Sleeve delivery device and system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tube supply device (1) for supplying spinning tubes (2) for a spinning machine (3), and to a system (18) comprising at least one washing machine (19), at least one spinning machine (3), and a transport device (11) for transporting spinning tubes (2) between the at least one washing machine (19) and the at least one spinning machine (3). According to the invention, the tube supply device (1) comprises at least two containers (4) for receiving spinning tubes (2), a dispensing unit (5) for dispensing a spinning tube (2), and at least one separating device (6). The containers (4), the dispensing unit (5), and the separating device (6) are arranged such that a spinning tube 2 can be selectively fed from one of the containers (4) to the dispensing unit (5) by the separating device (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tube supply device for providing spinning tubes for a spinning machine.

[0002] In a machine system comprising, for example, at least one winding machine and at least one spinning machine, spinning tubes filled with yarn are automatically transported between the spinning machine and the winding machine for rewinding on the winding machine. The spinning machine is designed, for example, as a ring spinning machine. For technical reasons, the spinning tubes on ring spinning machines have a comparatively low capacity for spun yarn. Therefore, following the spinning process, the yarn is rewound from the spinning tubes onto larger bobbins by a winding machine. This significantly facilitates subsequent processing of the yarn. Spinning tubes unwound from the winding machine are automatically transported back to the spinning machine to be rewound with spun yarn.

[0003] Errors can occur in this largely automated process. For example, bobbins may not be completely unwound from the winding machine. Spinning tubes may also be damaged or improperly positioned on a transport device connecting the winding machine to the spinning machine. Such a transport device may, for example, operate with transport plates onto which the spinning tubes are placed.

[0004] If, for example, one of the above-described defects occurs with the spinning tubes, it must be corrected manually by an operator. To do this, the defective spinning tube must be removed from the transport device and replaced with a faultless one. For this manual reprocessing, the defective spinning tubes are, for example, ejected from the transport device to an appropriate processing position.

[0005] In modern spinning mills, for example, a single spinning machine can produce different yarns, each of which may require different spinning tube types. A machine network comprising several spinning machines and possibly several winding machines, connected by a comprehensive transport system, is also conceivable. Different spinning machines can, of course, produce different yarns, each of which requires different spinning tubes. For the operator, who must manually replace a defective spinning tube with a flawless one, this creates the problem of having to provide a flawless spinning tube of the appropriate spinning tube type for each batch, i.e., for the production of a specific yarn with specific production parameters.This problem is exacerbated by the fact that modern spinning machines have an increasing number of parallel workstations and fewer and fewer operators are available to manually process defective spinning tubes.

[0006] The present invention therefore has the object of at least partially automating the provision of defect-free spinning tubes of a specific spinning tube type.

[0007] The problem is solved by a sleeve supply device and a system having the features of the independent patent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, the tube supply device for supplying spinning tubes for a spinning machine comprises at least two containers for receiving spinning tubes, a dispensing unit for dispensing a spinning tube, and at least one separating device. The containers, the dispensing unit, and the separating device are arranged such that a spinning tube can be selectively fed from one of the containers to the dispensing unit by the separating device.

[0009] The inventive design of the tube supply device makes it possible, for example, to provide a particular spinning tube type in each of the containers. The tube supply device can then dispense a spinning tube of a specific spinning tube type, for example, upon operator request or automatically. This achieves at least partial automation of the exchange of defective spinning tubes with flawless spinning tubes during the return transport of spinning tubes, for example, from a winding machine to a spinning machine. On the one hand, this increases the efficiency of the process, and on the other hand, it reduces the error rate due to accidentally incorrect assignment of spinning tube types.

[0010] An operator's request to dispense a spinning tube of a specific spinning tube type from the tube supply device can, for example, be made by inputting a value at a corresponding input device. Automated dispensing of a spinning tube can, for example, be achieved by reading a data carrier on a transport plate on which a defective spinning tube was transported, thereby determining or specifying a specific batch to which the transport plate is to be transported. Accordingly, the tube supply device can dispense a spinning tube of a spinning tube type matching the corresponding batch.

