Bobbin conveying and alignment mechanism
Apr. 8, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Morton BA 3A mu WW 9 BOBBIN CONVEYING AND ALIGNMENT MECHANISM [22] Filed:  
 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk [2]] App! No.: 398,590 Assistant E.raminerJoseph E. Valenza Attorney. Agent. or FirmAlbert P. Davis; Burnett W.  
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 bobbin having a metal ferrule about the end thereof and move the bobbin to a position for rotatably conple. a downstream [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS veying of the bobbin to, for exam 5 e r u g I F g n .I W a f D 7 S mm al a n I. m C C 6 C m g n H n .w r- 0 l. 4 3/ 48 MW 9 m U0 U0 WM 45 23 99 H 40 29 O 7-5 2 BOBBIN CONVEYING AND ALIGNMENT MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Textile apparatus, such as spinning machines, are well known in the art as is various automatic equipment, such as donning and/or doffing apparatus, associated with such machines. In these machines it is conventional to doff all the wound bobbins at one time and donn empty bobbins, either automatically or manually, which is time consuming. It would therefore be advantageous to, in these machines, randomly doff wound bobbins and to supply empty bobbins to the various stations upon a machine as they are needed. This would result in more efficient operation since the down time of the machine required for the conventional doffing and donning would be eliminated and it could be run on a continuous basis since the stations would be individually serviced. In this type of a machine it is therefore advantageous to provide means for feeding an individual empty bobbin only when called for by a station whereat a full bobbin has just been doffed. It is furthermore highly desirable that an apparatus be provided which is capable of supplying the empty bobbin in proper orientation regardless of how the bobbins are placed in the supply hopper.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention is therefore directed to an apparatus for delivering and orienting bobbins individually for later donning upon a spindle by a companion apparatus. The apparatus comprises a conveyor belt positioned about a magnet wherein the conveyor is movable from a bobbin pickup position to a second position wherein at the second position the conveyor is rotatable about the magnet so as to convey a bobbin to, for example, a bobbin aligning means downstream of the conveyor and then to a conveyor about a spinning frame.  
  The instant invention is also directed to a method of conveying a bobbin from a first position to a second position by engaging and end of the bobbin with a conveyor positioned about a magnet and conveying the bobbin to the second position for rotation of the com veyor about the magnet to carry the bobbin to additional apparatus, such as an alignment mechanism and then to a conveyor about a spinning frame.  
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus which magnetically intercepts and retains a bobbin from a source of supply and which is movable to a position for further conveying of the bobbin to downstream apparatus, such as a bobbin end orienting mechanism and then to a conveyor about a spinning machine.  
  It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus as aforesaid including a bobbin end orienting apparatus downstream from the magnetic conveyor.  
  It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method for magnetically intercepting and re moving a bobbin from a source of supply and then conveying the bobbin to downstream apparatus, such as a bobbin end orienting mechanism and thence to a conveyor about a spinning machine.  
  It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method as aforesaid including orienting the end of the bobbin downstream&#39; of the magnetic conveyor.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the magnetic conveyor of the present invention including the bobbin supply and delivering mechanism and bobbin end orienting mechanism associated therewith.  
  FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofthe magnetic conveyor and magnetic conveyor drive mechanisms connected therewith showing the magnetic conveyor in the bobbin pickup position and in phantom in the retracted position for conveying a bobbin to downstream apparatus.  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the magnetic conveyor assembly including bobbin sensing apparatus associated therewith taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the magnetic conveyor taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.  
  FIGS. 57 are diagrams of the circuitry of the present invention.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring firstly to FIG. I a plurality of bobbins B having metal ferrules about each end of the bobbins are shown randomly deposited in a hopper 10 which has an opening I2 for passage of the bobbins. The floor of the hopper 10 comprises a conveyor belt 14 rotatably mounted about rolls, not shown, which, when activated. cause the bobbins to move to the opening 12 in a manner to be discussed. The hopper is divided into compartments 20 and 22 by means of side walls 24 and 25 and by member 26 fixedly attached to end 28 and the opposing end, not shown, of the hopper. The width of each of the compartments 20 and 22 is less than the length of the bobbins in order to generally align the bobbins in a parallel relationship for advancement to opening 12.  
