US 4,840,022 A · Process and device for the servicing of work stations of spinning or doubling machines by means of a plurality of service units capable of travelling alongside the work stations

Abstract

In order to service work stations of either spinning or doubling machines of the type having several service units travelling alongside their work stations, whenever an inspection of a given service unit becomes necessary, the given service unit to be inspected is brought from an operative condition into an inspection position. Such position is crosswise to the usual operative direction of travel of the service unit, and its side to be inspected (and which is otherwise turned towards the machine) is preferably thereby rendered accessible. Also, its normal work path is opened to use by another service unit. Such other service unit then travels into the opened work path and takes over the task of servicing the work station or stations in the assigned operative work area of the given service unit being inspected until same is brought back from its inspection position into its work path upon completion of the inspection, and again assumes the task of servicing work stations of its assigned work area. For such purposes, in one exemplary embodiment, a section of running rail on which the service unit operates can be moved crosswise to the longitudinal direction of such running rail. During inspection of a given service unit, the remaining service units are prompted by a control device to service those spinning stations which would normally have been serviced by the given service unit which has been brought into its inspection position.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A process for servicing textile machinery having a plurality of work stations, including:

providing a rail system which provides access for service units travelling thereover to all of the work stations, such rail system including at least one first movable rail segment comprising a service station, which first segment may be selectively moved between an operative position in alignment with the rail system, and an inspection position displaced therefrom with said first segment temporarily replaced with a second movable rail segment, so that there are no gaps in the rail system as it existed prior to such displacement of the first movable segment;
and
providing at least two independently operable service units for travelling over the rail system to service the work stations;
wherein
during normal functioning of the service units for servicing the work stations, said service station is placed in its operative position, and the service units are assigned non-overlapping service areas of the rail system for efficient servicing of the work stations;
and
during servicing or adjustment of one of the service units, such one service unit is moved onto the service station which is then placed in its inspection position, and the other service unit is assigned an enlarged service area for also covering the formerly assigned rail system service area of such one service unit, whereby access is obtained to such one service unit for servicing of same, while the rail system is cleared for continued servicing of all work stations by the other service unit, without having to remove such one service unit from its support on the first movable rail segment.

4 more elements

Device for servicing work stations of spinning or doubling machines having at least two service units which can travel on running rails alongside a plurality of work stations of the machine arranged next to each other, comprising curved connecting sections of rail for connecting said running rails to each other at one end of the machine so that the service units can travel from one longitudinal side of the machine to the other longitudinal side thereof;

a first movable segment of running rail which can be moved crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the machine running rail with a given service unit supported thereon for bringing such service unit into an inspection position thereof;
a second movable segment of running rail for replacing said first segment thereof whenever same is moved;
and control means for causing the remaining service units to take over the servicing of work stations which would otherwise be serviced by said given service unit whenever such service unit is situated in its inspection position.

A method of continuously operating a textile machine having a plurality of work stations so that such work stations are serviceable by travelling service units, even during inspection and/or adjustment of such service units, comprising:

providing a textile machine with a plurality of work stations;
providing running track means about such machine for maneuverability of service units therealong among the work stations thereof, with a portion of such running track means comprising movable service station means for being selectively displaced from said running track means with a travelling service unit thereon, and temporarily replaced so as to not create any gaps in such running track means during such displacement;
providing at least two travelling service units for movement along said running track means for servicing said work stations, each of said service units during usual operation thereof respectively having a designated group of work stations for tending in an assigned work area, which work areas for the respective service units preferably do not overlap;
and
inspecting a given service unit without disrupting the continuity of said running track means by displacing said given service unit therefrom adequate to permit continued passage of other service units along said running track means, by situating such given service unit on said movable service station means and thereafter displacing same from said running track means while temporarily expanding the usual work areas of the remaining service units so as to tend to servicing of work stations usually assigned to said given service unit being inspected, whereby service units may be inspected and/or adjusted without having to remove same from the machine, and without having to shutdown the machine.

2 more elements

A textile machine having a plurality of work stations adapted to be serviced by travelling service units, comprising:

running rail means situated about the machine work stations and adapted for supporting travelling service units therealong;
at least two travelling service units, adapted to move along said rail means for servicing an assigned grouping of work stations in a defined respective work area thereof, which work areas preferably do not overlap;
and
service unit inspection means including first and second movable rail segments, for temporarily displacing said first movable rail segment from said rail means without disrupting the continuity thereof by filling a vacated area with said second movable rail segment, with a selected service unit for inspection and/or adjustment thereof being situated on said first movable rail segment, such displacement being at least adequate to permit continued passage of other service units along said rail means, said inspection means further including control means for also expanding the work areas of such other service units to include work stations in the usual work area of said selected service unit, whereby service units may be inspected and/or adjusted without having to remove same from the machine, and without having to shutdown the machine.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and device for the servicing of work stations of spinning or doubling machines by means of a plurality of service units capable of travelling alongside the work stations

Life of this patent

Process and device for the servicing of work stations of spinning or doubling machines by means of a plurality of service units capable of travelling alongside the work stations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28