[0011] When the tube supply device is used as intended, the containers can be arranged above the dispensing unit, for example. This allows gravity to be used to transport the spinning tubes to the dispensing unit.

[0012] It is also advantageous if the separating device comprises a first slide. The first slide can be used, on the one hand, to separate the spinning tubes and, on the other hand, to transport the spinning tubes from one of the containers to the output unit. The slide can, for example, be designed to perform a purely linear movement. As already indicated, gravity can be used to bring the spinning tubes stored in the containers into the sphere of influence of the first slide. During proper use of the tube supply device, the first slide can, for example, be arranged such that it drives a spinning tube in a purely horizontal movement. In this case, gravity can also be used to feed the spinning tube moved by the first slide to the output unit.The sleeve supply device can, for example, have a separating device with a first slide for each container.

[0013] The dispensing unit can, for example, be arranged in a plane of symmetry of the sleeve supply device, with the containers and separating devices aligned symmetrically to this plane of symmetry. The first slider(s) can therefore be arranged such that they can push a sleeve from one of the containers toward the plane of symmetry and thus toward the dispensing unit.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the separating device comprises a second slider and, in particular, a third slider. The tasks of selecting or separating the spinning tubes and transporting them to the output unit can be divided between several sliders. In this case, the second slider and, if appropriate, the third slider can serve, for example, to separate and select a tube from several containers assigned to them. Each slider can, for example, have its own drive, in particular a pneumatic drive.

[0015] It is also advantageous if the first slider, the second slider and / or the third slider comprise a recess for a spinning tube. The recess allows the spinning tubes to be better controlled during separation or transport. Uncontrolled rolling of the essentially cylindrical spinning tubes is prevented. The sliders can, for example, be essentially plate-shaped, with a spinning tube located in the recess contacting, for example, a fixed surface to which the spinning tube moves relative. The movement consists in particular in the spinning tube being pushed or rolled over the surface by the respective slider. The fixed surface can also be part of another slider that is stationary at the respective time. The sliders can, for example, be made of metal.

[0016] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first, second and / or third slider and recesses of the first, second and / or third slider are arranged relative to one another such that a spinning tube is removed from one of the containers depending on a position of the first, second and / or third slider. The sliders can thus serve to selectively dispense a single spinning tube from a plurality of containers assigned to them. For example, two containers can be assigned to the second slider and the third slider. The second slider and the third slider can be arranged relative to the containers such that, depending on the position of the second slider and the third slider, a tube is dispensed either from one container or from the other container. In this case, the first slider could serve purely to transport the spinning tubes.

[0017] It is advantageous if a chute is arranged between the singling device and the dispensing unit, wherein the chute is particularly tapered in such a way that the spinning tube is rotated essentially by 90° as it passes through the chute. The chute allows gravity to be used to transport the spinning tube to the dispensing unit. The spinning tubes can, for example, be stored lying down in the containers, i.e. with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to gravity, and thus save space. By rotating them essentially by 90° through the chute, the spinning tubes can be dispensed upright, i.e. with their longitudinal axis essentially parallel to gravity. The orientation during dispensing by the dispensing unit therefore corresponds, for example, to the orientation with which the spinning tubes must be placed on a transport device, in particular on a transport plate of the transport device.On the one hand, this makes handling easier for an operator and, on the other hand, it enables automated dispensing of the spinning tubes, whereby the spinning tube is placed onto the transport device or a transport plate of the transport device, for example by falling out of the dispensing unit.

[0018] It is also advantageous if the separating device comprises an electric drive and / or a pneumatic drive. The electric drive and / or the pneumatic drive can be used to drive the slides already described or to drive other components of the separating device described below. A compressed air supply is common on textile machines, particularly spinning machines. Therefore, the use of a pneumatic drive in this environment is possible without major adaptations. A pneumatic drive is simply constructed and can be moved with short response times. An electric drive may be more expensive, but is easier to control. The electric drive is particularly suitable for the rotary movements described below.

