Method for doffing a yarn package and package doffer

Abstract

To provide a method for doffing a yawn package and a package doffer.SOLUTION: A yawn package wound at several winding positions at a take-up winding device is obtained by a receiving spindle 6 of a package doffer 5 after being wound. Before the yawn package is extruded out from a winding spindle, a loose yarn end of the yawn package is fixed to a peripheral surface of each yawn package by a yawn end fixation device 9 of the package doffer introduced into the take-up winding device, thus a reliable doffing and conveyance of the yawn package are guaranteed. For this, the movable yawn end fixation device 9 which can be guided to reciprocate between a rest position and an operation position to be activated is arranged at a device carrier 8 of the package doffer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1.1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for doffing yarn packages according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a package doffer for receiving and delivering yarn packages according to claim 7.

[0002] In a melt spinning process for producing composite yarns, multiple composite yarns are formed at multiple spinning stations. At the end of the process, groups of yarns are wound separately at each spinning station to form a yarn package. Therefore, it is common to arrange multiple take-up winders alongside each other along a path. Each of these take-up winders winds multiple yarns to form a yarn package. After winding by the take-up winders, the yarn package can be received by a portable package doffer and sent along the path. Thus, methods and package doffers for doffing yarn packages have been known for several years, for example from EP 0 026 471 A1.

[0003] In a known method for doffing a yarn package, the receiving mandrel of the package doffer is positioned directly in front of the winding spindle of the take-up winder, thereby allowing the winding spindle to receive the completed yarn package. After the tensioning device of the winding spindle is released, the yarn package is then pushed from the winding spindle by the pushing device of the take-up winder and fed to the receiving mandrel of the package doffer. To prevent loose yarn ends from hanging from the yarn package, an insulated heating wire is assigned to the receiving mandrel of the package doffer. This heating wire guides the yarn package through its interior and melts the hanging yarn ends. However, this results in the formation of residual yarns that are randomly formed on each periphery of the yarn package and, in some cases, are even sucked into the continuous winding process of the take-up winder. Furthermore, the heating wire is arranged in the space surrounding the yarn package, so that loose yarn ends in the yarn package are shortened but remain loose on the yarn package.

[0004] Therefore, it is also known in the prior art to fix the loose yarn end of the yarn package to a take-up winder by a package doffer before doffing. Take-up winders of this type are well known in the prior art and are disclosed, for example, in DE 44 13 885 A1. In this regard, each of the multiple take-up winders has a further auxiliary device for fixing the loose yarn end formed on the periphery of the yarn package after winding of the yarn package is completed. Therefore, each of the take-up winders has a complex auxiliary device to enable doffing of the completely wound yarn package by the package doffer.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the general method for doffing yarn packages and the general package doffer to enable reliable doffing of yarn packages from the protruding winding spindle of a take-up winder with little or no equipment complexity on the take-up winder.

[0006] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a method for doffing yarn packages, in which loose yarn ends of the yarn packages are fixed to the periphery of the respective yarn packages by a yarn end fixing device of a package doffer installed in a take-up winding machine before the yarn packages are pushed off the winding spindle.

[0007] The object is achieved with the package doffer of the present invention in that the device carrier has a movable yarn end clamping device for clamping loose yarn ends on the periphery of the yarn package, the yarn end clamping device being guideable relative to the device carrier so as to move back and forth between a rest position and an activated operating position.

[0008] Advantageous refinements of the invention are defined by the features and feature combinations of the respective dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention achieves, on the one hand, reliable doffing of the yarn package from the winding spindle and, on the other hand, transport of the loose yarn end without dropping it. Furthermore, the operation of cutting off the loose yarn end is advantageously avoided. A particular advantage of the present invention is that it allows the use of several conventional take-up winding machines without additional auxiliary devices for securing the yarn end.

