GB1269717A - Apparatus and method of loading and unloading spools or bobbins from a machine having a plurality of spools or bobbins - Google Patents

Abstract

1,269,717. Loading and unloading stranding machines. M. MARTINEZ. 18 May, 1970 [23 May, 1969], No. 26489/69. Heading D1T. Full bobbins of wire are loaded onto, and empty bobbins unloaded from, a stranding machine by placing the full bobbins onto carriages movable along an endless track located above the machine whilst it is operating, and locating the bobbins at predetermined positions on the track, stopping the machine, unloading a plurality of empty bobbins from the machine, lowering a part of the track towards the machine to deposit full bobbins into bobbin support means in the machine, releasing the full bobbins from the lowered carriages, and raising the track part to re-form the track, bringing further carriages onto the track part and repeating the procedure until all spools have been changed. The machine shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has a stranding unit 99 comprising 24 spools arranged in parallel pairs. Above each spool lies a run 118 of an endless track, a portion of which can be raised or lowered by means of screw jacks 127, motor 129, and yokes 126. A second, fixed, track 117 runs above the first and carries trolleys 122 driven by an endless chain 123. Trains of trolleys 130 run on the lower track, the leading trolley of each train having a drive member 133 engageable with the chain 123, and disengageable therefrom by a stop 134, to stop the train vertically above the stranding unit. These trolleys 130 support spool carriers 131 having forks 132 which are engageable with the flanges of the spools. In operation, trains of empty spool carriers are aligned with the machine, which is stopped with the exhausted spools uppermost. The carriers are lowered by lowering the track 118, releasing spool retaining latches 114, and actuated to grasp the spools, which are lifted from their supports by raising of the track. The train of carriers holding empty spools is advanced, and a train bearing full spools takes its place, the full spools being lowered onto pintles 107 by lowering of track 118. The stranding unit is then rotated through 180‹ for replacement of the other set of exhausted spools. Instead of being withdrawn by a train of empty spool carriers, in another embodiment the exhausted spools are released whilst in the bottom position to fall onto a conveyor. Loading the Spool Carrier Fig. 10 shows apparatus comprising a pair of chains 137 carrying spool support members by means of which spools are lifted and oriented with their axes vertical. A ram 141 then lifts the spools into engagement with the forks 132 of a bobbin carrier 131.