US3627107A

US3627107A - Bobbin-monitoring system

Info

Publication number: US3627107A
Application number: US863858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank C Di Mauro
Original assignee: Leesona Corp
Current assignee: Leesona Corp
Priority date: 1969-10-06
Filing date: 1969-10-06
Publication date: 1971-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-14

Abstract

A bobbin-handling system for a self-tending spinning frame is disclosed. Tenders move back and forth along spinning stations and stop to service the stations as required. For example, the tenders doff filled bobbins, and then donn and thread-up empty bobbins. A belt conveyor encircles the spinning frame and has upper runs for carrying empty bobbins to the tenders and lower runs for receiving filled bobbins from the tenders and discharging the filled bobbins from the system. Special bobbin guides are provided at corners where the conveyor belts cross each other. Empty bobbins are automatically spaced from each other as they are delivered to the conveyor and apparatus is provided for automatically maintaining adequate spacing of the bobbins after they are delivered to the conveyor.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Frank C. Di Mauro Providence, R1.

Appl. No. 863,858

Filed Oct. 6, 1969 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 Assignee Leesona Corporation Warwick, RJ.

BOBBlN-MONITORING SYSTEM 23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

5/l966 Conway et al. l98/34 ABSTRACT: A bobbin-handling system for a self-tending spinning frame is disclosed. Tenders move back and forth along spinning stations and stop to service the stations as required. For example, the tenders doff filled bobbins, and then donn and thread-up empty bobbins. A belt conveyor encircles the spinning frame and has upper runs for carrying empty bobbins to the tenders and lower runs for receiving filled bobbins from the tenders and discharging the filled bobbins from the system. Special bobbin guides are provided at corners where the conveyor belts cross each other. Empty bobbins are automatically spaced from each other as they are delivered to the conveyor and apparatus is provided for automatically maintaining adequate spacing of the bobbins after 7 they are delivered to the conveyor.

Meme ecu 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK C. i MAURO F I G. 4

ATTORNEYS BOBBIN-MONITORING SYSTEM This invention relates to a conveyor and to a bobbin-handling system and, more particularly, to such a system for automatically handling filled and empty bobbins.

As used herein the term "bobbin" means a core carrying a body of yarn, so that the yarn may be readily moved from place to place, or such a core without a body of yarn thereon. The term filled bobbin" means a bobbin whether full or partially full of yarn. The term empty bobbin" means a bobbin which is ready to be donned and filled with yarn. The term yarn" is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Various bobbin-handling systems are known for delivering bobbins to a machine, such as a spinning frame or a winder, and for receiving bobbins from the machine. Generally, such systems entail two separate conveyors, one for the bobbins delivered to the machine and the other for bobbins received from the machine. Such duplication of conveying systems obviously increases the cost of the overall system. In order to facilitate handling of the bobbins on conveyor belts it is generally desirable that the bobbins be maintained spaced within a limited range from each other on the belts. With intersecting conveyor belts, difficulty may be encountered in maintaining the desired spacing between the bobbins on the belts, as well as in negotiating corners as a bobbin is transferred from one belt to anothe The invention, in brief, is directed to a conveyor and to a bobbin-conveying system in which the conveyor carries empty bobbins in a continuous path about a machine, such as a winder or spinning frame, for delivery of the empty bobbins to the machine. .The system also removes filled bobbins from the machine. A control system automatically maintains adequate spacing between the empty bobbins by delivering bobbins to the conveyor in spaced relationship to adjacent bobbins on the conveyor and, as necessary, for adjusting the spacing of bobbins on the conveyor. The bobbins pass from one conveyor belt to another as they move about corners, and special bobbin guides are provided at the inside of each corner to urge the bobbins outwardly and against a curved retaining wall at the outside of the comer.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved conveyor and bobbin-conveying system.

Another object is to provide a new and improved automatic bobbin-conveying system for delivering bobbins to bobbinhandling machine. A related object is provision of such a system for automatically maintaining a desired spacing between the bobbins being delivered. A further related object is provision of such a system for receiving bobbins from the machine. Another related object is provision for conveying bobbins about the machine.

A further object is provision of a new and improved bobbinhandling system which utilizes adjacent portions of a belt conveyor, of the portions for handling empty bobbins and the other of the portions for handling filled bobbins.

A still further object is provision of a new and improved bobbin-conveying system for automatically maintaining a desired spacing between bobbins on a conveyor.

