US3148842A - Creeling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1964 M. AXSON ETAL CREELING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24 1961 FIGA1.

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CREELING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 A F\ G. 5. INVENTORS:

Sept. 15, 1964 M. AXSON ETAL 3,148,842

CREELING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w o u INVENTQR Qzu Qzu E Q A J zg Mama 19x5 5477/01? INA/6K7 law Lyon, 5/6/ 7 h/ foam/sou A Mm! United States Patent 3,148,842 cnnsrmo APPARATUS Michael Anson, Leek Row, Congleton, Arthur Linnert,

West Dirlsbury, Manchester, Roy Lyon, Wilrnslew, and Brian W. Robinson, Gatlcy, England, assignors to The Cotton fiilir and Man-Made Fibres Resemch Associa- This invention concerns creeling apparatus. It is particularly concerned with such apparatus for use in processes where a continuous feed of material from packages of such material is required. Such material may be in sheet form (e.g. lap material) or otherwise (e.g. slivers). It is to be understood that where in this specification and the claiming clauses thereof the terms lap and lap material are used, the terms include, wherever the context so admits, all such materials. For example, we have described in the complete specification of our co-pending application No. 819,266, now US. Patent No. 3,013,313, a process involving a series of operations performed continuously. on cotton fibres, as they pass through carding lap-forming, drawing and other stages. At one stage in the process the web material which is formed is wound into laps of conventional form on a supporting spindle or lap shell, from which laps it is required to be fed to a number of draw frames. Arrangements are made whereby a reserve of such laps is available at each frame and the main object of the present invention is to provide suitable means for feeding the material of sucessive laps to a draw frame in such a process.

, According to the present invention a creeling device comprises means for supporting a first lap, for unwinding same, and for feeding the material thereof, as it is unwound, for further processing, means for supporting a second lap, and for locating and suitably disposing the outer end of the material thereof, all during unwinding of said first lap, and means, whereby, as or after the unwinding of said first lap comes to an end, is begun the unwinding of the second lap and the feeding of the material thereof, as it is unwound, for further processing, in like manner as the material of said first lap. In most cases the device will comprise means, operative as the unwinding of said first lap comes to an end, for automatically commencing the unwinding of the second lap and for feeding the material thereof, as it is unwound, for further processing, in like manner as the material of said first lap. Preferably said means are adapted to operate repeatedly in like manner on a succession of further laps whereby to maintain a continuous feed of lap material for further processing. The creeling device may include at least one means for supporting and unwinding a lap and consisting of a guide and roller system, and means associated therewith, adapted to detect when the final stage of unwinding has been reached and then operative to cause unwinding of a further lap to commence. Alternatively, it may include two means for supporting and unwinding a lap each consisting of a guide and roller system and each being adapted, successively and repeatedly, firstly, to accept a full lap and suitably to locate the end of the material thereof relative to means for feeding lap material forward for further processing, and secondly, continuously to unwind said lap so that the material passes to said feeding means, one system performing one function whilst the other is performing the other function.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

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Patent-zed Sept. 15., 1364 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanical parts of a creeling apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the far side of the creeling apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation corresponding to FIG. 2 whereby the mechanical operation of the creeling device is shown more clearly;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuitry of the creeling device illustrated in the previous figures, and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an alternative creeling device according to the invention.

The creeling device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings is intended to supply material to a draw frame in the process described in our above mentioned US. Patent No. 3,013,313 and it includes a system of rollers supported in a frame F. The roller arrangement is symmetrical, as shown, providing two paths for lap material to a common feeding arrangement.

The common feeding arrangement consists of a pair of feed rollers 11, 12 which, when the device is in operation, are continuously driven. The drive is derived from an electric motor M through a gear box G by means of suitable chains, chain-wheels and gear wheels, as illustrated. The rollers 11, 12. also serve to drive an endless apron A for carrying away the lap material as will be described hereinafter. Above the roller 11 are three further rollers 13, 14, 14a and lap-guides 15, and above the roller 12 are likewise three further rollers 16, 17, 17a and lap guides 18. Each of the roller assemblies 13, 14,

14a and 16, 17, 17a has associated therewith a mechanical drive from the gear box G, as illustrated, and a suction device under the control of electric circuitry adapted to control the drive in the manner shortly to be described. The mechanical drives include therein brake and clutch assemblies B C and B C respectively. The suction devices each comprise a box 19, 21) located within the respective rollers 13, 16 which can be continuously exhausted by a suitable extraction systemincluding extractor fans FN and FN Each device is effective over that part of the periphery of its roller which lies adjacent the nip between a lap supported by the appropr'iate guide and the roller itself. The roller, as will be appreciated, is hollow, and is perforated to facilitate the suction effect.

