A modular roving frame for a spinning line with at least one spinning frame

Abstract

The modular roving frame (100) for a spinning line with at least one spinning line according to the present invention comprises at least two production units (1), each provided with a production area (16) and a doffer (122) adapted to pick the bobbins (10) from said production area (16), replacing them with empty tubes (17), and a connection unit (2) with at least one exchanger (22) adapted to exchange the bobbins (10) with empty and / or dirty tubes (17). In particular, the doffer of the first production unit is connected to the doffer of the second production unit at the connection unit (2). Advantageously such solution makes it possible to obtain a simplified bobbin and tube transport system that is common to two distinct production units. Productivity is therefore notably increased insofar as there are no waiting times for trains which are always moving between the production units.

Description

"A MODULAR ROVING FRAME FOR A SPINNING LINE WITH ATLEAST ONE SPINNING FRAME" DESCRIPTION

[0001] The objects of the present invention are a modular roving frame, i.e. comprising multiple production units, and a frame side transport system that is capable of simultaneously serving multiple production units.

[0002] As is known, bobbins formed on a roving frame, consisting of a tube whereupon the roving is drawn at the frame, are transported to the spinning frame. To be found at the spinning frame, hanging from a creel, are the bobbins that are being processed wherefrom the rovings to be processed originate. When bobbins that are being processed are exhausted, they are replaced with bobbins from the roving frame.

[0003] The exhausted bobbins comprise the tube which is completely devoid of any roving (defined as an "empty tube") or else by the tube provided with some residual roving windings (defined as a "dirty tube") . Dirty tubes (and at times also those that are empty) are cleaned in a special device, usually called a "cleaner", that eliminates the residual roving, thereby obtaining clean tubes. Empty tubes originating from thecleaner and those picked from the spinning frame are moved to the roving frame and are there replaced with bobbins that have formed in the meantime ; the empty tubes may thus be reused for the formation of new bobbins .

[0004] The Applicant has devised an integrated device that locally implements the picking of the empty or dirty tubes and the bobbins , the cleaning of the dirty tubes and replacement of the bobbins with empty tubes . Such integrated device together with the related processing method are shown in the international Application WO 2016 / 083944 .

[0005] Notwithstanding the elevated degree of automation that such an integrated device makes it possible to obtain, the trend is to further increase the execution speed of such operations , above all because of the tendency of roving frames and spinning frames to include an ever-increasing number of rovings .

[0006] The obj ect of the present invention is that of making a system that is capable of further reducing the overall execution times of the transport , picking, replacement and releasing of the bobbins .

[0007] Such obj ect is achieved by a modular roving frame , i . e . comprising multiple production units ,provided with a frame side transport system that is capable of simultaneously serving multiple production units .

[0008] Such obj ect is achieved by a roving frame according to claim 1 and by a handling method according to claim 10 . The respectively dependent claims describe embodiment variants of the device and of the execution of the method .

[0009] The features and the advantages of the apparatus and of the processing method will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the following figures , wherein :Figure 1 shows a modular roving frame for a spinning line according to the present invention, comprising two production units connected by a connection unit , in a frame side lateral view;Figure 2 shows the modular roving frame of Figure 1 in a frame side view;Figure 3 depicts a detail of the modular roving frame of Figure 1 , in particular of the do f fer ;Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the diagram of the exchange system, the modular roving frame transport system and of the spinning frame sidetransport system;Figures 5a, 5b and 5c show, schematically, some exemplary embodiments of the single rail that serves both of the production units ;Figure 6 shows a functional diagram of the single rail according to the present invention which collaborates with the connection unit exchanger in order to serve both of the production units ;Figure 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the diagram of the exchange system, the modular roving frame transport system and of the spinning frame side transport system .

[0010] With reference to the attached figures , indicated in the entirety thereof with the numeral 100 is a modular roving frame according to the present invention that may be inserted into a spinning line . The modular roving frame 100 comprises at least one first production unit 1 and one second production unit 1 , connected therebetween by a connection unit 2 . Each production unit 1 comprises a supply area 12 , which hosts a plurality of cans 121 each containing a ribbon wound into coil s , a production area 16 wherein the ribbon is trans formed into a roving and wound as a bobbin, and a bobbin handling area .

[0011] To the rear of the production area 16 , not shown in the figures , there is generally arranged at least one spinning line spinning frame .

