US3773191A

US3773191A - Method of and apparatus for arranging creels of drawing machines

Info

Publication number: US3773191A
Application number: US00203312A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Ishida
Original assignee: Teijin Ltd
Current assignee: Teijin Ltd
Priority date: 1970-12-02
Filing date: 1971-11-30
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20
Also published as: DE2159860B2; GB1339158A; CA954493A; DE2159860A1; FR2117296A5

Abstract

Method of and apparatus for arranging the creels of drawing machines by replacing empty bobbins on the creel with full bobbins of undrawn yarn by accommodating creel trucks loaded with full bobbins on a stand-by platform connected with the ends of truck paths over a number of drawing machines installed in parallel to each other, removing a train of empty creel trucks from the truck paths on the drawing machine and leading a train of fresh creel trucks onto the truck paths over the drawing machines.

Description

[ 1 Nov. 20, 1973 United States Patent 1 Ishida Primary Examiner-R0bert G. Sheridan Attorney-Leonard W. Sherman et al.

[75] Kinyu Ishida, Matsuyama, Japan [73] Assignee: Teijin Limited Osalg?,lgl21 Filed:

ABSTRACT [22] Nov. 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 203,312 Method of and apparatus for arranging the creels of drawing machines by replacing empty bobbins on the creel with full bobbins of undrawn yarn by accommodating creel trucks loaded with full bobbins on a stand-by platform connected with the ends of truck paths over a number of drawing machines installed in parallel to each other, removing a train of empty creel a m M W S 5 m /h6 ,25 246 52BA5 3 7 "BI 55 moon mfl N52 4 "4 MUS 1 1 A m m 1 m M 28 m n "B U 6 4 n 1 ml n a m Tm mimu 6 ml mH C dM 5 nd U he. 1 I 2 l8 5 55 (ll [Ill trucks from the truck paths on the drawing machine 52 and leading a train of fresh creel trucks onto the truck paths over the drawing machines.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 2,726,505 12/1955 Bethune et 57/53 sir/3.191

PATENTED NOV 20 I975 SHEET 3 n; 4

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING CREELS OF DRAWING MACHINES The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for arranging the creels of drawing machines for thermoplastic synthetic yarn, particularly to improvements of a method of supplying and discharging creel trucks loaded with full and empty bobbins to and from a plurality of drawing machines juxtaposed to each other efficiently, in a short time and without much work load.

In producing thermoplastic synthetic yarn such as polyethylene terephthalate linear polymer, molten high molecular polymer is extruded from a spinneret or spinning machine and temporarily wound on a bobbin to form a package, which is referred to as an undrawn yarn package. A spinning machine normally includes a spinneret, a spinning chimmey and a wind-up means for producing undrawn yarn packages. A given number of packages are gathered to be loaded on the creel above a drawing machine and undrawn yarn is unwound from the packages on the creel and drawn. The undrawn yarn is drawn to several times the original length at predetermined temperatures and imparted properties useful for yarn.

In a known yam-drawing machine, a number of drawing units are arranged on both sides of its frame along the lengthwise direction thereof and a creel stand adapted to load undrawn yarn packages is provided above the frame. Each drawing unit below the creel stand comprises feed rollers, drawing rollers, and a ring twister in that order. If needed, heating means may be provided between the feed and drawing rollers.

As the spinning and drawing machines are usually under temperature control different from each other, they are located in separate chambers. Numerous drawing machines are usually juxtaposed with minimal spaces for the efficient use of space.

In such a process for the production of synthetic yarn, many undrawn yarn packages hitherto have been placed on a truck and carried into the drawing chamber. In the drawing process, the undrawn yarn packages have been discharged from the truck and placed manually one by one on a creel stand above the drawing machine. The operation is to lift considerably heavy packages (4 to kg) about two meters high and it is laborious work. Further since yarn packages are not allowed to be damaged or soiled, the operation requires careful handling, that is, a great deal of labor. Recent increases in drawing speed and in the weight of yarn package have created greater labor requirements.

In the light of this point, various types mechanization and ways of improving effectiveness have been proposed.

