pusher 53. This piston moves within a cylinder 54 secured at a fork-shaped end 55 to a pin 56, about which the cylinder can rotate.

[0021] The pin 56 is associated with a plate 57 secured to the part 5A of the carriage 5.

[0022] Finally, the arm 35 carries an abutment element 60 arranged to cooperate with fixed members 61 associated with the part 5A of the carriage 5 and acting as a limit stop for the movement (arrow F, Figure 2) of the unit 10 about the axis K of the shaft 40. These fixed members can support proximity sensors (not shown) which sense when the unit 10 has effected its movement of passing from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 2 (which will be assumed to be the positions in which a bobbin 12 is removed from a corresponding spindle 16 and in which an empty bobbin or tube 11 is mounted thereon).

[0023] In a position corresponding with the unit 10 there is provided a pusher or transfer unit defining said means 15.

[0024] Said unit 15 (see Figures 5 and 7) comprises an arm 65 with a side surface 66 arranged to cooperate with the bobbins (full or empty) to transfer them from the winding unit 8 to the machine 1 and vice versa.

[0025] In the example shown in Figure 5, this arm is associated with a drive unit 68 which withdraws it perpendicularly from the carriage 5 and rotates it about an axis W, along which this withdrawal or movement towards the winding unit 8 takes place.

[0026] More specifically, in the example shown in the figures, the drive unit 68 comprises three hollow cylindrical telescopic elements 70, 71 and 72 which are coaxial and move along the common axis W. Two of these cylinders (70 and 71) move longitudinally along the axis W relative to the other cylinder (72), which is fixed longitudinally but can rotate about the axis W.

[0027] Figure 7 shows said drive unit 68.

[0028] In detail, the bore 73 of the hollow element 70 (to which the arm 65 is fixed) contains two threaded elements or screws 75 and 76, of which one (75) is contained in a bore 77 in the other (76).

[0029] The inner screw 75 has its head 75A supported, via bearings 75B, by the wall of the bore 77. The screw 75 cooperates with an element or nut screw 78 inserted in an end cavity 79 of greater diameter than the bore 77 and rests on an annular step 80 of this latter.

[0030] The screw 75 is associated with a gearwheel 81 driven by a drive member via usual transmission elements (for example a belt as shown in Figure 5).

[0031] The outer screw 76 rests via its head 76A on bearings 76B cooperating with the wall of the bore 73. This screw cooperates with a nut screw 84 inserted into an annular cavity 85 of greater diameter than the remaining part of the bore 73 of the element 70. The nut screw 84 rests on a step 87 present in the bore 73.

[0032] The screws 75 and 76 define a differential advancement screw.

[0033] The screw 76 cooperates with the element 70 via bearings 88. An elastic element or compression spring 90 is positioned between a fixed ring 91 and the bearing 88.

[0034] The elements 70 and 71 and 71 and 72 are keyed together, but in order to allow mutual sliding there are provided annular antifriction elements 92, 93 and 94, 95 arranged respectively in annular recesses 96 and 97 of the element 71 and 98, 99 of the element 7.

[0035] Annular seal members 100 and 101 are provided in seats 102 and 103 in the elements 71 and 72 respectively.

[0036] On its outer surface 105, the element 72 comprises collars 106, 107, 108, 109 inserted into respective seats in the part 5A of the carriage 5.

[0037] Bearings 114 and 115 enable the element 72 to rotate about the axis W.

[0038] Finally, a compression spring 116 acts on that end 71A of the element 71 close to a bush 117 into which the end part 118 of the inner screw 75 on which the gearwheel 81 is keyed penetrates and rotates.

[0039] A usual proximity sensor or mechanical encoder 120 senses the rotation of the gearwheel 81 and controls the movements of the telescopic elements 70, 71 and 72. This encoder is connected to the gearwheel 81 for example via said belt 83 or via another transmission element.

[0040] As stated, the element 72 can rotate about the axis W rigid with the arm 65. This rotation is achieved by a pneumatic member 125 comprising a piston 126 movable within a sleeve 127 and hinged to a member or connecting rod 128 rigidly fixed to the arm 65.

[0041] A limit stop 130 is provided to cooperate with said connecting rod 128, to define the rest position of the arm 65.