[0012] The production area 16 therefore draws the ribbon originating from the cans 121 and trans forms it into rovings that are wound onto empty tubes 17 thereby forming bobbins 10 that are then transported to the spinning frame . To this end the bobbins 10 are rendered available to a carriage 120 of the production area 16 .

[0013] According to one embodiment , the production area 16 comprises processing points 161 distributed in succession along at least two parallel rows . The processing points of one row may be staggered in relation to the processing points of the other row . Each processing point 161 comprises a flap . Each flap is rotatable around a vertical axis in order to guide the roving in winding around an empty tube which in turn is rotating around the axis thereof thereby forming the bobbin 10 . The empty tube 17 is removably placed onto an integral spool turner in vertical translation in relation to the spindles handling carriage , hereinafter simply referred to as the carriage 120 . In one processing position the carriage120 is arranged at a height that is adapted to allowthe wrapping of the roving onto the tube with the aim of producing a bobbin 10 . In other words , in said processing position, the axes of the spool turner carried by the carriage 120 are substantially coincident with the axes of the flaps , as in Figure 2 . Once the bobbins 10 are formed, for example at the desired weight , the carriage 120 is lowered from the raised processing position to a lowered retracted position wherein it cooperates with the carriage translation means for the hori zontal translation of the carriage 120 towards the advanced elevation position . Said hori zontal translation means comprise a sled that cooperates with motor means for the hori zontal translation of the carriage 120 .

[0014] As mentioned above , each production unit 1 is provided with a bobbin handling area wherein a frame side transport system is arranged, called a dof fer 122 . The dof fer 122 is adapted to pick the bobbins 10 from the carriage 120 of the production area 16 and moving them, suspended, to a predefined height, generally by means of a belt . The dof fer 122 is adapted to load the carriage 120 with empty tubes 17 . In fact , once the bobbins 10 are formed, the carriage 120 moves to the advanced elevation position, below the dof fer 122 . Theadvanced elevation position is adapted to enable the cooperation of the carriage 120 with the doffer 122 in order to perform the raising of the bobbins from the carriage 120 and / or the arrangement on the spindles of the production area 16 of new empty tubes 17 for the formation of new bobbins 10.

[0015] The bobbin handling area comprises the doffer 122, a doffer support structure and doffer handling means. The doffer support structure comprises a frame 6d that supports a vertically translatable crosspiece 6e whereupon the doffer 122 is mounted. The doffer 122 is vertically translatable between a raised position, wherein the handling of the bobbins 10 towards the next processing step occurs, and a lowered position that is adapted to pick the bobbins 10 from the carriage 120 in the raised position.

[0016] The doffer handling means are adapted to enable the vertical handling of the doffer 122. For example, said means comprise a belt, preferably flat, connected at one end to the crosspiece 6e and wound at the opposite end, around a doffer handling shaft connected to a motor.

[0017] Each doffer 122 is provided with at least one rail 13 that is adapted to be traveled by at least onetrain 14.

[0018] The rail 13 comprises at least one rail.

[0019] At least one train 14 travels on each doffer 122.

[0020] The rail 13 comprises a front portion 131 (opposite the side of the cans) , and a rear portion 133 (at the side of the cans) , parallel therebetween, connected by a coupling 132, for example semicircle in shape .

[0021] The rail 13 preferably assumes a U shape.

[0022] The rails 13 of the production units 1 are arranged in a mirror-like manner, facing one another from the opposite side to that of the coupling 132. The rear portions 133 of the rails 13 of the production units 1 are axially aligned. The front portions 131 of the rails 13 of the production units 1 are axially aligned .

[0023] Each train 14 comprises a plurality of coupling / uncoupling devices generally called "pendulums" or supports, adapted to engage with the bobbins 10 or else the empty tubes 17, and for retaining them for the duration of travel along the rail 13.

[0024] Each train 14 comprises a number of supports141 equal to or greater than the number of processing points 161 of the production area 16 .

[0025] As regards the spinning line , it comprises a spinning frame side transport system, shown only schematically and partial ly in Figure 4 , adapted to handle the bobbins 10 towards the spinning frames and the dirty tubes ( or sometimes empty tubes ) towards each production unit 1 .

[0026] The modular roving frame 100 comprises a connection unit 2 arranged centrally between the first production unit 1 and the second production unit 1 . The connection unit 2 comprises at least one exchanger 22 , at least one connecting rail 134 and preferably common control and power supply means for the two production units 1 .

[0027] Preferably, the connection unit 2 comprises only one exchanger 22 which is common to the two production units 1 .

