Textile Bobbin Transport Sorting Device for Flexible Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional textile plant systems for moving bobbins and tubes are complex, inflexible, and occupy significant space, making it difficult to adapt to non-parallel spinning machine arrangements and requiring sophisticated systems to prevent conflicts during bobbin unloading.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising outward and return conveyors for each spinning machine, along with a sorting device that includes conveyor and redistribution stations, allows for flexible adaptation to various spinning machine arrangements, reduces overall dimensions, and simplifies the interconnection structure between spinning machines and winding machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a shared transport system with conveyor belts is used to move bobbins and tubes between spinning machines and winding machines, then the system can handle multiple machines, but the system complexity and space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebobbin handling capacityVSAvoidtransport system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the shared transport system into individual outward and return conveyors for each spinning machine. Each conveyor operates independently, eliminating the need for a complex centralized control system while maintaining the ability to handle multiple machines simultaneously. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sorting device with conveyor and redistribution stations that operates in a different dimensional space, allowing bobbins and tubes to be routed to multiple destinations simultaneously. This spatial reorganization eliminates conflicts during unloading by providing separate pathways, reducing system complexity while maintaining high handling capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If spinning machines are arranged in non-parallel configurations, then space utilization improves, but the transport system becomes more complex and difficult to adapt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant layout flexibilityVSAvoidtransport system adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs outward and return conveyors that can be universally applied to spinning machines regardless of their arrangement configuration. The conveyors are equipped with sorting devices that can redirect bobbins and tubes to any destination, making the system adaptable to non-parallel layouts while maintaining ease of implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sorting device incorporates movable elements such as diverters and redistribution stations that can dynamically adjust their position and function based on the specific layout requirements. This dynamic capability allows the transport system to adapt to various spinning machine arrangements without requiring custom-designed complex systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If sophisticated conflict prevention systems are implemented during bobbin unloading, then operational reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebobbin unloading reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent equips each spinning machine with its own outward and return conveyors that are pre-configured with sorting capabilities. This preliminary arrangement ensures that conflict prevention is built into the physical structure rather than relying on complex real-time control systems. The sorting devices are positioned to prevent conflicts before they occur, maintaining reliability while reducing control system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4011814B1Apparatus for moving bobbins and tubes for a textile plant, and a textile plant comprising such apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 SAVIO MACCHINE TESSILI SPA
  • EP4011814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4011814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus (12) for moving bobbins and tubes in a textile plant (14) comprises at least one group of at least two spinning machines (100; 200) and at least one winding machine (300). The apparatus (12) comprises an outward conveyor (102; 202) and a return conveyor (104; 204) for each spinning machine (100; 200); the outward conveyor (102; 202) is adapted for transporting bobbins in output from the respective spinning machine (100, 200); the return conveyor (104, 204) is adapted for transporting tubes entering the respective spinning machine (100, 200). The apparatus further comprises a sorting device (400) comprising a conveyor station (402) at which the outward conveyors (102; 202) converge, and a redistribution station (404) at which the return conveyors (104; 204) converge. The conveyor station (402) and the redistribution station (404) are connected by means of a conveyor (406) and a redistribution conveyor (408), respectively, to a bobbin input line (302) to the at least one winding machine (300) and to a bobbin output line (304) from the at least one winding machine (300). The conveyor station (406) and the redistribution station (408) are adapted for redistributing the bobbins or tubes respectively to the bobbin input line (302) or to the return conveyors (104; 204) based on predetermined operating parameters of the bobbins and tubes to be redistributed. The spinning machines are substantially aligned [Fig. 1]