GB2301379A

GB2301379A - Apparatus for stripping yarn from textile tubes

Info

Publication number: GB2301379A
Application number: GB9509727A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gustavo Serwatka
Original assignee: Technological Research Co Ltd
Current assignee: Technological Research Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-13
Filing date: 1995-05-13
Publication date: 1996-12-04
Also published as: ITMI960945A0; IT1282984B1; ITMI960945A1; GB9509727D0; DE19618031A1

Description

1 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CLEANING APPARATUS 2301379

The present invention relates to a cleaning machine for textile tubes, whose features are specified in the description that follows.

This invention relates to a compact modular machine of very small dimensions, designed particularly for its application to automatic programming textile winding machines and also for its use on a central vacuum cleaner, a collector of textile waste or connected to a central suction generator, although it can also function completely independently, not being restricted to its installation on the central vacuum cleaner mentioned earlier.

The cleaning machine, the subject of this invention, has a series of essential features which make it more advantageous in relation to those known and used at present.

The machines presently available to carry out cleaning of textile tubes consist basically of cuting elements specifically rotary blades that operate on a bundle of rolled yarn on the tube to be cleaned.

This system has a number of disadvantages e.g.

- this type of machine is prone to marking the tube by the cutting action of the rotary blades above the said tube.

- it needs a very precise fastening of the tube that has to be cleaned, a very difficult, if not impossible, matter when the textile tubes are of cardboard, which, very often, lack this dimensional precision and required form.

- the abrasive action of the textile fibres on those which set the rotary cutting blades in motion causes fraying and compels a continuous adjustment of the cleaning mechanism, with the consequent drawbacks that accompany it.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages.

2 According to the present invention a cleaning machine for textile tubes comprises means for delivering textile tubes, means for cleaning textile scraps from said tubes and suction means to collect said textile scraps, said cleaning means including vertically moveable means for supporting said tubes during cleaning.

Said vertically moveable support means may comprise a pair of vertically disposed control points, one upper and one lower, to aid the location of a tube within said cleaning machine. At least one of the aforementioned control points may be atached to a rail mounted carriage. In a preferred embodiment the upper vertical control point is mounted on such a carriage.

Preferably descending vertical movement of the upper control point causes said cleaning and suction means to be brought into operation, while ascending vertical movement of the upper control point restores said cleaning and suction means to their respective initial positions.

The tube to be cleaned is preferably introduced into the cleaning machine through a hopper.

These tubes come with a considerable load of scraps of yarn, deriving preferably from manufacturing processes carried out on automatic programming winding machines.

Preferably a tube introduced into the machine from a hopper is placed vertically in a lower position of the machine, transmitting, by means of a photoelectric cell, a signal to start the cleaning cycle. At this moment, a carriage descends which by holding the centring the tube, makes it pass across clamps held in a working position. Simultaneously, in the lower portion an air suction duct is opened, causing the movement of air which assists in the cleaning operation. During this operation when the carriage reaches the end of its stroke and, on reaching the end of the run a signal is transmitted to start the return movement of the carriage, hence effecting the restoration of the different mechanisms to their initial 3 positions prior to a new work cycle being initiated, during the interval in which this return is produced.

Preferably also the machine can accommodate tubes carrying compact and resistant scraps of textile material by the provision of a control system which, upon encountering such a tube, causes said tube to be subjected to repeated cleaning operations until said tube is cleaned or, in the case of very compact and resistant scraps of textile material, until the tube is removed from the machine manually.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a textile tube cleaning machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the machine; Figure 3 is a top view of the machine; Figure 4 is a detail of the rotation of the lower vertical tube holding point device; Figure 5 is a detail of the centring of the tube between the vertical points; Figure 6 is a side view of the appliance with clamps and copying wedges; Figure 7 is a top view of the same appliance; Figure 8 is a top view of the upper jaw; Figure 9 is side view of the jaw.

Figure 10 is a partly sectional detail of the upper j aw; Figure 11 is a top view of the lower jaw; Figure 12 is a side view of the lower jaw; Figure 13 is a sectional side view of the lower jaw; Figure 14 is a detail of the copying wedge of the tube.

