DESCRIPTION

[0001] This invention relates to an integrated device for a system for transporting bobbins and tubes between a roving frame and a spinning frame of a spinning line.

[0002] As is known, the bobbins formed at the roving frame, consisting of a tube on which is wound the roving stretched at the roving frame, are transported to the spinning frame. The bobbins being processed are found at the spinning frame hung on a frame from which depart the roving to be worked at the spinning frame. When the bobbins being processed are depleted, they are replaced with bobbins coming from the roving frame.

[0003] The depleted bobbins consist of the tube completely free of roving (called an "empty tube") or of the tube with several residual roving windings (called a "dirty tube") .

[0004] The dirty tubes (and sometimes also the empty ones) are cleaned in a special device, usually called a "cleaner", which removes the residual roving, obtaining empty tubes.

[0005] The empty tubes coming from the cleaner and those taken from the spinning frame are brought back to the roving frame and, here, are substituted for the bobbins formed in the meantime, to proceed with the formation ^' of new bobbins .

[0006] These steps are carried out manually or using completely automated or partially automated mechanised systems.

[0007] In the case of automated systems, an automatic rail transport system is provided between the roving frame and the spinning frame. In the vicinity of the roving frame, the transport system acts in conjunction with an exchange device for exchanging the bobbins to be. sent to the spinning frame and the tubes coming from the spinning frame. Furthermore, said transport system acts in conjunction with a cleaning device for the elimination of the residual roving from the dirty tubes before they are supplied to the roving frame.

[0008] It is clear that the execution of these operations, despite the high degree of automation, needs some execution times that can have a substantial impact on the economic character of the entire, plant, considering the high number of bobbins and tubes managed.

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated device for the system of transporting bobbins and tubes between the roving frame and the spinning frame, able to reduce the overall ^' execution times of the cleaning and exchange steps.

[0010] This purpose is achieved by an integrated device according to claim 1 and by a working method according to claim 12. The respectively dependent claims describe embodiment variants of the device for implementing the method .

I

[0011] The characteristics and advantages of the integrated device and working method will be apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the accompanying figures, wherein :

[0012] - Figure 1 shows a portion of a spinning line provided with a roving frame, a plurality of spinning frames, a transport system and of an integrated device according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0013] - Figure 2 shows the integrated device of Figure 1, according to a preferred embodiment;

[0014] - Figures 3a and 3b illustrate respectively the integrated device with cleaning means in the rest position and the integrated device with cleaning means in the working position;

[0015] - Figures 4a to 4m show the steps of a working method of the integrated device; and

[0016] - Figure 5 shows the secondary cleaning means of the cleaning means, used with a dirty tube. [0017] With reference to the accompanying figures, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a portion of a spinning line comprising a sleever-can region 2 in which is housed a plurality of sleever-cans 4, each containing a roll of roving, a roving frame 6 contiguous to the sleever-can region 2 to be fed from these with the roving, and a plurality of spinning frames 8, for example arranged parallel to one another.

[0018] The roving frame 6 stretches the roving coming from the sleever-cans 4 and winds it on empty tubes, forming bobbins to be transported to the spinning frame. For this purpose, the bobbins 10 are made available to a carriage 20 of the roving frame 6.

[0019] A transport system comprises a main transport device 22, usually referred to as a "plank", suitable for picking the bobbins 10 from the carriage 20 and moving them in suspension, to a predefined height, in general by means of a main rail 22 ' . The main transport device 22 is also suitable for loading the carriage 20 with empty tubes 14.

[0020] The transport system also comprises a secondary transport device 26 suitable for moving the bobbins 10 to the spinning frames 8 and dirty tubes 12 (or sometimes empty) to the roving frame 6.

[0021] For example, the secondary transport device 26 has a closed ring shape and comprises a track 26' having sections 8' that run parallel to the spinning frames 8, without interruption.

[0022] The spinning line 1 comprises an integrated device 50 suitable to act in conjunction with the main transport device 22 that serves the roving bench 6 and with the secondary transport device 26 that serves the spinning frames 8, to perform the pick-up of the dirty tubes 12 from the secondary transport device 26 and the bobbins 10 from the main · transport device 22, the cleaning of the dirty tubes 12 to obtain empty tubes 14, the exchange of the bobbinslO with the empty tubes 14 and the release of the bobbins 10 to the secondary transport device 26 and of the empty tubes 14 to the main transport device 22.

[0023] The device 50 is thus integrated in the sense that all the aforesaid functions are performed locally by the same device.

