Drive apparatus for a paraffining device

Disclosed is a drive apparatus for a device for applying paraffin wax to yarn. In the device, a solid block of paraffin is mounted on a polyhedral bolt which is driven by a whorl or drive pulley. The whorl, in turn, is driven by a continuous drive belt. Advantageously, a plurality of similar devices are mounted on the same open-end spinning machine so adjacent devices may be driven from the same drive belt. Bracing elements hold the yarn against the rotating face of the paraffin block of each device to ensure uniform application of paraffin.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a drive apparatus for a paraffining device of a 
textile machine which includes a plurality of similar paraffining devices, 
each of which has a rotary polyhedral bolt to receive a solid paraffin 
block, against which a yarn to be paraffined is braced. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The solid paraffin block is generally set in rotation by the yarn supplied 
to a spooling apparatus (German Utility Model 7,611,630). However, in this 
case, there is a danger of the yarn cutting into the paraffin block and 
thus making a uniform removal of the paraffin impossible. In many cases, 
an individual drive motor is provided for each paraffining device for this 
reason (German Offenlegungsschrift 2,316,452). However, this renders such 
a drive system extremely onerous. 
It has also become known to drive, by means of a central shaft extending 
across a plurality of similar paraffining devices, via complicated 
intermediate transmissions, individual drive units which then, in turn, 
drive the individual paraffining devices (French Pat. No. 1,293,729, 
German Pat. No. 1,560,460, and German OffenLegungsschrift No. 2,227,308). 
These individual drive units are onerous. Moreover, in the case of a 
friction wheel transmission, the transmission of the drive becomes 
progressively unreliable with increasing wear of the friction wheels, so 
that correct paraffining of the yarn is no longer ensured. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to develop a simple and reliable drive 
apparatus for a paraffining device. 
This object is achieved according to the invention when each polyhedral 
bolt is connected to a drive whorl with which a continuous drive belt 
cooperating with a plurality of adjacent paraffining devices is in 
engagement. Such a drive means is extremely simple. Furthermore, this 
drive means has been found totally reliable even at the low rotary speeds 
which are desired for the paraffin block, so that uniform paraffining of 
the yarn is ensured for a long time. 
Common belt drive systems for a plurality of similar elements of a textile 
machine are in fact already known, but only for fast-running elements, 
such as spindles, spinning rotors and loosening rollers of open-end 
spinning machines (German Auslegeschrift No. 1,818,034). At these high 
speeds, minor fluctuations in the counter-torque influencing the driven 
element have no effect, so that a uniform drive is assured. At low rotary 
speeds on the other hand, such fluctuations cause rotary speed variations. 
However, it has been discovered unexpectedly that satisfactory paraffining 
of the yarn is ensured in spite of the possible occurrence of these rotary 
speed fluctuations. 
For the purpose of this invention, the term "drive belts" is to be 
understood to mean not only flat belts, but to brace all elongated drive 
elements such as round cords, v-belts, toothed belts, etc. 
In order to optimize the drive means further without the need for separate 
belt tensioning elements, in a further development of the invention, the 
drive belt is passed zig-zag fashion about the drive whorls of the 
adjacent paraffining devices. The drive belt associated with these 
paraffining devices in common is, therefore, in driving association with 
the drive whorls of these paraffining devices alternately on the one and 
on the other side of the common surface upon which the polyhedral bolts of 
these paraffining devices are located. The common surface in this case may 
be a plane or (in the case of an inclined arrangement of the paraffining 
devices on circular machines) also a conical shape. 
In the case of a textile machine constructed as an open-end spinning 
machine which exhibits a plurality of mutually juxtaposed open-end 
spinning apparatuses and a shaft to control the fiber delivery into these 
open-end spinning apparatuses, the drive belt is conveniently in driving 
association with the shaft. This shaft to control the yarn delivery is 
driven as a function of the through put of fiber through the open-end 
spinning apparatuses, so that the paraffining devices are adapted to this 
throughout and are, therefore, always driven only at a speed necessary for 
this throughput. An extremely long duty life of the drive means for the 
paraffining devices is achieved in this way. 