[0019] It is advantageous if the separating device comprises a rotatable cylinder, preferably with a recess for a spinning tube. The cylinder can easily be used to separate the spinning tubes and to selectively remove individual spinning tubes from several assigned containers. The cylinder can, for example, be directly connected to the containers assigned to it, so that spinning tubes slide into the recess under gravity. By rotating, the cylinder could, for example, transport the spinning tubes to the first slider. For this purpose, when the tube supply device is used as intended, the first slider is arranged, for example, below the cylinder. For rotation, the cylinder can, in particular, be connected to the electric drive already described.

[0020] It is also advantageous if the cylinder can be driven in two directions of rotation, with the cylinder being arranged relative to at least two of the containers in such a way that a spinning tube is removed from one of the containers depending on the direction of rotation. Depending on the position of the recess described above, a spinning tube slides into the recess either from one associated container or from the other associated container, and can thus be transported, for example, to the first slide, to the chute, and ultimately to the output unit by further rotation of the cylinder. The associated electric drive is, in particular, reversible for this purpose.

[0021] It is also advantageous if the dispensing unit is designed to taper in such a way that the spinning tube is centered on an axis in the dispensing unit. Centering the spinning tube in the dispensing unit ensures precise dispensing at a specific location and in a specific position. This is particularly advantageous for automated placement of the spinning tube on the transport device or transport plate described above. For this purpose, the dispensing unit can, for example, be funnel-shaped or have funnel-shaped sections that serve to center the spinning tube. The dispensing unit can also be cylindrical in sections, with a diameter of the cylindrical sections being, for example, slightly larger than the diameter of the spinning tubes to be dispensed.The dispensing unit can, for example, be designed such that one or more movable regions of the dispensing unit support the spinning tube to be dispensed against the force of gravity and that this support can be removed by a movement of the movable regions.

[0022] In this context, it is advantageous if the dispensing unit comprises two movable wings. The wings can help ensure that a spinning tube is dispensed precisely from the dispensing unit. Precise dispensing of the spinning tube enables automated loading of the transport device, as already described above. The wings can release the spinning tube evenly, for example through a symmetrical movement, so that the position of the spinning tube hardly changes at all during dispensing, for example due to friction. The wings can, for example, be funnel-shaped, at least in sections, to center the spinning tubes. The wings can, for example, be aligned symmetrically to the mirror plane already described.

[0023] It is also extremely advantageous if the dispensing unit comprises at least one drive. The drive serves, in particular, to release the spinning tube from the dispensing unit. The drive can, for example, be connected to both of the wings already described. However, it is also conceivable to provide a drive for each of the wings. The drive can, in particular, be designed as a pneumatic drive or an electric drive. The drive is, in particular, attached to a fixed section of the dispensing unit and connected to the movable parts of the dispensing unit, in particular to the wings described.

[0024] It is also advantageous if the wings are connected to the at least one drive in such a way that they can be opened in a linear movement. A linear movement of the wings leads to minor disturbances in the position of the spinning tube when opening the dispensing unit, for example, in contrast to a pivoting movement. In this case, the wings move apart in particular linearly. The movement of the wings is in particular symmetrical to the described mirror plane. The drive or drives already described are designed in particular as linear drives. When using several pneumatic drives, these can be coupled, for example, by a common compressed air supply.

[0025] It is also extremely advantageous if the tube supply device comprises at least four containers and at least two separating devices, with each separating device being assigned to two containers. This allows a total of, for example, four different spinning tube types to be provided by the tube supply device. The tube supply device can, for example, still have a common output unit and possibly a common drop chute. The separating devices can, for example, each have one of the cylinders described. In this case, the tube supply device therefore comprises a total of two cylinders. Additionally or alternatively, the separating devices can each have a first slide and possibly a second slide and a third slide.The tube supply device can thus have two first slides and possibly two second slides, and in particular two third slides. It is conceivable for the tube supply device to have more than four containers to accommodate additional spinning tube types. In this context, it is also conceivable for more than two containers to be assigned to a singulating device. However, it has proven efficient to assign two containers to each singulating device.

