Method of loading transporting trolleys with full cans or the like and supplying full cans to spinning machines fed with fiber sliver and apparatus for implementing the method

A method of loading transporting trolleys with full cans by means of a can loader and transporting the full cans to a spinning machine fed with fiber slivers and transporting empty cans to the can loader, comprising the steps of:

• 1. transporting empty cans which have been placed upon transporting trolleys interconnected to form a transporting trolley train from a spinning machine fed with fiber sliver to a can loader;
• 2. successively transporting the empty cans from each of the transporting trolleys to a can take-up station;
• 3. engaging the empty cans at the can take-up station by means of a moving can transporting device;
• 4. transporting the empty cans by means of the moving can transporting device to a spinning preparatory machine delivering fiber sliver;
• 5. filling the empty cans with fiber sliver at the spinning preparatory machine;
• 6. transporting the filled cans to a can output station;
• 7. displacing the filled cans from the can output station onto transporting trolleys of a transporting trolley train;
• and
• 8. bringing such transporting trolley train back to the spinning machine fed with fiber sliver.

An apparatus for loading transporting trolleys with full cans at a first location and transporting them from the first location to a second location containing a spinning machine fed with fiber slivers and transporting empty cans from the spinning machine to the first location for refilling the cans with fiber sliver, said apparatus comprising:

• A. a spinning preparatory machine for producing fiber sliver arranged at the first location;
• B. a spinning machine fed with fiber sliver arranged at the second location;
• C. a can loading station arranged at said first location;
• said can loading station comprising:
• a. shifting means for bringing can transporting trolleys interconnected into a train and provided with empty cans thereon into a desired position for transfer of the empty cans to a can take-up station;
• b. means defining a can take-up station located in a position for receiving empty cans transferred from a transporting trolley to said can take-up station;
• c. said shifting means including first pusher means for transferring empty cans to the can take-up station;
• d. a movable can transporting device for engaging empty cans at the can take-up station and for delivering the empty cans to the spinning preparatory machine for loading the empty cans with fiber sliver;
• e. means defining a can output station;
• f. said movable can transporting device delivering the cans filled with fiber sliver at the spinning preparatory machine to the can output station;
• and
• g. said can output station including means defining second pusher means for moving the full cans onto an empty transporting trolley of the same transporting trolley train.

An apparatus for loading transporting trolleys with full cans at a work station and transporting them to a location containing a spinning machine fed with fiber slivers and transporting empty cans from the spinning machine to the work station for refilling the cans with fiber sliver, said apparatus comprising:

• A. a spinning preparatory machine for producing fiber sliver arranged at the work station;
• B. a spinning machine fed with fiber sliver;
• C. a can loading station arranged at said work station;
• said can loading station comprising:
• a. means for bringing can transporting trolleys into a desired position for transfer of empty cans to a can take-up station;
• b. means defining a can take-up station located in a position for receiving empty cans transferred from a transporting trolley to said can take-up station;
• c. said bringing means including first displacement means for transferring empty cans to the can take-up station;
• d. a movable can transporting device for engaging empty cans at the can take-up station and for delivering the empty cans to the spinning preparatory machine for loading the empty cans with fiber sliver;
• e. means defining a can output station;
• f. said movable can transporting device delivering the cans filled with fiber sliver at the spinning preparatory machine to the can output station;
• and
• g. said can output station including means defining second displacement means for moving the full cans onto an empty transporting trolley.