[0024] According to an embodiment, for example illustrated in Figure 2, the integrated device 50 acts in conjunction with an end portion 26' ' of the track 26" of the secondary transport device 26 that serves the spinning frames 8 and with an end portion 22'' of the transport rail 22' of the main transport device 22 that services the roving frame 6.

[0025] For example, the end portion 22'· of the rail 22' extends along a direction perpendicular to the end portion 26'' of the track 26'.

[0026] Preferably, the integrated device 50 comprises a first support plate 52a and a second support plate 52b, translatable horizontally -in opposite directions along a horizontal translation direction X, so as to bring the two plates, the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, below the end portion 22' ¹ of the rail 22' and below the end portion 26' ' of the track 26' .

[0027] In other words, said integrated device 50 comprises a horizontal translation means suitable to impose on command said horizontal translation on the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b; preferably, said horizontal translation means comprise a pair of translation actuators 53, for example pneumatically actuated. Alternatively, the actuation is electric or hydraulic.

[0028] Each plate 52a, 52b is provided with a tube support 54a, 54b suitable to be inserted under the tube and hold it to the plate 52a, 52b.

[0029] Furthermore, the integrated device 50 includes a vertical rotation axis Z, arranged between the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b; said plates 52a, 52b are suitable to perform a rotation around said rotation axis Z to change positions. [0030] In other words, said integrated device 50 comprises rotation means suitable to impose on command said rotation on the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b.

[0031] Preferably, said rotation means comprise a rotation actuator 55, for example, pneumatically actuated, and a rack, so as to alternatingly impart a clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation. Alternatively, the actuation is electric or hydraulic.

[0032] According to an embodiment, said rotation means comprise a central body 56 that supports the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, and disposed between these. The central body 56 is constrained rotationally to a pair of vertical stems 57a, 57b, fixed in turn to a transmission element 59, engaged with the rack.

[0033] According to further embodiment variants, the rotation is only clockwise or only counter-clockwise.

[0034] In addition, the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b are vertically translatable along a vertical translation axis Y, parallel to the rotation axis Z, so as to move from a lowered position, at a lesser height, to a raised position, at a greater height, in which the bobbin 10 or dirty tubes 12, supported by said plates, the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, interact with the end portion 26'' of the track 26' or with the end portion 22 ¹ ' of the rail 22 ' .

[0035] In other words, said integrated device 50 comprises vertical translation means suitable to impose on command said vertical translation on the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b.

[0036] For example, said vertical translation means comprise a vertical translational actuator 60, engaged between the central body 56 and the transmission element 59 and suitable for lifting/lowering said central body 56 by virtue of the fact that the stems 57a, 57b are slidably engaged with the central body 56.

[0037] Further, the integrated device 50 comprises cleaning means 70 suitable to operate on a dirty tube 12 to aspirate from it the residual windings of roving R.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, said cleaning means 70 comprise suction means 80 suitable to create on command a forced aspiration current, for example comprising a fan, and a cleaner tube 72 provided with a rectilinear functional section 72', having extension along a vertical aspiration axis W, parallel to the rotation axis Z. The cleaner tube 72 is operatively connected to said suction means so that, when actuated, an aspiration current is generated inside the tube 72 and in particular inside the functional section 72'.

[0039] Preferably, said aspiration axis W is arranged between the rotation axis Z and the end portion 26' ' of track 26', i.e., on the side of the secondary transport device 26 that serves the spinning frame 8 with respect to the axis of rotation Z.

[0040] In addition, said cleaning means 70 comprise movement means 85 suitable for moving at least one functional section 72' of the cleaner tube 72 between ^' a rest position and a working position, wherein it operatively engages a dirty tube to aspirate the roving residues.

[0041] In other words, in the working position of the functional section 72' of the cleaner tube 72, the residual windings of roving R are subject to an action realised by the aspiration air current, such as to tear these windings and free the tube.

[0042] According to an embodiment, said movement means comprise an extensible section 72'' of the tube cleaner 72, placed upstream of the functional section 72' and suitable to elongate to bring the functional section 72' in the working position (Figure 3b) and suitable to shorten itself to bring the functional section 72' in the rest position (Figure 3a) .

[0043] Additionally, said movement means comprise a cleaner actuator 87, for example, pneumatically actuated, operatively connected with the functional section 72' of the tube 72. In further variants, the actuation is electric or hydraulic.

[0044] Preferably, moreover, the cleaning means 70 comprise secondary cleaning means 89 suitable to locally direct towards the dirty tube 12 a jet of compressed air (Figure 5), in .particular for the elimination of additional residues of roving R' present on an adhesive strip 91, generally Velcro, with which the tube is provided for the ^' attachment of the head and of the first turns of the roving .

