FEED YARN JOINING SYSTEM

Abstract

A feed yarn joining system for joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package at a package creel including package storage sites for receiving the yarn and reserve packages, with receiving units for receiving the yarn head end and the yarn tail end, positioning units for positioning a yarn portion joined to the yarn tail end and yarn head end in the yarn splicing device, the yarn splicing device for preparing and joining the yarn head end and yarn tail end, and a control unit for initiating the start of the splicing operation and executing the splicing operation. Furthermore, a package creel arrangement with a feed yarn joining system as well as a method of joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package when using a feed yarn joining system.

Claims

1. A feed yarn joining system for joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package in a region of a package creel arrangement having at least two adjacent package storage sites for receiving the yarn package and the reserve package, the feed yarn joining system comprising: a first receiving unit for receiving the yarn head end of the reserve package; a second receiving unit for receiving the yarn tail end of the yarn package; a first positioning unit for positioning a yarn head portion joined to the yarn head end in a yarn splicing device; a second positioning unit for positioning a yarn tail portion joined to the yarn tail end in the yarn splicing device; the yarn splicing device, is provided to prepare the yarn head end and the yarn tail end and splice them together during a splicing operation; and a control unit for executing the splicing operation by a corresponding activation of the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit, the first positioning unit, the second positioning unit and the yarn splicing device; wherein the control unit is provided to initiate a start of the splicing operation.

2. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is linked for communication purposes to an input unit via which an operator manually triggers a signal to the control unit to initiate the start of the splicing operation.

3. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is linked for communication purposes to an investigation unit to determine a quantity of yarn present on the yarn package and is trained to determine an unwinding and/or changeover point of an unwound yarn package based on a determined quantity of yarn for initiating the start of the splicing operation.

4. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving unit and the first positioning unit or the second receiving unit and the second positioning unit are provided by a moveable suction unit, which is associated with the yarn package or the reserve package, between a receiving position for receiving the yarn tail end or the yarn head end respectively, and a depositing position for placing the yarn tail end or the yarn head end, respectively.

5. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit includes a sensor unit for detecting a presence and/or absence of the yarn tail end or the yarn head end in the moveable suction unit.

6. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 4, further including a coupling unit for coupling and uncoupling of the moveable suction unit to or from a source of suction air.

7. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 4, further including a clamping device for clamping the yarn tail end or the yarn head end inside the moveable suction unit.

8. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, wherein the yarn splicing device, the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit, the first positioning unit and the second positioning unit are arranged on a common carrying frame, wherein the common carrying frame is provided within a plane tensioned by a guide frame.

9. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, further including a driverless transport vehicle on which at least the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit, the first positioning unit, the second positioning unit and the yarn splicing device are arranged, wherein the driverless transport vehicle is provided to run autonomously to a site of the splicing operation which is to be executed.

10. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 9, wherein the driverless transport vehicle carries a handling unit with a gripper unit for loading and unloading the package creel arrangement, and wherein the gripper unit is movable in multiple dimensions.

11. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 10, wherein the driverless transport vehicle carries a package buffer with at least two package storage sites, wherein a first one of the at least two package storage sites is equipped with a reserve package and a second one of the at least two package storage sites is free, wherein the handling unit for removing and positioning the yarn package is provided on the second one of the at least two package storage sites and for removing and positioning the reserve package is provided in a package creel position of the removed yarn package by the gripper unit.

12. A package creel arrangement with a package creel comprising at least two package storage sites, wherein a first one of the at least two package storage sites is provided for receiving a yarn package and a second one of the at least two package storage sites is provided for receiving a reserve package, and the feed yarn joining system according to claim 1.

13. The package creel arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the at least two package storage sites are arranged moveably between an operating position and a changeover position.

