Apparatus for the transfer of a thread running on a low pressure air stream to a rotating spool

An apparatus is provided for the transfer of a thread (1) carried in a low pressure air stream being delivered to a rotating spool (7) with which a capture apparatus (4) runs in synchronism for the pick-up of the thread (1) which is set before it by a thread dispensing unit for this purpose. This thread dispensing unit exhibits two thread guides (31, 30) which hold the thread (1) at right angles to the travel path of the capture apparatus (4). Respectively, the first thread guide (31) forms a hold-back element which acts to restrain the thread (1) during the formation of a reserve winding in the spool border and to release the thread (1) for the formation of the normal winding. This first thread guide (31) is governed by a controllable drive (33), with the help of which, the open side of a thread guide groove (312) of this first thread guide (31) is pivotable out of a thread restraining position (S.sub.1) into a thread release position (S.sub.2). The second thread guide is also the opening (30) of a suction system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns an apparatus for the transfer of a thread 
running in low pressure air stream to a rotating spool. 
In accordance with a known apparatus (DE-OS 2 543 986), the thread to be 
transferred to a rotating spool is held parallel to the outer surface of 
the spool by means of two thread guides of a thread handling means. This 
permits the thread to be seized by a thread capturing apparatus which 
rotates with the spool so that, subsequently, said thread can be wound to 
produce a coil. Additionally, a hold-back element is provided for the 
control of the number of reserve windings which are to be laid down at an 
end of the spool. For the cessation of forming reserve windings of this 
sort, the said hold-back device is movable in the direction of the middle 
of the spool. The apparatus is complex in design and in control, 
especially if it is adapted for automatic operation. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Thus, a purpose of the invention is, considering the above, to thoroughly 
improve the known apparatus, to the end that it becomes simpler in design 
and control. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in 
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, 
or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
Since the first thread guide simultaneously forms the restraining element, 
this integral component of the thread dispensing unit is what makes the 
thread dispensing unit, hold-back element, and the control more compact. 
This comes about because the power drive for the first thread guide is 
arranged on the thread dispensing unit and does not have to be placed on a 
stationary piece, as, where the hold-back element was concerned, was 
previously the conventional situation. 
By means of the use of a thread guidance groove with an open side, which 
restrains the thread in the first position and releases the thread in a 
second position, a particularly simple control of the first and second 
positions becomes possible. 
Especially favorable is an improvement wherein the first thread guide is 
mounted pivotably on the second thread groove, since such a construction 
leads in a simple manner to a covering of the windings for the reserve 
coiling and thus assures against the possibility that said coils will not 
run off the spool. 
A further simplification favorable to increased functionality is achieved 
through the design of the apparatus wherein the hold-back element is 
formed by a means of the first thread guide which is governed by a 
pneumatic cylinder or motor type controllable drive. 
Through the conception an embodiment of the invention, the drive for the 
first thread guide allows itself to be positioned on the thread dispenser 
unit in a space saving way. 
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a frictionless support of 
the delivered thread from the opening of the suction line is attained in 
that the thread guidance groove of the first thread guide is installed 
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotating spool. 
Advantageously, the apparatus is improved wherein a pivoting of the first 
thread guide is made possible without the necessity that, at a prior time, 
the thread must be withdrawn out of the zone of the rotating capture 
apparatus. 
In order to be able to securely hold the thread during its dispensing as 
well as to achieve a release of the thread upon the completion of the 
building of a requisite number of reserve windings without difficulty, it 
is of advantage to design the present inventive apparatus in that the 
sidewall of the guide groove nearer the spool runs perpendicular to the 
pivoting axis of the first thread guide, and the sidewall remote from the 
spool is in a plane that increases in distance from a plane that 
intersects the pivoting axis of the first thread guide. 
As already mentioned, it is by the first thread guide that the formation of 
the reserve winding is controlled. Regulating not only the number of 
windings on the spool end, but also the ability to control their exact 
arrangement, advantageously provides an improvement according to the 
objects of the invention wherein the two thread guides are adjustable 
relative to each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of 
the spool. 