A further object is provision of a new and improved system for conveying bobbins about a bobbin-handling machine.

Another object is provision of a conveyor having a new and improved corner guide for an article on the conveyor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary, schematic, top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic, sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a control system for the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a modification of a portion of the control system shown in FIG. 5.

THE SELF-TENDING SPINNING FRAME Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a machine which is illustrated as a spinning frame 10 (phantom lines) has two tenders 12 which move back and forth along either side of the spinning frame and are preferably of the type shown in a Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866. In brief, the tenders T2 are carried on tracks 14 (FIG. 2, only one shown) and are self-propelled for movement back and forth along the adjacent side of the spinning frame for scanning spinning stations (not shown) of the frame. Each tender stops to provide required services for any of its stations, and thereafter continues scanning the stations. Upon stopping at a station, a tender dofis the filled bobbin at the station, donns an empty bobbin onto the station and then threads the bobbin so that spinning may continue. The filled bobbins are dropped into a filled bobbin chute 116. As is suggested in another Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,52ll, as an empty bobbin is received by tender 12 it is lifted by an elevator 18 (FIG. 2) of the tender in preparation for donning on the spinning frame.

THE BOBBIN CONVEYING SYSTEM In General The bobbin-handling system includes a conveyor system 20 which encircles the spinning frame 10 for delivering empty bobbins 22 to the tenders l2 and for receiving filled bobbins 24 from the tenders. The illustrated conveyor system is a belt conveyor 25 including four conveyor belts including two

long belts

26 and 28, one for delivering the empty bobbins to each of the tenders 12 and for receiving filled bobbins from each of the tenders. These long belts are interconnected at their adjacent ends by shorter,

end belts

30 and 32. Upper and lower runs of these belts are identified in the drawing by the reference symbols U" and L," respectively, following either a particular belt reference numeral, as 26U, for example, or the belt conveyor reference numeral, as 25L.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the

belts

26, 28, 30 and 32 run across and are supported by

shelves

34, 36, 38 and 40, respectively, which decline inwardly, at about 7, toward retaining

walls

42, 44, 46 and 48, respectively. Drive pulleys 50, one for each of the belts 26-32, are driven through dual takeoff transmissions 52 by suitable motors 54. Thus, one motor 54 drives two of the belts, as 28 and 30, for example. Belt tensioners 56 are provided at ends of the belts opposite their drive pulleys.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the empty bobbins 22 travel in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 58, on upper runs of the belts. The belts cross each other at comers 60 and the bobbins are transferred between the belts at the comers. At each corner, the delivering belt passes above the receiving belt so that the bobbin drops from the delivering belt to the receiving belt.

Corner Guides With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and particularly to FIG. 3, in order to facilitate turning of the bobbins about the corners 60, a concavely curved inner surface of a wall 62 is provided at the outside of each comer. At the inside of each corner a bobbin guide 64 is provided, as may best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each bobbin guide 64 is between a convexly curved outer surface of an inner wall of its corner and adjacent inner edges 66 of the adjacent belts, as 28 and 30 in FIG. 3. Adjacent the delivering belt 28 (FIG. 3) the guide 64 has a generally vertical side 68 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which is flush with or slightly below the bobbin carrying or upper face of the delivering belt 28. Along the receiving belt 30 (FIG. 3) at a point adjacent the delivering belt 28?, the illustrated guide has a generally vertical side 70 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) which is above the receiving belt 30 byamount approximately equal to the thickness of the delivering belt 28 and from this point the side 70 tapers toward the receiving belt so that it becomes about flush with the receiving belt. From the adjacent edges of the

belts

28 and 30 the guide has flat surfaces 72 and 74 (FIG. 3 and 4) which ascend inwardly of the comer from the

sides

68 and 70, respectively, and away from the belts and meet at a ridge line or apex 76. The guides 64 may be of any suitable low friction material such as nylon, for example. As the leading end of a bobbin engages the outer wall 62 it urges a midportion of the bobbin inwardly toward the apex 76 of the guide whereupon the tailing end of the bobbin is caused to roll on the flat surfaces or the apex and toward the outer wall 62.