[0010] In order to enable the yarn ends of the yarn package to be fixed to the winding spindle immediately after the winding spindle is switched in the take-up winder, a variant of the method is preferably implemented in which a fluid is simultaneously sprayed onto the circumferential surface of the yarn package in the region of the yarn ends while the winding spindle is rotating. Depending on the fluid, even a protective layer can be formed on the yarn package herein, which binds and encases the loose yarn ends. There is also the possibility of using a liquid adhesive, so that the loose yarn ends are adhesively bonded to the circumferential surface of the yarn package only in the region of the tie-down bead. However, from the viewpoint of further processing, it is preferred to use a fluid consisting of a spin finish.

[0011] For this purpose, the yarn end fixing device of the package doffer according to the present invention has a plurality of spray nozzles which are spaced apart from one another and connected to a fluid pump and a fluid tank, so that all the spray nozzles can be operated simultaneously to spray fluid onto the circumferential surface of the yarn package.

[0012] The adhesive action of the fluid, especially when a spin finish is used here, can be further improved in that the yarn ends are pressed against the periphery of the yarn package by a contact pressure roller or rollers.

[0013] In this respect, the improvement of the package doffer according to the invention is preferably used, in which the yarn end clamping device has a plurality of freely rotatable contact pressure rollers spaced apart from one another or a single elongated freely rotatable contact pressure roller extending over the spray nozzle, thereby improving adhesion of loose yarn ends to the circumferential surface of the yarn package.

[0014] The tensioning device of the winding spindle must first be released to allow the yarn package to be doffed from the winding spindle of the take-up winder. For this, a tubular ram, which is usually arranged on the winding spindle, is displaced by compressed air against a spring force. At this point, it is necessary to convey compressed air to the winding spindle. This conveyance is usually performed by a rotary conveying device of the take-up winder. In this respect, an improvement of the method according to the invention, in which the relaxation of the tensioning device of the winding spindle is initiated by conveying compressed air from the package doffer to the winding spindle before receiving the yarn package, represents an alternative solution for the purpose of the invention.

[0015] Thus, multiple rotary conveying devices of the take-up winder can be eliminated. The compressed air required to relax the tensioning devices can be provided directly by the package doffer at each of the take-up winder winding spindles.

[0016] For this purpose, the package doffer according to the present invention has a compressed air reservoir arranged on the device carrier, to which a movable compressed air adapter is connected, the compressed air adapter being selectively connectable to the compressed air connector of one of the winding spindles of the take-up winder, wherein the compressed air reservoir can have a compressed air capacity that allows the tensioning devices of the plurality of winding spindles to be relaxed.

[0017] Furthermore, a variant of the method in which a pulling device of the package doffer is introduced into the take-up spindle to push the yarn package off the winding spindle, and the pulling device can push the yarn package over the circumferential surface of the winding spindle, can provide stress relief for the take-up winder during doffing of the yarn package. Therefore, any cooperation between the package doffer controller and the take-up winder controller for doffing the yarn package is reduced to a minimum. The yarn package can be doffed from the winding spindle from its rest position on the winding spindle solely by the operation of the package doffer, without the involvement of an auxiliary device in the take-up winder. A further advantage is that the tube relaxation and tube withdrawal can be performed immediately and consecutively by the package doffer controller, resulting in relatively short changeover times.

[0018] For this purpose, the package doffer is preferably used in a refinement of the invention in which the device carrier has a movable drawing device which can be guided to move back and forth parallel to the receiving mandrel to a projected drawing position to acquire the yarn package, and which drawing device has at least one thrust means for guiding the yarn package on one of the winding spindles.

[0019] This function of the package doffer can be further improved by shielding the completed winding yarn package from the newly wound yarn package before this function. For this purpose, a movable shielding unit can be used on the device carrier. After the spindle changeover, the shielding unit is pushed between the winding spindles of the take-up winder. The shielding unit is retracted from the take-up winder when the yarn package is withdrawn from the winding spindle.