[0026] The system according to the invention, comprising at least one winding machine, at least one spinning machine, and a transport device for transporting spinning tubes between the at least one winding machine and the at least one spinning machine, is characterized by a tube supply device designed as described above. The described features of the tube supply device can be implemented individually or in any combination. With the tube supply device according to the invention, the reprocessing of defective spinning tubes on the system is, as already described, more efficient and with lower error rates. The tube supply device can, for example, be arranged at a processing station for defective spinning tubes. The system can, in particular, have several of these stations and thus, for example, also several tube supply devices.The processing stations can be part of the transport device. The system can, in particular, comprise several spinning machines on which, for example, different yarns are produced.

[0027] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. They show, schematically: Figure 1 a first embodiment of the sleeve supply device according to the invention, Figure 2 a second embodiment of the sleeve supply device according to the invention, Figure 3 a third embodiment of the sleeve supply device according to the invention, and Figure 4 a system according to the invention with a winding machine, a spinning machine, a transport device and a tube supply device.

[0028] In the following description of the figures, the same reference numerals are used for identical and / or at least comparable features in the various figures. The individual features, their design, and / or mode of operation are usually only explained in detail when first mentioned. If individual features are not explained in detail again, their design and / or mode of operation correspond to the design and mode of operation of the features with the same or identical functions already described.

[0029] Figure 1 shows in a schematic sectional side view a first embodiment of a tube supply device 1 according to the invention for providing spinning tubes 2 for a spinning machine 3 (see Figure 4). The sleeve supply device 1 comprises two containers 4 in which the spinning sleeves 2 are arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, the spinning sleeves 2 are arranged horizontally in the containers 4, i.e., with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to gravity. For example, spinning sleeves 2 of different spinning sleeve types are arranged in the two containers 4.

[0030] In this example, the sleeve supply device 1 has an output unit 5 at its lower end for dispensing a spinning sleeve 2. In order to separate the spinning sleeves 2 from the containers 4 on the one hand and to transport them to the output unit 5 on the other hand, the sleeve supply device 1 also comprises two separating devices 6. Each separating device 6 is assigned to one of the containers 4. The containers 4, the output unit 5, and the separating devices 6 are thus arranged such that a spinning sleeve 2 can be selectively fed from one of the containers 4 to the output unit 5 by the separating device 6.

[0031] The separating devices 6 each comprise a first slide 7, wherein the first slides 7 each have a recess 8 for receiving spinning tubes 2. The first slides 7 are arranged such that they can receive a single spinning tube 2 from one of the containers 4 with the recess 8 and feed it to a chute 9. The spinning tubes 2 reach the output unit 5 via the chute 9 and under the force of gravity. Depending on which spinning tube type is requested, one of the first slides 7 is actuated. The first slides 7 are each connected to a drive, wherein the drives are designed, for example, as pneumatic drives 10. The first slides 7 each perform a purely horizontal, linear movement.

[0032] The chute 9 is designed such that the spinning tubes 2 rotate substantially by 90° when passing through the chute 9. The spinning tubes 2 are thus aligned in the output unit 5 with their longitudinal axis parallel to the force of gravity. This is described more precisely in Figure 3 The rotation described can be achieved by the chute 9 being designed, for example, to be tapered, in particular at least partially funnel-shaped. The spinning tubes 2 thus have an orientation in the output unit 5 with which they can be fed directly in the correct orientation to a transport device 11 (see Figure 4 ).