  .lournalled about an end of a shaft 30 of one of the rolls is a sprocket 32 having an overrunning clutch, not shown, and about which passes a chain 34, with the chain 34 also passing about another sprocket 36 rotatably journalled about shaft 38. The shaft 38 is fixedly secured into side member 24 of the hopper l0 and carries thereon a further sprocket 50 attached to sprocket 36 about which passes chain 52. The chain 52 further passes about sprocket 54 fixed to a shaft 56 which is in turn rotatablyjournalled in the side walls 24 and 25 of the hopper l0. Shaft 56 carries thereon paddles 58 and 60, fixed to shaft 56, with paddles 58 and 60 positioned within the compartments 20 and 22 respectively, and which rotate against the direction of the conveyor belt 14 and act to even the flow of the bobbins B upon the conveyor. A double acting air piston is suitably secured to the side wall 24 with the piston rod 74 secured to a link of the chain 34 by means of a pin 76 fixed to the end of the rod 74 and rotatably journalled through a link of the chain. Thus when the air piston 70 is actuated, in a manner later discussed, to move the conveyor belt 14, the paddles 62 and 64 are caused to rotate in a direction as shown by the arrows 80 and 82 to even the aforementioned flow of bobbins.  
  A limit switch 84 is suitably secured to the side member 24 and positioned to engage the rod 74 and reversably actuate piston to return the rod 74 following advance of the conveyor, the operation of which will later become clear.  
  A magnetic conveyor. indicated by the arrow 86, is shown spaced apart from the opening 12 of hopper 10 with an inclined ramp 88 positioned therebetween and suitably secured to side walls 24 and 25. The magnetic conveyor comprises a conveyor belt 90 mounnted about a magnet unit. as shown by arrow 92, and is driven by means of a chain and sprocket drive. indicated by the arrow 94, connected to a double acting piston 96 having a piston rod 100, the operation of which will be more fully discussed hereinafter. An addi&#39; tional double acting air piston 102 is positioned above the end of the magnetic conveyor 86 so that the associated piston rod 106 is slidable within the piston 102 in the \ertical direction as shown in the drawings. The end ofthe piston rod 106 is threaded into a ram 108, having an outwardly extending pin or lug 109 thereon, so that as the piston is actuated, also later discussed. the ram engages and dislodges a bobbin magnetically held against the conveyor belt 90. Following dislodging of the bobbin the bobbin then falls to a chute 110 and to guide members 112 and 114, which will be later dis cussed.  
  Reference is now made to FIGS. 24 which more clearly illustrate the magnetic conveyor 86 and the elements associated therewith including sensing and driving mechanisms which comprise the magnetic conveyor assembly. As shown in FIG. 2 the magnetic con veyor 86 is movable from an extended position. as shown in phantom. to a bobbin intercepting or pickup position, by means of a piston 118. The piston 118 is suitably secured to the hopper frame brace 120 and the piston rod 122 is suitably secured to a bearing block 124 by means of a nut 126 threaded to the end of the piston rod which extends into the bearing block. The bearing block 124 is slideable about a guide rod 128 fixed to the hopper frame brace 120 and the frame member 130 for guiding the magnetic conveyor from the bobbin pickup position to the extended position. Conventional limit switches 132 and 134 are likewise fixedly secured to the frame F adjacent the member 130 and the bracket 120, respectively, and in the path of the bearing block 124, the purposes of which will later become clear. As is more clearly shown in FIG. 3 a carrying member 136, mounted on the bearing block by means of bolt 138 includes outwardly extending portions 140 and which slidably engage rails 152 and 154 respectively. Each of the outwardly extending portions have secured thereto, on the opposing side from the rails, castings 156 and 158 secured thereto by means of bolts [60 and 162, respectively, extending through the portions 140 and 150 and threaded into the castings. These castings further have connected therewith the magnetic conveyor in a manner to be discussed. Thus. as is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, as the double acting air piston 118 is actuated the member 136 is caused to reciprocate upon the rails 152 and 154 and along the guide rod 128 and move the magnetic eonveyor between its bobbin pickup position and its extended position.  