[0020] In order to remove residual yarns and waste yarns that occur during spindle switching or winding from the winding spindle after the yarn package has been doffed, a variant of the method is particularly advantageous in which, after the yarn package has been unwound, a package doffer cleaning device is introduced into the take-up winder parallel to the winding spindle, so that residual yarns can be removed mechanically by brushing or contactlessly by blowing from the circumferential surface of the winding spindle.

[0021] For this purpose, the device carrier has a movable cleaning device that can be guided to move back and forth between a rest position and an operating position relative to the device carrier, the cleaning device having at least one cleaning means for removing residual yarn from the circumferential surface of one of the winding spindles of the take-up winder, so that each of the winding spindles of the take-up winder can be cleaned before receiving a new winding tube.

[0022] The method according to the invention for doffing a yarn package is explained in more detail below by means of an exemplary embodiment of the package doffer according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1.1] 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of a package doffer according to the present invention; [Figure 1.2] 1.1 is a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.1 used in front of a take-up winder. [Figure 2] 1.1 is a schematic front view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.1. [Figure 3.1] 1.1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the thread fixing device. [Figure 3.2] 3.2 is a schematic plan view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the thread end clamping device shown in FIG. 3.1. [Figure 4]1.1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the compressed air adapter of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 1.2 is a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.1 in use in a take-up winder. [Figure 6] 1.2 is a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.1 in use in a take-up winder. [Figure 7] FIG. 1.2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the cleaning device of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.1.

[0024] A first exemplary embodiment of a package doffer according to the present invention is shown schematically in the views of Figures 1.1 and 2. Figure 1.1 shows the exemplary embodiment in a side view, and this exemplary embodiment is shown in a front view in Figure 2. Unless explicitly referred to either figure, the following detailed description applies to both figures.

[0025] In these and the following figures, an exemplary embodiment of the package doffer is identified by the reference numeral 5. The package doffer 5 has a portable device carrier 8, which is self-propelled and remotely controlled by a drive (not shown). A protruding receiving mandrel 6 is arranged on the device carrier 8. The receiving mandrel 6 in this exemplary embodiment is held on the device carrier 8 by a height-adjustable slide 17. The receiving mandrel 6 is hollow cylindrical and is configured with a compressed air adapter 12 at its free end. The compressed air adapter 12 is connected to a compressed air reservoir 10 by an internal compressed air line 11. The compressed air reservoir 10 is arranged on the device carrier 8 and is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.1. The compressed air line 11 and the compressed air adapter 12 are likewise shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.1. The function of the compressed air adapter 12 at the free end of the receiving mandrel 6 will be explained below.

[0026] A yarn end clamping device 9, a drawing device 15 and a cleaning device 16 are held on the device carrier 8 alongside the receiving mandrel 6. The structure and function of the additional devices provided on the device carrier 8 will be described subsequently below.

[0027] The yarn end clamping device 9 has a thrust actuator 9.2 by means of which the yarn end clamping device 9 can be guided to move back and forth between a rest position (as shown in FIG. 1.1) and an activated operating position. The thrust actuator 9.2 is fixedly connected to a holder 9.1 on which a number of spray nozzles 9.3 are held. The spray nozzles 9.3 are arranged on the holder 9.1 in a predetermined number at a predetermined distance from each other relative to the thrust actuator 9.2. The distance between the spray nozzles 9.3 and the number of spray nozzles 9.3 on the holder 9.1 are selected depending on the pitch of the take-up winder and the number of winding positions. The yarn package at the winding position is acquired by the package doffer 5.

[0028] To further explain the yarn end clamping device 9, reference is now made to FIG. 3.1. The yarn end clamping device 9 is shown diagrammatically in a plan view in FIG. 3.1. As can be seen from FIG. 3.1, the spray nozzles 9.3 are arranged next to one another on a holder 9.1 and are collectively connected to a metering pump 9.5. The metering pump 9.5 is connected to a tank 9.6. The tank 9.6 and the metering pump 9.5 are held in the holder 9.1 in this exemplary embodiment. However, it is also possible, in principle, to arrange the tank 9.6 or the tank 9.6 and the metering pump 9.5 on the device carrier 8 and to connect the tank 9.6 to the metering pump 9.5 or the spray nozzles 9.6 by means of a flexible line.

