TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure generally relates to a field of textile industry. Particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a platform for supporting a piecing unit of a textile machine. Further, embodiments of the disclosure disclose a self-aligning platform for supporting the piecing unit of a ring spinning machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
In textile industry, ring spinning machines are generally employed for spinning of fibres, such as cotton, flax or wool, to produce a yarn. Fiber material may be supplied to the ring spinning machines in the form of rovings. Further, the ring spinning machine draw the rovings to the desired degree of fineness and imparts sufficient twist, and finally forms a continuous yarn, which is then wind onto the bobbins for storage. Yarn breakage is an unavoidable plight in the ring spinning machines during the spinning operation. Hence, the piecing of the broken yarns is required for efficient and continuous operation of the ring spinning machine, and the process is called as yarn piecing. Yarn piecing is a manual process in which the broken yarns are joined/assembled. Hence, this process aids in restarting the yarn spinning sequence at a swift rate. Yarn piecing process may be crucial in yarn spinning operation, that determines the rate of productivity.
Conventionally, piecing of the broken yarns was performed manually, while the operator of the spinning machine moves around the spinning zones and identify the broken yarns to piece them together. In the manual piecing operation, the operator may have to periodically check through the length of the frame which may be normally of about 75 meters long and may include about 1600 spindles. In addition to periodic monitoring, the broken yarns have to be pieced and the corresponding yarn spinning sequence has to be restarted timely, in order to avoid wastage of yarn. Since, several ring spinning machines of this kind are installed in one spinning mill close to each other, it becomes tedious for the operator to access into the gangways for monitoring the ring spinning machine.
With the advent of modern technology, automatic piecing units have been employed in the spinning mills over the manual piecing operation. Generally, automatic piecing units are mounted on guide rails provided in vicinity of frame of the ring spinning machines. The automatic piecing units may employ automatic piecing equipment’s like robotic arms or may be configured to accommodate an operator for piecing. The automatic piecing units may

traverse over the guide rails throughout the length of a frame of the ring spinning machine and carryout piecing operation. These guide rails occupy more space in the aisle, thus inhibiting the operator for easy access in the aisle region.
The automatic piecing units may be mounted on a platform, which traverse on the mill floor for carrying the piecing unit throughout the length of the ring spinning machine for performing piecing operations. The platform carrying/supporting the automatic piecing unit may traverse along the length of the frame with dual supports i.e. at least a pair of wheels traversing over the guide rails. The guide rails are mounted at top of the ring spinning frame. The spinning machine is not designed strong at the top, so there will be bending due to the mounting of the piecing unit. There are blowers supported from the top that moves along the frame. This may lead to collision. The bobbin transport (creel supply) is supported at the top so there are space restrictions in the upper area of the spinning frame. Spinning frames are not standardized so a system that is attached to the frame will be difficult to retrofit. However, the mill floor may consist of surface undulations, which may disturb the levelness of the base of the platform during operation, thus inhibits correct positioning of the piecing heads during piecing operation. The improper positioning of the piecing heads of the piecing unit is an undesired situation in piecing operation as it leads to wastage of yarn.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the prior arts.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
One or more shortcomings of conventional assemblies are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a platform for supporting a piecing unit of a textile machine is disclosed. The platform comprises a base plate for accommodating the piecing unit. Further, the platform comprises one or more first wheels rotatably fixed to one side of the base plate, wherein, the one or more first wheels are adapted to traverse on a guide rail. Additionally, the platform comprises one or more second wheels rotatably fixed to another side of the base plate, wherein, the one or more second wheels are adapted to traverse

