DESC:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sliver can handling assembly for textile spinning preparatory machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sliver can handling assembly for textile spinning preparatory machines such as draw frame, carding, card with drafting unit, comber and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In textile fibre processing machines like draw frame, carding, card with drafting unit and combing machines, a drafted fibre band known as sliver is deposited in a sliver-can, located in the sliver filling station by means of coiler and turntable. In general, the sliver filling station comprises a sliver-can handling assembly including a turntable rotatable about a vertical platform axis for rotating a sliver-can standing thereon; a sliver-can changer for moving an empty can onto and moving a filled sliver can off the platform; and a centering device for centering a sliver-can on the platform relative to the platform axis.

In a known sliver can handling arrangement of the textile spinning preparatory machines, the machines are provided with can diameter size of 400 mm to 800 mm. In draw frame machine, the filling sliver can is placed beneath the coiler arrangement at the delivery area, said coiler is rotated about a vertical axis and the sliver filling can rotates on its own axis, such that sliver is filled in the can. Then the filled can is to be replaced by the empty can. Normally, the empty cans are provided as reserve cans before the filling can along the sliver running direction. In regular linear sliver can changer type for draw frame machine, two reserve cans are placed before the filling can along machine length in a linear path or sometimes, in “L” path. This type of draw frame machine has a platform / footstep at the side of the machine frame which allows the worker to view or handle the drafting area at the top. The first reserve can is placed at empty space behind the filling can. In addition to first reserve can, a second reserve can is placed behind the first reserve can and thus lies in between the machine frame. The lines joining the centres of filling can, first reserve can and second reserve can are at substantially straight line in the sliver running direction. This existing type of reserve can arrangement requires more space for holding reserve cans which increases the length as well as total footprint of the machine. These sliver cans hold floor space of its own size which makes the preparatory machine as longer one.

For example, the twin headed draw frames are being used for getting higher production as well as floor space saving in spinning mills. The can changing arrangement used in these known machines are linear or rotary type. At any condition, at least two reserve cans are provided in said machines before the filling sliver can. In linear type, the first empty reserve can is provided behind the filling can, whereas a second reserve can is placed traverse to the first reserve can position. Can changing arms along with linear actuating device or a motor drive is used for displacement of said reserve cans to filling position. In a spinning mill floor, the total foot print area occupied by these type of machines (linear type) normally comes around 22 to 25 Sq.meters. Wheres in rotary can changing type, a motor drive is generally used along with can changing arm for displacement of reserve cans to filling positions. The total carpet area occupied by these rotary can changer type machines (rotary type) normally comes around 40 to 43 Sq.meters. Therefore, all said known type machines occupies a total foot print of 22 Sq.meters to 43 Sq.meters as machine area. To reduce the footprint of the machine, the present invention provides a solution by altering the reserve can position adjacent to the footstep within the same area.

The forthcoming invention disclosure reduces the total carpet area of the textile spinning preparatory machine and area of layout with same number of reserve cans and drive arrangement for sliver can changing process.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a sliver can handling assembly which reduces the footprint of the existing spinning preparatory machine.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sliver can layout which reduces total footprint of the textile spinning preparatory machine when compared to existing arrangement.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved layout for textile spinning preparatory machines in a manner which allows the operator to freely access the drafting zone as well as coiling station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, a sliver can handling assembly for a spinning preparatory machine is disclosed. The sliver can handling assembly includes a filling station (F1) which is arranged along with the coiler area, a primary reserve can station (R1) which is arranged behind the filling station (F1) in the sliver running direction (X); a secondary reserve can station (R2) is arranged adjacent to the primary reserve can station (R1) in transverse direction (Y) to the sliver running direction. At least a rotary arm arrangement (L2) is provided for moving an empty can (5) from the secondary reserve can station (R2) to the primary reserve can station (R1) by means of a first drive arrangement (D1). At least a linear arm arrangement (L1) is provided for moving the empty can (5) from the primary reserve can station (R1) to the filing station (F1) by means of a second drive arrangement (D2).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure-1 illustrates a textile spinning preparatory machine, for example a drawing frame according to the present invention.

Figures-2 & 3 illustrates the isometric views of sliver can handling assembly of textile spinning preparatory machine according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to one of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a sliver can handling arrangement of textile spinning preparatory machine (1) such as double delivery draw frame is shown in Figure-1. The textile spinning preparatory machine according to the present invention is not only limited to draw frame but also can be a carding, card with drafting unit, comber, autoleveller draw frame, non-autoleveller draw frame and the like wherever the sliver can-changing takes place. The Figure-1 shows the top view of the creel feeding zone (C1) of the textile preparatory machine for example a draw frame wherein a plurality of 600mm diameter sliver cans 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i, 1j, 1k, 1l, 1m, 1n, 1o, 1p are placed. The suction arrangement is provided in the vicinity of the sliver feed area (2). The drafting zone (3) is provided above the suction arrangement. The electrical panel box is arranged in the vicinity of the sliver filling station. The slivers from each said cans (1a to 1p) passes through sliver guide to the sliver feed area (2). Subsequently, the fed slivers are passed to sliver delivery area. After processing, these slivers are transferred to the sliver filling can (4) through coiling unit or coiler station as shown in figure 2. The filled sliver can (4) as shown in Figure 3 is to be replaced by empty sliver reserve can (5) which is placed behind the sliver filling can (4). According to the invention, the second reserve can (5’) is placed adjacent to the first reserve can (5) such that the line joining the centres (not shown) of the first reserve can and second reserve can is substantially transverse to the sliver feeding direction (Y). In other words, the line joining the centers of the filling can (4), first reserve can (5) and second reserve can (5’) is at substantially right angles.

