Apparatus and method for automatic thread joining and cleaning in a spinning machine

In a textile spinning machine apparatus comprising a spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising:

• a tube mechanism,
• means for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism;
• first means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism;
• second means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more waste accumulation positions relative to the machine such that the selected waste accumulation positions on the machine are cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism;
• and
• wherein the means for routing and controlling the air flow includes means for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate predetermined for each selected position to which the tube mechanism is moved, and wherein the means for routing and controlling includes means for controlling the direction of air flow through the tube mechanism such that air is sucked in one direction when the tube mechanism is moved between the thread joining positions and blown in a reverse direction when the tube mechanism is moved to one or more of the waste accumulation positions.

In a textile spinning apparatus comprising a spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising:

• a tube mechanism,
• means for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism;
• first means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism;
• second means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more waste accumulation positions relative to the machine such that the selected waste accumulation positions on the machine are cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism;
• and
• wherein the means for routing and controlling the air flow includes means for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate predetermined for each selected position to which the tube mechanism is moved, and wherein the spinning machine includes a spinning mechanism and means for stopping and starting delivery of a sliver to the spinning mechanism, the stopping and starting means stopping sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube mechanism between the waste accumulation positions and starting sliver delivery after movement of the tube mechanism to one or more of the thread joining positions.

In a textile spinning machine comprising a plurality of spinning stations, having an automatic servicing apparatus mounted thereon for aligning with and servicing the spinning stations, wherein the servicing apparatus includes a tube mechanism connected to a mechanism for controllably directing an air flow therethrouqh, the tube mechanism being mounted on the servicing apparatus for controllable movement between selected positions relative to a spinning station, a method for performing thread joining and cleaning operations at a spinning station comprising:

• aligning the servicing apparatus with a selected spinning station at which a thread end is to be joined;
• moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the selected spinning station and simultaneously selecting an air flow through the tube mechanism such that the selected waste positions are cleaned;
• and
• moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the selected spinning station separate form waste accumulation positions and simultaneously selecting an air flow through the tube mechanism such that a thread end may be received and held within the tube mechanism.

In a textile spinning machine comprising a plurality of spinning stations, having an automatic servicing apparatus mounted thereon for aligning with an servicing the spinning stations, wherein the servicing apparatus includes a tube mechanism connected to a mechanism for controllably directing an air flow therethrough, the tube mechanism being mounted on the servicing apparatus for controllable movement between selected positions relative to a spinning station, a method for performing thread joining and cleaning operations at a spinning station comprising:

• aligning the servicing apparatus with a selected spinning station at which a thread end is to be joined;
• moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the selected spinning station and simultaneously selecting an air flow through the tube mechanism such that the selected waste accumulation positions are cleaned;
• and
• moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the selected spinning station and simultaneously selecting an air flow through the tube mechanism such that a thread end may be received and held within the tube mechanism, wherein the selected spinning station includes an air jet spinning nozzle mechanism and means for controllably starting and stopping delivery of a sliver to the nozzle mechanism, the method further comprising stopping sliver delivery prior to the step of moving the tube mechanism between the waste positions, starting the sliver deliver during the step of moving the tube mechanism between the waste positions for a time sufficient to deliver a length of sliver through the nozzle mechanism and stopping the sliver delivery prior to the step of moving the tube mechanism between the thread joining positions.

A mobile service robot for servicing spinning stations of a spinning machine having a plurality of the stations, each of the spinning stations performing a spinning operation, the robot comprising a tube mechanism which performs operations for effecting both cleaning and thread joining, the robot including means for applying a suction through the tube in order to generate a suction force at a mouth of the tube to draw a thread end into the tube and retain the thread end therein during manipulation by controlled movement of the tube, drive means controllably operable to manipulate the tube and a programmable control means connected to the drive means for directing the drive means to perform a predetermined sequence of tube movements adapted to find and take up a thread end at a predetermined location relative to a spinning station being serviced by the robot and to manipulate the thread end relative to the spinning station starting from the take up location to re-establish a spinning operation at the spinning station, the control means further directing the drive means to perform a predetermined sequence of movements adapted to locate the mouth of the tube at least one additional location on the spinning station different from the take-up location to remove waste material which accumulates during a spinning operation at the additional location by suction generated at the mouth of the tube.