A particularly structurally simple mode of construction of the subject of 
the invention is made possible if the drive whorl of each paraffining 
device is arranged between a bracket for this paraffining device and the 
paraffin block. This also results in particularly good accessibility to 
this drive means. A further reduction of the structural outlay is also 
achieved if the polyhedral bolt is constructed integrally with the drive 
whorl. In order to facilitate the assembly and also to economize the 
weight of the paraffining devices to be driven, the polyhedral bolt is 
conveniently constructed as a hollow body which accommodates the bearing 
means and fastening means. According to a simple structural development of 
the subject of the invention, the fastening means exhibits a 
screw-threaded bolt which is engaged in a screwthreaded bushing provided 
in the bracket. The cavity of the polyhedral bolt is advantageously 
closable at its end remote from the bearing means by a cap which overhangs 
the external circumference of the polyhedral bolt and is constructed as a 
stop for a resiliently stressed paraffin support plate mounted on the 
polyhedral bolt. For this purpose, the plate advantageously has corners 
which overhang the polyhedral bolt at its beveled edges; whereas, the 
lateral surfaces of the polyhedral bolt and of the cap are flush, while 
the paraffin support plate exhibits guide surfaces adapted to the profile 
of the polyhedral bolt. It is thus achieved that the paraffin block can be 
pushed up onto the polyhedral bolt past the insert serving as a stop for 
the paraffin support plate, without the need to increase the play between 
polyhedral bolt and paraffin block for this purpose. 
In a textile machine in which the drive belt is returned along the driven 
paraffining devices to the drive station, a bracing element is preferably 
provided for the return side of the drive belt. In a machine in which the 
paraffining device is preceded by a spooling apparatus, which is in turn 
preceded by a yarn tension compensating element extending from the bracket 
to the above drive whorl, this bracing element is then advantageously 
arranged close beneath this yarn tension compensating element, so that the 
drive belt is protected by this covering. According to a preferred method 
of construction of the apparatus according to the invention, the bracing 
element serves as a support of a stop limiting the feed movement of the 
paraffin block. 
As a further development of such a construction, a support constructed as a 
bracing element is arranged on each of the two sides of the paraffin 
block, while the stop extends from one of these supports to the other 
support. In this case, the bracing element, which is arranged in front of 
the paraffin block relative to its rotary movement influencing the stop, 
is conveniently constructed as a pivot bearing for the stop; whereas, the 
bracing element arranged behind the paraffin block exhibits a longitudinal 
slot on its side remote from the parafinning device to receive the end of 
the stop. With this arrangement, it is ensured that in spite of the 
extremely simple bearing means of this stop, the latter cannot be pivoted 
by the rotating paraffin block out of the longitudinal slot serving as a 
housing. 
In order to protect and cover the return side of the drive belt, it may be 
provided with a duct open on its side facing the paraffining device, which 
as an advantageous further development of the subject of the invention is 
formed by the bracket and a cover bar which is an integral component of 
the yarn tension compensating element. 
In order to avoid the necessity of making the paraffin block run always at 
the maximum speed, which is only necessary under quite specific operating 
conditions, it is preferably provided according to the invention that the 
rotary speed of the paraffin block is adapted to the fibrous mass supplied 
to the open-end spinning apparatus. As already mentioned, this is 
preferably done by taking the drive of the paraffin blocks directly from 
the shaft carrying the delivery rollers, however, another (electrical, for 
example) mode of speed coupling is likewise possible in principle. 
