FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling the cans in textile spinning preparatory machines. Particularly the invention relates to an apparatus used in sliver gathering device of a textile fibre processing machine. More particularly the present invention is concerned to a sliver filling can transport rail of a spinning preparatory machine such as carding, draw frame or combing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In textile fibre processing machines such as carding, draw frame or combing machine, a drafted fiber band which is known as sliver is deposited in a can, located in the filling station of a draw frame or the like, by means of a turntable. In general the sliver filling station comprises a coiler can handling apparatus including a turntable rotatable about a substantially vertical platform axis for rotating a coiler can standing thereon; a coiler can changer for moving a empty can onto and moving a sliver filled can off the platform; and a centering device for centering a coiler can on the platform relative to the platform axis. The rotational axis of the turntable exhibits an equal to or less than distance from the rotational axis of the can changer than the distance from the center point of the can found in the filling station to the rotational axis of the changer.

Upon the substitution of the filled can by an empty can held in a ready-state position, the operation of the can changer on the rotation of the turntable is designed in such a manner that the fiber sliver is deposited into the full can exiting the filling station, until this can leaves the zone of the turntable. The sliver is then deposited into the empty can which has been brought into the filling station, as soon as this empty can reaches the zone of the turntable.

This has been carried out of by the rotation of pushing arms of the can changer unit.
Said can changers comprises a circumferential guide rail in which the can is contained and also guided in its rotation by a containment element. For example a circumferential bar, which is installed at a useful height for functioning as an external guide, when working with larger diameter cans. The said circumferential bar may possibly be lowered or removed, when working with small size cans. Hence it requires more attention of machine operator while changing over to different can sizes. And also it is a time consuming process to change the circumferential guide rail according to the working can size. Moreover the can changer swing arms also have to be changed with respect to delivery can diameter. Therefore these limitations of existing art posed to develop an improved circumferential guide rail for a can changer, which would provide easy and less time consumable changeover process.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a can handling apparatus which is capable of accommodating different sizes of cans in a same filling station of a can changer.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a can handling apparatus which saves time during changeover process from a particular can size to another one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention the apparatus for handling the cans in textile spinning preparatory machines such as draw frame, carding or comber comprises a sliver filling station wherein the sliver coiler unit is present. Said coiler unit is provided with a can plate with rotary can changer having a adjustable circumferential guide rail in which the can is contained and also guided in its rotation by a swing arm.

In spinning mills, generally different sizes of cans are being used to collect and store the sliver delivered from the coiler unit. Hence the said adjustable guide rail is a two halved rail bars, in which one half is fixed and the other one is telescopically movable with respect to the former. So while the changing over to the different can diameter, it is enough to adjust the movable rail bar according to the requirement. Because of this arrangement, there is no need to change or replace the guide rail depending upon the can diameter. Moreover a combination of long length swing arms and adjustable short length swing levers are being used in can changer unit for handling different sizes of cans. Therefore this arrangement provides an easy accommodation to any size of sliver filling can by the way of simple adjustment settings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Fig-1 is the isometric view of the sliver coiler unit with a rotary can changer according to the present invention.

Fig-2 represents the schematic illustration of the can changer unit processing with larger size cans according to the present invention.

Fig-3 represents the schematic illustration of the can changer unit processing with smaller size cans according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sliver coiler unit (1) according to the present invention is shown in Fig-1 of the drawings wherein, the drafted sliver (2) is being passed through pair of calender rollers (3) and coiling head (4) and then supplied into the rotating filling can (5) in which it is being coiled and stored. Said can (5) is being placed upon the rotary turntable (6) which is driven through transmission means by means of a driving motor/Gear train/Belt drive which is not shown. This rotary turntable (6) is operatively incorporated with base frame (26). And the guide rail (9) guides the can (5) while can changing process until the said can (5) reaches the rotary turntable (6). Thereafter the swing arm (7) of can changer unit (8) supports the rotating can (5) along with guide roller (18) for proper seating of can upon the turntable (6). Hence the can (5) also being rotated with turntable (6) while the sliver (2) is filling inside it.

Thus the sliver band (2) is getting coiled and stored in the can (5) until the predetermined length of sliver is reached. While the filling can (5) is processed in coiler unit (1), the empty reserved can (10) is being placed in feeding zone (11) whereas the previously filled can (12) is ejected in to the delivery zone (13). After the predetermined length of sliver is filled in the can (5), the supplying sliver (2) is being severed and the filled can (12) is pushed away from the coiling head (4) by means of can changer swing arm (7) rotation.