A mobile service robot for servicing a plurality of spinning stations in a spinning machine;

• the robot comprising:
• a tube mechanism which performs operations for effecting both cleaning and thread joining at a spinning station, the tube mechanism having a mouth and being connected to a source of air flow for generating a predetermined air flow through the mouth of the tube mechanism;
• a drive mechanism programmed to control movement of the tube mechanism to a predetermined sequence of selected locations on a spinning station, the source of air flow being programmed to generate a rate and direction of air flow predetermined according to the location of the tube mechanism;
• the predetermined sequence of tube locations including a series of thread end receipt locations on the spinning station including a location for finding a thread end on a bobbin and suctioning the thread end through the mouth into the tube mechanism and one or more other locations wherein the thread end is suctionably held within the tube mechanism, the movement of the tube mechanism between the series of thread end receipt locations manipulating the thread end such that the thread end is positioned for piecing;
• the predetermined sequence of tube locations including one or more locations on the spinning station separate from the thread end receipt locations wherein the flow of air through the mouth is controlled to remove waste accumulated at the one or more separate locations on the spinning station.

A textile spinning apparatus comprising a plurality of spinning stations and an automatic servicing apparatus controllably movable into alignment with a selected spinning station for servicing the selected spinning station upon a breakage of thread being spun at the selected spinning station;

• each spinning station including a spinning mechanism and means for controllably starting and stopping delivery of a sliver to the spinning mechanism;
• the automatic servicing apparatus including a tube mechanism connected to a source of air flow, first means for moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the selected spinning station, second means for moving the tube mechanism between one of more selected thread joining positions relative to the selected spinning station, and means for controlling the air flow through the tube mechanism according to the position to which the tube mechanism is moved by the first and second means for moving;
• and wherein the means for controlling effects movement of the first means for moving between the one or more waste accumulation positions in a first predetermined sequence and movement of the second means for moving between the one or more thread joining positions in a second subsequent predetermined sequence;
• and,
• wherein the means for starting and stopping sliver delivery stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube mechanism between the one or more waste accumulation positions and subsequently starts sliver delivery after movement of the tube mechanism between one or more of the waste accumulation positions for a time sufficient to deliver a length of sliver through the nozzle mechanism and subsequently stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube between the one or more thread joining positions.

A textile spinning apparatus comprising a plurality of spinning stations and an automatic servicing apparatus controllably movable into alignment with a selected spinning station for servicing the selected spinning station upon a breakage of thread being spun at the selected spinning station;

• each spinning station including a spinning mechanism and means for controllably starting and stopping delivery of a sliver to the spinning mechanism;
• the automatic servicing apparatus including a tube mechanism connected to a source of air flow, first means for moving the tube mechanism between one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the selected spinning station, second means for moving the tube mechanism between one of more selected thread joining positions relative to the selected spinning station, and means for controlling the air flow through the tube mechanism according to the position to which the tube mechanism is moved by the first and second means for moving;
• and wherein the spinning station includes a bobbin mechanism on which a broken thread end is wound up and retrieved for piecing, and wherein the means for stopping and starting sliver delivery stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube mechanism between the thread joining positions and starts sliver delivery subsequent to movement of the tube mechanism to one or more of the thread joining positions such that a new sliver is overlapped with the broken thread end retrieved from the bobbin mechanism.

In a textile spinning machine apparatus comprising a spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising:

• a tube mechanism,
• means for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism;
• first means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism;
• second means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the machine such that the selected waste accumulation positions on the machine cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism;
• and
• wherein the means for routing and controlling the air flow includes means for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate predetermined for each selected position to which the tube mechanism is moved by the means for moving;
• and, wherein the means for starting and stopping sliver delivery stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube mechanism between the one or more waste accumulation positions and subsequently starts sliver delivery after movement of the tube mechanism between one or more of the waste accumulation positions for a time sufficient to deliver a length of sliver through the nozzle mechanism and subsequently stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube between the one or more thread joining positions.

In a textile spinning apparatus comprising a spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising:

• a tube mechanism,
• means for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism;
• first means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism;
• second means for moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected waste accumulation positions relative to the machine such that the selected waste accumulation positions on the machine cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism;
• and
• wherein the means for routing and controlling the air flow includes means for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate predetermined for each selected position to which the tube mechanism is moved by the means for moving;
• and, wherein the spinning station includes a bobbin mechanism on which a broken thread end is wound up and retrieved for piecing, and wherein the means for stopping and starting sliver delivery stops sliver delivery prior to movement of the tube mechanism between the thread joining positions and starts sliver delivery subsequent to movement of the tube mechanism to one or more of the thread joining positions such that a new sliver is overlapped with the broken thread end retrieved from the bobbin mechanism.