The apparatus in accordance with the invention is simple in construction, 
is compact, and easy to control. Moreover, the thread dispensing unit, 
improved by the invention, enables not only the delivery of the thread 
which is to be wound on the spool, but simultaneously serves to control 
the number of reserve windings formed on the end of said spool. 
This simplified design of the apparatus and the coalescence of various 
functions in one and the same unit leads further to the advantage that 
such an apparatus allows itself to be easily retrofitted into already 
existing installations. 
Example embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the 
following, with the help of drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Reference will now be made in detail to one or more presently preferred 
embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are 
illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of 
explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the 
invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one 
embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield still a third 
embodiment. 
The invention can find application on various textile machines, where a 
running thread is transferred for winding on a spool, for instance, on a 
coiling machine. In the following, reference will be made to an open-end 
spinning machine, the spin-relevant components whereof will not be seen in 
the illustrations and are not necessary for an understanding of the 
invention. 
The open-end spinning machine, which has been selected as an example, 
exhibits a pair of thread removal rollers (20, 21) for thread issuing from 
a thread removal tube 2. Proceeding from this, the thread goes over a 
thread tension balancing yoke 22, which is installed on the machine frame. 
The thread continues on to the opening 30 of a low pressure system (not 
shown). At that time, the thread passes thread guide 31, which, along with 
the opening 30, is secured on a common holder 32. In common with this and 
the opening 30 of the low pressure system, a thread dispensing unit is 
thus formed, with the help of which the thread, now entrained in low 
pressure air, can be dispensed to a capture device 4, which will be 
described later. 
In respect to the course of the feed thread (1) which has now been removed 
from the low pressure tube opening 30, the thread guide 31 forms a first 
thread guide while the opening 30 is looked upon as a second thread guide. 
Between the two thread guides 31 and 30, is held a portion of the thread 
1, which is to be transferred to the capture apparatus 4, and this portion 
of the thread is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis A (see FIG. 
2) of the spool 7. It is of no importance whether the spool 7 is 
cylindrical or conical in design. 
The first thread guide 31 exhibits a pivotable arm 311 on the front side of 
which a thread guidance groove 312 is placed, in which said thread 1 can 
be guided. The side surface 310 of this arm 311 which faces the opening 30 
forms a hold-back element for the thread 1, for use during the formation 
of a reserve winding W (for "W", see FIG. 3), as will be explained later. 
The arm 311 is fixed by means of its axle 313 in the already mentioned 
holder 32. An additional arm 314 is found on the end of the axle 313 
remote from arm 311, which, in a manner not shown, is connected to a drive 
unit. In accord with FIG. 1, as an exemplary embodiment, such a drive 
(pneumatic or hydraulic) is symbolized by a controllable cylinder 33, the 
piston of which is connected to this additional arm 314. 
The capture device 4 possesses, in accord with FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality 
of capturing hooks 40 and is part of a spool plate 5, which is rotatably 
secured in spool arm 6. As FIG. 1 demonstrates, between the two spool arms 
6 and 60, with the aid of two spool plates 5 and 50, a spool 7 is 
inserted, upon which the thread is to be wound. For automatic or manual 
lifting out of the movable spool arms 6 and 60, which are coupled with one 
another in a manner not shown, one of the two arms 6, 60, in accord with 
FIG. 1 arm 60, has been selected to possess a handle 61 on its free end. 
FIG. 1 shows further, that principally, one of the two spool plates 5 and 
50, shown in FIG. 1 as the spool plate 5, is equipped with the capture 
apparatus 4. 
Both spool arms 6 and 60 are affixed pivotably on a axle 62 wherein they, 
by means of appropriate individual design or by their bearing setting, are 
distanced one from the other to the extent, that an exchange of a full 
spool (not shown) for an empty spool 7 is made possible. 
The spool 7, can be brought into contact with a drive roll 70, driven to 
rotate in the direction of the arrow f.sub.1, which roll 70, as a rule, 
extends over a multiplicity of identical workplaces (open end spinning 
arrangements), situated next to one another. 
Regarding this drive roll construction, only a part is to be inferred from 
FIG. 1. The drive roll 70 exhibits in the area of the spool 7, a section 
700 of greater diameter, so that the spool 7 is not prevented by end 
plates 5 and 50 from having a uniform contact on drive roll 70. 