[0029] As can be seen from Figure 3.1, the spray nozzles 9.3 are assigned to a contact pressure roller 9.4 which is freely rotatable on a holder 9.1 and is mounted so as to extend over all the spray nozzles 9.3.

[0030] To explain the function of the yarn end clamping device 9, reference is additionally made to FIG. 1.2. The exemplary embodiment of the package doffer of FIG. 1.1 is shown in FIG. 1.2 in operation on a take-up winding machine 1. The take-up winding machine 1 has several winding positions 1.1-1.5 for simultaneously winding several yarns to form yarn packages. For this purpose, the take-up winding machine 1 has two protruding winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2. These winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2 are held in a winding turret 3. The winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2 and the winding turret 3 are driven by a drive 4. Take-up winding machines of this type are well known in the prior art and will not be described further here.

[0031] In operation, the yarn package 7 is alternately wound around the winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2. Once the yarn package 7 has reached a predetermined final diameter, the winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2 are rotated by the winding turret 3 and guided alternately between the operating area and the changeover area. In the situation shown in FIG. 1.2, the winding spindle 2.1 is located in the changeover area. The yarn package 7 on the winding spindle 2.1 is thus prepared for doffing by the package doffer 5. In the illustrated operating situation, the yarn has already been cut between the winding spindles 2.1 and 2.2, resulting in one loose yarn end being present on each of the completed yarn packages 7.

[0032] To allow the yarn packages 7 to be doffed from the winding spindle 2.1, the package doffer 5 is positioned in front of the take-up winding machine 1 so that the free end of the winding spindle 2.1 and the free end of the receiving mandrel 6 face each other at a short distance. When the package doffer 5 reaches this position, the yarn end clamping device 9 of the device carrier 8 is activated. A thrust actuator 9.2 guides a holder 9.1 with a spray nozzle 9.3 into the take-up winding machine 1, i.e., from its rest position to its operating position. In the operating position, the yarn end clamping device 9 is arranged so that one spray nozzle 9.3 is assigned to each yarn package 7 and the contact pressure roller 9.4 is supported on the periphery of the yarn package 7. The winding spindle 2.1 is then decelerated. During this procedure, the spray nozzles 9.3 are activated, causing a fluid to be sprayed onto the surface of the yarn package 7 through the spray nozzles 9.3 by the metering pump 9.5. Depending on the fluid and the spray nozzle 9.3, the entire shelf face of the yarn package 7 or only the peripheral restraining beads can be wetted. The yarn ends of the yarn package 7 can be fixed to the shelf face of the yarn package 7 by means of a contact pressure roller 9.4 supported on the shelf face. A spin finish is preferably used as the fluid. However, it is also possible to use an adhesive fluid that basically improves the effect of fixing the loose yarn ends to the yarn package 7.

[0033] The operating state of the yarn end clamping device 9 in Fig. 3.1 is highlighted by the broken line plotting the yarn package 7. Here, the contact pressure roller 9.4 extends over all winding positions or yarn packages 7, respectively. However, it is also possible in principle to clamp the loose yarn end directly on the periphery of the yarn package within a clamping bead. For this purpose, an alternative exemplary embodiment of the yarn end clamping device 9 is shown in Fig. 3.2.

[0034] In the exemplary embodiment of the yarn end clamping device 9 shown in Figure 3.2, several contact pressure rollers 9.4 are held in a freely rotatable manner in a holder 9.1. Here, one contact pressure roller 9.4 is assigned to each spray nozzle 9.3. The contact pressure rollers 9.4 extend only over a sub-area of ​​the yarn package 7 indicated by the dashed lines, so that loose yarn ends can be clamped in the area of ​​the clamping bead.