Figure 15 is a side view of the appliance with the gate for the release and stopping of air; Figure 16 is a top view of the said appliance; Figure 17 is a front view of the said appliance; 4 Figure 18 is a diagram of the mechanical movements synchronised; Figure 19 is a diagram of the pneumatic device; Figure 20 is a detail of the centring arms in the open position; Figure 21 is a detail in the centring arms, closed on a vertical point device; Figure 22 is a Figure 23 is a the cleaning of the and front view of the centring arms; top view of the cutting unit used for tubes with an excessive load of yarn; Figure 24 is a top view of the cutting unit.

Referring to the drawings, a textile tube cleaning machine has a conical trunk hopper 1 for the entry of the tubes 2, and two vertical point devices 3 and 4, one above the other for holding and controlling the tubes which point devices being driven, will control the tube 2, forcing it to pass across centring arms 14 and clamps 5, which centre the tube and withdraw the load of yarn deposited around the tube, leaving the lower part completely clean.

The residual yarn loosened from the outer surface of the tube, is deposited in the extraction area, from where it is absorbed and removed by the action of a suction nozzle bend 6 mounted in front of the clamps 5.

This suction bend 6, with its closing mechanism 22 is connected to a suction centre, where the scraps of removed yarn are gathered.

The cleaning machine consists of an electrical motor reducer 7 effecting the raising and lowering movement of the upper vertical point device 3 which is fixed to a carriage 8 which slides on two vertical bars 8.

The sliding carriage 8 is coupled to the motorby means of a drag chain 9. raising and lowering movement of the carriage 8 is controlled by the ends of the run 10.

The lower point device 4 is located between both clamps 5, its purpose being to receive the tube 2 from reducer 7 The the hopper 1, and to signal a photoelectric cell 11 that it has received the tube; to lower the sliding carriage 8 from its upper position; and to close the clamp 5 and the arms 14 over the tube 2, which remain immobile, with the freeing of the clamps by the forced entry of wedges 21 and 34.

With the descent of the upper point device 3, the rod presses on the flange 4a of the lower point device 4. causing a vertical lowering and rotating movement of the device. Through this partial vertical movement, the extraction of the lower point device 4 from the inside of the tube 2 takes place, an inclined flange 32 causing the partial rotation of the point device 4.

once this operation is concluded, the tube 2 pushes the upper point device 3 completely between the clamps 5 and the centring arms 14.

These centring arms 14 are located on the retracting clamps 5, shown in Figures 13 and 14, and are provided at their ends with elastic adjustable jaws 33.

The action of a central wedge 34, joined by the rod 35 and the spring 36 to the sliding carriage 8, the closing causes the said arms 14 to close against the tube 2 centring it and keeping it so during part of its stroke, by the stopping of the wedge 34.

On completing its stroke 8 the carriage squeezes the wedge 34 located at its lowest point, driving the jaws 33 directly over the upper vertical point 3.

The direct action of the jaws 33 over the upper vertical point 3 will, on the retraction of the latter, cause the removal of the scraps of yarn from the tube, leaving it clean of said scraps, which will be left deposited so as to be sucked up.

on reaching the end of its stroke, the carriage 8, will cause the wedge to be raised to its highest position by means of the spring 36 and the rod 35, which will lead in turn to the opening of the arms 14.

6 During the entire operative cycle, said arms 14 with jaws are tensed by the action of each of laminated springs 37.

On effecting the withdrawal of the sliding carriage 8 support of the upper vertical point device 3, by virtue of the control mechanisms depicted in Figure 18, all the mechanical components of the lower vertical point device 4, the clamps 5, the centring arms 14, and the wedges 21, 34 and the device for suction and blowing of air, will return to their initial positions while the mechanism of the lower point device 4 does so through the action of a spring 15.

The clamps and operation wedges, illustrated in Figures 6 to 14, are described below.

The expeller clamps 5 have two jaws mounted in their front; an upper metallic one 16 specially configured for withdrawal, and another, lower one 17 of elastic material for friction, specifically an elastomer.

As is detailed in Figures 6 and 7, between the upper 16 and lower 17 jaws there is a free space, needed to ensure that the withdrawn yarn is not jammed between said jaws 16, 17 and that, the retraction of scraps is clean and efficient.

The said clamps 5 are pushed from behind by a variable pressure 18 controlled by a stop screw 19 which regulates its stroke.

In the central part of the jaws, there are provided rollers 29 which when situated inside the wedges 21, allow the jaws to match the shape of the tube 2.

The control wedges 21 of the jaws are joined by rods 30 to the sliding carriage 8, the said rods further incorporating a compressed spring 31. The said rods 30 with their compressed spring 31 and together with the action of lowering the carriage, allow the clamps 5 to advance in search of the tube 2. With the entry of the wedges 21, the clamps 5 cannot retract, but only advanc, copying the conicity of the tube 2.

