DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to transporting devices in textile industry and, more particularly, the present invention is directed to a device for transporting the textile material storage cans. In particular, the present invention is a device which operates and automatically transports the full cans with textile material to the subsequent process and the empty cans to the previous process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spinning preparation process contains various processes like Carding, Combing, Drawing etc. Each process has different process machinery like Cards, Combers, Draw frames etc. The output form of the textile material of these departments is called Sliver. Sliver is a continuous strand of textile material which gets collected in storage cans. Each of the above departments consists of storage cans which are of various dimensions. Once the can is filled with a pre-defined length of sliver, the can is taken out from the machine either automatically by the respective machine or manually. Later on, the filled can need to be transported to the subsequent department for further process. Also, once the sliver is emptied in the subsequent process, the empty can need to be taken back to the previous process. At present, the transportation of these textile material storage cans is done manually. This manual operation needs more work force and takes time. Also, manual movement causes material damages and quality deterioration due to handling.

Reference is made to US 7996109 B2. This patent document relates to a robotic device for retrieving/delivering goods, comprising: a body; drive wheels connected to the body; at least one motor connected to the drive wheels; at least one sensor connected to the body; and an onboard controller communicably connected to the at least one sensor, wherein the onboard controller is configured to: store a map of an environment in which the device is to operate; receive information from the at least one sensor; and utilize the map and the information to continuously confirm an absolute location of the device in the map.

Further reference is made to a non-patent document “Garbage collector robot; June 2020; Indian Journal of Science and Technology 13(20):2065-2070; DOI:10.17485/IJST/v13i20.212; authored by Muhammad Abbas Khan et.al”. This non-patent document relates to a system that collects garbage automatically through line. For which an arena is designed so that the machine will follow the speci?c path and also manually by using Arduino and Bluetooth module. The machine can be controlled by software which will give command to the robotic jaw to collect the stationary waste. It also has the characteristic to get controlled by voice command which makes the robot to collect the garbage according to the given command. A semi-autonomous garbage collector robot is disclosed which can do multiple functions. This robot has one robotic arm in which it can pick the garbage and dispense it in main basket attached to the robot. The camera placed on robot helps the administrator to remotely monitor the robot while collecting garbage. The prototype has an electronic mechanism by which the robot can dispense it collected garbage to the dispensing point. This robot has installed batteries in which there is no fuel or electricity required to complete the operation.

CN106741043A explains about auto-transport system for Spinning mill wherein the system works based on Automatic Guided Vehicles comprising of a bottom plate, a pushing handle and an AGV control box. The invention thoroughly implements unmanned automation on the existing sliver can manual conveying mode of a spinning mill, greatly reduces labor intensity of staff, namely reduces the complaint risk of occupational diseases, improves working efficiency, and reduces labor cost and personnel management difficulty. But the drawback is, the device did not disclose how the cans are handled by the device. Also, the structural design is complicated.

US5647098A explains about a system for transporting sliver between a sliver-producing textile machine and a sliver-consuming textile machine includes a coiler can containing the sliver; a carriage for transporting the coiler can; and a can-handling arrangement for moving the coiler can onto and off the carriage. The can-handling arrangement has a can-pusher for tilting the coiler can standing externally of the carriage on an emplacement and a device for reaching underneath the can bottom. In this invention, the drawback is the need for a carriage and also the can handling arrangement handles the can only to and from the carriages. Laying of carriages in this invention is costly, time consuming and need periodic maintenance.

WO2020/260369A1 explains about a transport device for a spinning preparation machine, preferably for a draw frame, carder or combing machine, for moving a spinning can, the transport device having at least one driver element, which can be moved along a predefined path by means of a drive of the transport device. According to the invention, the driver element is designed to come into contact with the spinning can and to move the spinning can in a predefined transport direction by means of a frictional connection. This invention describes broadly about how the transporting device moves the spinning can but did not disclose the elemental features in the transport device.

However, there remain a need for an improved solution to avoid manual transportation of cans from one department to another. The present device is simple in design and easy to use and results in cost savings due to elimination of work force used for transporting textile material cans. Also, it avoids material damages and quality deteriorations happening due to manual handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following disclosure presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

The main object of present invention is to address and remove all the above limitations.

Another object of present invention is to provide a device for transporting textile material storage cans.

Another object of present invention is to provide a device for transporting textile material storage cans in a spinning mill.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a transporting device for transporting textile material cans in a spinning mill, comprising
a body;
drive wheels connected to the body;
at least one motor connected to the drive wheels;
at least one command receiver connected to the body;
at least one navigation device;
a can pulling mechanism;
and
an onboard controller communicably connected to the at least one command receiver, at least one motor, at least one navigation device and a can pulling mechanism, wherein the onboard controller is configured to:
receive empty/ full can information from the at least one command receiver;
operate the at least one motor to operate said wheels to initiate movement based on the information received from said at least one command receiver;
move said transporting device towards a location of empty/ full can by means of said at least one navigation device;
operate said can pulling mechanism to hold said empty/ full can preferably at its bottom and pull from its location;
and
move said device towards a location by holding said can by said can pulling mechanism to dispose said empty/ full can by means of said navigation device.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a transporting device according to one of the embodiments of present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the side view of the transporting device according to one of the embodiments of present invention.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may not have been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “a component surface” includes a reference to one or more of such surfaces.