Empty Bobbin Supply Hopper Apparatus As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor receives the empty bobbins 22 from an escapement mechanism 78 of a supply hopper apparatus 80, all as disclosed in a copending Leesona Corporation US. Pat. application, for Bobbin Orienting and Feeding," by Charles C. Bell and Frank C. DiMauro, Ser. No. 789,283, filed Jan. 6, 1969, to which reference may be had if a more complete description is desired. In brief, a hopper 82 contains randomly disposed empty bobbins 22. A slotted agitating and orienting member 84 (FIG. 1) moves up and down within the hopper and has an upwardly opening slot 86 which receives shanks of the empty bobbins 22 with heads of the bobbins resting on the top of the member. The member 84 stops at the top of its stroke. A pusher (not shown) is operated by a pneumatic cylinder 88 within-a protective bellows 90, to slide the bobbins out of an open end of the slot 86 and onto declining rods 92. These rods are rotated in opposite directions to slightly lift the bobbins 22 so that the bobbins move more easily down the rods to the escapement mechanism 78.

The escapement mechanism includes a double acting pressure-responsive cylinder 94 fixedly mounted relative to the hopper 82. An arm 96 (FIGS. 1, 2 and is secured to the cylinders piston rod 98 and extends over the bobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92. A return position of the arm 96 provides an abutment 100 which normally extends across the rods 92 to retain the bobbins thereon when the piston rod 98 is retracted. When operating pressure is provided to the cylinder 94 to extend the piston rod 98, the free end of the piston rod moves between the two lowermost bobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92 to retain all but the lowermost bobbin on the rods 92 as the abutment 100 is withdrawn to release the lowermost bobbin which now drops through notches 102 at the lower ends of the rotating rods and into a tube 104 for delivery to the adjacent upper run 30U of the end belt 30. When the operating pressure is released from the cylinder 94, the abutment 100 again moves into its retaining position as the piston rod 98 is withdrawn to permit the bobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92 to move downwardly so that the lowermost bobbin is retained by the abutment 100.

Empty Bobbin Pickup When one of the tenders 12 requires an empty bobbin 22, a bobbin pickup gate 106 of the tender is swung from a closed position, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, to an open position, as shown by broken lines, in which position the gate 106 extends diagonally across the upper run 26U or 28U of the adjacent, long conveyor belt. The upper run 26U or 28U of the conveyor belt now moves an empty bobbin 22 into the tender 12, whereupon the bobbin is picked up by the elevator 18, as previously mentioned.

Filled Bobbin Conveying System The filled bobbins 24 are deposited by the tenders 12 on the associated one of the

lower runs

26L or 28L of the long conveyor belts through a side opening 107 (FIG. 2) at the bottom of the filled bobbin chute 16 of the adjacent tender. The filled bobbins are carried about the machine in a clockwise deposits the bobbins in a discharge chute 1070 has a retaining wall 107b which extends to the chute.

BOBBIN MONITORING CONTROL SYSTEM In General In order that the pickup gates 106 may function more effectively in taking the empty bobbins 22 from the upper runs 26U and 28U, means is provided for maintaining the empty bobbins 22 spaced from each other on the conveyor, and for delivering the empty bobbin 22 to the conveyor 26 with each delivered bobbin spaced from an immediately preceding bobbin on the conveyor. Herein this means includes the previously described escapement mechanism 78, and a bobbinmonitoring control system which regulates operation of the escapement mechanism and maintains the bobbins suitably spaced from each other. As may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, this system has first and

second sensor units

108 and 110, each unit having a

sensor

112 and 114, respectively, freely pivoted above first and second

adjacent belts

30 and 28, respectively, to swing upwardly as a bobbin passes undemeath. Each time a bobbin engages the sensor 112 of the first sensing unit 108, a timing function is initiated. If the timing span expires before a trailing bobbin engages the sensor 114 of the second sensor unit (which is upstream from the first sensor unit 108) the escapement cylinder 94 is actuated so that an empty bobbin 22 is delivered to the upper run 30U of the end conveyor belt 30. If the second sensor 114 is engaged by a bobbin before the timing span has expired, the timing span is started anew and a bobbin is not delivered to the conveyor. The control system provides a normal maximum spacing, within a range of spacing, between the empty bobbins upon delivery of a bobbin to the conveyor belts, and the maximum spacing is dependent upon the timing function. An appropriate maximum spacing may be 6 feet, for example.