[0035] Once the loose yarn ends of the yarn package 7 to be doffed have been secured, the yarn end securing device 9 of the device carrier 8 of the package doffer 5 is returned to its rest position. Once the winding spindle 2.1 of the take-up winder 1 has been fully decelerated, a compressed air connection to the winding spindle 2.1 is established by means of the compressed air adapter 12. This situation is shown diagrammatically in Figure 4.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a portion of the freely projecting end of the winding spindle 2.1 and the receiving mandrel 6. A compressed air adapter 12 is movably arranged in the receiving mandrel 6 and is connected to an adjustment actuator 13. The compressed air adapter 12 is guided by the adjustment actuator 13 and can be introduced into a compressed air connector 14 at the free end of the winding spindle 2.1. Compressed air is then supplied and introduced into the interior of the winding spindle 2.1 by a control valve. The control valve is not shown here but is arranged in the compressed air reservoir 10. A tensioning device, known, for example, from EP 2523884, is configured in the winding spindle 2.1. This will not be further described here, and reference is made to the cited documents. The tensioning mechanism of the tensioning device is released by the compressed air in the winding spindle 2.1, allowing the winding tube 7.1 of the yarn package 7 to be doffed from the periphery of the winding spindle 2.1. Now, the extractor 15 of the package doffer 5 is activated.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1.1 and 2, the pulling device 15 has a thrust means 15.1 which can be guided by a thrust actuator 15.2 to move back and forth between a rest position and an operating position, whereby the thrust means 15.1 can pivot relative to the thrust actuator 15.2, for example, so that the yarn package 7 can be pulled off the winding spindle 2.1 by a thrust fork.

[0038] 5 shows the situation in which the pulling device 15 is actuated to enable the yarn package 7 to be pulled off from the winding spindle 2.1. For this purpose, the thrust means 15.1 is guided by the thrust actuator 15.2 so that the yarn packages are successively led from the winding spindle 2.1 onto the receiving mandrel 6. When the last yarn package 7 has been held on the receiving mandrel 6, the pulling device 15 is guided back to its rest position on the device carrier 8. For this purpose, the thrust means 15.1 is pivoted.

[0039] In order to prepare the winding spindle 2.1 so that it can receive a new tube, the cleaning device 16 of the device carrier 8 is now activated. As can be seen from Figures 1.1 and 2, the cleaning device 16 comprises cleaning means 16.1 and an indexing actuator 16.2. For operation, the cleaning means 16.1 can be moved from a rest position to the take-up winder 1 by means of the indexing actuator 16.2.

[0040] To further explain the cleaning device 16, further reference is made to Figures 6 and 7. A side view of an exemplary embodiment of the package doffer 5 and take-up winder 1 is shown in Figure 6. A part of the winding spindle 2.1 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 7 together with cleaning means 16.1. In this respect, the following description refers to all figures.

[0041] As can be seen in particular from the view in Fig. 7, the cleaning means 16.1 in this exemplary embodiment is formed by a brush 16.3 pressed against the circumferential surface of the winding spindle 2.1. This brush 16.3 is continuously guided over the entire length of the winding spindle by an indexing actuator 16.2, thereby removing lint and residual threads from the circumferential surface of the winding spindle. The winding spindle 2.1 of the take-up winder 1 is here driven in rotation at a slow speed.

[0042] The embodiment of the cleaning device 16 is likewise exemplary. Basically, the cleaning means 16.1 can also have one or more compressed air nozzles, for example to blow off residual threads and thread waste from the circumferential surface of the winding spindle.

[0043] The structural embodiment of the additional device of the package doffer 5 shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1.1 and 2 is merely illustrative. The possibility of the package doffer according to the present invention assuming additional functions that would normally have to be performed by auxiliary devices provided in a take-up winding machine is essential to the method according to the present invention. For example, instead of a spray nozzle to secure loose yarn ends, the yarn end securing device can have a label dispenser for providing a label that is adhesively bonded to the circumferential surface of the yarn package. The compressed air conveying device of the package doffer is particularly advantageous. This compressed air conveying device controls the supply of compressed air to the winding spindle to relax the tensioning device. This eliminates the need for complex rotating conduits in the take-up winding machine. Furthermore, the yarn package around the circumferential surface of the winding spindle is released only after the package doffer is positioned. Premature release of the yarn package is not possible. The compressed air conveying device of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.1 and 2 is also illustrative.