  As further shown in FIG. 4, and as was discussed in reference to FIG. 1, the conveyor belt 90 is positioned about the magnet unit 92 and so that the flat part of the belt wiil intercept the end of a bobbin which carries a metal ferrule 8 of a magnetically attractable material.  
  The magnet unit 92 comprises a permanent magnet 158 which has bonded on opposing sides thereof strips ofa ferrous material 164 and 166 so as to form a laminate structure. The magnet unit is secured to the cast- 5 ing 156 by means of bolts 168 and 170 extending through the casting 156 and threaded into the strip 166 bonded to the permanent magnet, and by two additional bolts, not shown, extending through the casting 158 and likewise threaded into the strip 166 as shown.  
  Referring again to FIG. 3, the conveyor belt 90 is constructed about the magnet unit 92 in the following manner. A shaft 176 is rotatably journalled into casting 156 at one end of the magnet unit 92 and fixedly carries thereon a pulley 178 and a sprocket 180 intermediate the casting 156 and the pulley, with the sprocket 180 having an overrunning clutch, not shown. The conveyor belt 90 is positioned about the pulley 178 and about an idler pulley and a second idler pulley, not shown, at the opposing end of the magnet unit 92. The idler pulley 190 is rotatably journalled on shaft 194 and the second idler pulley is similarly journalled in another shaft, not shown, with the shafts being spaced apart and fixed into the casting 158. A second shaft 198 is also rotatably journalled at the aforementioned opposing end of the magnet unit 92 and fixedly carries thereon a second sprocket 200. A chain 210 is carried about the sprockets 180 and 200 and is connected to piston rod 100 by means of a pin 212 rotatably journalled through a chain link. The piston 96 is secured to the castings 156 and 158 by means of clamps 214 and 216 respectively, engaging the piston and secured to the castings by means of bolts 218 and 220 respectively. Thus as the piston 96 is actuated, the chain 210 is caused to advance which thereupon advances the belt 90, as shown by the arrows 221 and 222, a predetermined distance in accordance with the stroke of the piston rod 100, with the overrunning clutch being operable to prevent returning of the belt 90 when, in operation, the air piston 96 is reversed.  
  Referring now to the various sensing equipment associated with the present invention a bobbin contact sensing limit switch 230 is fixedly attached to the casting 156 and positioned so as to contact a bobbin when 50 means of the overrunning clutch.  
 A further bobbin sensing device, indicated by the arrow 232, adapted to sense a bobbin upon conveyor belt 90 upstream from piston 102 is pivotally attached to the front portion of the castings. This sensing device is provided in order to insure that all bobbins have been evacuated from the conveyor belt before it returns to the hopper conveyor for another load of bobbins, as described later. This device, specifically, includes two crank arms 234 and 236 rotatably journalled to each casting 156 and 158 respectively, by means of pins 238 and 240, and interconnected by means of a member 242 pivotally mounted to each of the upper portions of the crank arms 234 and 236 by means of pins 244 and 246, respectively, so as to pivot in unison. To the lower portions of each crank arms 234 and 236 is pivotally attached a sensing bar 248, by means of pins 250 and 252, respectively, so as the cylinder 102 is actuated to the bobbin has been advanced to the travelling end of downwardly extend rod 106 and the ram carrying pin 109 thereon, which is in supporting engagement with the crank arm 234, the sensing bar 248 is allowed to drop until its downward movement is halted by a bobbin. Should a bobbin, or bobbins, upstream of the bob bin positioned for engagement by the ram not be pres ent then sensing bar 248 is allowed to further drop and permit the crank arm 236 to engage a limit switch 254 suitably positioned and secured to the casting 158 so as to actuate piston 118 to return the magnetic conveyor assembly to the bobbin intercepting position; during which the bearing block 124 engages the limit switch 134, shown in FIG. 2. to activate air piston 70 which in turn causes conveyor belt 14 to advance another row of bobbins for pickup by the magnetic conveyor 86.  
