Equipment for moving spools and tubes in textile facilities and textile facilities.

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for moving spools and tubes in a textile facility, and to a textile facility comprising at least one group having at least two spinning machines and at least one winding machine; the apparatus includes: - an outward conveyor and a return conveyor; the outward conveyor is adapted to convey spools output from the respective spinning machines; the return conveyor is adapted to convey tubes entering the respective spinning machines; - a sorting device including a conveyor station and a redistribution station, the outward conveyors converging at the conveyor station and the return conveyors converging at the redistribution station; the conveyor station and the redistribution station are respectively connected via the conveyor and the redistribution conveyor to a spool input line leading to at least one winding machine and a spool output line originating from at least one winding machine; the conveyor station and the redistribution station are adapted to redistribute spools or tubes to the spool input line or the return conveyor, respectively, based on predetermined operating parameters; wherein the spinning machines are substantially aligned. The apparatus is simple and suitable for various arrangements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities, and to a textile facility including such a device for moving spools and tubes. Background Technology

[0002] As is known, multi-chain textile facilities generally include: multiple spinning machines that supply yarn to winding machines; a spool conveying system for transferring spools from spinning machines to winding machines; and an empty tube conveying system for sending empty tubes from winding machines to target spinning machines.

[0003] In this discussion, reference will be made to the treatment of spools or tubes; however, the treatment of spools is carried out by a system suitable for this purpose, such as a tube-plate system known to those skilled in the art.

[0004] These systems provide plates with protruding portions, referred to as clamps, adapted for partial insertion into a pipe. The plates are guided by a conveyor system, which essentially comprises a conveyor belt and a guide, on which the plates rest, and the guide is adapted to engage with the portion of the clamp not contained within the pipe. For example, the guide can be made from two side-by-side but spaced-apart sections of a metal sheet, thereby defining a slot just wider than the diameter of the clamp.

[0005] In a traditional multi-chain system, multiple spinning machines are arranged in parallel with one end aligned, allowing these spinning machines to face a single shared conveyor system.

[0006] Typically, a shared conveyor system consists of two conveyor belts onto which spools or empty tubes are automatically loaded. The first conveyor belt is responsible for transporting spools from the corresponding spinning machine to the winding machine, and the second conveyor belt is responsible for transporting empty tubes from the winding machine to the target spinning machine.

[0007] In this discussion, when we refer to a conveyor belt or conveyor, we mean a system suitable for transporting spools from one location to another. For this purpose, a conveyor can be of the type indicated above and can include channels and movable elements such as belts or chains, wherein plates can be inserted into the channels, and the movable elements are adapted to move the plates from one location to another.

[0008] Once the winding machine has finished processing the yarn by completely emptying the spool, the tube that is thus released is positioned on a shared conveyor system and transported to the target spinning machine.

[0009] In this discussion, the terms "thread," "monofilament," or "continuous thread" refer to a single filament or continuous strand (e.g., in the case of silk, man-made fiber, or synthetic fiber), while the term "yarn" refers to a group of raw fibers of variable length arranged in parallel and joined together by twisting. In the following text, either term will be used indiscriminately, and it should be understood that the application of this invention is not limited to one type or another.

[0010] For proper allocation, each spool is associated with a plate on which a tracking device is typically placed. This allows the plate to be associated with a specific winding unit or a specific spinning machine, and thus allows the associated spool or tube to be associated with a specific winding unit or a specific spinning machine.

[0011] While existing conveying systems for spools or tubes are widely known and used, they are not without drawbacks.

[0012] For example, over time, existing textile facilities have multiple spinning machines that are aligned with each other but not parallel to each other. In this case, since these spinning machines are quite large and complex devices, changing their arrangement is not always possible, easy or convenient from an economic point of view.

[0013] Furthermore, to be precise, the system for moving spools is complex due to the location of the spinning machines, as each spinning machine unloads spools independently of other spinning machines on the same conveyor belt. Therefore, a sophisticated system must be provided to prevent spools unloaded from one spinning machine from interfering with spools already unloaded from previous spinning machines onto the conveyor belt.

[0014] In addition, the equipment currently in use occupies a large amount of floor space that could have been used in other ways. Summary of the Invention

[0015] Therefore, it is recognized that it is necessary to at least partially address the shortcomings and limitations mentioned in the reference to existing technologies.

[0016] Therefore, it was recognized that there was a need to provide a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities, which would allow for better adaptation to the layout of various existing equipment.

[0017] Furthermore, it was recognized that a system was needed that simplified the interconnection structure of the spinning machine and winding machine, thereby reducing its overall size and increasing the ease of use of textile facilities.

