| CPC B65H 67/02 (2013.01) [B65H 67/065 (2013.01); B65H 2701/31 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |

|
1. A system comprising:
a creel assembly comprising at least one lateral face having a plurality of receiving bullhorns arranged outwardly along a horizontal axis to engage a respective yarn package; and
a loading device movable along a path arranged along the one lateral face of the creel assembly, the loading device comprising:
a vertical stalk,
a carrying bullhorn realized by an intermediate bullhorn arranged according to a horizontal axis and extending outwardly from the vertical stalk so that the end of the intermediate bullhorn is mounted vertically movable along the vertical stalk and horizontally pivotable around the axis of the vertical stalk, this intermediate bullhorn being arranged to be movable between a first position wherein the intermediate bullhorn is able to be loaded with a yarn package and a second position wherein the free end of the intermediate bullhorn is generally aligned with the free end of the at least one empty receiving bullhorn of the creel assembly, and
a transfer mechanism for effecting translation of the yarn package from the carrying bullhorn to the empty receiving bullhorn of the creel assembly,
wherein the loading device is configured to;
adjust the position of a bullhorn carrying a yarn package intended to be loaded onto the creel assembly so that the free end of this bullhorn is generally aligned with the free end of the at least one empty receiving bullhorn of the creel assembly;
identify the position of at least one empty receiving bullhorn of the creel assembly; and
translate, using the transfer mechanism, the yarn package from the carrying bullhorn to the empty receiving bullhorn of the creel assembly.
|