The invention produces a simple apparatus, which is compact, requires 
little energy for the drive of the paraffin blocks and which operates 
reliably with no outlay for maintenance. In spite of a small mechanical 
engineering outlay, the apparatus has a long life and is convenient to 
operate.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The invention may find application on various textile machines on which the 
yarn can be paraffined. Such textile machines may exhibit an elongated or 
also a circular shape. It is also irrelevant whether they are 
yarn-producing spinning machines, yarn-treating spooling machines, or 
yarn-processing machines (knitting or hosiery machines). An open-end 
spinning machine (FIG. 1), which exhibits a plurality of spinning stations 
1, and also accordingly of paraffining devices 2, has been selected as an 
example for the following discussion. The spinning machine shown exhibits 
seven spinning stations 1, however, this number is considerably larger in 
practice. The spinning machine itself is only illustrated 
diagrammatically, all those elements which are not absolutely necessary to 
an understanding of the invention having been omitted for the sake of 
clarity. The open-end spinning machine has an end frame 11 and 12 at each 
of its ends. Between the end frames 11 and 12, the spinning machine 
exhibits, for each spinning station 1, a spinning apparatus covered by a 
cover 10. The fibrous material 13, which is presented to the spinning 
apparatus in a spinning can 14, is supplied to the former by means of a 
delivery apparatus which is driven by a shaft 19 extending along the total 
length of the machine. 
The yarn 15 spun in the spinning apparatus is doffed by means of doffing 
rollers 17 and 18 and wound onto a spool 16, the yarn 15 being presented 
traversing to the spool 16 in customary manner and therefore not shown. A 
paraffing device 2 is arranged in the yarn path between the doffing 
rollers 17 and 18 and the spool 16 (or a yarn-processing station in 
yarn-processing machines). 
Each paraffining device 2 has a polyhedral bolt 4 (FIG. 3) upon which a 
paraffin block 21 to paraffin yarn 15 is plugged. The polyhedral bolt 4 is 
in driving association with a drive whorl 20. The drive whorls 20 of the 
paraffining devices 2 of a plurality of mutually juxtaposed spinning 
stations 1 are driven by a common drive belt 3. 
In principle, the drive belt 3 may always contact the drive whorls 20 (FIG. 
2) of the paraffining device 2 on one and the same side, in which case the 
drive belt 3 is maintained tensioned and in contact with the drive whorls 
20 by customary tensioning rollers, not shown. In this way, the paraffin 
blocks 21 are driven uniformly. Even if, due to the yarn tension 
variation, the torque exerted by the yarn 15 upon the paraffin block 21 
varies briefly, nevertheless, this does not cause such a pronounced rotary 
speed variation as might prejudice a correct paraffining of the yarn 15. 
On the contrary, it has been discovered that the paraffining of the yarn 
15 and the wearing away of the paraffin blocks 21 occurs with great 
uniformity. 
A particularly advantageous method of construction of the apparatus, 
wherein the drive belt 3 wraps the drive whorls 20 (FIG. 2) in zig-zag 
fashion, is described below with reference to FIG. 1. As indicated in the 
case of two spinning stations 1, the axes of the paraffining devices 2 are 
located on a common surface E, whereas, the driving side 30 is in driving 
association with the drive whorls 20 (FIG. 2) of the paraffining devices 2 
alternately on the one and other side of this surface E. In this manner, 
every second paraffin block 21 is driven clockwise, whereas, the paraffin 
blocks 21 located between them are driven counterclockwise. However, this 
is irrelevant to the paraffining of the yarn 15, which is paraffined 
equally well irrespective of the direction of rotation of the paraffin 
block 21. 
Depending upon the type of machine, this surface E is either a plane (in 
the case of elongated machines and of circular machines in which the axes 
of the paraffining devices 2 extend precisely radially outwards) or else a 
conical surface (in the case of circular machines in which the axes of the 
paraffining devices 2 are arranged inclined). 
The drive belt 3 is maintained taut by its zig-zag passage and wraps the 
drive whorls 20 over a greater region than for customary tangential 
drives, so that good entrainment of the drive whorls 20 is achieved by 
this means, while tensioning rollers are eliminated. 