[0018] Furthermore, it was recognized that there was a need for modularization of the equipment used for moving spools and tubes, making it easy to replicate the equipment for moving spools and tubes in textile facilities with many spinning machines.

[0019] These requirements are met at least in part by the equipment for moving spools and tubes used in textile facilities as described herein, and by the textile facilities that include such equipment.

[0020] This document describes an apparatus for moving spools and tubes in a textile facility comprising at least one group having at least two spinning machines and at least one winding machine; the apparatus comprising: - for each spinning machine, an outgoing conveyor and a returning conveyor; the outgoing conveyor being adapted to convey spools output from the respective spinning machine; the returning conveyor being adapted to convey tubes entering the respective spinning machine; - a sorting device comprising a conveyor station and a redistribution station, the outgoing conveyors converging at the conveyor station, and the returning conveyors converging at the redistribution station; the conveyor station and the redistribution station being respectively connected via a conveyor and a redistribution conveyor to a spool input line leading to the at least one winding machine and a spool output line originating from the at least one winding machine; the conveyor station and the redistribution station being adapted to redistribute the spools or tubes to the spool input line or the returning conveyor, respectively, based on predetermined operating parameters of the spools and tubes to be redistributed; wherein the spinning machines are substantially aligned.

[0021] This document also discloses a textile facility comprising at least one group having at least two spinning machines and at least one winding machine, the textile facility including the aforementioned equipment for moving spools within the textile facility. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred and non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in the accompanying drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic top plan view of a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities, according to a possible embodiment of the invention, is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic plan view of a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic plan view of a textile facility according to a possible embodiment of the invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic plan view of components of a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities, according to a possible embodiment of the invention, is shown.

[0027] Figure 5The illustration schematically shows a configuration with some additional elements according to a possible implementation. Figure 4 A plan view of the components;

[0028] Figure 6 schematically shown Figure 5 A three-dimensional view of the components; and

[0029] Figures 7 to 9 schematically shown Figure 4 A plan view of possible alternative implementations of the components.

[0030] In the embodiments described below, the same elements or portions of elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates a device 12 for moving spools and tubes in a textile facility 14, which substantially comprises at least one such group having at least two spinning machines 100, 200 and at least one winding machine 300.

[0032] The device 12 includes outgoing conveyors 102, 202 and return conveyors 104, 204 for each spinning machine 100, 200, wherein the outgoing conveyors 102, 202 are adapted to convey spools output from the respective spinning machine 100, 200, and the return conveyors 104, 204 are adapted to convey tubes entering the respective spinning machine 100, 200.

[0033] In addition, the equipment includes a sorting device 400, which includes a conveyor station 402 and a redistribution station 404. Outgoing conveyors 102 and 202 converge at the conveyor station, and returning conveyors 104 and 204 converge at the redistribution station.

[0034] The conveyor station 402 and the redistribution station 404 are connected to the spool input line 302 and the spool output line 304 via the conveyor 406 and the redistribution conveyor 408, respectively, wherein the spool input line leads to at least one winding machine 300 and the spool output line originates from at least one winding machine 300.

[0035] The transmitter station 406 and the redistribution station 408 are adapted to redistribute the spools or tubes to the transmitter 406 or back to the transmitters 104 and 204, respectively, based on predetermined operating parameters of the spools and tubes to be redistributed.

[0036] If possible Figure 1 As seen in the image, spinning machines 100 and 200 can be basically aligned with each other.

[0037] In this discussion, the term "substantially aligned spinning machines" means that the respective spinning heads of a spinning machine are substantially aligned with each other. In other words, multiple spinning machines are aligned with each other in their longitudinal direction.

[0038] According to a possible implementation, the outward conveyor 102 and the return conveyor 104 of the spinning machine 100, which are placed near the sorting device 400, can be arranged inside the spinning machine 200 relative to the outward conveyor 202 and the return conveyor 204 located on the far side of the sorting device 400.

[0039] If possible Figures 1 to 3 As seen in the image, the outward transmitters 102 and 202 and the return transmitters 104 and 204 can be arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0040] By way of example only, spinning machines 100 and 200 can have 300 to 600 heads.

[0041] Figure 2 Alternative embodiments of the device of the present invention are shown.

[0042] If possible Figure 2 As seen in the image, downstream of the sorting device 400, that is, between the sorting device 400 and at least one winding machine 300, at least one other spinning machine 250 may be arranged.