Directly in front of the drive roll 70, there is found a traverse rod 71, 
which runs back and forth parallel to drive roll 70 and carries a traverse 
thread guide 72. The purpose thereof is that after the completed transfer 
of the thread 1 to the spool 7, and after the formation of a specified 
number of reserve windings W (see FIG. 3), the traverse guide 72 picks up 
the thread 1 to be able to lay said thread in traverse motion on the spool 
7. In this way, a uniformly wound coil (not shown) can be formed. 
In the following, the function of the previously described, designed 
apparatus is explained in greater detail. 
After an empty spool 7 is set into its position for the formation of a new 
coil thereon, between the two spool arms 6 and 60, then the two arms 6 and 
60 are lowered by appropriate manipulation of the operative arm 61, so 
that the spool 7 is rotated by the drive roll 70 (in the direction of the 
arrow f.sub.2). 
The thread 1, in a known and conventional manner and with the aid of a (not 
shown) service device has been previously spun and is now introduced into 
the thread dispensing unit. Simultaneously, by means of the withdrawal 
rolls 20 and 21, the thread 1 is extracted through the thread exit tube 2 
of the open-end spinning apparatus. The thread is now continuously drawn 
out through the first thread guide 31 and the second thread guide 30, 
which said guide 30, in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, 
has been designed as the opening of a low pressure device. The service 
device now swings the thread dispensing unit 3 out of an inactive position 
(not shown) in the direction of the capture apparatus 4, from which a 
capture hook 40 seizes the previously described thread portion. The said 
thread portion extends between the first thread guide 31 and the second 
thread guide which is also the opening 30. 
This said thread portion runs essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 
A of the spool 7 (see FIG. 2) and thereby also perpendicular to the 
circumferential track B of the capture hook 40. 
The two spool plates 5 and 50 are rotationally, releasably locked with the 
spool 7 and hence take part in the rotation of the same. By this means, 
the capture device 4, which is part of the spool plate 5 is also driven. 
Upon the rotation of the spool plate 5, the thread portion from the seized 
thread 1 from capture hook 40 of the capture device 4 moves into the 
contact line L between the spool 7 and the section 700 of the drive roll 
70. This said thread portion, in respect to the capture hook 40 which 
engages the thread 1, forms the feed side of thread 1. Moreover, this feed 
side of the guided running thread 1 to be delivered to the spool 7 is 
drawn downward and thus comes into contact with the side surface (or edge 
310) of the first thread guide 31, the side surface 310 of which faces the 
second thread guide (opening 30). The running thread 1 directed to the 
spool 7 is, based on the known design of the spool plate 5, clamped 
between this and the spool 7 and therefore secured. The thread 1 now runs 
under the tension which is generated by the higher circumferential speed 
of the spool 7 as compared to the circumferential speed of the thread 
removal rolls 20 and 21 (this is also the winding tension). The thread 1 
runs with its feed side axial in direction to the middle of the spool 7, 
insofar as the thread guide 31 with its side surface 310, which holds back 
the thread 1 permits. The first thread guide 31 takes on accordingly the 
duty of a hold-back element, and holds back the thread during its winding 
onto the spool 7 in its end area between the spool plate 5 and the side 
surface 310, so that on the end of the spool 73, reserve windings W are 
created (see FIG. 3), which will be required later for the connection of 
the threads of two spools. 
If sufficient reserve windings W have been formed, so that now the thread 1 
should be given over for regular windings by the traverse guide 72, then, 
with power from hydraulic cylinder 33, lever 314 (see FIG. 1) pivots the 
first thread guide 31. As an alternate power source for this action, a 
stepwise motor 330 (see FIG. 2) may be used, the motor shaft of which (see 
FIG. 1, axis 313) also carries the lever 311 which pivots the first thread 
guide 31. The lever 311 of the first thread guide 31, which finds itself 
now in its transfer position, which simultaneously forms the thread 
hold-back position S.sub.1 (see FIG. 2), is now pivoted (see arrow 
f.sub.3) and comes finally into a thread release position S.sub.2, in 
which the thread guide groove 312 can no longer hold back the thread, so 
that the thread, in an effort to find the shortest way to take between 
removal rolls 20, 21 and the spool 7, migrates toward the middle of the 
spool 7 and thus comes under the influence of the traverse zone and the 
traverse thread guide 72. This is designed conventionally as a self 
threading device and picks up the thread 1, which, from now on, will be 
laid by traversing from the traverse thread guide 72, so that now, regular 
windings will be formed on the self winding spool 7. 