7 on the other hand, the retraction of the clamps 5 is enabled by the wedges 21 when these are raised by rods 30. This occurs at the point at which the carriage 8 ascends whereupon the springs 31 are compressed.

The opening and closing suction unit is illustrated in Figures 15 to 17. This unit is synchronised mechanically with the carriage 8, which moves a central gate of limited run 22 across a connection rod 23 situated between the carriage 8 and gate. Said connection rod 23 has an intermediate spring 24 to enable the suction unit to open, and a spring 25, in its upper end, for the closing of the suction unit.

The opening of the suction unit is enabled by the descent of the carriage 8 over the intermediate spring 24, said spring 24 being fitted on the gate.

The action of the suction unit is controlled by the retraction of the carriage 8, which at the end of its stroke compresses the upper spring 25 and closes the suction unit, on driving over the gate 22. This central gate 22 is restricted in its action of raising and lowering by a mechanical catch.

The air for cleaning is distributed by means of a valve 26 on the lower vertical point 4 and centred screens 27 mounted on the clamps 5. This valve 26 is opened by the descent of the carriage 8, hence supplying air during the entire cleaning cycle, and closed when the carriage 8, upon its withdrawal, reaches its initial position at the top.

The general automation of the cleaning machine, in its electromechanical and pneumatic aspects, is coordinated and linked by the action of the two ends of the run 10 used for raising and lowering the vertical point devices and by two electronic cells 11 and 28 and the pneumatic valve 26.

The two ends of the run 10 control the displacement run of raising and lowering the tubes. The electronic cell 11, located in front of the lower point device 4, 8 controls the presence of the tube and the commencement of the operative cycle.

The photoelectric cell 28, fitted in the entry hopper 1, controls and verifies that it has only one tube inside it. In the case of an accumulation of tubes inside the said hopper 1, i.e. the machine becoming blocked, it is necessary to empty the hopper to the machine.

The invention that is described offers the option of incorporating a cutting unit according to Figures 23 and 24, designed especially for use in case the tubes to be cleaned have a load of yarn which is clearly excessive and practically impossible for the clamps 5 to withdraw directly.

In this case, which is relatively frequent, the unit described below will allow the accomplishment of the cleaning operation.

The cutting unit to which reference is made is fitted on one of the retracting clamps 5, on one side of the tube to be cleaned 2.

The unit comprises an arm 38, at the end of which an interchangeable blade 39 is fixed. Said arm 38 is supplied with two movements: one of approach and withdrawal, displacing itself in search of the tube 2 or being separated from it. The other, of raising and lowering, is a movement by which it proceeds to cut the load of yarn placed on the tube 2.

All these movements, of approach and separation, of raising and lowering of the arm, are effected through the action of pneumatic cylinders 40 and 41, each one equipped with corresponding ends of run 42 which allow it to regulate its operation. Said ends of run 42 enable signals to be transmitted to electrovalves 43 with which both cylinders are equipped.

The operation of cleaning tubes 2 by means of the unit described is as follows: The tube 2 is introduced through the hopper 1 on action controlled by the lower point device 4, while the upper point device 3 9 immediately descends in search of the tube 2. Clamps 5 close around the tube 2 and when the tube 2 is centred by its upper and lower parts, the lowering of the said upper point device 3 is stopped.

It is at this point that the arm 38 of the cutting unit descends to its lowest position, said position being defined by the clamps 5, a position that is adjustable.

The blade 39 then moves as follows. It approaches the tube 2 and raises the said blade and scraps the bundle of yarn which covers the tube 2. When the blade 39 reaches its upper position, it retracts moving outwards, activating the upper point 3, which leads to the passage of the tube 2 between the clamps 5 and the resultant and complete cleaning of the tube. The scraps of yarn are then sucked into duct 9.

Mechanical catches 44 and 45 allow adjustment of the advance and the depth of the displacement, of the cutting until and hence the interaction between the blade 39 and the tube 2 can be regulated. The raising and lowering of the support arm 38 of the blade 39 can also be adjusted.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A textile tube cleaning machine, specially designed for its application to automatic programming textile winding machines, as also to central vacuum cleaners, collectors of textile waste, or also independent, and which present as essential features the fact of providing a device for placing on tubes to be cleaned, together with a cleaning device, consisting of a vertical movable carriage which places the tube between clamps which, together with a suction tube, located in the lowerpart, carries out the cleaning of textile scraps situated on the tube, this machine being provided with the devices of regulation and control which allow the movements of all the elements mentioned earlier, as also the return to their initial positions, together with the possibility of a program that allows the consecutive repetition of the action of withdrawing the yarn as also the control of the correct and complete realization of the cleaning action.