[0044] The package doffer 5 according to Figures 1.1 and 2 can include a movable shielding unit, which is pushed out as an additional device between the winding spindles of the take-up winder during the changeover phase or when doffing the yarn package 7, respectively. This prevents loose yarn ends from being pulled into the first layer of the newly wound yarn package. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for an auxiliary shielding device in the take-up winder.

Claims

1. 1. A method for doffing a yarn package, comprising winding the yarn package onto a protruding winding spindle of a take-up winder having a plurality of winding positions, and receiving the yarn package after winding by a receiving mandrel of a package doffer, comprising: a yarn end fixing device of the package doffer installed in the take-up winding machine fixing loose yarn ends of the yarn packages to the periphery of each of the yarn packages before the yarn packages are pushed out from the winding spindle.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising spraying a fluid onto the periphery of the yarn package in the region of the yarn end while the winding spindle is rotating.

3. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the yarn end is pressed against the circumferential surface of the yarn package by means of a contact pressure roller or by means of a plurality of contact pressure rollers.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating relaxation of the tensioning device of the winding spindle by conveying compressed air from the package doffer to the winding spindle before receiving the yarn package.

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pulling device of the package doffer is introduced into the take-up winder parallel to the winding spindle to push the yarn package off the winding spindle, and the pulling device can push the yarn package over the circumferential surface of the winding spindle.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing a package doffer cleaning device into the take-up winder parallel to the winding spindle after the yarn package has been drawn off.

7. A package doffer for receiving and delivering yarn packages (7) held on a plurality of protruding winding spindles (2.1, 2.2) of a take-up winder (1), the package doffer having a movable device carrier (8) on which at least one receiving mandrel (6) for receiving said yarn packages (7) is held, The package doffer is characterized in that the device carrier (8) has a movable yarn end clamping device (9) for clamping loose yarn ends on the circumferential surface of the yarn package (7), the yarn end clamping device (9) is guideable to reciprocate relative to the device carrier (8) between a rest position and an activated operating position, and the yarn end clamping device (9) is configured to be introduced into the take-up winding machine.

8. 8. The package doffer according to claim 7, wherein the yarn end clamping device (9) comprises a plurality of spray nozzles (9.3) which are spaced apart from one another and connected to a fluid tank (9.6) and a fluid pump (9.5).

9. 9. The package doffer according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the yarn end clamping device (9) has a plurality of freely rotatable contact pressure rollers (9.4) spaced apart from one another or a single elongated freely rotatable contact pressure roller (9.4) extending across the spray nozzle (9.3).

10. 10. The package doffer according to claim 7, wherein the device carrier (8) is provided with a compressed air reservoir (10) connected to a movable compressed air adapter (12), the compressed air adapter (12) being selectively connectable to a compressed air connector (14) of one of the winding spindles (2.1, 2.2).

11. 11. The package doffer according to claim 7 or 10, characterized in that the device carrier (8) has a movable drawing device (15) which can be guided to move back and forth parallel to the receiving mandrel (6) to a projected drawing position to acquire the yarn package (7), and the drawing device (15) has at least one thrust means (15.1) for guiding the yarn package on one of the winding spindles (2.1, 2.2).

12. 11. A package doffer according to claim 7 or 10, characterized in that the device carrier (8) has a movable cleaning device (16) which can be guided to move back and forth relative to the device carrier (8) between a rest position and an operating position, and the cleaning device (16) has at least one cleaning means (16.1) for removing residual threads on the circumferential surface of one of the winding spindles (2.1, 2.2).

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