For instance, carriages for undrawn yarn packages are directly led above the drawing machine to be used as a creel stand in Japanese Patent Publication No. 32614/69. A chain conveyor is disposed above the drawing machine to carry undrawn yarn carriages in Japanese patent publication No. 19491/67. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,726,505 and 3,265,323, a creel suspended from a monorail or a crane is per se carried above the drawing machine.

Where undrawn yarn carriages are directly let into the creel stand, there are drawbacks that the capacity per carriage is small; the efficiency of carrying undrawn yarn packages from the spinning process to the drawing process becomes low; and the carrying from and into the creel stand is not easy.

The method by a chain conveyor, a monorail, etc. has drawbacks that it requires inevitably the considerable reconstruction of the established drawing machines and the cost of reconstruction becomes high; as described before, conventional drawing machines are arranged at narrow intervals to each other (usually spaced enough for a carriage to pass through) and thus reconstruction work is not easy.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems.

The present invention relates to the carrying of a number of creel trucks from and onto truck paths disposed on a number of drawing machines juxtaposed. Stand-by paths are linked to the truck paths. On the stand-by paths, a number of creel trucks loaded with full bobbins of the undrawn yarn can be arranged to be supplied to the truck paths above the drawing machines and the creel trucks can be pulled out to the stand-by paths when the bobbins are empty.

First, creel trucks carrying fresh packages of the undrawn yarn are led onto the truck paths to supply the drawing machines with the undrawn yarn to be drawn during which time other full creel trucks (creel trucks loaded with full bobbins or with fresh packages of undrawn yarn to be drawn) are carried onto the stand-by path for the subsequent preparation. Then when the full bobbins of the creel trucks on the truck paths become empty, the empty creel trucks (creel trucks loaded with empty bobbins) are pulled out of the truck paths onto the stand-by paths. When the pulling out is finished, the stand-by full creel trucks are fed to the truck paths to continue the drawing process, the empty creel trucks on the stand-by paths being returned to the spinning chamber. With the provision of the stand-by paths, handling of creel trucks becomes exceedingly smooth. By the repetition of the above-described arrangement of the trucks, the efficiency of operation increases. Further a wire is extended along the truck paths to facilitate the removal of empty creel trucks and a forklift is provided to lift the creel trucks to the stand-by path from the floor on which the drawing machines are installed. They serve as means of elevating the efficiency of operations. An object of the present invention is to conduct the carrying of full or empty creel trucks in good order with the use of stand-by paths with a view to eliminating waste of time for carrying those trucks and increasing the operational efficiency Another object of the present invention is to lessen manual operations and cut labor cost.

One embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing apparatus for arranging the creel of a drawing machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of truck paths on the drawing machine and the stand-by paths.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a forklift truck.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of creel trucks being moved.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of creel trucks and a carriage for creel trucks.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a wire traction device.

FIG. 8 shows a tip of the wire.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of truck paths.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment in which the apparatus of the present invention is applied to conventional drawing machines. In the drawing, numeral 1 denotes conventional drawing machines of a well'known type. Above the drawing machines are disposed paths 2 for creel trucks. Numeral 3 denotes a carriage in which creel trucks 4 are accomodated vertically in two stages. Numeral 5 is a forklift truck of well-known type for lifting the carriage together with creel trucks. Numeral 6 is a stand-by platform connecting the drive unit ends where the drive sources of the drawing machines i are embedded, being supported with pillars 7 disposed in the drawing machines and the frames of the drawing machines and linking to the truck paths 2 of the draw ing machines. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show partially FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, stand-by

paths

8, 9 are arranged on the standby piatform. In the direction perpendicular to the stand-by

paths

8, 9, truck paths 2 are juxtaposed at regular intervals. Turn tables 10, 11 are mounted on the stand-by

paths

8, 9 in such a way as to change directions of trucks moving from and to the truck paths 2.

Fit]. 3 shows creel trucks on the stand-by

paths

8, 9 and creel trucks 4 fed onto the paths 2.