14. A method of joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package in a region of a package creel arrangement having at least two adjacent package storage sites for receiving the yarn package and the reserve package by the feed yarn joining system according to claim 1, the method comprising: initiating the splicing operation; activating the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit for seeking and receiving the yarn tail end of the yarn package and the yarn head end of the reserve package; activating the first positioning unit and the second positioning unit for positioning the received yarn tail end and the received yarn head end into the yarn splicing device; activating the yarn splicing device for preparing the yarn tail end and the yarn head end by yarn tail end preparation means associated with the yarn splicing device; and activating the yarn splicing device for joining the prepared yarn tail end and the prepared yarn head end.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein promptly before, or with the step of initiating the splicing operation, filling an emptied package storage site with a reserve package.

16. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit is pivotable or linearly displaceable.

17. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit comprises a suction tube with a suction mouth.

18. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 8, wherein the common carrying frame is adjustable within the plane tensioned by the guide frame.

19. The package creel arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the at least two package storage sites are pivotable between the operating position and the changeover position.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of filling takes place immediately before the step of initiating the splicing operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiment examples of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0045] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a side view of a cabling machine provided on both sides with workstations in the longitudinal direction of the machine,

[0046] FIG. 2 a schematic illustration of a rear view of a package creel with a plurality of package storage sites,

[0047] FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the package creel shown in FIG. 2 with a service unit which can travel along the package creel,

[0048] FIG. 3A a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of a working position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3,

[0049] FIG. 3B a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of a further working position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3,

[0050] FIG. 3C a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of an additional working position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3,

[0051] FIG. 4 a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the package creel shown in FIG. 3 with a driverless transport vehicle operating the package creel,

[0052] FIG. 4A a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a working position of the driverless transport vehicle shown in FIG. 4, and

[0053] FIG. 4B a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a further working position of the driverless transport vehicle shown in FIG. 4,

[0054] FIG. 4C a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of an intermediate position of a package storage site of the package creel shown in FIG. 3,

[0055] FIG. 4D a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of a changeover position of the package storage site of the package creel shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] In the following description of embodiment examples, the same or similar reference signs are used for the elements shown in the various figures that have a similar action, in which case the descriptions of these elements are to a large extent not repeated.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of the present invention. In a schematic illustration, a side view of a textile machine provided as a cabling machine 1 is shown with workstations on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the machine, on whose upper side the package creels 3 which operate the respectively opposing machine sides are pivotably mounted. The package creel 3 associated with an individual cabling spindle 2 is, for example, mounted pivotably by a four-arm joint 4 on the upper side of a machine frame 5.

[0058] The package creel 3 contains a carrying plate 6 on which to both sides respectively a substantially vertically oriented holding plate 16 is fastened which bears two vertically superimposed and forwardly oriented creeling mandrels defining package storage sites 31 for fitting on to a feed yarn package provided as a yarn package 11 and a feed yarn package provided as a reserve package 8. The creeling mandrels are positioned to rise obliquely at the front at an angle in the region of 5 to 10 from the horizontal, in order to ensure a secure seating of the fitted-on feed yarn packages 8, 11.

[0059] On the carrying plate 6, a support arm 9 is fixed with a forward orientation which carries a yarn deflection eye 10 in order to deflect the yarn 14 drawn from the yarn package 11 to the lower machine region of the workstation, i.e. towards the cabling spindle 2. Corresponding with the normal cabling process, this yarn 14 is united with the yarn 15 in the region of a yarn guide eye, said yarn 15 being pulled overhead from a feed yarn package located inside the cabling spindle 2. Above the cabling spindle 2 there are customarily mounted a yarn delivery unit 12 and a yarn winding unit 13.