[0043] Therefore, device 14 includes an outward conveyor 252 and a return conveyor 254 for at least one other spinning machine 250. These conveyors 252 and 254 converge with conveyor 406 and redistribution conveyor 408 on a second sorting device 401, which includes conveyor station 403 and redistribution station 505.

[0044] Advantageously, the second sorting device 401 can be completely similar to the sorting device 400.

[0045] The conveyor station 403 and redistribution station 405 of the second sorting device 401 are connected to the spool input line 302 and the spool output line 304 via the conveyor 407 and the redistribution conveyor 409, respectively, wherein the spool input line leads to at least one winding machine 300 and the spool output line originates from at least one winding machine 300.

[0046] According to possible implementations, the conveyor station 402 of the sorting device 400 may include a conveyor tray 410. Furthermore, the redistribution station 404 may also include a redistribution tray 412.

[0047] Both the conveyor disk 410 and the redistribution disk 412 include at least one side seat 414, 416, which is adapted to engage the clamps of the plates of the spool, and by rotation, the conveyor disk and the redistribution disk move the plates from the input position to the associated station 402, 404 and from the station 402, 404 to the output position.

[0048] The rotation of the conveyor disk 410 and the redistribution disk 412 can be performed in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example by an actuator (not shown) operated by the central control unit 500 of the textile facility or by a dedicated control unit (not shown).

[0049] Advantageously, the conveyor disk 410 and / or redistribution disk 412 may include six side seats 414, 416, such as Figures 4 to 7 As shown in the example.

[0050] according to Figure 9 In possible alternative implementations, the transmitter disk 410 and / or redistribution disk 412 may include three side seats 414, 416.

[0051] Side seats 414, 416 are adapted to be engaged by clamps of the plates so that they can be repositioned by rotation of the conveyor disc 410 or the redistribution disc 412.

[0052] According to possible implementations, a disk with six side seats 414, 416, whether the disk is used for conveying or redistribution, can be adapted to rotate in only one direction given a given number of seats on its side surfaces.

[0053] On the other hand, regarding the embodiment of providing a disk with three side seats 414, 416, the disk can be adapted to rotate in both directions, whether it is used for conveying or redistribution.

[0054] In both cases, the control unit 500 of the textile facility can be adapted to manage these rotations so that they are as short as possible, for example, in terms of time or displacement.

[0055] According to possible implementations, in the same sorting device 400, the conveyor station 402 and the redistribution station 404 can be of different types.

[0056] According to, for example, it can be... Figure 8 As observed in the possible implementation, the transmitter station 402 may be provided with blocks 209, 211 at each outward conveyor 102, 202, suitable for selectively blocking the plate. The blocks 209, 211 may be mechanical, electrically actuated, or pneumatically actuated. In any case, the blocks 209, 211 may be of a type known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be discussed further.

[0057] Refer again Figure 8 The redistribution station 404 may include a deflector 213 adapted to deflect plates from the winding machine to one of the return conveyors 104, 204. The deflector 213 may be, for example, mechanical and may be electrically or pneumatically operated. In any case, the deflector 213 may be of a type known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described further.

[0058] As previously mentioned, the conveyor station 402 of the sorting device 400 receives spools and corresponding plates arranged on tubes from the spinning machines 100 and 200. According to possible embodiments, a stop 203 can be provided on the outward conveyor 202 of the furthest spinning machine 200. This stop 203 is suitable for preventing blockages near the sorting tray and simultaneously using the same outward conveyor 202 (which is longer) as a temporary storage system for the spools. Advantageously, the stop 203 can be pneumatic. Furthermore, the stop 203 can be directly managed by the control unit 500.

[0059] According to, for example Figure 7 In one possible implementation, the return conveyor 104 of the spinning machine 100 closest to the sorting station 400 may be provided with a bypass conveyor 105 adapted to directly connect the return conveyor 104 to the outgoing conveyor 102 of the spinning machine 100. A deflector 107 is arranged near the junction between the return conveyor 104 and the bypass conveyor 105, the deflector being adapted to turn the plate toward the return conveyor 104 or toward the bypass conveyor 105.

[0060] Steering gear 107 may be of a type known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described further.

[0061] The operation of bypass conveyor 105 enables empty tubes to be transported to conveyor station 402 for return to winding machine 300 when the spinning machine closest to sorting station 400 cannot receive them. Winding machine 300, upon detecting empty tubes, transports them back to the spinning machine. Advantageously, this process can be repeated until the spinning machine resumes tube receiving operations.

[0062] In other words, depending on the possible implementation, the winding machine will recirculate the empty tube within the winding machine itself until the spinning machine resumes operation.