FIG. shows a location ofa forklift truck 5 for lifting the creel trucks 4 on the stand-by

paths

8 or 5 FIG. 5 shows a drum 206 for winding the wire disposed at the edge of the stand-by paths, the wire being fastended to the top creel trucks of creel trucks 4 led onto the truck paths 2 and simultaneously pulling back the creel trucks when the undrawn yarn packages on the trucks are emptied.

with reference to FIGS. l to 5, the present invention will be summarized below. In apparatus whereby creel truck paths are arranged above a plurality of drawing machines juxtaposed to each other and full bobbins of the undrawn yarn are supplied to the drawing machines or emptied packages are removed with creel trucks moving on the truck paths of the drawing machine, a carriage loaded with creel trucks having full undrawn yarn packages is lifted with a forklift to feed only the creel trucks onto the stand-by paths; when the desired number of creel trucks has been prepared, the creel trucks thus prepared are led onto the truck paths 2. In this case, a wire is tied to the top creel truck, and in turn the subsequent creel trucks are pushed in. When the packages of the creei trucks are emptied of undrawn yarn, the wire is wound to pull out the emptied creel trucks onto the stand-by path. in exchange for that, the full creel trucks previously prepared on the stand-by path are moved onto the truck paths 2. The empty creel trucks pulled out onto the stand-by paths are discharged into the undrawn yarn carriage on the forklift truck and it is lowered on the floor; successively other new creel trucks are lifted on the stand-by path.

FIG. 6 shows creel trucks and the carriage for creel trucks in detail.

The carriage 3, including a rectangular base frame 301, frames 302 perpendicular to both ends of base frame 301, two pair of rails 303 mounted on the frame 301 and on the tops of frames 302, two wheels 304 centrally mounted on the sides of the base frame 301 and two freely swivelled wheels 305 mounted in the center of both ends of the base frame, carries two creel trucks 4 placed respectively on the top and bottom rails 303. The carriage 3 is provided with an appropriate lock such that the creel trucks are locked in position while the carriage 3 is running.

As shown in FIG. 3, the creel truck 4 comprises a base frame 401 and four wheels 402 fixed to the base frame 401. Two supports 403 are mounted in the centers of the shorter sides of the frame 401 perpendicularly to the frame 401 and bent halfway as shown in the drawing. On both sides of two plates 404 connecting the two supports 403 are attached pegs 405 such that upper and lower pegs are zigzag positioned and slightly inclined upward with respect to the sides of the plates.

Undrawn yarn packages (full bobbins) are held on the pegs 405. The longitudinal setting pitch of the pegs 405 is equal to the gauge between spindles of the drawing machine, and when a plurality of creel trucks 4 are arranged, the convex part of support 403 of a creel truck is engaged with the concave part of that of a prior creel truck and the concave part receives the convex part of the same. Hence the distance between undrawn yarn packages in the rear end of the prior creel truck and those in the top of the rear creel truck becomes almost equal to the spindle gauge of the drawing machine.

if one creel truck is so arranged that it stands between the two adjacent frames (span) of the drawing machine, handling of packages becomes easy. In the drawing, one span convers six spindles on one side and one creel truck can hold twelve undrawn yarn packages altogether on both sides.

Hence, when undrawn yarn packages are conveyed from the spinning machine to the drawing machine, it is possible to carry a great amount of undrawn yarn packages at a time. When they are handled in the drawing machine, they can be handled as one unit with the creel trucks, resulting in highly efficient operations.

A forklift truck 5 in FIG. 4 is of a welbknown type and can be remodelled so as to fit the carriage 3 for the creel trucks. It is a conventional forklift truck where goods and an operator can be lifted together. Numeral 501i is a fork, numeral 502 a vertical guide; numeral 503 a fall preventive, numeral 504 a drive unit, numeral 505 a step and numeral 506 is an operating part. Numeral 3 is the carriage carrying creei trucks 4 in two stages.