[0028] As may be seen in Figure 4 , at the connection unit 2 the roving frame side transport system, of which the dof fers 122 of the production units 1 are part , meets with the spinning frame side transport system, that serves the spinning frames . Therefore , within the area of the connection unit 2 of the modular rovingframe 100 the exchange occurs of those bobbins 10 originating from the production area 16 with the empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frame .

[0029] According to the present invention, the dof fer of the first production unit is adapted to be connected to the dof fer of the second production unit at the connection unit 2 during the step of exchanging the bobbins / tubes using the transport circuit at the spinning frame , and independently moving itsel f therefrom during the step of exchanging the bobbins / tubes using the relative production area 16 .

[0030] The dof fer 122 of the first production unit 1 connects to the dof fer 122 of the second production unit 1 at the connection unit 2 by means of a connecting rail 134 . In fact , the connection unit 2 comprises a connecting rail 134 that j oins the rails 13 of the production units 1 to form a single rail 15 serving the entire modular roving frame 100 .

[0031] It should be noted that the connecting rail 134 is not mechanically attached to the rails 13 of the production units 1 but is arranged adj acent thereto , in such a way as to enable the passage of the trains 14 , as seen in Figure 3 . In fact , the rails 13 of the production units 1 are movable integral to the dof fer122 of which they are part, whilst the connecting rail134 is preferably fixed, supported by a support structure. Preferably, the support structure is the frame 6d which is common to both of the production units .

[0032] The connecting rail 134 joins the rails 13 of the production units 1 to form a single rail 15 of the modular roving frame 100.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, the train 14 travels along the rail 13, and therefore the single rail 15, in both directions, i.e., forwards and backwards .

[0034] In a further exemplary embodiment, the train 14 travels along the rail 13, and therefore the single rail 15, in only one direction, i.e., only forwards or else backwards.

[0035] In one exemplary embodiment, two trains 14 travel along the rail 13, and therefore along the single rail 15.

[0036] In one exemplary embodiment, shown in Figure 5a, only one connecting rail 134 is included, which joins the rails 13 of the production units 1 at the respective rear portions 133, to form the single rail15. In such example, the train 14 travels along therail 13, and therefore the single rail 15, in both directions, i.e., forwards and backwards.

[0037] In one exemplary embodiment, shown in Figure 5c, only one connecting rail 134 is included which joins the rear portion 133 of a first rail 13 to the front portion 131 of a second rail 13, to form the single rail 15. In such example, the train 14 travels along the rail 13, and therefore the single rail 15, in both directions, i.e., forwards and backwards.

[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, shown in Figure 5b, two connecting rails 134 are included which join the rails 13 of the production units 1 to form the single rail 15. As may be seen in the figure, a first connecting rail 134 joins the rails 13 at the respective rear portions 133, and a second connecting rail 134 joins the rails 13 at the respective front portions 131. In such example, the single rail 15 is closed to form a ring. In such example, the train 14 may travel along the rail 13, and therefore the single rail 15, in only one direction, i.e., only forwards or else backwards.

[0039] In one exemplary embodiment, shown in Figure 7, only one connecting rail 134 is included which joins the rails 13 of the production units 1 at therespective rear portions 133 , to form the single rail 15 . In such example , the connecting rail 134 has an at least partially curvilinear i f not rectilinear progression . For example , the connecting rail 134 has a concave portion, an indentation, in relation to the line of the rear portions 133 of the production units .

[0040] The connection unit 2 comprises an exchanger 22 that is adapted to exchange those bobbins 10 originating from the production area 16 with empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frames . The exchanger 22 cooperates on one s ide with the rai l that serves the spinning frames , and on the opposite side with the single rail 15 which serves both of the production units 1 , in particular at the connecting rail 134 . The exchanger 2 exchanges at least one bobbin 10 at a time with one empty 17 or dirty tube .

[0041] In a preferred example the exchanger 2 exchanges at least two bobbins 10 at a time with two empty 17 or dirty tubes . The functioning of the exchanger is described, for example , within the European patent EP3385414B1 and with the European patent EP3470560B1 of the Applicant .

[0042] According to one embodiment variant , the modular roving frame 100 also comprises cleaning meansthat are adapted to operate on the dirty tubes sucking therefrom any residual roving windings. Preferably, the cleaning means are sliding, preferably vertically in relation to the single rail 15, and serve both of the production units. A cleaning means exemplary embodiment is described within the International Application WO 2016 / 083944 of the Applicant.