[0063] According to possible implementations, overflow sensors 205 and 207 can be arranged in the two outgoing conveyors 102 and 202 from the spinning machines 100 and 200. These overflow sensors are adapted to detect the presence of the bobbin and send this information to the central control unit 500 to stop the supply of the bobbin to the relevant conveyor if necessary. Advantageously, these sensors can be optical presence photocells.

[0064] According to possible implementations, the conveyor station 402 of the sorting device 400 may include at least one reader device 418 of a tracking device arranged on a plate associated with the tube. The reader device 418 is adapted to read the tracking device arranged on the plate to manage the plate, and thus manage the spools associated with the plate.

[0065] According to possible implementations, the reader device 418 may be adapted to send this detected information to the central control unit 500 to manage the board and thus the spools associated with the board. Furthermore, the reader device 418 may be adapted to add information to tracking devices arranged on the board.

[0066] According to a possible implementation, the reader device 418 is arranged below the transmitter disk 410. Advantageously, there may be two reader devices 418, with one reader device for each outgoing transmitter.

[0067] Advantageously, the reader device 418 can be an RFID reader. In particular, the reader device 418 can be an RFID reader suitable for interacting with RFID-type tracking devices.

[0068] The purpose of the redistribution station 404 is to redistribute tubes from at least one winding machine 300 to the corresponding spinning machine, and to restore tubes if they are not present, so that empty tubes always arrive at the correct spinning machine in preparation for winding into new spools.

[0069] To properly perform the guidance, the redistribution station 404 may include at least one reader device 420 adapted to detect and read the tracking device arranged on a plate associated with the tube. The reader device 420 may be adapted to send this detected information to a central control unit 500 for managing the spools.

[0070] According to a possible implementation, the reader device 420 may be arranged below the transmitter disk 410.

[0071] Advantageously, the reader device 420 can be an RFID reader. In particular, the reader device 420 can be an RFID reader suitable for interacting with RFID-type tracking devices.

[0072] The management system will assess where to guide the board and relay that information to the redistribution station 404 itself, thus allowing the board to be guided correctly.

[0073] According to, for example Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the possible implementation shown, downstream of the redistribution disk 412, each return conveyor 104, 204 supplying to the spinning machines 100, 200 has a tube presence device 419, 421 adapted to assess the presence of a tube on the plate during transport. If no tube is present, the device will place a new tube by properly assembling it onto the plate during transport.

[0074] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 A textile facility 14 is shown, which includes at least one such group having two spinning machines 100, 200 and at least one winding machine 300, and also includes equipment of the type just described for moving spools and tubes.

[0075] If possible Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As seen in the image, textile facility 14 includes a spool input line 302 leading to at least one winding machine 300 and a tube output line 304 originating from at least one winding machine 300.

[0076] In addition, the textile facility 14 may include a central control unit 500 for managing spools and tubes, the central control unit being connected to the at least one sorting device 400 and the at least one winding machine 300.

[0077] Therefore, the advantages of the device according to the invention are now apparent.

[0078] First, a device for moving spools and tubes for use in textile facilities is provided, which can be better adapted to the layout of various existing equipment.

[0079] In other words, the possible spinning machine arrangements are more versatile than the traditional multi-chain model and also allow for better utilization of the limited space between multiple spinning machines.

[0080] Furthermore, the device according to the invention is easily replicated in both different systems and in the same system, such as in [the following]. Figure 3 As seen in the example shown.

[0081] Furthermore, the device according to the invention allows for improvements to existing textile facilities without moving the already installed spinning machines.

[0082] Without departing from the scope of the appended claims, those skilled in the art can modify the above embodiments or replace the described elements with equivalent elements to meet specific requirements.

Claims

1. An apparatus (12) for moving spools and tubes in a textile facility (14), the textile facility comprising at least one such group having at least two spinning machines (100, 200) and at least one winding machine (300). The at least one such group includes: - A first outward conveyor (102, 202) and a first return conveyor (104, 204) for each of the at least two spinning machines (100, 200); the first outward conveyor (102, 202) is adapted to convey spools output from the respective spinning machine (100, 200); the first return conveyor (104, 204) is adapted to convey tubes entering the respective spinning machine (100, 200); - A first sorting device (400) includes a first conveyor station (402) and a first redistribution station (404), wherein the first outgoing conveyors (102, 202) converge at the first conveyor station and the first returning conveyors (104, 204) converge at the first redistribution station. The first transmitter station (402) and the first redistribution station (404) are respectively connected to the spool input line (302) leading to the at least one winding machine (300) and the tube output line (304) originating from the at least one winding machine (300) via the first transmitter (406) and the first redistribution transmitter (408). The first transmitter station (402) and the first redistribution station (404) are adapted to redistribute the spool or the tube to the spool input line (302) or the first return transmitter (104, 204) respectively based on predetermined operating parameters of the spool and the tube to be redistributed. The at least two spinning machines (100, 200) are aligned with each other in their longitudinal direction.