Thus the filled can (12) is ejected into the delivery zone (13) and is ready for further process. Consecutively the another swing arm (7) pushes the reserved empty can (10) and locates it beneath the coiling head (4) in such a way that the can (10) is being seated upon the rotary turntable (6). Meanwhile another can (10a) in the feeding zone (11) comes into position as reserved one and thus the sliver filling process in a coiler unit (1) completes one cycle of operation. During these processes the outer surface of the can is being guided in its rotation between plurality of guide rollers (18, 19, 20) and laid between circumferentially adjustable guide rail (9) and bottom can guide(14) of can changer unit (8).

Fig-2 of the drawings represents the can changer unit (8) of the present invention in which the larger size cans (15) are being processed. Said can changer unit (8) comprises a circumferentially adjustable guide rail (9) and an bottom can guide (14) wherein the said guide rail (9) has at least one adjustable rail bar (9a,9b). i.e., The adjustable guide rail comprising of two halved rail bars (9a, 9b), in which both (9a, 9b) are movable in horizontal plane (i.e. both lengthwise and width wise as shown by arrows), by means of slots provided in guide rail bars (9a and 9b) and holding means (16) & screw means (17). Both halves (9a, 9b) are supported in the middle by means of a holding means (16) wherein the set screw means (17) are being provided for fixing the adjusted settings of movable rail (9b) according the requirement.

For proper holding of the processing can (15a) in the coiling unit, plurality of guide rollers (18, 19, 20) are being fixed in the rotary turntable (6). Therefore by the use of plurality of guide rollers (18,19, 20), support roller (22) of swing arm (7), and support roller (22) of swing lever (21), the processing can (15a) is held in working position till the can is filled and ejected. Since the spinning mills uses various diametrical sizes of sliver cans such as 14", 16", 18", 20" and 24" the said circumferentially adjustable guide rail (9) can adapt all said sizes by way of simple adjustments.

And for holding and guiding the different size cans, the can changer unit (8) is provided with at least three long length swing arms (7) and short length swing levers (21). At one end of each swing arm (7) and swing levers (21), a support roller (22) is rotatably fixed in order to provide gentle support for moving and holding the cans (15). The other end of each swing arm (7) is rigidly fixed to support member (23) wherein the short length swing levers (21) are being adjustably mounted. These short length swing levers (21) can be adjusted in a pivotal point (25) according to the processing can (15) diameter. Said support member (23) of the can changer unit (8) is rotatably fixed in the center and is driven by the driving means which is not shown.

For each and every can changing operation, the support member (23) rotates one step for replacing empty can (15) and doffing the full can (15b).

Fig-3 of the drawing shows the can changer unit of the present invention in which the smaller size cans (24a) are being processed. Here the telescopically movable second rail bar (9b) is adjusted according to the processing can diameter (24a). And also the short length swing levers (21) are being adjusted to the required amount in their corresponding pivotal point (25). Thus the different diametrical size of cans in a same filling station of a can changer (8) is achieved which requires ease effort and less time for changeover process. Moreover the improved standardization of parts of the the present invention results in reduced inventory which is more advantageous.

The embodiments shown herein are only exemplary. Further embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for handling at least one can in a textile spinning preparatory machine comprising:

a rotary turntable (6) for receiving can (5) from a feeding zone (11) and loading silver from a coiler unit (1);

a can changer unit (8) having guide rail (9) and a bottom can guide (14);

wherein said guide rail (9) has at least one adjustable rail bars (9a,9b) .

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable rail bars (9a,9b) are movable in horizontal plane both lengthwise and width wise.

3 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable rail bars (9a,9b) are provided with slots.

4 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable rail bars (9a,9b) are being supported by holding means (16).

5 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means (16) further comprises screw means (17) for adjustable settings of rail bars (9a,9b)

6 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the can changer unit has at least one swing arm (7).

7 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the can changer unit has at least one swing lever (21).

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swing levers (21) are adjustable according to the size of the can.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary can is held in working position by plurality of guide rollers (18, 19, 20), support roller (22) of swing arm (7) and support roller (22) of swing lever (21).