Transport device for laps

A transport device for the delivery of a plurality of tubes wound with textile material to form laps, from a lap forming machine to a lap processing machine by means of a transport truck, comprising:

• a lap forming machine for forming laps;
• a lap processing machine for processing the formed laps;
• a transport truck for conveying the laps between the lap forming machine and the lap processing machine;
• said transport truck being provided with receiver means for reposingly receiving the laps;
• said transport truck having a lengthwise direction;
• said laps, viewed in the lengthwise direction of the transport truck, being arranged behind one another and coaxially with respect to one another at a predetermined spacing from one another in the receiver means;
• means for fixing the transport truck in a predetermined position for delivery of the laps from the transport truck to the lap processing machine;
• said transport truck having a lengthwise axis;
• means defining a pivot axis for pivotably mounting said receiver means at one side thereof for pivotal movement in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the lengthwise axis of the transport truck;
• said receiver means being downwardly pivotable into a lower position for the simultaneous release of the laps and for automatically transferring the laps to the lap processing machine;
• resilient means co-acting with said receiver means for acting upon said receiver means in a direction opposite to the downward pivotable movement and against the direction of a force exerted by the weight of the laps reposing in the receiver means;
• a locking device for retaining the receiver means locked in an upper transport position;
• a receiver trough disposed beneath the receiver means;
• said receiver trough receiving empty tubes delivered by the lap processing machine;
• said receiver trough being disposed approximately parallel to said receiver means;
• said receiver means possessing a predetermined length;
• said receiver trough possessing a predetermined length;
• and
• said predetermined length of said receiver trough corresponding approximately to said predetermined length of said receiver means.