[0060] On the support arm 9, a feed yarn joining unit 7 of the feed yarn joining system is arranged which here exhibits a (not shown) yarn splicing device as well as a transport device for receiving the yarn head end of the reserve package 8 and the yarn tail end of the yarn package 11. The transport device comprises a first and second receiving unit for receiving a yarn head end of the reserve package 8 and a yarn tail end of the yarn package 11. Furthermore, the transport device is equipped with a first and second positioning unit by which the received ends of the yarns can be arranged in a (also not shown here) yarn splicing device of the feed yarn joining unit 7. The yarn splicing device is equipped in the normal manner for preparing and joining the ends of the yarns. For example, a preparation unit for the defined preparation and opening of the ends of the yarns as well as a splicing channel to which compressed air can be applied with a splicing prism is provided for the pneumatic interlacing of the yarn tail ends arranged in the splicing channel. Furthermore, the yarn splicing device comprises a holding unit for setting the starts and ends respectively of the yarns as well as a further positioning unit, by which before being joined the starts and ends respectively of the yarns can be withdrawn in a defined manner so that they are arranged adjacent to one another in the splicing channel.

[0061] To guarantee continuous processing without a standstill of the workstation of the cabling machine 1 in the event the yarn package 11 is emptied, the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and the yarn head end 8A of the reserve package 8 are detected by the feed yarn joining system through (not shown) first and second receiving units and placed in the yarn splicing device by the first and second positioning unit where they are joined to one another in the known manner. After the full unwinding of the yarn 14 from the yarn package 11, the remaining empty package tube is then removed and a full feed yarn package fitted on, whose yarn head end can be joined by the feed yarn joining system to the yarn tail end of the yarn package previously serving as the reserve package 8.

[0062] FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate further embodiments. FIG. 2 shows in this connection a schematic illustration of a rear view of a package creel 3 serving a web machine, for example, with a plurality of package storage sites 31, wherein respective package storage sites 31 are provided as creeling mandrels for receiving a feed yarn package, wherein depending on the use the feed yarn package defines the yarn package 11 or the reserve package 8.

[0063] The package creel 3 is provided by a frame with several spaced frame elements 32 and vertical frame elements 33, wherein intermediate spaces included by the horizontal and vertical frame elements 32, 33 form working positions in which a yarn package 11 and a reserve package 8 are arranged respectively. Respective package storage sites 31 or creeling mandrels respectively are arranged on the vertical frame elements 33 in a manner opposing the intermediate space. By this the existing construction area of the intermediate space can be used efficiently and the intermediate space can be kept as small as possible.

[0064] In a respective intermediate space or at a respective working position, a yarn splicing device 71 is arranged associated with a feed yarn joining system according to an embodiment, said yarn splicing device 71 being fixed to the horizontal frame elements 32 in the intermediate space centrally between the package storage sites 31 for the more efficient use of the construction area. Other arrangements of the package storage sites 31 and the yarn splicing device 71 in a respective intermediate space are conceivable, but necessitate a larger construction area. The yarn splicing device 71 may furthermore as an alternative be arranged outside the intermediate space at another unit, as described in more detail with a further embodiment by way of example (not shown).

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the package creel 3 illustrated in FIG. 2 with a carrying frame 40 that is arranged opposing the package creel 3 which provides a guide frame for a service unit 50 serving all working positions of the package creel 3. The service unit 50 is arranged displaceably on the carrying frame along the package creel 3 inside a travel plane tensioned by the guide frame.

[0066] As is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 3C, the service unit 50 has a vertical guide 51 on which a carrying unit 72 associated with the feed yarn joining system is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction. The carrying unit 72 bears a jointed first suction unit 73 and a separate jointed second suction unit 74, which are each provided to rotate or pivot respectively around a rotational axis running parallel to the travel axis of the carrying unit 72. The first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74 are provided to detect the yarn head end 8A of the reserve package 8 and the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11, to receive it and to position it in defined manner in a splicing prism 71A of the yarn splicing device 71. The first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74 accordingly form a first and second receiving unit respectively as well as a first and second positioning unit respectively in the sense of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the package creel 3 shown in FIG. 3 with a driverless transport vehicle 80 serving the package creel 3. The transport vehicle 80 comprises a wheeled transport platform 81 on which a package buffer 82 is arranged with a plurality of package storage sites 31 which are each equipped with feed yarn packages. The package storage sites 31 of the package buffer 82 are provided by inclined creeling mandrels which are arranged on a package buffer carrying frame.