[0042] Figure 8 shows schematically the gripping and cutting unit 6. In this figure, parts corresponding to those already described are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0043] The gripping and cutting unit comprises a head 150 associated with an arm 151 rotating about a support 152 rigid with a plate 3, which is movable along guides 154 associated with the carriage 5.

[0044] More specifically, the head 150 comprises a suction port 155 connected to a duct or tube 156 inserted through the arm 151 (made hollow for this purpose) and a cutting element 157 for the filament 7. This cutting element comprises a cylinder 158 provided with a surface recess 159 to receive the filament and movable within a seat provided in the head 150, into which it can enter and from which it can leave by the action of a drive member, for example a pneumatic piston 160. When the cutting element enters said seat it cuts the filament 7.

[0045] The arm 151 penetrates into the support 152, which is formed for example as a hollow cylinder fixed to the plate 153.

[0046] The unit 6 also comprises a movable member 162 arranged to cooperate with a usual switch (not shown but provided on the winding unit 8) for halting the rotation of the spindle from which the bobbin already wound with filament 7 is to be removed.

[0047] More specifically, the plate 153 is subjected to the action of at least one drive member which in the example consists of a first pneumatic member (or the like) 166 and a second pneumatic member 167 secured to the part 5A of the carriage 5.

[0048] The pneumatic member 166 is secured to a piston 168 of the second pneumatic member movable within a sleeve 169 fixed to the carriage 5. The first member 166 comprises a movable piston 170 with which an arm 171 is associated. The movement of the movable piston 170 results in movement of the plate 153, further movement of the member 166 (caused by the movement of the piston 168) resulting in additional movement of said plate.

[0049] Usual antifriction elements (such as bushes, not shown) are provided between the arm 151 and the support 152 to allow relative movement of the parts.

[0050] A further pneumatic member 175 carried by the plate 153 causes the arm 151 to rotate within the support 152 about its longitudinal axis X.

[0051] The pneumatic member 175 comprises a sleeve 178 hinged to a pin 180 secured to the plate 153 and a piston 181 associated with the arm 151.

[0052] Likewise, a pneumatic member 182 secured to the plate 153 acts on the movable member 162 for halting the spindle to be unloaded.

[0053] The member 162 slides within a sleeve 184 fixed to said plate moved by the member 182.

[0054] The movement of said plate, of the arm 152 and of the stop member 162 can be achieved by different methods, for example by electric motors. In particular, the plate 152 can be moved by a single pneumatic member.

[0055] It will now be assumed that a wound bobbin is to be removed from a spindle 16 of the winding unit 8.

[0056] To achieve this, the machine 1 is moved by the drive member 20 along the guide 4 until it reaches the winding unit of which said bobbin forms part. In this respect it should be noted that generally a large number of winding units 8 are arranged side by side in a production position, the machine 1 being therefore arranged to operate on all said winding units situated in line.

[0057] The encoder 30 senses the position of the machine 1 along the guide. It should be noted that every movement of the machine and of each of its parts can be remotely controlled by a microprocessor or similar control member which in accordance with a precise procedure controls the operation of each drive member (mechanical, pneumatic or the like used for effecting the movements of said machine and its parts) present on the machine following a request (manual, automatic or programmed) for removing a bobbin 12 from a winding unit.

[0058] During said movement, an arm 300 positioned at the bottom of the machine 1 and comprising a member 301 slidable in a guide 302 associated with the winding unit 8 and parallel to the guide 4 allows improved positioning of the machine 1 in front of the winding unit.

[0059] The required position having been reached, the drive member 23 moves the carriage 5 into a vertical position such as to enable the support unit 10 to position one of its spindles 37 (that without a tube 11 for example carried by the arm 36) coaxially to the spindle 16 of the winding unit 8 to be unloaded.

[0060] Having done this the gripping and cutting unit is operated to move towards the winding unit.

[0061] Specifically, while the suction port 155 sucks the filament 7 (which is fed continuously and continues to reach the winding unit), the movable stop member halts the movement of the spindle 16 by operating a usual switch (not shown) provided on the winding unit 8.

[0062] The stop member 162 moves for example until it touches the switch on the winding unit.

[0063] During the sucking of the filament 7 the cutting element 157 acts on the filament to cut it. This filament is sucked in by the suction port 155 and is fed pneumatically into a containing chamber (not shown), for example within the carriage 5, through the duct or tube 156.