As the empty bobbins 22 travel with the upper runs 26U-32U of the conveyor belts, they could be caused to bunch together as by a temporary obstruction on one of the belts, for example. The monitoring control system also assures adequate minumum spacing between the empty bobbins on the belts, as follows: When the second sensor 114 is engaged by a bobbin 22, a bobbin retarding apparatus 115 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) is actuated. This apparatus includes a double acting pressure-responsive bobbin-holding cylinder 116 (upstream of the second sensor) which is operated to move a bobbin-holding abutment 118 on the outer end of its piston rod across the upper run 28U and inward toward the retaining wall 44 so that the abutment 118 engages the head of a bobbin moving with the run 28U and stops the bobbin. When the preceding bobbin engages the first sensor after the bobbin has been stopped by the holding abutment 118, the holding cylinder 116 is operated to release the held bobbin which then continues its travel on the upper runs of the conveyor belts. A normal minimum spacing between the empty bobbins is provided by the control system when a bobbin is released by the holding abutment 118. Such minumum spacing may be one to 3 feet, for example, and depends on the spacing between the sensors. More than one such holding abutment and/or hopper apparatus and related sensors may be provided suitably spaced along the upper runs of the conveyor belts, if desired.

Pnuematic Control System (FIG. 5)

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a diagram of a pneumatic monitoring control system of the bobbin-handling system. Bobbin movement is in the direction of the arrow 119. The

sensor units

108 and 110 are here in the form of normally

open bleeds

120 and 122, respectively, one connected to each of air pilots 12d and 126, respectively, of a vented, three-way spool valve 12%. Pilot air is provided from a supply line 130 through connections within the valve 128. This pilot air is normally vented through the

bleeds

120 and 122 of the

sensor units

108 and 110. Each bleed closes when an empty bobbin engages the respective sensor. When the first bleed 120 is closed, the valve member of the three-way spool valve 12% is moved to a venting position (as indicated by the phantom arrow T32) thereby venting pilot air (through a vent 134) from a vented, normally open shutoff valve 136, to open the valve 136 and start the timing function for delivery of a bobbin from the hopper apparatus bl), as will be discussed later. Also, when the first bleed 120 is closed, operating pressure is also vented from the holding cylinder, whereupon control air supplied to the cylinder through a line 138 moves the holding abutment lllltl to release a bobbin if held thereby.

When a bobbin operates the second sensor 1 M to close the bleed 122, the three-way spool valve 128 is air piloted to connect line pressure through the valve (as indicated by the solid arrow M) for operating the bobbin-holding cylinder 1116, thereby causing it to retract its piston rod and move the abutment 118 into bobbin-holding position. The three-way valve 128 now also provides pilot air to the shutoff valve 1136, thereby closing and venting this valve through a vent 1 14), so that if the bobbin delivery timing span has not previously expired, timing stops, as will be discussed next.

Control of the escapement mechanism 7% for delivering an empty bobbin to the conveyor is as follows: Line pressure is always provided from the line 130 to the inlet of a double vented, four-way air piloted spool valve 142 which is normally connected (as indicated by the solid arrows M4) in circuit with the escapement cylinder to retract its piston rod 98 so that, as previously described, the abutment 11% attached to this piston rod extends across the rotating rods 92 for retaining the lowermost empty bobbin 22 on the rotating rods. In this normal position of the four-way spool valve M2 it also vents the opposite end of the escapement cylinder 94 through a vent 146, and provides line pressure to a variable flow metering restriction M8. This variable restriction is in circuit, through the previously noted, normally open air piloted shutoff valve 136, with an accumulator-timer 150. The accumulator-timer 150 provides pilot air to an air pilot 152 at one end of the fourway valve. When the pressure in the accumulator-timer 150 rises sufficiently to operate the air pilot 152, the spool valve member shifts (as indicated by the phantom arrows 154) to vent, through a vent 156, the piston rod end of the escapement cylinder 94, and to provide line pressure to the end of the escapement cylinder 94 opposite its piston rod for extending the piston rod 9% to hold the bobbins on the rotating rods 92 and for moving the escapement abutment 100 to permit the lowermost bobbin on the rods 92 to drop into the delivery tube 104 and onto the adjacent upper run 31W of the conveyor belt. The timing span of the accumulator-timer 150 may be varied by adjusting the variable restriction 1411!. However, if the second sensor 1 M is actuated to close the second normally open bleed 122 before pressure in the accumulator-timer 150 builds up sufficiently to shift the valve member of the four-way valve M2, then the closed second bleed 122 causes pilot air pressure to shift the valve member of the three-way vented valve 128 (as indicated by the solid arrow 1450) to provide pilot air to the air pilot of the shutoff valve 136, whereupon this valve vents the accumulator-timer 150. Also, the threeway valve 128 provides line pressure to the bobbin holding cylinder 116 whereupon its piston rod is retracted so that its holding abutment 118 may retain a bobbin, as previously discussed.

