Automatic yarn-gripping installation
AssigneeOCV Intellectual Capital, LLC
InventorsJean-Pierre Karbowski, Jean-Paul Boisset, Frederic Skura, Roger Bichat-Gobard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic strand take-up installation includes at least a first gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the first gripping member being guided by a first conveying loop to a second gripping member guided by a second conveying loop, the bundle passing from one loop to the other loop due to an operating system for opening and closing the gripping members.
Claims14
An automatic strand take-up installation configured to be used within a below-bushing chopping process, which forms chopped glass strands directly from molten glass, the molten glass having passed through orifices made in at least one bushing so as to form a plurality of filaments, the filaments being combined into at least one bundle, the bundle being directed after a sizing operation to at least one chopper configured to chop at least one strand, formed by combining of at least one bundle, into a plurality of chopped glass strands of desired length, and thus following a path between the bushing and the chopper, comprising:
- at least a first gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the first gripping member configured to occupy a first position in which it takes hold of the strand bundle and a second position in which it releases the strand bundle;
- a first conveying loop for moving the first gripping member between a first position, in which the first gripping member can take hold of at least one strand bundle, and a second transfer position, in which the first gripping member releases the strand bundle;
- at least a second gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the second gripping member configured to occupy a first position in which it takes hold of the strand bundle and a second position in which it releases the strand bundle;
- and
- a second conveying loop for moving the second gripping member between a first transfer position, in which the second gripping member takes hold of at least one strand bundle released by the first gripping member, and a second position in which the second gripping member releases the strand bundle at the chopper;
- wherein the second conveying loop is disposed adjacent to the chopper and arranged such that the chopper may operate either with or without the second conveying loop in operation.
An automatic strand take-up installation configured to be used within a below-bushing chopping process, which forms chopped glass strands directly from molten glass, the molten glass having passed through orifices made in at least one bushing so as to form a plurality of filaments, the filaments being combined into at least one bundle, the bundle being directed after a sizing operation to at least one chopper configured to chop at least one strand, formed by combining of at least one bundle, into a plurality of chopped glass strands of desired length, and thus following a path between the bushing and the chopper, comprising:
- at least a first gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the first gripping member configured to occupy a first position in which it takes hold of the strand bundle and a second position in which it releases the strand bundle;
- a first conveying loop for moving the first gripping member between a first position, in which the first gripping member can take hold of at least one strand bundle, and a second transfer position, in which the first gripping member releases the strand bundle;
- at least a second gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the second gripping member configured to occupy a first position in which it takes hold of the strand bundle and a second position in which it releases the strand bundle;
- a second conveying loop for moving the second gripping member between a first transfer position, in which the second gripping member takes hold of at least one strand bundle released by the first gripping member, and a second position in which the second gripping member releases the strand bundle at the chopper;
- and
- at least one control member configured to modify a state of the first gripping member between the first and second positions,
- wherein the control member comprises at least one movable cam actuated by a lever, the cam being positioned in line with the strand bundle, the cam including a guiding surface having an operating member fastened to the first gripping member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.