in FIGS. 2 and 5, numeral 2 shows truck paths built above drawing machines. On both sides of the path are mounted guide rails 201 for guiding the creel trucks 4, and at the farthest end of each path is disposed a stopper 202. Numerai 6 denotes a stand-by platform adjacent to the truck paths 2; numeral 203 is a wire groove longitudinally disposed in the center of the truck path 2; numeral 204 is a wire. The wire 204 has a hook 205 catching the front of base frame 401 of the creel truck 4. The other end of the wire passes under the stand-by platform 6 through the wire groove 203 and is wound around a windup drum 206a of a winch 206 mounted on the platform 6 (FIG. 5). The length of the wire 204 is greater than the length between the farthest end of the drawing machine and the winch 206. The details of the truck paths 2, the wire 204 and the hook 205 are shown in FIGS. '7, 8 and 9. The wire groove 203 is a two-step groove-one for the wire 204 itself and the other for the hook 205. At its starting end is disposed a block 207 for holding the hook 205. The block 207 has an inclined surface 207 a. if the wire 204 is pulled, the hook is caused to slide on the inclined surface 207 a. FIG. 8 shows a connecting portion of the tip of the wire 204 and the hook 205. The hook 205 forms a claw 205a at its tip and its rear end is connected with the wire 204. FIG. 9 shows the creel truck 4 on the truck path 2 of the drawing machine and the connecting state of the hook 205 with the base frame 401 of the creel truck 4.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, numeral 6 denotes a stand-by platform connected with the upper portions of drive units 1a of the drawing machines and each truck path 2, one side being supported with pillars 7 and the other side being supported with the frames of the drawing machines. On the stand-by platform 6 are disposed a path 9 for holding creel trucks 4a loaded with full bobbins of the undrawn yarn and a path 8 for receiving creel trucks loaded with empty bobbins. Turn tables 10, 11 are disposed on a path connecting the

paths

8 and 9 in a position corresponding to the truck paths 2 of the drawing machine. Numeral 6a is a hand rail and numeral 6b is a stopper. Guide rails (not shown) may be mounted on the stand-by platform to facilitate the movement of the creel trucks. The length of the standby platform is preferably the same as that of the drawing machine 1 itself but, if impossible, the width of the platform should be wide enough to arrange desired creel trucks in a plurality of rows.

The method and effect of replenishing undrawn yarn packages with the above-described apparatus will be described below.

In FIG. 1, the undrawn yarn packages 100 are placed on the creel trucks 4 in the carriages 3 and carried near the drawing machine in the drawing chamber. The carriages 3 are arranged near the end of the stand-by plat form 6. As shown in FIG. 4, two creel trucks 4 together with the carriage 3 are lifted and carried to one end of the stand-by platform 6 with the use of the forklift truck 5. The fork is hoisted to cause the upper creel truck to reach the level of the stand-by platform 6. The creel truck is pushed out onto the stand-by path of the platform 6 by an operator on the step 505 of the forklift truck. Further the fork is raised to lift the lower creel truck to the level of platform 6 and put it on the stand-by path 9 of the platform 6 by the same procedure as before. Then the fork is lowered to pick up another carriage 3 loaded with two creel trucks 4. The cycle is repeated. After the creel trucks have been pushed out on the stand-by path 9 of the platform, the forklift truck is moved without lowering the fork from the path 9 for full creel trucks to the path 8 for empty creel trucks, pulling an empty creel truck on the path 8 into the lower step of the emptied carriage 3, lower ing the fork receiving another empty creel truck on the upper step of the carriage 3 and finally lowering the fork to the floor. Thus with one lifting and lowering operation two full creel trucks are lifted and two empty creel trucks are lowered.

In this way, a stand-by platform is arranged adjacent the truck paths above the drawing machines and a stand-by path for full creel trucks and an exit path for empty creel trucks are juxtaposed on the platform to cause a forklift truck to supply full creel trucks onto the stand-by platform and to discharge empty creel trucks from the platform at the same time. Hence, since full creel trucks are made ready on the platform by the time for replenishing the creels of the drawing machines, as soon as empty creel trucks are pulled out onto the path 8 for empty trucks, the full creel trucks can be fed onto the truck paths, resulting in the completion of creel replenishing in a minimum time period with a reduction in lifting time, which permits great improvements in creel replenishing operations in drawing machines due to curtailment of the time for creel replenishing and creel arranging operations, and increase in operation rate with corresponding alleviation of work load.

In the above embodiment, the number of creel trucks to be received by the stand-by platform is equal to that which can just cover one drawing machine, and the above-mentioned replenishing of creel trucks can be conducted for only one drawing machine at a time. Therefore undrawn yarn package replenishing time for each drawing machine is to be staggered. This is easily done by determining appropriately working hours for each drawing machine.

Now a method of feeding the full fresh creel trucks to the drawing machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, '7, 8 and 9.