2. A textile tube cleaning machine means comprising means for delivering tubes to said machine, means for cleaning textile scraps from said tubes and suction means to collect said textile scraps, wherein said cleaning means includes vertically moveable means for supporting said tubes during cleaning.

3. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, characterised by having a conical hopper for entry of the tubes to be cleaned, together with two vertical points, one upper and one lower, for the control of the tube and its placing on rails between centred arms and clamps which, centring the tube, proceed to withdraw the load of yarn deposited on the tube to be cleaned, having finally, in the lower part of that intended for extraction, a suction tube connected to an appropriate centre.

4. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by having an electrical motor reducer for the vertical displacement of the carriage support of the upper vertical point, by means of a chain drive device, and provided with the ends of the run and appropriate regulators, and characterizd likewise by having a device controlled by a photoelectric cell which signals the correct Placing of the tube to be cleaned over the lower point device and between the cleaning clamps, clamps which will be freed by the action of certain wedges fitted with this objective.

5. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by the special arrangement of a rod mechanism which moves over the lower point, causing a movement of lowering and rotation, in order to allow the exit of the said point and being pressed by the upper point between the cleaning clamps, which by the action of a central wedge joined by a spring rod to the movable carriage which supports the upper point, closes over the tube to be cleaned, centring it, at the moment in which the elastic jaws situated at the end of the jaws is activated, an action which is effected when the upper vertical point retracts and which causes the withdawal of the textile scraps situated on the tube, which will be freed on opening the tubes which hold it down at the moment in which the movable carriage moving from its upper point arrives at its initial upper position, returning all the mechanical components of the lower vertical point, the jaws, the centring arms, the wedges, likewise the suction and blowing device, to their initial position.

6. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, characterized essentially by having rollers located inside wedges which will allow their regular adaptation on the tube to be cleaned, giving versatility to the machine, the said wedges being joined by spring rods to the movable carriage support from the upper vertical point, so that on descending the carriage causes the advance of the clamps, impeding their withdrawal, and copying the conicity of the tube to be 12 cleaned, while raising the carriage and, with it, making the edges, the clamps are forced to retract.

7. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by the optional incorporation of a cutting unit, installed on one of the retracting clamps, on a side of the tube to be cleand, consisting of an arm, provided with an interchangeable and adjustable blade, said arm being endowed with the movement of approach to and separation from the tube and of raising and lowering, each moved by pneumatic cylinders, provided with regulators and ends of run, whose cutting unit will operate at the moment in which the load of textile yarn on the tube to be cleaned is excessive and requires an upper action on that of the elements referred to in the previous claims.

8. A texile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a conical hopper is provided for the delivery of tubes to the machine, and said vertically movable support means comprises a pair of vertical control points, one upper and one lower, for the location of a tube within the machine, at least one of said control points being mounted on a carriage provided on rails.

9. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein an electrical motor reducer coupled to a chain drive device is provided for the vertical movement of a carriage carrying the upper vertical control point.

10. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein descending vertical movement of the upper control point causes said cleaning and suction means to be brought into operation.

11. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein ascending vertical movement of the upper control point to its initial position restores said cleaning and suction means to their respective initial positions.

13

12. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the correct positioning of a tube within the machine is monitored by means of a photoelectric cell.

13. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein clamps are provided to facilitate the removal of scraps of textile material from a tube.

14. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein, in use, a rod mechanism causes the lowering and partial rotation of the lower vertical control point.

is. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a cutting unit is provided for the removal of compacted and stubborn textile scraps, said cutting unit comprising an arm surmountd by a blade which may be controllably moved into contact with a tube and further may be moved relative to said tube to effect the removal of said textile scraps.

16. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said machine further comprises control means to allow the repetition of the tube cleaning actions should more than one cleaning action be required.

17. A textile tube cleaning machine, according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said machine may be used independently or in conjunction with automatic textile winding devices, vacuum cleaning devices and/or textile waste collection apparatus.

18. A textile tube cleaning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.