The rollers 14, 14a, 17, 17a rest on insulated metal supports S by which'they are brought into the electrical circuitry, and rollers 13, 16 are grounded or earthed.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 only those components of the electrical circuitry which are necessary for an understanding of the mechanical functioning of the creeling device have been shown.

Referring now to FIG. 4 the electrical circuitry will be fully described, the components being connected between a supply line and earth, successively in parallel, as follows:

(i) Relay A/3 in series with parallel routes through rollers 13, 14a and 13, 14 respectively.

(ii) Relay B/3 in series with parallel routes between rollers 16, 17a and 16, 17 respectively.

(iii) RelayC/1 in series with contactor P (iv) Relay D/ 1, forming a latch relay system with relay (1/ 1, in series with contactor A (v) Clutch C of roller 13 and relay E/1 connected in parallel in series with two parallel contactors C A (vi) Clutch C of roller 16 and relay F/l connected in parallel, in series with two parallel contactors D B (vii) Brake B or roller 13 is series with contactor E (viii)) Brake B of roller 16 in series with contactor F (ix) Fan FN of roller 13 in series with contactor A3. (X) Pan FN 16 of roller 16 in series with ccntactor B3.

Relays A/3 and 13/3 each control three contactors,

A A A and B B B respectively and these are open when the appropriate relay is unenergized. Relay E/1 and F/l control single contractors E and F each of which is closed when its relay is unenergized. The latch relays /1 and D/l each control a single contactor C D respectively which is open when the appropriate relay is unenergized, and also have the property that when that relay is de-encrgized the contactor remains closed until the other relay is energized.

The operation of the device will now be described, assuming the'starting position to be that in FIG. 3, namely a lap is supported by guides with the lap material therefrom being carried by roller 13 between itself and rollers 14, 14a, to the feed rollers 11, 12 and hence to apron A whereby it is conveyed away for further processing; and a lap is supported by guides 18 with the end of the lap material stationary over the roller 16 up to the nip between rollers 16, 17. In this position the last event that took place was the passage of the end of the lap material between rollers 16, 17 thus disconnecting the electrical supply from relay B/3. As a consequence, contactor B opened, this having no eifect owing to the latching of relays C/l and 13/1. Thus contactor C remained closed and clutch C in operation, so that roller 13 continued to run. As a further consequence contactor B opened, this causing clutch C to be disengaged, relay F/l to be de-energised, and therefore contactor F to be closed and brake B to be applied. Finally, the de-energising of relay B/ 3 caused contactor B to open and thus fan FN to shut down.

In the situation just described therefore the righthand side of the creeling device illustrated in FIG. 3 is stationary with the end of the lap material of lap 22 held ready at the nip between rollers 16, 17, while the left hand side is running, the lap material of lap 21 being progressed for further processing. Both fans are inoperative.

When the lap 21 begins to run out, the first thing that occurs is that the end of the lap material passes from the nip between rollers 13, 14a, and this allows the rollers to contact and complete the electrical circuit through relay A/3. As a result contactor A closes, energising relay D/It, which in turn causes contactor C to open, and contactor D to close, the latter event causing clutch C to engage to start roller 16, and also the energising of relay F/l and thus opening of contactor F and release of brake B As a further result A closes thus cancelling the eifect of the opening of C so that clutch C and brake B remain engaged and released respectively. Finally, contactor A closes which starts fan FN g.

The situation now is that the left hand side of th device continues to run completely to finish the lap 21, but the fan on this side of the machine has come into operation ready for setting up the end of the next lap; and feeding of lap material from lap 22 for further processing at the right hand side of the device has commenced.

The next thing that occurs is that the end of the lap material of lap 21 passes from the nip between rollers 13, 14 thus allowing them to come into contact. Since, how ever, there is already contact between rollers 13, 14a no changes in the operation of the device occur as a result.