The wire 204 is wound with the winch 206, and the hook 205 is kept on the block 207. The first creel truck is led to the truck path 2 such that the hook 205 on the block 207 catches the base frame of the first creel truck.

The winch 206 and the drum 206a are disconnected to let the drum rotate freely. Subsequent creel trucks are pushed in one by one and the desired number of creel trucks is set into a creel (The top creel truck is engaged with a stopper 202). Since the path 9 runs perpendicularly to the truck path 2, each creel truck is to change its direction on the turn table 11. The undrawn yarn of the package on the creel truck is threaded from the creel into the drawing machine for the drawing operation.

When the creel is emptied of the undrawn yarn after the drawing operation for a given time, the drawing machine is discontinued and the empty creel is to be replaced. in order that the empty creel trucks may be pulled out, the winch 206 is actuated to wind the wire 204 and to pull the hook 205 connected to the wire 204. The top truck is now pushed back because of its registering with the hook 205, and the subsequent trucks backward of it are pushed back toward the entrance of the truck path. The operation of the winch 206 is conducted as with the use of a push button disposed near the truck path 2. An operator standing at the entrance pulls out the creel trucks one by one by pushing the button to the extent necessary to let the truck advance to the entrance and from the entrance all of them are conveyed manually or by appropriate other means and pulled out of the creel section in the drawing machine. After changing their direction with the turn table 10, the empty trucks are arranged on the stand-by path 8. The fresh creel trucks are, then, pushed into the emptied creel section by the same procedure as described above for creel formation. Afterwards empty creel trucks are loaded on the forklift truck and removed.

In supplying creel trucks to the creel section of the drawing machine, a hook attached to the wire is engaged with the top creel truck and subsequent trucks are pushed in to form a creel; at the time of replacement of the creel, the wire is pulled to remove the empty creel trucks. ll-ience at the end of the creel section in the drawing machine, the replacement of creel trucks can readily be conducted and the apparatus has a high industrial value in that it is very cheap because empty creel trucks are pushed out with a simple drive unit consisting of a hook, a wire and a winch, and reduces personnel requirements, reduces work load, and facilitates application to already established drawing machines while reducing cost.

As seen in the above description, the effect of the present invention, that is, the curtailment of time of replacing undrawn yarn packages and reduction of work load owe much to the installation of stand-by paths for creel trucks which paths intersect the drawing machines at the ends of the drawing machines besides the above-described method of pulling out the trucks.

The stand-by paths for filled and empty creel trucks are arranged side by side adjacent the truck paths over the drawing machines and consequently even if the op eration of lifting creel trucks to the stand-by platform takes much time, full package creel trucks can be made ready on the platform by the time of replacement of creels on the drawing machines. Hence at the time of replacement, the emptied creel trucks on the truck paths of the drawing machines are instantly pulled out to the emptied creel truck path on the stand-by platform and immediately after that, the full creel trucks are pushed into the creel sections of the drawing machines. Thus creel replacement can be conducted in a minimum time period. Immediately after that, the drawing machine is threaded to resume the drawing operation.

The operation rate of the drawing machines with apparatus of the present invention is highly elevated as compared with conventional apparatus.

Further emptied creel trucks on the stand-by platform can take time to be lowered afterwards and it does not affect adversely the operation rate of the drawing machines.

In such a way, operations directly affecting the oper ation rate of the drawing machines among creel replacement operations have been expedited to increase the operation rate of the drawing machines and the efficiency of production.

For instance, according to one embodiment, it took min to replace twelve creel trucks each truck 1000 mm long by conventional apparatus and it could be curtailed to seven min. with the apparatus of the present invention.

In the light of apparatus cost, a stand-by platform is just positioned adjacent the drawing machines; the reconstruction cost of apparatus is very low and the working floor of the drawing machines need not be much-narrowed and thus there is no hindrance to the drawing operation. The apparatus is industrially advantageous to a great extent. Another advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus of the present invention can readily be applied to the drawing machines already installed.