[0068] The transport platform 81 also bears a package buffer 82 in the form of a container 84 which can be for receiving package tubes 17 or emptied yarn packages 11 respectively. Between the container 84 and the package buffer 82 there is a handling unit 83 for handling the package buffer 82, the feed yarn packages 8 received therein, the container 84 and the package tubes 17 to be placed therein. The handling unit 83 has a multi-jointed gripper unit 85 such as a robot arm, for example, which can be displaced in linear manner in the vertical direction along a guide rail 86 of the handling unit 83 (FIGS. 4A and 4B).

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a package storage site 31 of the package creel 3 can be operated by the handling unit 83, in that a package tube 17 is gripped by the gripper unit 85 and placed in the container 84. Subsequently, the gripper unit 85 detects a feed yarn package from the package buffer 82 of the transport vehicle 80 in order to place it on the empty package storage site 31 on which previously the package tube 17 was mounted. The newly placed feed yarn package in this case forms the reserve package 8 at the working position of the package creel 3, whose yarn head end 8A is subsequently joined by the feed yarn joining system in a manner as described above to the yarn tail end 11A of the adjacent yarn package 11 at the working position of the package creel 3.

[0070] The respective package storage site 31 of the package creel 3, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, is pivotable from an operating position into a changeover position. FIG. 4C shows an intermediate position of the package tube 17 as well as an operating position of the adjacent yarn package 11 at the working position of the package creel 3. The intermediate position is consequently a position between the operating position and the changeover position shown in FIG. 4D.

[0071] FIGS. 4C and 4D further show that the package storage sites 31 are equipped with a display unit 90 for displaying the current operating state. The display unit 90 of the package storage site 31, which bears the empty package tube 17, is set to red light, in contrast to which package storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarn packages show a green light. The red light display enables direct signalling and recognition of a package storage site 31, at which a new feed yarn package is to be equipped. The green light signals a proper operating state at the respective package storage site 31.

[0072] Alternatively, the display unit 90 is used according to an embodiment (not shown) for displaying the current operating state of the respective package storage site 31 or the working position of the package creel 3 respectively. Thus the package storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarn packages are displayed with green light, wherein proper operation of the yarn package 11 in the form of its unwinding and proper operation of the reserve package 8 in the form of an existing yarn join between the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and the yarn head end 8A of the reserve package 8 is displayed. The yellow light or orange light display the package storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarn packages in which a yarn join between the yarn head end 8A and the yarn tail end 11A has not been made or still needs to be made. Package storage sites 31 set to a red light indicate emptied yarn packages 11 and/or missing feed yarn packages.

[0073] According to an embodiment which is not shown, the feed yarn joining system alternatively to the embodiment examples described above may be realised in that at least a yarn splicing device 71 is provided on the service unit 50 by which the quantity of yarn splicing devices 71 required for the package creel 3 can be reduced considerably. In this alternative embodiment, the yarn splicing device 71 is positioned between the first suction unit 73 and the second suction unit 74 in order to allow easy parallel placement of the yarn portions of the yarns 14, 15 of the yarn package 11 and of the reserve package 8 in the splicing prism 71A of the yarn splicing device 71. The yarn splicing device 71 with the first suction unit 73 and the second suction unit 74 is provided displaceably on the vertical axis of the service unit 50 in order to be able to service different levels of the package creel 3, in which a plurality of pairs of package storage sites are arranged to receive respectively a yarn package 11 and a reserve package 8 adjacent thereto. Alternatively, the service unit 50 may exhibit a plurality of yarn splicing devices 71 arranged on the service unit 50 with an associated first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74, wherein the number can correspond to the number of package creel levels in which in the horizontal direction a plurality of yarn packages 11 and adjacent reserve packages 8 are arranged, in this case four levels. Each package creel level is thus assigned a yarn splicing device 71 with a first suction unit 73 and a second suction unit 74 for executing a splicing operation. By this the times taken for conducting various splicing operations can be reduced and consequently productivity increased. The yarn splicing device 71 and the associated first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74 can be relatively displaceable in respect of one another in order to further increase the efficiency of the splicing operation. For example, the yarn splicing device 71 may be displaceable on the vertical axis in a defined manner, in order to bring the yarn portions tensioned by the first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74 into the splicing channel of the yarn splicing device 71.