[0064] Alternatively it can be fed to a container lying at the base of the winding unit 8, via the arm 300.

[0065] The arm 65 undergoes simultaneous approach movement.

[0066] This is achieved for example by rotating the internal screw 75 by means of the gearwheel 81. This causes the nut screw 78 to move along the axis W and press against the step 80, to hence cause the outer screw 76 to move longitudinally. This, by way of the nut screw 84, drives the cylindrical element 70, which emerges from the element 71 to withdraw the arm 65 from the column 2.

[0067] When the nut screw 78 bears against the bearing 75B (ie at the end of the screw 75), torsional coupling occurs between the screw 75 and the screw 76. In this manner, the nut screw 84 moves along this latter, pushing the element 71 via the element 70, which has reached its end-of-travel position (ie its maximum extraction). This continues until the nut screw 84 has travelled along the entire screw 76, ie until the maximum extension of the element 71 from the element 72 is achieved.

[0068] This drive member has the advantage of being compact and allowing considerable movement of the arm 65 in withdrawing from the column 2. It can however be formed in other known ways, for example by pneumatic members or the like.

[0069] The telescopic elements 70 and 71 extend in the aforesaid manner to achieve approach of the arm 65 to the winding unit.

[0070] When this has been achieved and verified by the encoder 80, the movement of the screw 75 (and hence of the screw 76) is interrupted and the pneumatic member 125 rotates said arm about the axis W) 8 so that it closes onto the bobbin 12.

[0071] By virtue of the control provided by the encoder 80, the position attained by said arm is between said bobbin and the winding unit 8. The arm obviously cooperates with that part of the bobbin not wound by the filament.

[0072] At this point, in a manner similar to that described, the telescopic elements 70 and 71 partly return into the element 72. This return brings the arm 65 close to the column 2 so as to drag the bobbin 12 onto the spindle 37 of the support unit 10 which, as stated, lies coaxial to the spindle 16 from which the bobbin 12 is extracted. The arm 65 withdraws from this bobbin by rotating about the axis W.

[0073] Usual proximity sensors (not shown) determine when the bobbin 12 has been deposited on the spindle 37. Alternatively, this can be determined indirectly by measuring (by any known method) the effort expended by the drive members which move the arm 65 along the axis W (electric motor or pneumatic member), this effort arising when the arm pushes the bobbin 12 onto the spindle 37 after the bobbin has reached its end-of-travel position (for example in contact with the arm 36).

[0074] After this, the pneumatic pusher 53 is operated to rotate the shaft 40 and hence the arm 39 about the axis K.

[0075] This results in rotation of the entire unit 10, so that it becomes positioned as shown in Figure 2. In this manner the spindle 37 carried by the arm 35 is brought coaxial to the previously unloaded spindle 16.

[0076] At this point the arm 65 is moved, by the movement of the
other in approaching the column 2. This arm then rotates about the axis W to make contact with the empty tube 11. The elements 70 and 71 then emerge one from the other in the manner heretofore described.

[0077] By this movement, the arm 65 withdraws from the column 2, dragging with it the empty tube 11, which passes from the spindle 37 to the spindle 16.

[0078] The arm 65 then rotates about the axis W, separates from the tube 11 and withdraws completely towards the column 2.

[0079] The movable stop member 162 releases the bobbin stop switch to commence the closure and rotation cycle for the spindle 16.

[0080] There is then a combined movement in which the motor 20 causes the machine to advance slightly along the guide 4 and the pneumatic member 175 causes the arm 151 to rotate. The action of the members 166, 167 and said rotation bring the filament 7 into a position corresponding with a notch present on the spindle 16, which hooks it and drags it into rotation.

[0081] Simultaneously with this, a usual cutting element on the spindle operates on the filament 7 present in its notch, and cuts it to enable the spindle 16 to wind the filament onto a new bobbin.

[0082] The unit 6 then returns to its initial rest position and the machine 1 withdraws from the winding unit 8 to move the bobbin 12 into a region in which it is unloaded from the spindle 37.

[0083] For completion, an overhead line 500 can be provided (see Figure 1) on which usual trolleys run carrying fixed spindles 501 on which to deposit the bobbin 12 removed from the winding unit (and possibly the empty bobbins 11 to be associated with the machine 1).