In the case of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first thread 
guide 31 is supported on an axis 313, which is so arranged, that upon 
pivoting of the lever 311, the thread 1 is swung in the direction of the 
middle of the spool 7 and thereupon also in the direction of the 
transverse thread guide.72. 
The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but can be 
changed in multiple ways, for instance, by the exchange of individual 
features for equivalents, or through other combinations. For instance, the 
pivoting or turning axes for the first thread guide can be chosen 
differently. Beyond this, the first thread guide can, for example, be in 
the form of tongs, whereby an arm of the tongs upon the changeover of the 
thread can be pivoted. FIG. 3 shows a variation of the previously 
described apparatus, in which the pivoting axis of the first thread guide 
31 finds itself on the side turned toward the second thread guide (opening 
30). If now, the first thread guide 31 pivots for the release of the 
thread 1 after the formation of the desired number of reserve windings W 
(FIG. 3, see arrow F.sub.4), then the thread guide groove 312 comes into 
proximity not with the spool 7 nor with the traverse thread guide 72, but 
rather is moved further in the direction of the spool end 73. In doing 
this, the thread located on the side surface 310 of the thread guide 31 is 
forced in the direction of the spool end 73 and comes, on this account, to 
lie on the reserve windings W which are located there, which are thus 
covered over and so brought into safety when the full spool is taken out 
of the spool holders (spool arms 6 and 60) for storage and later 
reworking. If the first thread guide 31 reaches its release position 
S.sub.2, then the thread 1 moves, because of the winding tension in the 
direction of the middle of the spool 7, is thereupon seized by the 
traverse thread guide 72 and is subsequently laid by traverse action. 
The number of the desired reserve windings W can be duly determined with 
the help of a (not shown) control apparatus and also chosen on said 
control apparatus is the time span from the capturing the thread 1 by the 
capture apparatus 4 up to the pivoting of the first thread guide 31, which 
forms a hold-back element. 
The schematically presented apparatus of FIG. 3 is renewed in FIG. 4, this 
time in a perspective view. The opening 30 is in this case, arranged on 
the end of a tube section 300, which forms, at the same time, a hollow 
shaft designed as a drive shaft for a motor 331. Firmly secured to this 
hollow shaft 300, so that it must make all turning motions with said 
hollow shaft 300, is the first thread guide 31. This possesses a 
sheath-like retaining piece 315 which is pushed onto hollow shaft 300, 
from which an arm 316 extends radially from the hollow shaft 300. This arm 
316 carries an angular extension 317 with the already mentioned thread 
guide groove 312, which, in the case of this embodiment, (contrary to what 
is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and 2) does not extend 
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A of the spool 7, but instead of 
this, is arranged to be parallel thereto. This leads, for one thing, to an 
especially low friction of the supplied thread 1 running from the opening 
30. And for another, this arrangement relieves the thread guide groove 312 
from releasing the thread 1, when the first thread guide 31 reaches its 
thread release position S.sub.2. FIGS. 2 and 3 show, that--in accordance 
with a preferred design of the described apparatus--the two thread guides, 
that is, the first thread guide 31 and the second thread guide designed as 
opening 30 or otherwise, relative to the direction of turning, (see arrow 
f.sub.2 in FIG. 1) of the spool 7, find themselves in the area between the 
longitudinal axis A and the clamping line L which is between the spool 7 
and the drive roll 70. The FIG. 2 and 3 show the thread dispensing unit 3 
from its side facing the spool 7, so that there evolves therefrom, that 
the thread dispensing unit 3 in its depicted delivery position is found in 
the last quarter of the circumferential travel path of the capture 
apparatus 4 before the clamping line L. So that this capture apparatus 4 
can pick up the presented thread 1, the two thread guides (31 and opening 
30) form between them an opening for the partial incursion of the capture 
hooks 40 of the capture apparatus 4 (see FIG. 3 and 4). 