A new, full lap or bobbin is now supplied to the guides 15 to replace lap 21. Such replacement may be carried out manually, or by some automatic means, but the actual manner or means by which this is achieved is not material to the present description nor, in fact, does it form any part of the present invention.

When the new, full lap contacts roller 13 it is rotated and since fan FN is in operation the suction box 19 finds the end of the lap material, which is then carried between rollers 13 and 14a, thus breaking the contact therebetween. However, since rollers 13, 14- are in contact, this causes no change in operation of the device. Shortly afterwards, however, the end of the new lap material passes between rollers 13, 14 thus breaking the contact therebetween. As a consequence, relay A/3 is deenergized. Contactor A opens but relay D/1 remains operative because of the latching arrangement and, therefore, contactor D remains closed. Thus clutch C remains engaged to keep roller 16 running and the continued energization of relay F/l ensures that contactor F stays open and brake B released. As a further consequence contactor A is opened, this causing clutch C to be disengaged, and brake B to be applied due to the tie-energizing of relay E/1 and consequent closure of contactor E Finally contactor A opens and fan FN shuts down.

The situation is then that the right hand side of the device'continues to run to finish the lap 22, whilst the left hand side of the device is stationary with the new end of lap material held ready at the nip between rollers 13, 14.

When lap 22 runs out a similar sequence occurs provided a new lap reaches guides 18, and so on.

The spacing of the nips between rollers 13, 14 and 13, 14a and of the nips between rollers 16, 17 and 16, 17a, which spacings can be adjusted by varying the position of supports S, enables the relationship between the end of one lap and the beginning of the next lap to adjust as desired. Thus, it may be that a short over-lap is desired, or that the two laps may just abut.

When starting the machine with the guides 15, 18 carryingno laps, the machine is switched on and both sides of the device begin to run with both fans in action. If a lap is supplied to one side the material is carried right through tothe apron A for further processing, but the fan at that side of the device will be switched off. On placing another lap on the other side of the machine whilst feeding of the material of the first lap is proceeding the end is found in the manner hereinbefore described and the situation is as described and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus sequential operation can begin.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 5 in which is illustrated, in diagrammatic fashion, a different kind of creeling device according to the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention just described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 there are two lap stations at which, alternately, a lap is supported prior to and whilst it is being unwound, one station serving one function whilst the other station serves the other function. In the, arrangement now to be described with reference to FIG. 5 there are again, in general, two stations, but each serves only one function, thus necessitating only one magazine of laps.

An endless conveyor belt 31 is provided to convey the lap material on for further processing, the belt passing around, and being driven by, terminal rollers 32, 33. A further driven roller 34 is spaced from the roller 32, and at one period of lap unwinding these two rollers 32, 34 act in conjunction to support and unwind a lap, as will later be described.

Above the terminal roller 32 is a magazine 35 for laps with associated gate 36 and drive roller 37. Between the level of the lower end of the magazine 35 and that of the upper run of conveyor belt 31 is disposed a blower 38 and a photocell 39 and lamp 40 so arranged to control the operation of the blower 38. The lower end of the magazine is followed by guide rails 41 at each side thereof which curve downwardly towards roller 34 in a manner and for a purpose later to be described.

Beneath the gap between rollers 32, 34 is a detector 42 operably associated with the gate 36. i

In operation, the magazine 35 is loaded with a full lap L and in the device illustrated in FIG. 5 an almost exhausted lap L is supported between rollers 32, 34 and is being unwound thereby, the lap material L being progressed by the conveyor belt 31 for further processing; In reaching the position referred to the lap L has passed from the region of the beam of lamp 40 thus allowing the beam to strike the photocell 39. By appropriate circuitry this causes the blower 38 and the roller 37 to come into action with the result that the lap L is rotated until the loose end of the lap material has been found by the air stream from the blower 38. This loose end thereupon hangs down in the manner illustrated to interrupt the light beam again whereupon the blower 38 and roller 37 cease to act, the lap L becoming stationary in the position as shown.

When the lap L is exhausted its shell falls between rollers 32, 34 onto detector 42 which is operably associated with the gate 36 in such a manner, either electrically or mechanically, that the gate 36 is caused to open momentarily to release lap L There will be a slight delay between the shell of lap L striking the detector 42 and the operation of the gate 36, the timing being such that the necessary overlap, or abutment, of the beginning of the new lap with the end of the old lap is ensured as the lap L falls onto roller 32 and begins to be driven for unwinding thereby.