Further, the second reserve can or empty can (5’) is accommodated in the secondary reserve can station (R2) space which lies between the footrest area. The footrest allows the operator to access the coiling unit for any maintenance work if required. The footrests provided at the sides of the suction arrangement acts as space for operators to access sliver feed area (2) which contains the drafting arrangement and/or drives area (3). The operator is free to access the drafting arrangement from footrest for any maintenance work if required.

The sliver can handling assembly according to the present invention as shown in Figure- 2 and 3 is provided with at least one rotary arm arrangement (L2) for moving an empty can (5) from the secondary reserve can station (R2) to the primary reserve can station (R1) by means of a first drive arrangement (D1). The first drive arrangement (D1) is actuated and the rotary arm (L2) which is fixed to the rotary actuator moves the reserve empty sliver can (5) from the secondary reserve can station (R2) to the primary reserve can station (R1) transverse (Y) to the sliver running direction. After can changing, the rotary arm (L2) stays within the machine width, and therefore reduces the total footprint of the machine. Thus, the combined mechanism of a linear arm arrangement (L1) and rotary arm arrangement (L2) reduces the overall machine dimensions as well as machine carpet area preferably to 18 to 20 Sq.meters.

Further, a linear arm arrangement (L1) is provided for moving the empty can (5) from the primary reserve can station (R1) to the filling station (F1) by means of a second drive arrangement (D2). After empty sliver (5) can reaches the primary reserve can station (R1), the linear arm arrangement (L1) is actuated by means of said second drive arrangement (D2). Thereby said linear arm arrangement (L1) pushes the filled can (4) from the filling station (F1) to the sliver can delivery area by means of arm arrangement and returned back to original position for next cycle of operation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the sliver can handling assembly in the spinning preparatory machine comprises at least a first drive arrangement (D1) configured to drive the rotary arm arrangement (L2). Said first drive is preferably selected from a electric motors, pneumatic drive, hydraulic drive or the like.

According to one more aspect of the present invention, the sliver can handling assembly in the spinning preparatory machine comprises at least a second drive arrangement (D2) configured to drive the linear arm arrangement (L1). Said second drive is preferably selected from electric motors, pneumatic drive, hydraulic drive or the like.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the sliver can handling assembly in the spinning preparatory machine comprises a rotary arm arrangement (L2) which is pivotably mounted to the can changer structure. Thus, the whole machine structure becomes an integrated assembly which provides structural rigidity. Therefore, the whole assembly can be relocated or shifted to the erection place without dismantling.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the sliver can handling assembly in the spinning preparatory machine comprises of a rotary arm arrangement (L2) configured with an elbow shape arm and guide rollers for sliver can handling. Said sliver can handling assembly in the spinning preparatory machine comprises a linear arm arrangement (L1) configured with arm and guide rollers for sliver can handling. According to this arrangement, the overall foot print (W x H) of the machine is preferably reduced to a range of 18 to 20 Sq.meters which offers a huge space saving impact on mill point of view.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

In view of the present disclosure which describes the present invention, all changes, modifications and variations within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
,CLAIMS:
1. A sliver can handling assembly for a spinning preparatory machine comprising:
at least one rotary arm arrangement (L2) adapted to move an empty can (5) from a secondary reserve can station (R2) to a primary reserve can station (R1) positioned transverse (Y) to the sliver running direction, by means of a first drive arrangement (D1); and
at least one linear arm arrangement (L1) adapted to move the empty can (5) from the primary reserve can station (R1) to the filing station (F1), positioned in line with sliver running direction (X), by means of a second drive arrangement (D2).

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first drive arrangement (D1) is actuated and the at least one rotary arm (L2) fixed to the rotary actuator, adapted to move the empty sliver can (5) from the secondary reserve can station (R2) to the primary reserve can station (R1), transverse (Y) to the sliver running direction.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear arm arrangement (L1) is actuated by means of said second drive arrangement (D2), adapted to move the empty can (5) from the primary reserve can station (R1) to the filling station (F1).

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first drive (D1) is preferably selected from electric motors, pneumatic drive, hydraulic drive or the like.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second drive (D2) is preferably selected from electric motors, pneumatic drive, hydraulic drive or the like.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary arm arrangement (L2) is pivotably mounted to the can changer structure and includes an elbow shape arm and guide rollers for sliver can handling.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linear arm arrangement (L1) includes arm and guide rollers for sliver can handling.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line joining the centers of the filling can (4), first reserve can (5) and second reserve can (5’) is at substantially right angles.