2. An apparatus (12) for moving spools and tubes in a textile facility (14), the textile facility comprising at least one such assembly having at least two spinning machines (100, 200), at least one additional spinning machine (250) and at least one winding machine (300). The at least one such group includes: - A first outward conveyor (102, 202) and a first return conveyor (104, 204) for each of the at least two spinning machines (100, 200); the first outward conveyor (102, 202) is adapted to convey spools output from the respective spinning machine (100, 200); the first return conveyor (104, 204) is adapted to convey tubes entering the respective spinning machine (100, 200); - A first sorting device (400) includes a first conveyor station (402) and a first redistribution station (404), wherein the first outgoing conveyors (102, 202) converge at the first conveyor station and the first returning conveyors (104, 204) converge at the first redistribution station. The first transmitter station (402) and the first redistribution station (404) are respectively connected to the first transmitter (406) and the first redistribution transmitter (408); The at least one additional spinning machine (250) is located downstream of the first sorting device (400). The at least one such group includes a second outgoing conveyor (252) and a second returning conveyor (254) associated with the at least one additional spinning machine (250). The second outgoing conveyor and the second returning conveyor, along with the first conveyor (406) and the first redistribution conveyor (408) associated with the first sorting device (400), converge on a second sorting device (401). The second sorting device includes a second conveyor station (403) and a second redistribution station (405). The second conveyor station (403) and the second redistribution station (405) of the second sorting device (401) are respectively connected via a second conveyor (407) and a second redistribution conveyor (409) to a spool input line (302) leading to the at least one winding machine (300) and a tube output line (304) originating from the at least one winding machine (300). Each of the transmitter stations and each of the redistribution stations is adapted to redistribute the spool or the tube to the spool input line or each of the redistribution transmitters or each of the return transmitters, respectively, based on predetermined operating parameters of the spool and the tube to be redistributed. The at least two spinning machines (100, 200) are aligned with each other in their longitudinal direction.

3. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned conveyor stations includes a conveyor disk (410) provided with at least one side seat adapted to engage a clamp on a plate to rotate the plate from an input position to an output position from the conveyor station.

4. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the redistribution stations includes a redistribution disk (412) provided with at least one side seat adapted to engage a clamp of a plate to rotate the plate from an input position to an output position from the redistribution station.

5. The device (12) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The transmitter disk (410) includes three or six side seats (414, 416).

6. The device (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The redistribution disk (412) includes three or six side seats (414, 416).

7. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned conveyor stations is equipped with a stop at each outward conveyor, the stop being adapted to selectively block the plate, the stop being mechanically, electrically, or pneumatically actuated.

8. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the redistribution stations includes a first deflector (213) adapted to deflect a plate from the at least one winding machine (300) to one of the return conveyors, the first deflector (213) being mechanical, electrically actuated or pneumatically actuated.

9. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the sorting devices is provided with at least one first reader device for reading the tracking devices arranged on the plate and sending the detected information to the central control unit (500).

10. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the redistribution stations includes at least one second reader device (420) adapted to detect and read the tracking device set on the board, and adapted to send the detected information to the central control unit (500).

11. The device (12) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first reader device (418) is a radio frequency reader suitable for interacting with an RFID-type tracking device.

12. The device (12) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second reader device (420) is a radio frequency reader suitable for interacting with an RFID-type tracking device.

13. The device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The return conveyor of the spinning machine closest to each of the sorting devices may be provided with a bypass conveyor (105) adapted to directly connect the return conveyor of the spinning machine to the outgoing conveyor associated with the spinning machine. The device (12) includes a second deflector (107) located near the junction between the return conveyor and the bypass conveyor (105), the second deflector being adapted to turn the plate toward the return conveyor or toward the bypass conveyor (105).

14. A textile facility (14) comprising at least one group having at least two spinning machines (100, 200) and at least one winding machine (300), characterized in that, The textile facility includes equipment for moving spools and tubes within the textile facility according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The textile facility (14) according to claim 14, characterized in that, The textile facility includes a spool input line (302) leading to the at least one winding machine (300) and a tube output line (304) originating from the at least one winding machine (300).

16. The textile facility (14) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The textile facility includes a central control unit (500) for managing the spools, the central control unit being connected to each sorting device and the at least one winding machine (300).

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