[0074] According to a further, alternative embodiment (not shown), at least the feed yarn joining unit 7, provided by the yarn splicing device 71 and the transport device comprising the first and second receiving unit as well as the first and second positioning unit, is arranged on the driverless transport vehicle 80. By this the service units 50 to be provided for each package creel 3 may be dispensed with.

[0075] The feed yarn joining system comprises a control unit (not shown) which is coupled by wire or wirelessly at least to the components which are to be activated of the feed yarn joining unit 7. To execute the splicing operation, the control unit is provided by corresponding activation of the first and second receiving unit, the first and second positioning unit and the yarn splicing device 71. The control unit may be positioned as needed. According to an embodiment, the control unit is integrated into the control unit of the package creel 3 or forms a common control unit with it. According to a further embodiment, the control unit is arranged on the service unit 50 and is arranged according to a further alternative embodiment on the driverless transport vehicle 80. In a further alternative, the control unit is integrated into the control unit of the service unit 50 or the driverless transport vehicle 80 or forms a common control unit with it. The control unit according to a further embodiment forms an integral part of a mobile terminal that is carried and/or operated by an operator.

[0076] Independently of the arrangement site, the control unit is provided to initiate or cause the splicing operation to start based on its own analysis or after receiving a triggering signal. According to one embodiment, the control unit is designed to undertake an analysis of received information based on which a time for unwinding or emptying the yarn package 11 can be predicted or determined. Depending on the information from this analysis, the control unit initiates the start of the splicing operation. The start of the splicing operation can be initiated at a point which is sufficiently distant from the time of achieving the unwinding or emptying of the yarn package 11, in order to guarantee the continuous operation of the working position. For example, the start of the splicing operation is initiated immediately on receiving the information that a package storage site 31 of the package creel 3 has been equipped with a new feed yarn package. Alternatively, the control unit is coupled to an investigative unit which determines the quantity of yarn present on the yarn package 11, based on which an unwinding time for the yarn package 11 is determined, depending on which the splicing operation is initiated by the control unit.

[0077] The feed yarn joining system automatically enables the initiation and execution of the splicing operation, wherein after initiating the splicing operation the first and second receiving unit are activated to seek and receive the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and the yarn head end 8A of the reserve package 8. The first and second positioning unit are then activated for positioning the received yarn tail end 11A and the received yarn head end 8A in the yarn splicing device 71. Subsequently, the yarn splicing device 71 is activated to prepare the yarn tail end 11A and the yarn head end 8A by the yarn tail end preparation system associated with the yarn splicing device. Finally, the yarn splicing device 71 is activated to join the respectively prepared yarn tail end 11A to the yarn head end 8A.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Cabling machine 2 Cabling spindle 3 Package creel 4 Four-arm joint 5 Machine frame 6 Carrying plate 7 Feed yarn joining unit 8 Reserve package 8A Thread start at reserve package 9 Support arm 10 Yarn deflection eye 11 Yarn package 11A Yarn tail end of yarn package 12 Yarn delivery unit 13 Yarn winding unit 14 Yarn of yarn package 15 Yarn of reserve package 16 Holding plate 17 Package tube 31 Package storage site 32 Horizontal frame element 33 Vertical frame element 40 Carrying frame 50 Service unit 51 Vertical guide 71 Yarn splicing device 71A Splicing prism 72 Carrying unit 73 First suction unit 74 Second suction unit 80 Driverless transport vehicle 81 Transport platform 82 Package buffer 83 Handling unit 84 Container 85 Gripper unit 86 Guide rail 90 Display unit