1 claim:

1. in a method of replacing yarn packages of undrawn yarn to be drawn in drawing machines by leading creel trucks loaded with the undrawn yarn packages to truck paths mounted over the drawing machines, and using the creel trucks as the creels, the improvement comprising placing the creel trucks loaded with full packages on a stand-by platform adjacent the ends of the truck paths; at the time of replacing emptied packages by the full packages, withdrawing the creel trucks loaded with the emptied packages from a truck path to the stand-by platform and immediately feeding the creel trucks loaded with full packages from the standby platform to the truck path; lowering the empty creel trucks from the stand-by platform; and lifting full creel trucks to the stand-by platform for storage.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which a carriage loaded with plural creel trucks is lifted at the edge of the stand-by platform with a forklift truck to push out only the creel trucks onto the stand-by platform.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 in which after the creel trucks are pushed out from the carriage on the forklift truck, the emptied creel trucks on the stand-by platform are pulled into the carriage and lowered.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which in feeding the creel trucks loaded with full packages to the truck paths, a wire is caused to catch the first creel truck, subsequent creel trucks are in turn pushed in and when the creel trucks are emptied, they are simultaneously withdrawn by pulling the wire.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which the full creel trucks to be supplied to the truck paths are arranged in one of two paths on the stand-by platform and the emptied creel trucks withdrawn from the truck paths are placed on the other path on the stand-by platform.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 in which the wire is pulled with a winch.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5 in which the direction of the creel trucks is changed with turn tables disposed opposite the entrance of each truck path from the stand-by platform.

8. Apparatus for replacing yarn packages for use with drawing machines having drawing units on both sides thereof comprising a plurality of truck paths arranged above the drawing machines and extending therealong;

a stand-by platform disposed over the ends of the drawing machines and connecting said truck paths;

a plurality of creel trucks for carrying yarn packages,

each of said creel trucks mounted on wheels to roll along said truck paths and said stand-by platform; and

means for lifting said creel trucks onto said stand-by platform.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of carriages movable by said iifting means, each of said carriages supporting a plurality of said creel trucks in stacked relation.

E0. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a device for pulling said creel trucks from said truck paths to said stand-by platform including a hook connected with one of said creel trucks in said truck paths, a wire tied to said hook and means for winding said wire.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which each of said truck paths has a groove for receiving said wire, a groove for moving said hook, and an inclined block for holding said hook disposed at the entrance of each truck path from said stand-by platform.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said stand-by platform has two parallel paths therealong, a first of said paths receiving creel trucks loaded with full yarn packages and a second of said paths receiving creel trucks loaded with empty yarn packages.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said stand-by platform includes turn tables disposed on said two parallel paths opposite said truck paths.

Patent No.

L191 Dated November 20, 1973 Inventor(s) Kinyu ISHIDA It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Headio Claims priority,'applicati0n Japan, Serial No 106,573/70,

filed December 2, 1970; Serial No. l06 ,302/70, filed December 3', 1970; and Serial No. 111,010/70 filed December 12,

Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 197b,.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MELETCHER JR Attesting Officer c MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 50376-P59 US. GOVERNMENY PRINTING QFFICE I969 O-3GG-3ZH

Claims

1. In a method of replacing yarn packages of undrawn yarn to be drawn in drawing machines by leading creel trucks loaded with the undrawn yarn packages to truck paths mounted over the drawing machines, and using the creel trucks as the creels, the improvement comprising placing the creel trucks loaded with full packages on a stand-by platform adjacent the ends of the truck paths; at the time of replacing emptied packages by the full packages, withdrawing the creel trucks loaded with the emptied packages from a truck path to the stand-by platform and immediately feeding the creel trucks loaded with full packages from the stand-by platform to the truck path; lowering the empty creel trucks from the stand-by platform; and lifting full creel trucks to the stand-by platform for storage.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 in which the wire is pulled with a winch.

8. Apparatus for replacing yarn packages for use with drawing machines having drawing units on both sides thereof comprising a plurality of truck paths arranged above the drawing machines and extending therealong; a stand-by platform disposed over the ends of the drawing machines and connecting said truck paths; a plurality of creel trucks for carrying yarn packages, each of said creel trucks mounted on wheels to roll along said truck paths and said stand-by platform; and means for lifting said creel trucks onto said stand-by platform.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of carriages movable by said lifting means, each of said carriages supporting a plurality of said creel trucks in stacked relation.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a device for pulling said creel trucks from said truck paths to said stand-by platform including a hook connected with one of said creel trucks in said truck paths, a wire tied to said hook and means for winding said wire.