Bobbin-changing apparatus

A bobbin and empty sleeve transfer system for a textile machine installation, said system comprising:

• at least one endless conveyor forming separate first and second endless paths each extending on one side of a given location past said location and provided with moving trains of downwardly hanging full bobbins and empty sleeves for displacing said trains past said location;
• a third endless conveyor forming a third endless path on an opposite side of said given location and provided with a moving train of downwardly hanging full bobbins and empty sleeves for displacing said train of said third endless conveyor past said given location;
• an axle centered on and pivotal about an upright axis at said given location;
• a horizontal beam mounted on said axle and having a pair of beam ends diametrically opposite one another and spaced equidistantly from said axis;
• respective holders on the beam ends adapted to hold and to carry full bobbins and empty sleeves;
• and
• means for rotating said beam about said axis and thereby moving said holders through an orbit intersected by said paths at a first transfer point individual to said first path, at a second transfer point individual to said second path and at third and fourth transfer points individual to said third path, said first and third transfer points and said second and fourth transfer points being respectively diametrically opposite one another across said axis, whereby said holders of said beam are simultaneously engageable with full bobbins and empty sleeves at said first and third points and are simultaneously engageable with full bobbins and empty sleeves at said second and fourth points in two angularly offset positions of said beam about said axis to effect bobbin exchange of said first and second paths with said third path, the third path having a section extending arcuately along and on the orbit and provided with said third and fourth points.

A bobbin and empty sleeve transfer system for a textile machine installation, said system comprising:

• at least one endless conveyor forming separate first and second endless paths each extending on one side of a given location past said location and provided with moving trains of downwardly hanging full bobbins and empty sleeves for displacing said trains past said location;
• a third endless conveyor forming a third endless path on an opposite side of said given location and provided with a moving train of downwardly hanging full bobbins and empty sleeves for displacing said train of said third endless conveyor past said given location;
• an axle centered on and pivotal about an upright axis at said given location;
• a horizontal beam mounted on said axle and having a pair of beam ends diametrically opposite one another and spaced equidistantly from said axis;
• respective holders on the beam ends adapted to hold and to carry full bobbins and empty sleeves;
• and
• means for rotating said beam about said axis and thereby moving said holders through an orbit intersected by said paths at a first transfer point individual to said first path, at a second transfer point individual to said second path and at third and fourth transfer points individual to said third path, said first and third transfer points and said second and fourth transfer points being respectively diametrically opposite one another across said axis, whereby said holders of said beam are simultaneously engageable with full bobbins and empty sleeves at said first and third points and are simultaneously engageable with full bobbins and empty sleeves at said second and fourth points in two angularly offset positions of said beam about said axis to effect bobbin exchange of said first and second paths with said third path, the first and second paths corresponding where they intersect said orbit.