In principle, the drive of the drive belt 3 may also occur in any desired 
manner. According to FIG. 1, the drive belt 3 receives its drive from the 
shaft 19 by which the fibrous material 13 is supplied to the spinning 
apparatus. For this purpose, a drive pulley 32 is arranged on the shaft 19 
near the end frame 11. Between this drive pulley 32 and a return pulley 33 
for the driving side 30, to deviate the drive belt 3 towards the running 
axis of the machine, a further return pulley 34 is present, by which the 
drive belt 3 is fed to the return pulley 33 at the optimum angle. As 
already described, the drive belt 3 contacts the drive whorls 20 of the 
paraffining devices 2 alternately from above and from below. At the other 
end of the machine, the drive belt 3 is returned by a further return 
pulley 35 near the end frame 12. The return side 31 of the drive belt 3 is 
then guided back above the paraffining devices 2 to return pulley 36 near 
the end frame 11, from where the drive belt 3 passes to the drive pulley 
32 again. 
The following procedure is adopted in order to apply the drive belt to the 
drive whorls 20: 
At first, the drive belt 3 is applied to the drive pulley 32 and to the 
return pulleys 34, 33, 36, and 35, without the drive belt 3 being 
immediately passed over the drive whorls 20. The drive belt 3 is then 
placed alternatively above and beneath a polyhedral bolt 4 (FIG. 3) 
connected to the drive whorl 20. Because the drive belt 3 is then deviated 
only slightly by the zig-zag position about the polyhedral bolts 4 of the 
paraffining devices 2, it is only slightly taut. This drive belt 3 is now 
applied to the drive whorls 20. The zig-zag configuration of the drive 
belt 3 is thereby intensified, so that the drive belt 3 acquires its 
operational tension. 
The drive of the drive belt 3 from the shaft 19 of the feed apparatus of 
the open-end spinning machine causes the paraffin blocks 21 to be driven 
at a speed adapted to the throughput of the fiber. In fact, if much sliver 
is supplied to the open-end spinning apparatuses, so that the throughput 
of fiber is high, then the rotary speed of the paraffin blocks 21 also 
increases correspondingly. If less sliver is supplied to the spinning 
apparatuses, then the rotary speed of the paraffin blocks 21 is also 
decreased correspondingly, so that the paraffin blocks 21 are always 
driven only at the required rotary speed and no faster. This results in a 
longer useful life of the drive means of the paraffining devices 2. 
A particularly advantageous method of construction of the drive apparatus, 
and of the correspondingly constructed paraffining device 2, is described 
below with references to FIGS. 2 and 3. In this case, the said device is 
supported by a bracket 5 constructed as a retaining plate. For this 
purpose, a screwthreaded bushing 40 in which a screwthreaded bolt 41 is 
engaged, is pressed in, or otherwise firmly connected, to the retaining 
plate 5. Two rolling-contact bearings 42 and 43, upon which the polyhedral 
bolt 4 is mounted for rotation, are positioned on the screwthreaded bolt 
41. The polyhedral bolt 4 is constructed as a hollow body, which has the 
advantage that the screwthreaded bolt 41 is accessible from the front side 
of the polyhedral bolt 4 on the one hand, and reduces the weight of the 
paraffining device 2, and therefore contributes to prolonging its duty 
life on the other hand. 
The polyhedral bolt 4 exhibits a polyhedral profile 400, upon which a 
paraffin support plate 44 is mounted sliably by a guide section 440 which 
exhibits a guide surface 441 adapted to the polyhedral profile 400. At the 
end of this guide section 440 remote from the drive whorl 20, the 
paraffining support plate 44 merges into a radial support surface 442 
which is bounded by an annular collar 443 which overhangs this support 
surface 442 axially on its side remote from the drive whorl 20. 
The drive whorl 20 is connected to the polyhedral bolt 4 only by a radial 
connecting surface 200, so that an annular recess 45 to accommodate a 
compression spring 46 is formed between the drive whorl 20 and the 
polyhedral bolt 4. This compression spring 46, which is braced against the 
radial connecting surface 200 on the one hand and against the radial 
support surface 442 on the other hand, stresses the paraffin support plate 
44 towards the free end of the polyhedral bolt 4, and thus ensures that 
the paraffin block 21 always projects to the prescribed degree into the 
yarn path plane, so that it contacts the yarn 15 in a desired manner. The 
paraffin block 21 is meanwhile retained in this position counter to the 
action of the compression spring 46 by a stop 6, which will be described 
more fully later. 