  Referring again to FIG. 1 the orienting apparatus downstream from the magnetic conveyor 86 will now be discussed. Positioned beneath the end of the conveyor belt 90 is the guide chute 110 including the guides 112 and 114 which are suitably secured to the frame F. The opening ofthe chute extends across a sub stantial portion of the width of the inclined ramp 88 and includes integral therewith a bobbin end restraining portion 256 positioned to hold the end ofa bobbin opposing the end of the bobbin held by the conveyor belt 90. The guides 112 and 114 have upwardly extending and tapered finger portions 262 and 264 and on a horizontal plane form an open V&#34; ofa diameter so as to allow free passage of the apical end of a bobbin therethrough but to restrict passage of the butt end of a bobbin until the apical end has fallen from the re straining portion 256 at which time the butt end then passes through the guides. When the butt end ofa bobbin passes through the guides it then falls to a shelf 258 whereby the downward travel of the butt end is momentarily arrested until the apical end has swung down ward. The portion of the guide chute 110 opposing the guides 112 and 114 is generally arcuate shaped and curves away from the guides so as to guide the apical end of a bobbin toward the downward position as it proceeds in its fall through chute 110.  
  Should the apical end of a bobbin be the end in em gagement with the conveyor belt 90, then, when the bobbin is dislodged. as aforementioned, it falls freely through the guides 112 and 114 and thus already is in the apical end down position in the chute as the butt end slides from the restraining portion 256. Following passage through the chute the bobbin falls to, for example, a further conveyor 260 positioned about a spinning machine. wherein an additional limit switch 270 is posi tioned so as to be engaged by the bobbin and reversably actuate the piston 102 and return the ram 108.  
  FIGS. 5-7 schematically depict the operation of the aforementioned pistons of the present invention by employing separate sources of compressed air connected with each circuit to operate the double acting pistons. As is shown in FIG. 5 solenoid switch 134 is connected by means of line 272 to a four way valve 274 which in turn is connected to the piston 70. The four way valve 274 is further connected with another four way valve 276 by means of line 278 with the four way valve 276 being connected to the piston 118. The limit switch 84 is connected by means of a line 280 to the line 278, which interconnects the valves 274 and 276, as aforementioned and limit switch 254, which signals the magnetic conveyor to advance to pick up additional bobbins. is connected to the valve 276 by means of a line 284.  
  HO. 6 shows the circuitry forrotation of the belt 90 about the magnet unit 92 and thereby movement ofthe bobbin to a position at the end of the belt above the chute 110. In particular the circuitry comprises the limit switch 230 connected with a four way valve 290 by means ofline 292 which in turn is connected to the piston 96, which, when actuated. causes rotation of the belt about the magnet. Limit switch 230 is likewise connected to a NOT gate 294 by means ofline 296 with the NOT gate being connected to an AND gate 298 by means of line 300. Limit switch 132, which signals that the conveyor is positioned for rotation of the belt is interconnected to valve 290 and the and gate by means of lines 301 and 302, respectively. By this arrangement the conveyor belt 90 will not be rotated about the magnet unit 92 unless the conveyor is in the up or extended position and the limit switch 230 is not in engagement with a bobbin.  
  FIG. 7 shows the circuitry associated with the piston 102 for causing the bobbin to drop to the guides 112 and 114 upon a demand signal for a fresh bobbin. As is readily seen the piston 102 is connected with a downstream mechanism, not shown, which. when a fresh bobbin is required, is actuated to cause a signal to actu&#39; ate the piston 102 to extend the ram 108 and thereby dislodge a bobbin. In particular. this mechanism is con nected to a four way valve 306 by means ofthe line 308 which in turn is connected to the piston 102 with solenoid switch 270 being connected to the valve 306 by means of line 310 to reversably actuate the piston 102 when engaged by the falling bobbin.  