over a mill floor. Further, the platform comprises at least one linear adaptor coupled to the platform, wherein the linear adapter is configured for automatically adjusting level of the base plate, relative to the mill floor.
In an embodiment, the one or more first wheels are guide wheels with a semi conical configuration and the one or more second wheels are rubber wheels. Further, the one or more second wheels are secured to a frame.
In an embodiment, one or more level detection sensors are positioned on the base plate. Further, a control unit is configured to receive a signal corresponding to level of the base plate with respect to mill floor from said sensors and actuates said linear adaptor.
In an embodiment, the linear adaptor is bellows provided with at least one of the air source controlled by a solenoid valve. Further, the air source controlled by a solenoid valve is fluidly connected to each of the bellow to inflate or deflate the corresponding bellow for adjusting the level of the base plate.
In an embodiment, the linear adaptor is an electric cylinder with a screw rod positioned on the base plate, and coupled to a frame of the second wheel.
In an embodiment, the platform comprises at least one motor is coupled to at least one of the one or more second wheels for manoeuvring the platform.
In another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a method for automatically adjusting the level of base plate of a platform for supporting a piecing unit of a ring spinning machine relative to a mill floor is disclosed. The method comprises, firstly receiving, a signal corresponding to level of the base plate with respect to mill floor from one or more sensors associated with the base plate of the platform by a control unit associated with the platform. Further, the control unit then actuates at least one linear adaptor coupled to each of the one or more second wheels of the platform corresponding to a signal from one or more sensors wherein, the at least one linear adaptor is raised or lowered to adjust level of the base plate relative to level of the mill floor.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a platform for supporting a piecing unit of a ring spinning machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 2 illustrates a front view of the platform of Figure. 1.
Figure. 3 illustrates side perspective view of a platform of Figure. 1.
Figure. 4 illustrates a platform accommodating a piecing unit of the ring spinning machine, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 5 illustrates schematic view of a piecing unit located in front of a ring spinning machine, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions of the platform for accommodating different manipulators, which may be used in various applications. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
Conventionally, the automatic piecing unit may be mounted on the guide rails, which are laid in vicinity of the ring spinning machine. The automatic piecing unit traverses over the guide rails throughout the length of a frame of the spinning machine. As there are several spinning machines installed already in the mill space and, accordingly providing guide rails in vicinity of the spinning machine, leads to space constraints in the gangway. Further, the rails occupy more space in the aisle and makes tedious for the operator to access the aisle region for timely piecing of the yarns, which leads to wastage of yarns. Further, incorporating two- rail system for manoeuvring the piecing unit along the frame of the spinning machine, leads to collision with the air blowers supported at the top of the spindle machine. Further, it leads to space restrictions for bobbin transportation at the top of the spindle machine. Additionally, it may induce bending stresses on the frame of the spindle machine, due to the mounting of

heavy manipulators on the guide rails. These undesired activities may lead to inducing of fatigue stresses, which leads reduction in service life of various components of the ring spinning machine. These aspects, forms root cause for inaccurate levelling of the piecing heads with respect to spindle machine, thus restrains accurate sensing and piecing of yarn. Hence, by eliminating the use of two-rail system provisioned along the frame for manoeuvring the piecing unit, results in accurate positioning of the piecing unit with respect to the ring spinning machine and thus, minimizes wastage of yarn and also boosts up the production rate. The present disclosure, aims at using a platform for a piecing unit of a spinning machine, traversing horizontally with reference to the mill floor along the length of the frame.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure disclose, a platform for supporting a piecing unit of a ring spinning machine. The piecing unit is accommodated on the platform. The platform may be manoeuvred by one or more first wheels traversing on the guide rail, and one or more second wheels traversing on the mill floor. The guide rail may be laid and clamped to the ends of the frame of the ring spinning machine. Further, one or more sensors may be provided on the base plate of the platform supporting the piecing unit to detect the levelness of the base plate with respect to mill floor. The one or more sensors are associated with the control unit. The one or more sensors monitors levelness of the base plate with respect to mill floor, while the control unit operates the linear adaptors coupled to the second wheels in order to maintain constant level of the platform. Additionally, the platform may be provided with swing levers to compensate the level of the platform with respect to the undulations on the surface of mill floor.
During operation, the one or more sensors are positioned at multiple locations on the base plate may generate an input signal to the control unit based on the change in level of the platform with reference to the mill floor. Based on the signal received by the one or more sensors, the control unit provides operational signal to actuate the linear adaptor coupled to the corresponding second wheel of the one or more second wheels. Thus, incorporating this mechanism in production lines, continuously monitors the level of the platform, which in turn maintains the accurate position of the piecing heads and hence, results in optimising production rate and minimises wastage of yarn.