These enter favorably into the area of the thread 1 which is to be picked 
up. In the case of a design of the apparatus in accord with the FIGS. 3 
and 4, on this account the arm 316, which binds the first thread guide 31 
with the second thread guide 30, possesses, a sloped surface 9, which is 
oriented essentially along the circumferential path B, or parallel to a 
tangent of said path B of the capture apparatus 4 and on the arm 316 or 
another, is provided the two thread guides 31 and (opening) 30 with an 
element for joining the two together. 
The previously explained definition of the delivery position of the thread 
dispensing unit 3 in the last quarter of the circumferential path B, which 
quarter the capture apparatus 4 runs through before passing the contact 
line L between the spool 7 and the drive roll 70, has the advantage that 
the thread 1, during its being delivered to the contact line L (and a--not 
shown--thread dividing means in order to be able to split thread 1 after 
its transfer to the spool 7 between the capture apparatus 4 and the low 
pressure) is assuredly continually held in tension, since the capture 
apparatus 4 continually distances itself from the thread supply side more 
and more. Moreover, in the case of a design of the thread dispensing unit 
3 in accord with FIGS. 3 and 4, the first thread guide 31 can be pivoted 
out of the thread hold-back position S.sub.1 into the thread release 
position S.sub.2 without the necessity that the thread dispensing unit 3 
must be swung away from the capture apparatus 4, or pulled back therefrom, 
in order to clear the swinging area of the first thread guide 31. 
As may be inferred from the FIGS. 2 and 3, the area in the end section of 
the spool 7, where the reserve windings are formed, is dependent upon the 
position of the first thread guide 31, that is especially its side surface 
310. By means of adjustably moving the first thread guide 31 parallel to 
the longitudinal axis A of the spool 7, it is possible to immediately 
determine, where, in the end area of said spool 7 this reserve W should be 
formed. 
The presentation of FIG. 3 indicates two possibilities for the installation 
of the first thread guide 31. For instance, the fastening piece 315 
possesses a guide bar bracket in which the arm 316, with its extension 
317, is secured with possibilities of sliding or being fixed in place 
(note the dotted line outline in FIG. 3). 
In this way, the thread guide 31, is adjustable parallel to the 
longitudinal axis A of the spool 7 relative to the opening 30. 
Another possibility is, that the tubular section 300 with the opening 30 
can be slidably and affixably slipped into a (not shown) retention means 
in a guide bar bracket or the like in the holder 32. If this is done, the 
opening 30 can be adjusted parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the 
spool 7 (see arrow f.sub.5) and carry with it the first thread guide 31 
which is secured on the tubular piece 300. Thus both thread guides 30 and 
31 are adjustable in common. The adjustability of the second thread guide 
(opening 30 or a thread guide of another design) can be of considerable 
meaning for the presentation of the thread 1 before the capture device 4 
or a (not shown) thread splitter. 
FIG. 4 illustrates, that the sidewall 318 of the thread guide groove 312 
positioned nearer to spool 7 is oriented essentially perpendicular to the 
pivoting axis (opening 30) of the first thread guide 31. The more distant 
sidewall 319 of the thread guide groove 312, however, is generally located 
in a plane E.sub.1. This plane E.sub.1, distances itself increasingly from 
the base of the thread guide groove 312 in the direction of the open side 
of said groove from the pivoting axis (opening 30) of the first thread 
guide 31 which said axis vertically intersects the plane E.sub.2. By this 
means, on the one hand is achieved that the thread 1, during its transfer 
to the capture apparatus 4 is securely held. On the other hand, The 
release of the thread 1 along the sidewall 319 which is inclined toward 
the plane E.sub.1 is made easier following the attainment of the desired 
number of reserve winding W. 
Even if prior to the second thread guide, a low pressure source was shown 
as opening 30, it is obvious that the second thread guide can be likewise 
constructed as a mechanical guiding element, which in a conventional way, 
would be placed before the opening 30. 
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various 
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without 
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that 
the present invention include such modifications and variations as come 
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.