  Summarizing the operation ofthe instant invention a supply of bobbins is randomly dumped into the hopper 10 by an operator or by any suitable mechanical means. Upon actuation of switch 134 by the magnetic conveyor bearing block 124, the piston causes the conveyor belt 14 to advance a supply of bobbins to the conveyor belt adjacent the opening 12 ofthc hopper 10. The bobbin ends. having metal ferrules 8 there about of a material which may be magnetically at tracted, such as a ferrous material. are magnetically at tracted to the belt 90 by reason of the magnetic field generated by the magnet bar 158 through the belt which attracts the ferrules. The magnetic conveyor 86 moves across the inclined ramp 88 in response to the piston 70 engaging switch 84 to a position for rotation of the belt about the magnet unit 92. Simultaneously the actuation of the switch 84 also reversably actuates the piston 70 to return the chain 34 while the conveyor belt 14 remains stationary due to the overriding clutch associated with the pulley 32. As the magnetic conveyor is extended switch 132 is contacted by hearing block 124, thereby causing the chain 210 and conveyor belt 90 to advance until switch 230 is engaged by a bobbin then in position to fall to the guides 112 and 114 at which time advance of the belt is halted and the piston 96 reversably actuated to return the chain 210. As previously mentioned however the belt 90 does not return due to the incorporation of an overrunning clutch, not shown. in the sprocket 180. Following this advance ment of the bobbin upon a demand signal downstream calling for a fresh bobbin piston 102 is actuated to ram 21 bobbin from the conveyor and the bobbin then falls to the guides 112 and 114. As aforementioned the bobbin falling to the guides may be oriented so that either the butt end or apical end engages these guides. Should the butt end be the engaging end passage of the butt end is slowed while the apical end becomes disengaged from restraining portion 256 of the ramp 88. The apical end then begins a downward swing along the curve of the guide chute 110 at which time the butt end completes passage through the V of the guides 112 and H4 and to the shelf or stop 258. When the butt end engages the stop it is then momentarily held while the api cal end completes its orientation and falls to the further conveying means 260, whereat switch 270 is engaged by the bobbin and actuated to reversably actuate piston I02 and retract the ram 108 to the disengaged position.  
  Should further bobbins remain upstream held by the conveyor belt 90 disengagement of the bobbin by the ram I08 from the limit switch causes return of the chain 210 and the conveyor belt 90 until another bob bin engages the limit switch 230 which halts the travel and again reverses the chain 210.  
  When the last bobbin has been disengaged from the belt 90 the magnetic conveyor assembly and thereby the conveyor belt 90 is caused to advance adjacent the opening 12 since the sensing bar is allowed to fall to its full downward position thereby allowing crank arm 236 to engage limit switch 254, as aforementioned, thus completing the cycle.  
  It should be apparent that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, all of which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A bobbin handling apparatus comprising, magnetic means, bobbin conveying means intermediate bobbins to be conveyed and said magnetic means and movable relative to said magnetic means and adapted to hold an end of a bobbin in association with said magnetic means for conveying of said bobbin, means to move said conveying means relative to said magnetic means. means to move said magnetic means and said conveying means in a first direction between a first bobbin end pickup position to a second position for further conveying of the bobbin in a second direction transversely to said first direction, means for dislodging said bobbin from holding association with said conveying means at a predetermined position, means for sensing the absence of an additional bobbin upon the conveying means when said bobbin is urged from the conveying means and producing a signal, and means to advance said conveying means and said magnetic means to said first bobbin pickup position responsive to said signal.  
  2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bobbin conveying means comprises an endless conveyor positioned about said magnetic means for conveying said bobbins in said second direction.  
  3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including means to interrupt said moving of said conveying means relative to said magnetic means when said bobbin is at said predetermined position for transfer of the bobbin from said conveying means.  
  4. A method of conveying a bobbin comprising, advancing a bobbin having a butt end and apical end from a source of supply to a conveying means positioned for slideable relationship to means for generating a magnetic field at a first position, magnetically attracting one end of said bobbin at said first position, moving said bobbin in a first direction from said first position to a second position by moving both said conveying means and said means for generating a magnetic field and while at said second position moving said conveying means relative to said means for generating a magnetic field to further convey said bobbin in a second direction transversely to said first direction and to a predetermined position, dislodging said bobbin from said conveying means at said predetermined position, sensing the lack of an additional bobbin upon said conveying means following said dislodging and producing a signal, and advancing both said conveying means and said means for generating a magnetic field from said second position to said first position in response to said signal.  
  5. A method according to claim 4 including the step of producing to signal to actuate means to advance said bobbins from said source of supply to said first position during said advancing of said conveying means from said second position to said first position.  
  6. A method according to claim 5 including the step of sensing an additional bobbin upon said conveying means following dislodging of said bobbin and, in response thereto, producing a signal to actuate means to advance said conveying means and thereby said additional bobbin for said dislodging.  
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