All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which various embodiments belong. Further, the meaning of terms or words used in the specification and the claims should not be limited to the literal or commonly employed sense but should be construed in accordance with the spirit of the disclosure to most properly describe the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of various embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, members, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, members, components, and/or groups thereof. Also, Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the various embodiments set forth herein, rather, these various embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the present disclosure. Furthermore, a detailed description of other parts will not be provided not to make the present disclosure unclear. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention relates to a device for transporting the textile material storage cans in a spinning mill.

An embodiment of the present invention describes a transporting device for transporting textile material cans in a spinning mill, comprising
a body;
drive wheels connected to the body;
at least one motor connected to the drive wheels;
at least one command receiver connected to the body;
at least one navigation device;
a can pulling mechanism;
and
an onboard controller communicably connected to the at least one command receiver, at least one motor, at least one navigation device and a can pulling mechanism, wherein the onboard controller is configured to:
receive empty/ full can information from the at least one command receiver;
operate the at least one motor to operate said wheels to initiate movement based on the information received from said at least one command receiver;
move said transporting device towards a location of empty/ full can by means of said at least one navigation device;
operate said can pulling mechanism to hold said empty/ full can preferably at its bottom and pull from its location;
and
move said device towards a location by holding said can by said can pulling mechanism to dispose said empty/ full can by means of said navigation device.

In an another embodiment, said device further comprises at least one can holding mechanism configured to embrace and hold the can after pulling said can from its location by said can pulling mechanism.

In an embodiment of present invention, said can pulling mechanism is further configured to lift and hold said empty/ full can.

In another embodiment, said at least one can holding mechanism comprises at least one can holding arm.

In a further embodiment, said transporting device further comprises at least one positioning sensor configured to position the transporting device accurately near the can.

In another embodiment, said transporting device further comprises at least one obstacle sensors to stop the movement of the transporting device in case of any permanent or temporary obstacles in the movement path.

In a further embodiment, said at least one command receiver is configured to receive empty/ full can information from command senders disposed in different locations.

In a preferred embodiment, said at least one command receiver and command senders are wireless devices. This wireless devices can use any technologies which include but not limited to WiFi, Blue tooth, Radio Frequency, etc.

In another embodiment, the transporting device comprises of a battery which can be rechargeable which serves as a source of power. The battery can be a replaceable type also so that when one battery is in use another battery can be kept charged to avoid down time. In one embodiment, the transporting device can automatically go to the charging station if the battery is low and charging is needed.

In yet another embodiment, the transporting device also comprises of hooter alarms to give audio sirens in case of any obstacles or emergency.

Example:
Fig 1 shows a transporting device (1) comprises of plurality of wheels (2) for assisting its movements in various directions. The transporting device (1) consists of plurality of can holders (3) and can puller (4). The can holders (3) move laterally or up & down so as to catch the can accurately. The can puller (4) is used to pull the can from any position and also used to lift the textile material cans (11) if required. The signal lamp (5) comprises of multiple lights to lit in different colours or it can be a multi Coloured lamp. Signal lamp (5) is used to indicate the status of the transporting device (1). The navigation device (12) helps for navigation of the transporting device (1) to the required location.

Fig 2 shows the side view of the transporting device (1) holding the textile material can (11). The command receiver (6) of the transporting device (1) receives command from the command sender (7). The command receiver (6) is inter-connected with the navigation device (12), control unit (8), battery (9) and motors (10). Based on the command from the command sender (7), the transporting device (1) moves the textile material can (11) to the required location.
,CLAIMS:
1. A transporting device (1) for transporting textile material cans (11) in a spinning mill, comprising
a body;
drive wheels (2) connected to the body;
at least one motor (10) connected to the drive wheels (2);
at least one command receiver (6) connected to the body;
at least one navigation device (12);
a can pulling mechanism (4);
and
an onboard controller (8) communicably connected to the at least one command receiver (6), at least one motor (10), at least one navigation device (12), and a can pulling mechanism (4), wherein the onboard controller (8) is configured to:
receive empty/ full can (11) information from the at least one command receiver (6);
operate the at least one motor (10) to operate said wheels (2) to initiate movement based on the information received from said at least one command receiver (6);
move said transporting device towards a location of empty/ full can (11) by means of said at least one navigation device (12);
operate said can pulling mechanism (4) to hold said empty/ full can (11) preferably at its bottom and pull from its location;
and
move said device towards a location by holding said can by said can pulling mechanism (4) to dispose said empty/ full can by means of said navigation device (12).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprises at least one can holding mechanism (3) configured to embrace and hold the can (11) after pulling said can from its location by said can pulling mechanism (4).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one can holding mechanism comprises (3) at least one can holding arm.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said can pulling mechanism (4) is further configured to lift and hold said empty/ full can (11).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting device (1) further comprises at least one positioning sensor configured to position the transporting device accurately near the can.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting device further comprises at least one obstacle sensors to stop the movement of the transporting device in case of any permanent or temporary obstacles in the movement path.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one command receiver (6) is configured to receive empty/ full can (11) information from command senders disposed in different locations.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one command receiver (6) and command senders (7) are wireless devices selected from but not limited to WiFi, Blue tooth, Radio Frequency and like.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transporting device (1) comprises of a battery (9) as a source of power.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the battery (9) can be a replaceable type or a rechargeable type.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transporting device (1) comprises hooter alarms to give audio sirens in case of any obstacles or emergency.