[0045] For example said secondary cleaning means 89 comprise air-blowing means suitable for generating a jet of compressed air, and a blowing group 93, for example made in two coupled bodies 93a, 93b, operatively connected to the blowing means.

[0046] The group 93 is for example applied, in the form of a flange, to the tube 72, for example at the free end of it.

[0047] The group 93 has a blow pipe 95, for example annular, preferably inclined from the bottom -to the top, open towards the inside of the tube 72, from which exits the jet of compressed air.

[0048] In a first configuration (Figure 4a) , the end portion 22'' of the rail 22' carries a hanging bobbin 10, consisting of a tube, wound with roving, hung on the end portion 22 ' ' by means of a roving frame side hooking/release device 90', generally called a "commuter"; the bobbin 10 and the related hooking/release device for 90' define a roving frame side hooking/release axis J.

[0049] Moreover, in this configuration, the end portion 26'' of the track 26' carries a hanging dirty tube 12, with a few windings of roving R, by means of a further spinning frame side hooking/release device 90''; the dirty tube 1,2 and the related spinning frame side hooking/release device 90'' define a spinning frame side hooking/release axis K.

[0050] Optionally, in a first configuration of the integrated device 50, the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b are in a retracted position, i.e., proximal to the rotation axis Z.

[0051] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 4b) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, due to the actuation of the horizontal translation means, are translated horizontally along the direction of horizontal translation X, so that the support 54a carried by the first plate 52a is aligned to the bobbin 10, i.e., coaxial to the roving frame side hooking/release axis J and the support 54b carried by the second plate 52b is aligned with the dirty tube 12, i.e., coaxial to the spinning frame side hooking/release axis K, moving from the retracted position to an advanced position.

[0052] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 4c) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, due to the actuation of the vertical translation means, are vertically translated along the vertical translation direction Y, and in particular raised, from a lowered position to a raised position in which the supports 54a, 54b respectively engage the tube of the bobbin 10 and the dirty tube 12.

[0053] The vertical translational in lifting proceeds beyond the engagement of the supports 54a, 54b with the tubes, causing a slight lifting of the bobbin and the dirty tube and the consequent release from the hooking/release device 90',90''.

[0054] In a yet subsequent configuration (Figure 4d) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, due to the actuation of the vertical translation means, are vertically translated along the vertical translation direction Y, and in particular lowered, passing from the raised position to the lowered position, carrying with them the bobbin 10 and the dirty tube 12, since disengaged from the hooking/release device 90 ¹ , 90 ¹ ' . [0055] The picking of the bobbin 10 and the dirty tube 12 therefore takes place individually, i.e., one bobbin and one dirty tube per cycle.

[0056] In a further subsequent configuration (Figure 4e) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, due to the actuation of the horizontal translation means, are horizontally translated along the horizontal translation direction X between the advanced position and a retracted aspiration position, always carrying with them, respectively, the bobbin 10 and the dirty tube 12.

[0057] In said retracted position, the dirty tube 12 is aligned with the functional section 72' of the cleaner tube 72 and, in particular, the support 54b is coaxial with the axis of aspiration W.

[0058] Preferably, said retracted aspiration position coincides with the initial retracted position.

[0059] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 4f) , the dirty tube 12 is subjected to a cleaning action by said cleaning means 70.

[0060] In particular, in said configuration, the functional section 72' of the cleaner tube 72, due to the actuation of the movement means 85, passes from the rest position to the working position in which it operatively engages the dirty tube 12 in aspiration, supported by the plate 52b. For example, the functional section 72' translates due to the lengthening of the extensible portion 72 ^{1 1} , fitting over and covering, preferably entirely, the dirty tube 12.

[0061] At the same time, the actuation of the suction means 80 allows tearing the residues of roving R dirt from the dirty tube 12, obtaining the empty tube 14.

[0062] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 4g) , the actuation of the suction means 80 having ended, the functional section 72' passes from the working position to the rest position, leaving the empty tube 14 on the plate 52b; in the meantime, the bobbin 10 remains on the other plate 52a, preferably always in the same position.

[0063] Preferably, during the raising step of the tube 72, the suction means are still active and, in addition, the secondary cleaning means 89 are actuated for the removal of the additional residues of roving R' present on the adhesive strip 91.

[0064] In particular, the blowing means are actuated, so that the jet of compressed air can hit the residues R' with an angle of incidence; the removed residues are thus carried away by the aspiration current.