During the early stages of unwinding of the new lap L its shell ends are supported against the guide rails 41. As unwinding proceeds the new lap gradually moves to the position in which L is shown in FIG. 5. In the same manner as previously described in relation to lap L the lap L eventually allows the beam from lamp 40 to fall on photocell 39.

The sequence described proceeds so long as a supply of laps is provided for the magazine, and, as in the previous embodiment such a supply may be provided manually or by a suitable automatic arrangement.

In a modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the detector 42 may be omitted and a manually operated means for opening and closing gate 36 substituted therefor. With such an arrangement it is possible to arrange for the lap material of successive laps to be fed forward at any desired intervals.

We claim:

1. A creeling device for textile laps, comprising a continuously driven pair of horizontal feed rollers adapted to engage lap material between them and progress it for further processing; a guide and roller system at either side of and above the nip between said feed rollers, each said system comprising a set of cooperating rollers and means for driving them intermittently to advance lap material to said feed rollers; and electrical control means responsive to the presence or absence of lap material between said cooperating rollers for so controlling the driving of said two sets of cooperating rollers that the leading end of the lap material advanced by one set is brought to a stop short of the feed rollers while the advancement of the lap material by the other set continues, said control means including means triggered by the passage of the trailing end of lap material through either of said sets for automatically recommencing the drive of the other set.

2. A creeling device as claimed in claim 1 including a suction arrangement within one of the rollers of each of said sets of cooperating rollers, said one roller being so arranged that it is contacted by successive full laps supplied to its respective guide whereby the end of each successive full lap is drawn off by said one roller as the latter rotates. I

3. A creeling device as claimed in claim 2 in which each roller containing the suction arrangement consists of a hollow roller with a perforated periphery within which is located a suction box, the other rollers of said set comprising a first co-operating roller and a second co-operating roller, said rollers forming part of the electrical control means, the respective co-operating rollers and the hollow rollers being electrically disconnected or connected, according to whether there is lap material therebetween or not. w

4. A creeling device as claimed in claim 3 in which said electrical control means further comprises an electrical prime mover for said feed rollers and said hollow rollers, electrically driven fans for said suction boxes, electrically actuated brake and clutch mechanisms for said hollow rollers, and circuitry comprising said hollow roller and said co-operating rollers and also relays and contactors so influenced by the passage of lap material through said systems as to cause appropriate operation of said brake and clutch mechanisms and said fans.

5. A creeling device as claimed in claim 4 in which said electrical control means is responsive to passage of a new end of lap material between said first co-operating roller and said hollow roller and then between said second co-operating roller and said hollow roller for causing rotation of said hollow roller to cease and the fan of its suction box to be shut off, and in which said electrical control means is responsive to passage of an end of lap material, as a lap is exhausted, from between said first co-operating roller and said hollow roller for causing the fan of the hollow roller to be brought into operation, and in which said electrical control means is responsive to subsequent passage of said end of lap material, as a lap is exhausted, from between said second co-operating roller and said hollow roller for causing rotation of the hollow roller of the other system to commence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,161 Turner June 22, 1915 1,828,898 Ball et a1. Oct. 27, 1931 1,829,719 Horton Oct. 27, 1931 2,246,456' Quigley June 17, 1941 2,343,899 Groll et al. Mar. 14, 1944 2,559,074 Hinson July 3, 1951 2,843,688 Masem July 15, 1958 3,007,650 Burton Nov. 7, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A CREELING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE LAPS, COMPRISING A CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN PAIR OF HORIZONTAL FEED ROLLERS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE LAP MATERIAL BETWEEN THEM AND PROGRESS IT FOR FURTHER PROCESSING; A GUIDE AND ROLLER SYSTEM AT EITHER SIDE OF AND ABOVE THE NIP BETWEEN SAID FEED ROLLERS, EACH SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A SET COOPERATING ROLLERS AND MEANS FOR DRIVING THEM INTERMITTENTLY TO ADVANCE LAP MATERIAL TO SAID FEED ROLLERS; AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF LAP MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID COOPERATING ROLLERS FOR SO CONTROLLING THE

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