[0033] The output unit 5 is tapered in such a way that the spinning tubes 2 are centered by the output unit 5 around an axis 12. This axis 12 is represented by a dashed line in the figure. For this purpose, the output unit 5 is, for example, funnel-shaped at least in sections. The centering of the spinning tubes 2 serves to output the spinning tubes 2 at a precisely defined position. This can potentially automate the feeding of the spinning tubes 2 to a transport device 11 by the output unit 5. In this exemplary embodiment, the dashed line also corresponds to a section of a mirror plane to which the tube supply device 1 is mirror-symmetrical.

[0034] The dispensing unit 5 also comprises two wings 13, which, when closed, support the spinning tube 2 in the dispensing unit 5 against gravity. The wings 13 are particularly designed such that they open through a linear movement, thereby releasing the spinning tube 2, which is then conveyed out of the tube supply device 1 by gravity. For this purpose, the wings 13 are connected, in particular, to a drive, which is particularly designed as a pneumatic drive 10.

[0035] Figure 2shows a second embodiment of the tube supply device 1. The tube supply device 1 of this example comprises four containers 4 and an alternative design of the separating device 6. This design allows, in particular, the provision of four different tube types. A separating device 6 is assigned to each of two containers 4 and is designed such that a spinning tube 2 can be selectively removed from one of the assigned containers 4.

[0036] For this purpose, the separating devices 6 in this example comprise a rotatable cylinder 14 which has a recess 8 for the spinning tubes 2. Depending on the direction of rotation of the cylinder 14, a spinning tube 2 slides from one of the associated containers 4 into the recess 8 of the cylinder 14. By further rotating the cylinder 14, the received spinning tube 2 can be fed to the first slides 7, which are also present in this exemplary embodiment. The transport of the spinning tube 2 from the first slides 7 to the output unit 5 then proceeds as previously described. In this exemplary embodiment, the rotatable cylinders 14 are each connected to an electric drive 15, which causes the rotation of the cylinders 14. The direction of rotation depends in particular on an operator input or on an automated recognition of the batch for which the respective spinning tube 2 is intended.

[0037] It is conceivable that the sleeve supply device 1 comprises sensors that detect the presence of a spinning sleeve 2 in the containers 4, the separating device 6, and / or the output unit 5. It is conceivable that, in a different configuration of the cylinders 14 in this embodiment, the first slides 7 can be omitted, since in this case they serve purely for the horizontal transport of the spinning sleeves 2.

[0038] Figure 3shows a further embodiment of the sleeve supply device 1. In this example too, the sleeve supply device 1 has a total of four containers 4 and two separating devices 6, wherein each separating device 6 is assigned to two of the containers 4. In this embodiment, the separating devices 6 comprise the already known first slides 7. In addition, the separating devices 6 each comprise a second slide 16 and a third slide 17. These slides 16, 17 also each have a recess 8 for the spinning sleeves 2. Depending on the individual position of these slides 16, 17 or the recesses 8 in the slides 16, 17, a spinning sleeve 2 can be selectively removed from one of the assigned containers 4 and fed, for example, to the first slide 7.

[0039] In the illustrated position of the slides 16, 17, no spinning tube 2 is removed from any of the containers 4. In this example, the first slide 7, the second slide 16, and the third slide 17 each have their own drive, wherein the drives are designed, for example, as pneumatic drives 10. The slide positions in turn depend, for example, on an operator input or on automated recognition of the batch for which the respective spinning tube 2 is intended. This illustration also shows a spinning tube 2 in the dispensing unit 5. This spinning tube 2 is in an upright position and is dispensed, for example as soon as the wings 13 of the dispensing unit 5 open. This spinning tube 2 was previously rotated by 90° as it passed through the chute 9 and centered by the tapered structure of the dispensing unit 5.