When the escapement cylinder 94 is operated to release a bobbin from the rotating rods 92 for delivery of the bobbin to the conveyor belts, a second accumulator-timer 158 is provided with air through the four-way valve M2 and a variable restriction 16th. When pressure in the second accumulatortimer 158 builds up sufficiently it actuates an air pilot 162 of the four-way spool valve M2 for again connecting the first accumulator-timer 1% in circuit for operating the escapement cylinder M to position the escapement abutment in bobbin holding position across the rotating rods 92. By way of example, the first accumulator-timer 150 may be timed for 6 seconds and the second accumulator-timer 158 for one second to provide sufficient time for proper operation of the escapement mechanism 7%. The time span of the second accumulator-timer 1% may be varied by adjusting the variable restriction Mil.

Alternate Pneumatic Control System (FIG. 6)

Referring to HG. b, an alternate control system is shown. The prior reference numerals are retained for identical parts. in this system the previously mentioned second sensor unit 11b is eliminated and the first bleed is replaced by a normally closed, vented shutoff valve 164 which is manually operated by a pivoted sensor 166, as previously described. The vent 168 of this valve has a variable restriction 170. As a bobbin engages the pivoted sensor 166, the shutoff valve 164 is opened and provides operating pressure from the supply line to the holding cylinder 116, causing its bobbin-holding abutment 1 1b to be moved into position for holding a bobbin, as previously described. Opening of the manually operated shutoff valve 16d also provides pilot air to the previously noted air piloted, vented shutoff valve 136 which is connected in circuit with the escapement cylinder, as previously described. After the bobbin has moved out of contact with the sensor 166, and the manually operated shutoff valve 164 again closes, the restricted vent 16d slowly bleeds air from the holding cylinder 116 and the air piloted shutoff valve 136, and serves as an adjustable timer for regulating operation of the bobbin holding abutment and the air piloted shutoff valve.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiments or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bobbin conveying system for a bobbin handling machine, said system comprising first means including a conveyor for providing bobbins to the machine, and second means for effectively maintaining a substantially predetermined range of spacing between bobbins on the conveyor and including, means for adjusting the spacing between the bobbins on the conveyor to within said predetermined range of spacing, and further including means for delivering additional bobbins to said conveyor as necessary to maintain said predetermined range of spacing with each of the delivered bobbins spaced substantially within said range from an adjacent preceding bobbin on the conveyor.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the adjusting means includes means for retarding movement of a bobbin on said conveyor, to increase the spacing of the last said bobbin from an adjacent preceding bobbin on said conveyor.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 in which the retarding means includes means operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating means selectively responsive to passage of said adjacent preceding bobbin for operating the holding means.

t. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which said actuating means includes pressure-responsive means operable for operating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure to said pressure-responsive means to operate said holding means, sensor means responsive to the passage of each bobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and means for releasing the retarded bobbin to increase said spacing within said range by releasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means.

5. A system as set forth in claim 43, in which said spacing is increased to at least the minimum of said range of spacing of said bobbins on said conveyor.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, in which the delivering means includes means operable for discharging a bobbin for delivery to said conveyor, and actuating means selectively responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operating said discharging means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, in which said actuating means includes sensor means actuable responsive to passage of each bobbin on said conveyor, and means responsive to failure of said sensor means to be actuated within a predetermined span for operating said discharging means.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, in which said span corresponds generally to the maximum of said range of spacing of said bobbins on said conveyor.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said conveyor includes at least two conveyor belts which cross each other at a comer.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said comer, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the corner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said comer and upwardly from said sides.

1]. A system as set forth in claim 10, in which the guide means includes a surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer.

12. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the aforesaid bobbins are empty bobbins, said conveyor provides means for accepting filled bobbins from the machine, and means for discharging the filled bobbins from the conveyor.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, in which said conveyor comprises at least two continuous conveyor belts having upper and lower runs, one for each of said empty and filled bobbins, and the respective belts of both said upper and lower runs cross each other at respective corners.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said corners, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of each comer for urging the bobbin toward the outside of the corner and including a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of the associated runs, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14, in which the guiding means comprises a surface extending upwardly from the respective runs at the outside of each corner for urging bobbins toward the inside of the corner.

l6. A system as set forth in claim 15, in which the conveyor provides a continuous path for the empty bobbins, the adjusting means includes means for retarding movement of a bobbin on at least one of said runs, to increase the spacing of the last said bobbin from an adjacent preceding bobbin on the same run, said retarding means includes means operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating means responsive to passage of a bobbin for operating the holding means, said actuating means includes pressure-responsive means operable for operating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure to said pressure-responsive means, sensor means responsive to passage each bobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and releasing means for increasing said spacing of the held bobbin to within said range by releasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means, to release the held bobbin, the delivering means includes means operable for discharging a bobbin for delivery to said one run, and said actuating means being responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operating said discharging means and including sensor means actuable responsive to passage of each bobbin on said one run, and means responsive to failure of the last said sensor means to be actuated within the maximum of said range of spacing of said bobbins for operating said discharging means.

17. A conveyor comprising conveying runs crossing each other at a corner, guide means at the inside of said comer for urging an article on one of the runs toward the outside of the comer, said guide means including a member having sides, one adjacent and extending along each of the runs, and said member having upper surface means inclined inwardly of said comer and upwardly from said sides.

18. A conveyor as set forth in claim 17, in which said surface means includes surfaces which meet to form an apex.

19. A bobbin-handling system comprising, a bobbin-handling machine, and conveying means including a belt conveyor for carrying the bobbins and providing a substantially continuous bobbin path about the machine, said conveyor having belts crossing each other at comers.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said comer, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the comer for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes a member having sides, one

extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said comer and upwardly from said sides.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20, in which the guide means includes a surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer.

22. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which said belts are transversely inclined, and means at the bottom of the inclines for retaining the bobbins on the belts.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, in which adjacent ones of said belts cross each other at comers, said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at least one of said corner, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the one corner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides, and the guide means further includes a surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the comer for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer, said retaining means includes retaining surfaces, one for each of said belts at said comer, and said surfaces are substantially aligned, one with each of the guide surfaces of the associated belts.

Claims

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which said actuating means includes pressure-responsive means operable for operating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure to said pressure-responsive means to operate said holding means, sensor means responsive to the passage of each bobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and means for releasing the retarded bobbin to increase said spacing within said range by releasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, in which said spacing is increased to at least the minimum of said range of spacing of said bobbins on said conveyor.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the delivering means includes means operable for discharging a bobbin for delivery to said conveyor, and actuating means selectively responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operating said discharging means.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said conveyor includes at least two conveyor belts which cross each other at a corner.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said corner, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the corner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the corner, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10, in which the guide means includes a surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the corner.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said corners, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of each corner for urging The bobbin toward the outside of the corner and including a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of the associated runs, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15, in which the conveyor provides a continuous path for the empty bobbins, the adjusting means includes means for retarding movement of a bobbin on at least one of said runs, to increase the spacing of the last said bobbin from an adjacent preceding bobbin on the same run, said retarding means includes means operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating means responsive to passage of a bobbin for operating the holding means, said actuating means includes pressure-responsive means operable for operating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure to said pressure-responsive means, sensor means responsive to passage each bobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and releasing means for increasing said spacing of the held bobbin to within said range by releasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means, to release the held bobbin, the delivering means includes means operable for discharging a bobbin for delivery to said one run, and said actuating means being responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operating said discharging means and including sensor means actuable responsive to passage of each bobbin on said one run, and means responsive to failure of the last said sensor means to be actuated within the maximum of said range of spacing of said bobbins for operating said discharging means.

17. A conveyor comprising conveying runs crossing each other at a corner, guide means at the inside of said corner for urging an article on one of the runs toward the outside of the corner, said guide means including a member having sides, one adjacent and extending along each of the runs, and said member having upper surface means inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

19. A bobbin-handling system comprising, a bobbin-handling machine, and conveying means including a belt conveyor for carrying the bobbins and providing a substantially continuous bobbin path about the machine, said conveyor having belts crossing each other at corners.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said corner, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the corner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the corner, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20, in which the guide means includes a surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the corner.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, in which adjacent ones of said belts cross each other at corners, said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at least one of said corner, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of the one corner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of the corner, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides, and the guide means further includes a surface extending upwardly from sAid belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the corner, said retaining means includes retaining surfaces, one for each of said belts at said corner, and said surfaces are substantially aligned, one with each of the guide surfaces of the associated belts.