[0084] To achieve this, the carriage 5 of the machine 1 is raised, and in a manner similar to that described for mounting the tube 11 on the winding unit spindle 16 the unit 10 deposits the bobbin 12 on the trolley 501 after withdrawing the empty bobbin to be used for the next cycle. The trolley carries the bobbin to a discharge and storage zone in known manner.

[0085] A particular embodiment of the machine 1 has been described, However modifications can be made thereto without leaving the scope of the present document, for example the drive members using electric motors coupled to mechanical members can be replaced by hydraulic or pneumatic elements performing the same function, or vice versa.

Claims

1. A machine for automatically loading empty bobbins or support tubes, in particular for tape or filament of synthetic material of polypropylene, polyethylene or similar type for industrial use, into automatic winding units used in spinning plants, and from these latter unloading bobbins already wound with said tape or filament and arranged on rotating spindles, characterised in that said machine comprises means (6) for gripping and cutting the filament or tape (7) travelling towards an already wound bobbin (12), movable means (10) for supporting at least one empty bobbin or tube (11) and arranged to receive the wound bobbin (12) after its removal from the machine (1), and axially movable and rotating transfer means (15) arranged to cooperate with the wound bobbin (12) in such a manner as to extract it from the respective spindle (16) and to cooperate with the empty bobbin or tube (11) in such a manner as to mount it on said spindle (16).

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the gripping and cutting unit (6) comprise a head (150) associated with an arm (151) movable to withdraw from the machine (1) and rotatable about its own axis (X), said head comprising a suction port (155) and a cutting member (157).

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the movable arm (151) is arranged slidable in a support (152) associated with a plate (153) guidedly movable along guides (154) associated with a movable carriage (5) of the machine (1).

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the movable plate (153) is subjected to drive means (166) which move it along the guides (154), said plate supporting a drive member (175) arranged to rotate the movable arm (151).

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterised by comprising stop means for interrupting the operation of the spindle (16) carrying the already wound bobbin (12).

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the stop means are a rod-shaped member (162) movable axially relative to the plate (153) of the movable gripping and cutting unit (6).

7. A machine as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the movable carriage (5) also supports the movable support means (10) and the transfer means (15), said carriage guidedly moving along tracks (25) provided along the machine (1).

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, characterised by comprising a column (2) carrying the tracks (25) for the movement of the movable carriage (5), said column being associated with a part (3) slidable along guides (4) and supporting drive means (20) for moving the column (2) and drive means (23) for the movable carriage (5).

9. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the movable support means (10) comprise a first and a second arm (35, 36) forming an angle with each other and connected to a common arm (39) associated at its free end (39A) with a rotating shaft (40), said first and second arm carrying at their free ends (35A, 36A) two cylindrical members (37) arranged respectively to support the empty bobbin or tube (11) and to receive the wound bobbin (12) after it has been removed from the winding unit (8).

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the rotating shaft (40) is associated with a drive member (53) connected to the movable carriage (5), said member operating said shaft (40) to rotate the support means about the axis (K) of this latter to enable both cylindrical members (37) to assume positions coaxial with each spindle (16) of the winding unit (8).

11. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the transfer means (15) comprise an arm (65) movable to withdraw from the machine (1) and rotatable about the axis (W) along which this latter movement takes place, said arm (65) cooperating with the wound bobbins (12) to be removed from the winding unit and with those to be mounted on its spindles, said arm being associated with drive means (68) for effecting and controlling said movements.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the movable arm (65) is associated with telescopic elements (70, 71, 72) movable relative to each other and associated with the movable carriage (5) of the machine.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the telescopic elements (70, 71, 72) are associated with at least one screw (75, 76) for their differential advancement,

14. A machine as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the telescopic elements (70, 71, 72) are associated with pneumatic members.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a control unit for controlling each drive member carried by said machine.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a container or pocket for containing the filament (7) sucked in during the replacement of the bobbins of the winding unit (8).

17. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising an integrated device for supplying empty bobbins (11) and for transporting wound bobbins (12), comprising trolleys (501) slidable along overhead lines (500) and provided with fixed spindles (502) for supporting said bobbins (11, 12).

Drawing