[0043] The control means comprise, for example, a PLC or a microprocessor that is adapted to control the progress of the bobbins 10 and of the empty tubes 17 along the rails 13,15, and for managing the functioning of the production units.

[0044] Figure 4 shows an example of a functional diagram for the single rail 15. Such figure shows, schematically, the modular roving frame 100 comprising a first and a second production unit 1, connected therebetween by means of a connection unit 2. In the example of Figure 4 the single rail 15 which serves the modular roving frame 100 is formed by the following sections (from left to right, for representational convenience) : the rail 13 of the first production unit 1, the connecting rail 134 of the connection unit 2; the rail 13 of the second production unit 1. In this example, two trains 14 travel on the single rail 15 inboth directions, i.e., forwards and backwards.

[0045] The step SI shows the starting situation of the doffer 122, wherein a first train 14A is in the rear portion 133 of the rail 13 of the first production unit 1 and a second train 14B is in the front portion 131 of the rail 13 of the first production unit 1. The trains 14A and 14B transport empty tubes 17. The rail 13 of the second production unit 1 is empty, i.e., devoid of trains 14.

[0046] At this point the doffing D step occurs of the first production unit 1: the doffer 122 is lowered in order to pick the bobbins 10 from the carriage 120 of the production area 16 and arrange new empty tubes 17 on the spindles of the production area 16 for the forming of new bobbins 10.

[0047] At this point, step S2, the first train 14A and the second train 14B are transporting bobbins 10.

[0048] Between step SI and the subsequent step S3 there occurs the step T of transporting the bobbins towards the exchanger 22 which then performs the exchanging of the bobbins 10 with empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frame. Transport occurs in a first direction, called forwards.

[0049] At this point, step S3, the first train 14Atogether with the second train 14B are transporting empty tubes 17 and are both found to be on the rail 13 of the second production unit 1. The first train 14A is in the front portion 131 of the rail 13 of the second production unit 1 and the second train 14B is in the rear portion 133 of the rail 13 of the second production unit 1. The rail 13 of the first production unit 1 is empty, i.e., devoid of trains 14.

[0050] At this point the step occurs of the doffing D of the second production unit 1: the doffer 122 is lowered in order to pick the bobbins 10 from the carriage 120 of the production area 16 and to arrange new empty tubes 17 on the spindles of the production area 16 for the forming of new bobbins 10.

[0051] At this point, step S4, the first train 14A and the second train 14B are transporting bobbins 10.

[0052] Between step S4 and the subsequent step SI there occurs the step T of transporting the bobbins towards the exchanger 22 which then performs the exchanging of the bobbins 10 with empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frame. Transport this time occurs in a backwards direction, i.e., in a direction opposite to the forwards direction.

[0053] At this point the system has returned to stepSI, wherein the first train 14A together with the second train 14B are transporting empty tubes 17 and are both found to be on the rail 13 of the first production unit 1. The first train 14A is in the rear portion 133 of the rail 13 of the first production unit 1 and the second train 14B is in the front portion 131 of the rail 13 of the first production unit 1. The rail 13 of the second production unit 1 is empty, i.e., devoid of trains 14. At this point the cycle is concluded and may restart.

[0054] It should be noted that the first production unit and the second production unit each process by halves on half of the production. In this way, when the first production unit is ready for the step of picking the bobbins 10, or doffing (DI) , the second production unit is still processing. During the period of time wherein the doffing DI step and the transport step T are performed, the second production unit terminates its production. This avoids downtime while waiting for the arrival of the trains with the empty tubes.

[0055] The object of the present invention is also a handling method for bobbins and tubes in a modular roving frame 100. Such method includes the following steps :an initial step of the first production unit 1 wherein the dof fer 122 comprises at least one train 14 with empty tubes 17 ; a step of loading bobbins from the first production unit 1 , wherein the dof fer 122 picks the bobbins 10 from the production area 16 replacing them with empty tubes 17 ; a transport step wherein the at least one train 14 with bobbins 10 reaches the exchanger 20 which exchanges the bobbins 10 with empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frame , and then continues with empty tubes 17 towards the second production unit 1 ; an initial step of the second production unit 1 wherein the at least one train 14 with empty tubes 17 is on the dof fer 122 ; a step of loading bobbins of the second production unit 1 , wherein the dof fer 122 picks the bobbins 10 from the production area 16 , replacing them with empty tubes 17 ; a transport step wherein the at least one train with bobbins 10 reaches the exchanger 22 which exchanges the bobbins 10 with empty tubes 17 originating from the spinning frame , and then continueswith the empty tubes 17 , towards the first production unit 1 until it reaches the initial step of the first production unit 1 .

