Method and apparatus for packaging yarn packages doffed from a yarn producing machine

Method for packaging in a carton full size yarn packages produced by a yarn producing machine provided with a plurality of yarn producing units, each unit provided with a spindle for supporting a bobbin for forming said yarn package, said spindles aligned along a longitudinal direction of said yarn producing machine, comprising in combination of doffing said full size yarn packages by means of a plurality of bobbin chucks:

• a first step of positioning said carton at a predetermined position adjacent to a group of said spindles whereon full size yarn packages are supported;
• a second step of simultaneously doffing a plurality of said full size yarn packages by said bobbin chucks from respective spindles of said group;
• a third step of simultaneously displacing said doffed yarn packages supported by the respective bobbin chucks from the respective positions for carrying out said doffing operation to respective positions removed from said group of spindles;
• a fourth step of simultaneously wrapping each of the doffed yarn packages supported by the corresponding bobbin chuck with a film bag, while positioning said bobbin chucks at said removed positions;
• a fifth step of displacing said bobbin chucks from said removed positions toward the respective releasing positions right above a receiving space in said carton and depositing said wrapped yarn packages into said carton;
• an intermediate step of changing a pitch between two adjacent bobbin chucks of said group of bobbin chucks from a spindle pitch between two adjacent spindles of said spindle alignment to a predetermined distance selected for packaging, just before carrying out said fourth step operation or said fifth step operation;
• a sixth step of releasing the grip of said bobbin chucks and displacing said bobbin chucks from said releasing positions upward to the respective standby positions of said bobbin chucks;
• a seventh step of discharging said carton filled with said wrapped yarn packages from said predetermined position;
• said operations from said first step to said seventh step are successively carried out until the doffing operation of full sized yarn packages is completely carried out with respect to all spindles of a spindle alignment of said yarn producing machine.