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 4. In the figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.
Figures. 1, 2 and 3 are exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrating perspective view, front view and side perspective view of a platform (100) respectively. The platform (100) may be configured to accommodate the piecing unit (200) [shown in Figure. 4] of a ring spinning machine, and guide the piecing unit (200) throughout the length of the ring spinning machine (300) [shown in Figure. 5] for performing piecing operation.
The platform (100) broadly comprises of a base plate (6), one or more first and second wheels (14 and 7), actuators and other subsidiary components. The base plate (6) of the platform (100) is configured to support all the necessary components to carry out desired operation. Further, the base plate (6) is defined with a substantially flat surface on an upper side for positioning the piecing unit (200). The base plate (6) may also include projections at each end on the upper side to firmly hold or arrest movement of the piecing unit (200) with respect to the platform (100). The platform (100) may be manoeuvred on the mill floor with the aid of one or more first and second wheels (14 and 7) provided at the bottom surface of the base plate (6). In an embodiment, the platform (100) may be manoeuvred with aid of at least two second wheels (7) fixed to one side of the base plate (6), which traverse on the mill floor and at least two first wheels (14) fixed to another side of the base plate (6), which traverse on the guide rail (15). The sides of the base plate (6) to which wheels are fixed are opposite to each other, while the side to which the one or more first wheels (14) are fixed is proximal to the guide rail (15). Additionally, each of the one or more second wheels (7) are rotatably held within a clamp (17), fixed to one of the sides of the base plate (6). The clamp (17), further defines an axis of rotation for the second wheel (14) to traverse on the mill floor. As an example, each of the one or more second wheels (7) may be rubber wheels, reinforced fibre wheels and the like. Further, the one or more second wheels (7) are configured to have a ring-shaped profile, thus providing necessary traction on the surface travelled over.
Now referring to figure. 3, the wheels traversing on the guide rail (15) i.e. each of the one or more first wheels (14) may be configured to have at least one of a semi-conical profile and a semi-circular profile. Further, each of the one or more first wheels (14) are rotatably held within a clamp (18) (best seen in figure 3), fixed to one of a side of the base plate (6). The clamp (18), further defines an axis of rotation for the first wheel (14) to traverse on the guide

rail (15). Further, the guide rail (15) extends along the frame of the ring spinning machine and may be clamped at the ends of the frame using suitable mounting arrangements. Additionally, the guide rail (15) defines a path for platform (100), such that the platform (100) traverses along the frame of the ring spinning machine, without any deviation from the desired path, thus facilitating to carry out pertinent operations. Further, a motor (16) may be coupled to one or more second wheels (7), which facilitates in manoeuvring of the platform (100).
The mill floor may be subjected to fractional undulations, hence the platform (100) needs to be continuously maintained in horizontal position, in order to position the piecing head accurately. In order to, compensate the undulations on the mill surface, the platform (100) may comprise a linear adaptor (9). The linear adaptor (9) is controlled by air source controlled by solenoid valve and the like. The linear adaptor (9) is preferably air bellows (9a and 9b) (best seen in figure. 2) positioned between the base plate (6) and the clamp (17) of each of the one or more second wheels (7) in a substantially vertical manner. Additionally, a swing lever (10a and 10b) may pivotally connect an end (11) of the clamp (17) with the base plate (6) at pivot point (12). The swing levers (10a & 10b) are subjected to sideways movement, thus absorbing vertical deviations of the piecing head with respect to the mill floor. Further, the one or more sensors (13) positioned on the base plate (6) continuously monitor the horizontal level of the base plate (6) with respect to the mill floor and accordingly provide necessary input signal to a control unit (not shown) to operate the actuators based on the level of the mill floor. In one embodiment, the control unit receives the input signal from the one or more sensors (13) via at least one of wireless communication interface or wired communication interface. As an example, sensors may be level detection sensor, distance laser sensor, an inductive switch sensor and the like sensing a position marker or even a mechanic end stop. Based on the signal from the control unit, the air bellows (9a and 9b) inflates or deflates, and thereby allow upward or downward movement of the base plate (6) with reference to the mill floor.
Now referring to figure. 4, which is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, depict front view of a platform (100) supporting an automatic piecing unit (200). The automatic piecing unit (200) may consist of plurality of components including a top support assembly (1) for a piecing head (not shown in figure). Further, a vertical column assembly (2) is provided inside a box assembly (3). An electric panel (4) is provided at one corner of the

box assembly while, a suction unit (5) is disposed inside the box assembly (3). In addition, necessary gripping and drive units (not shown in figures) may be provided inside the box assembly (3) of the automatic piecing unit (200) of the ring spinning machine (300), shown in figure. 5.
In an embodiment, the platform (100) carrying/accommodating piecing unit (200) employs linear elements, cylinders, screw drivers or magnets and the like as linear adaptor (9). As shown in Figure. 4, one or more electric cylinders (8a and 8b) are employed as linear adaptors. The actuating member of the one or more electric cylinders (8a and 8b) may be a screw rod, which is electrically driven. In an embodiment, the electric cylinders (8) may be one of pneumatic, hydraulic, piezoelectric actuators and the like. The one or more electric cylinders (8a and 8b) may be positioned on the top side of the base plate (6). Further, the one or more electric cylinders (8a and 8b) may be provisioned in addition to the air bellows (9a and 9b) for maintaining the base plate (6) in horizontal position, during traversing over uneven surface on the mill floor. Based on the input signal generated by the sensors (13), the control unit generates an operational signal to the electric cylinder (8a and 8b). The electric cylinders (8a and 8b) guides the screw rod in vertical direction, i.e. up or down movement, based on the signal received from the control unit. This movement of the screw rod compensate the level of the base plate (6) with reference to the undulations on the mill surface and hence, accurate positioning of the piecing head with respect to the frame of the ring spinning machine is achieved. The upward and downward movement of the electric cylinders (8) levels the base plate (6), and thereby the bellows (9a, 9b) acts as energy absorbers for the platform (100). Thus, by the above arrangements, base plate (6) can stay in predefined angle required for accurate positioning and to carry out desired operation precisely. Further, it also aids in compensating dirt or fly agglomerations with minimal investment. The air bellows may also be replaced by any linear adaptors including linear elements, cylinders, screw drivers or magnets.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the control unit may be a centralized control unit of a ring spinning machine (300) or a piecing unit (200) or a dedicated control unit associated with the platform (100). The control unit may include specialized processing units such as integrated system (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floating point units, graphics processing units, digital signal processing units, etc. The processing unit may include a microprocessor, such as AMD Athlon, Duron or Opteron, ARM’s application,