[0056] Innovatively, the modular roving frame according to the present invention includes a simpli fied bobbin and tube transport system that is common to two distinct production units 1 . Advantageously, productivity is notably increased insofar as there are no waiting times for the trains which are always moving between the production units 1 .

[0057] The actual limit of state-of-the -art machines is tied to production ef ficiency which notably diminishes with an increase in the number of processing spindles . Advantageously, conversely, the method and the roving frame , obj ects of the present patent application, in the case of roving breakages or of ribbon breakages or in the case of changing empty cans 121 in one of the two production units , allow the other production unit to remain operational . In this way at least 50% of the machine remains in production during the period of time necessary for the reinstatement of production on the stopped production unit .

[0058] Advantageously, the proposed solution, by virtue of the use of a common exchanger between atleast two production units, allows for simplification to be achieved of the management and encumbrances of the transport layout between the roving frame and the spinning frame.

[0059] It is understood that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, could make modifications to the integrated device and the processing method described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular roving frame (100) for a spinning line with at least one spinning frame, comprising:- at least two production units (1) , each production unit being provided with a production area (16) and a doffer (122) adapted to pick the bobbins (10) from said production area (16) , replacing them with empty tubes (17) ;- a connection unit (2) arranged between the production units (1) , provided with at least one exchanger (22) adapted to exchange the bobbins (10) with empty and / or dirty tubes (17) ; wherein the doffer of the first production unit is adapted to be connected to the doffer of the second production unit at the connection unit (2) .

2. A modular roving frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein said connection unit (2) comprises a single exchanger (22) which serves said production units (1) .

3. A modular roving frame (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said exchanger (22) exchanges two bobbins (10) at a time with two empty and / or dirty tubes (17) .

4. A modular roving frame (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each doffer (122) is provided with a rail (13) adapted to be travelled by at least one train (14) , and wherein the rail of the firstproduction unit is adapted to be connected to the rail of the second production unit to form a single rail (15) .

5. A modular roving frame (100) according to claim 4, wherein said connection unit (2) comprises at least one connecting rail (134) adapted to connect the rails (13) of the production units (1) to one another.

6. A modular roving frame (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said at least one train travels along the single rail (15) in a single direction, or in a delivery direction and an opposite return direction.

7. A modular roving frame (100) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the at least one train (14) comprises a plurality of supports (141) equal to or greater than the number of processing points (161) of the production area (16) .

8. A modular roving frame (100) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each rail (13) comprises a front portion (131) and an opposite rear portion (133) , and the connection unit (2) comprises a connecting rail (134) which joins the rails (13) of the production units (1) at the respective rear portions (133) .

9. A modular roving frame (100) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each rail (13) comprises a front portion (131) and an opposite rear portion (133) , andthe connection unit (2) comprises a first connecting rail (134) which joins the rails (13) of the production units (1) at the respective rear portions (133) , and a second connecting rail (134) which joins the rails (13) of the production units (1) at the respective front portions ( 131 ) .

10. A method for moving bobbins and tubes in a modular roving frame (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:- initial step of the first production module (1) : the doffer (122) of the first production module comprises at least one train (14) with empty tubes (17) ; step of loading bobbins from the first production module (1) : said doffer (122) of the first production module picks the bobbins (10) from the production area (16) of the first production module, replacing them with empty tubes (17) ; transport step: the at least one train (14) with bobbins (10) reaches the exchanger (22) which exchanges the bobbins (10) with empty tubes (17) from the spinning frame and then continues with empty tubes (17) towards the second production module (1) ;- initial step of the second production module (1) : the at least one train (14) with empty tubes (17) is on the doffer (122) of the second production module;step of loading bobbins of the second production module (1) : said doffer (122) of the second production module picks the bobbins (10) from a production area (16) of the second production module, replacing them with empty tubes (17) ;- transport step: wherein the at least one train (14) with bobbins (10) reaches the exchanger (22) which exchanges the bobbins (10) with empty tubes (17) from the spinning frame and then continues with empty tubes (17) towards the first production module (1) until it reaches the initial step of the first production module (1) •

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