[0040] Figure 4shows a system 18 comprising a spinning machine 3, shown here on the right, a winding machine 19, shown here on the left, and a transport device 11 which connects the spinning machine 3 and the winding machine 19. The spinning machine 3 and the winding machine 19 each have a plurality of work stations 20. At the work stations 20 of the spinning machine 3, for example, yarn is produced using the ring spinning process and wound onto the spinning tubes 2. At the work stations 20 of the winding machine 19, the yarn is unwound from the spinning tubes 2 and wound into cross-wound bobbins 21. Wound and empty spinning tubes 2 are transported by the transport device 11 from the spinning machine 3 to the winding machine 19 and from the winding machine 19 to the spinning machine 3. The transport device 11 shown is only to be understood as a diagram.

[0041] As previously described, when defective spinning tubes 2 are transported from the winding machine 19 to the spinning machine 3, they must be exchanged for faultless spinning tubes 2. For this purpose, the transport device 11 includes, for example, processing positions not shown. To at least partially automate this process, the system 18 includes the previously described tube supply device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, a spinning tube 2 of a specific spinning tube type, which is stored in one of the containers 4 of the tube supply device 1, can be dispensed by the dispensing unit 5 of the tube supply device 1 directly onto a transport plate 22 of the transport device 11. List of reference symbols

[0042] 1Tube supply device 2Spinning tube 3Spinning machine 4Container 5Output unit 6Separation device 7First slider 8Recess 9Chest 10Pneumatic drive 11Transport device 12Axle 13Wing 14Cylinder 15Electric drive 16Second slider 17Third slider 18System 19Winding machine 20Work station 21Cross-wound bobbin 22Transport plate

Claims

1. Tube supply device (1) for providing spinning tubes (2) for a spinning machine (3) with - at least two containers (4) for receiving spinning tubes (2), - an output unit (5) for outputting a spinning tube (2) and - at least one separating device (6), wherein the containers (4), the output unit (5) and the separating device (6) are arranged such that a spinning tube (2) can be selectively fed from one of the containers (4) to the output unit (5) by the separating device (6).

2. Sleeve supply device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the separating device (6) comprises a first slider (7).

3. Sleeve supply device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the separating device (6) comprises a second slider (16) and in particular a third slider (17).

4. Sleeve supply device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the first slider (7), the second slider (16) and / or the third slider (17) comprises a recess (8) for a spinning sleeve (2).

5. Sleeve supply device (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized by that the first, second and / or third slider (7, 16, 17) and recesses (8) of the first, second and / or third slider (7, 16, 17) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a spinning tube (2) is removed from one of the containers (4) depending on a position of the first, second and / or third slider (7, 16, 17).

6. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a chute (9) is arranged between the separating device (6) and the output unit (5), wherein the chute (9) is in particular designed to taper in such a way that the spinning tube (2) is rotated substantially by 90° when passing through the chute (9).

7. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the separating device (6) comprises an electric drive (15) and / or a pneumatic drive (10).

8. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the separating device (6) comprises a rotatable cylinder (14), preferably with a recess (8) for a spinning sleeve (2).

9. Sleeve supply device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the cylinder (14) can be driven in two directions of rotation, wherein the cylinder (14) is arranged relative to at least two of the containers (4) in such a way that a spinning tube (2) is removed from one of the containers (4) depending on the direction of rotation.

10. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatthe output unit (5) is designed to taper in such a way that the spinning sleeve (2) is centered in the output unit (5) to an axis (12).

11. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the dispensing unit (5) comprises two movable wings (13).

12. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the output unit (5) comprises at least one drive (10, 15).

13. Sleeve supply device (1) according to claims 11 and 12, characterized by that the wings (13) are connected to the at least one drive (10, 15) in such a way that they can be opened in a linear movement.

14. Sleeve supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatthe sleeve supply device (1) comprises at least four containers (4) and at least two separating devices (6), wherein one separating device (6) is assigned to each two containers (4).

15. System (18) comprising at least one winding machine (19), at least one spinning machine (3) and a transport device (11) for transporting spinning tubes (2) between the at least one winding machine (19) and the at least one spinning machine (3), characterized by a sleeve supply device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.

Images