[0065] Preferably, the raising step is continuous, up to the rest position of the tube 72; according to an embodiment variant, during the raising step, the tube 72 pauses for a predetermined time interval, at a height such that the jet of compressed air can effectively work on the residues R' on. the adhesive strip 91.

[0066] The cleaning step is thus performed individually, i.e., on one dirty tube per cycle.

[0067] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 4h) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b are rotated around the rotation axis Z due to the actuation of the rotation means, exchanging position; in this way, the bobbin 10, supported by the plate 52a, is arranged on the side of the track 26' of the secondary transport device 26 that services the spinning frame 8, while the empty tube 14 is arranged on the side of the rail 22' of the main transport device 22 that serves the roving frame 6.

[0068] In a yet subsequent configuration (Figure 4i) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 14b, due to the actuation of the horizontal translation means, are translated horizontally along the direction of horizontal translation X, so that the support 54b carried by the plate 52b, and thus the empty tube 14, is aligned to a roving frame side hooking/release device 90' and, in particular, coaxial to the roving frame side hooking/release axis J, and in such a way that the other support 54a, and thus the bobbin 10, is aligned to spinning frame side hooking/release device 90'' and, in particular, coaxial to the spinning frame side hooking/release axis K, reaching an advanced position from the retracted position.

[0069] In a subsequent configuration (Figure 41), the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 14b, due to the actuation of the vertical translation means, are vertically translated along the vertical translation direction Y, and in particular raised, from a lowered position to a raised position so that the empty tube 14 and the bobbin 10 act in conjunction with the respective hooking/release devices 90 ',90'', so as to be able to remain hanging from the rail 22' and the secondary track 26'.

[0070] The release step of the bobbin and empty tube is thus performed individually, i.e., one bobbin and one empty tube per cycle.

[0071] In a yet subsequent configuration (Figure 4m) , the first support plate 52a and the second support plate 52b, due to the actuation of the vertical translation means, are vertically translated along the vertical translation direction Y, and in particular lowered, passing from the raised position to a lowered position, releasing the empty tube 14 and the bobbin 10, which remain hanging, respectively, from the rail 22 ' and the secondary track 26' . [0072] Optionally, the integrated device 50 returns to the initial configuration in which the first support plate 52a and the second supporting plate 52b are in the retracted position (Figure 4a).

[0073] Due to the actuation of the main transport device 22, another bobbin 10 is made available to the integrated device 50 and, due to the actuation of the secondary transport device 26, another dirty tube 12 is made available to the integrated device 50.

[0074] In other words, according to a working method of the spinning line according to the invention, between the cleaning of the dirty tube 12 and the release of the empty tube 14, said empty tube 14 or dirty tube is not released anymore and then picked again.

[0075] Innovatively, the integrated device described above meets the needs mentioned above with reference to the known art, since it allows reducing the overall times needed for the exchange of the bobbins with the tubes and the cleaning of the dirty tubes.

[0076] In fact, according to the invention, the cleaning of the dirty tubes occurs substantially simultaneously with the exchange of position between the bobbin and the dirty tube.

[0077] Advantageously, moreover, the spinning line equipped with ' the integrated device according to the invention is particularly reliable, since it limits the use of the commuters for the hooking and release of the empty tubes.

[0078] Notoriously, the commuters, i.e., the hooking/release devices for the bobbins and tubes, whether empty or dirty, are the most delicate components of the transport system between the roving frame and the spinning frame, so that, to reduce the number of breakdowns and malfunctions, it is necessary to reduce their use as much as possible.

[0079] Precisely for this purpose, according to the invention, the integrated device allows to picking the bobbin and supplying empty tubes by working directly on the rail that services the roving frame and picking the dirty tube and supply the bobbin by working directly on the track that services the spinning frame, avoiding intermediate steps and unnecessary use of the commuters.

[0080] In the embodiment described above, the step of cleaning the dirty tubes takes place in the retracted cleaning position of the plate that carries the dirty tube.

[0081] According to a further embodiment variant, the cleaning step takes place after a further rotation of the plate that carries the tube, for example of 90° with respect to the aforesaid retracted position.

[0082] According to a still further embodiment variant, the cleaning step takes place after the step of exchange of position between the dirty tube and the bobbin.

[0083] According to a further embodiment variant, the functional section of the cleaner tube is an extensible end portion, for example bellows, so that its elongation covers the dirty tube.

[0084] According to a still further embodiment variant, the movement means of the cleaning means are suitable to move . the entire cleaner tube.

[0085] It is clear that one skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may make changes to the integrated device and method described above, all contained within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.