Method of and apparatus for transporting empty bobbin tubes to a pick-up

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for conveying empty bobbin tubes through a channel member which extends longitudinally along a plurality of working units of an open-end spinning, winding, yarn texturing or similar machine. The apparatus of the invention includes a transporting member which is operatively mounted on the machine so as to move in a stepwise manner along the plurality of working units of the machine. The machine includes a bobbin supply and withdrawing station opposite each working unit. The transporting member is adapted to move in a stepwise manner from one bobbin withdrawing and supply station to the next adjacent one. The apparatus further includes a channel member extending longitudinally along the plurality of working units. A plurality of empty bobbin tubes are disposed in the channel member end-to-end so as to form a column. The transporting member has a carrier member extending therefrom towards the channel member. The carrier member is adapted to push the column of empty bobbin tubes along the channel member when the transporting member moves from one bobbin supply and withdrawing station to the next one. The transporting member is also adapted to exchange a fully wound bobbin by an empty bobbin which is removed from the channel member.