embedded or secure processors, IBM PowerPC, Intel’s Core, Itanium, Xeon, Celeron or other line of processors, etc. The processing unit may be implemented using mainframe, distributed processor, multi-core, parallel, grid, or other architectures. Some embodiments may utilize embedded technologies like application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.
It is to be noted that, the figures illustrate a platform for accommodating a piecing unit of a spinning machine to carry out piecing operation. However, the same should not be considered as limitation. One can provide the platform in collaboration with speed frames, artificial fibre making, chease pipening, plant nursing and the like, in order to carry out necessary operation based on the requirement, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, one can easily adopt the platform disclosed in the present disclose for various other industrial applications not limiting to textile industry.
In an embodiment, the automatic piecing unit may be provided with an intermediate platform, the intermediate platform is tilted with respect to first platform to compensate floor variation.
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular

claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:
1. A platform (100) for supporting a piecing unit (200) of a textile machine, the platform
(100) comprising:
a base plate (6) for accommodating the piecing unit (200);
one or more first wheels (14) rotatably fixed to one side of the base plate (6), wherein the one or more first wheels (14) are adapted to traverse on a guide rail (15);
one or more second wheels (7) rotatably coupled to another side of the base plate (6), wherein the one or more second wheels (7) are adapted to traverse over a mill floor, and are movable upward and downward relative to the base plate (6);
characterized in that, at least one linear adaptor (9) coupled to the platform (100), wherein the linear adapter (9) is configured for automatically adjusting level of the base plate (6), relative to the mill floor.
2. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more first wheels (14) are
guide wheels with a semi conical configuration.
3. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises one or more level detection sensors
(13) positioned on the base plate (6).
4. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 3, comprises a control unit configured to receive a
signal corresponding to level of the base plate (6) with respect to mill floor from said sensors (13) and actuates said linear adaptor (9).
5. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more second wheels (7) are secured to a clamp (17).
6. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clamp (17) supporting each of the one or more second wheels (7) is pivotally attached to the base plate (6) through a swing arm (10a or 10b).

7. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear adaptor is a bellow (9a and 9b) positioned between the base plate (6) and a clamp (17) supporting each of the one or more second wheels (7).
8. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear adaptor includes linear elements, cylinders, air bellows, screw drivers or magnets.
9. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein bellows (9a and 9b) are associated with
air source controlled by a solenoid valve.
10. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the air source controlled by a solenoid
valve is fluidly connected to the bellows (9a and 9b) supporting each of the one or more second wheels (7) to inflate or deflate a corresponding bellow (9a and 9b) for adjusting the level of the base plate (6).
11. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the linear adapter is electric cylinders
(8a and 8b) with screw rod are positioned on the base plate (6) and coupled to the clamp (17) of corresponding second wheel (7) of the one or more second wheels (7).
12. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises at least one motor (16) coupled to at
least one of the one or more second wheels (7) for maneuvering the platform (100).
13. The platform (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile machine is a ring spinning
machine (300).
14. A method for automatically adjusting level of a base plate (6) of a platform (100),
supporting a piecing unit (200) of a textile machine relative to a mill floor, the method
comprising:
receiving, by a control unit associated with the platform (100), a signal corresponding to level of the base plate (6) with respect to mill floor from one or more sensors (13) associated with the base plate (6) of the platform (100); and
actuating, by the control unit, at least one linear adaptor (9) coupled to each of a one or more second wheels (7) of the platform (100) corresponding to a signal from the one or more sensor (13), wherein, the at least one linear adaptor (9) is raised or lowered to automatically adjust level of the base plate (6) relative to level of the mill floor.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the textile machine is a ring spinning machine (300).