As previously mentioned, the polyhedral bolt 4 is constructed as a hollow 
body. A cylindrical shoulder 470 of a cap 47 (FIG. 4) protrudes into the 
open end of the polyhedral bolt 4 remote from the drive whorl 20. This 
cylindrical shoulder 470 serves to fasten the cap 47 in the polyhedral 
bolt 4. This may be effected by co-operating catches or by an 
appropriately tight fit between these parts. 
The cap 47 exhibits a stop surface 471, by which it contacts the end face 
of the polyhedral bolt 4. As FIG. 4 shows, the lateral surfaces 472 of the 
cap are flush with the lateral surfaces of the polyhedral bolt 4. The 
edges of the polyhedral bolt 4 are provided with bevels 401, contrary to 
the edges of the stop surface 471 of the cap 47. Consequently, the corners 
473 overhang these bevels 401. As already mentioned, the guide surface 441 
of the paraffin support plate 44 is adapted to polyhedral profile 400 of 
the polyhedral bolt 4 and, therefore, likewise has surfaces corresponding 
to the bevels 401 of the polyhedral bolt 4. The corners 473 of the cap 47 
therefore form a stop for the paraffin support plate 44 and retain the 
latter reliably upon the polyhedral bolt 4. 
Because the lateral surfaces 472 of the cap 47 terminate flush with the 
lateral surfaces of the polyhedral bolt 4, the cap 47 does not in any way 
obstruct the pushing of a paraffin block 21 onto the polyhedral bolt 4, 
nor does it interfere with its sliding on the polyhedral bolt 4. 
The cap 47 has a central bore 474 which permits access to the screwthreaded 
bolt 41 without the need to remove the cap 47 out of the polyhedral bolt 
4. This facilitates a rapid dismantling of the paraffining device 2, if 
this should ever be necessary. 
In the apparatus, the construction of which is described above, the drive 
whorl 20 of the paraffining device 2 is located between the bracket 5 for 
the paraffining device 2 and the paraffin block 21. However, this is not a 
necessary condition, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 5. 
In the example of construction illustrated, the drive belt 3 is returned 
along the driven paraffining devices 2 to the drive station (shaft 19, see 
FIG. 1). The drive belt 3 is maintained taut so that the two sides 30 and 
32 do not touch each other. In order to ensure this, even in the case of 
long machines in which a large number of paraffining devices 2 are driven 
by this drive belt 3, according to FIGS. 2 and 3 bracing elements 60 and 
61 are provided for the return side 31 of the drive belt 3 which is out of 
engagement with the paraffining devices 2. It is sufficient in principle 
if only one bracing element 60 or 61 is provided for each paraffining 
device 2, indeed, it is not even necessary for each paraffining device 2 
to have such a bracing element 60 and/or 61. 
According to FIG. 2, the bracing element 60 is constructed as support of 
the stop 6 limiting the feed movement of the paraffin block 21. For this 
purpose again, a single such bracing element 60 for each paraffining 
device 2 is sufficient. However, since it has been discovered that a 
particularly uniform wearing away of the paraffin block 21 is achieved if 
the stop 6 extends transversely to the yarn path, according to FIG. 2, 
such a bracing element 60 and 61 constructed as a support for the stop 6 
is provided on each of the two sides of the paraffin block 21. In this 
case, the stop 6 extends from one bracing element 60 to the other bracing 
element 61 of such a pair of bracing elements. 
The stop 6 may in principle be connected rigidly to both bracing elements 
60 and 61. However, in the example of construction illustrated, a clamp 
screw 62 is provided only for the bracing element 60. The bracing element 
61 on the other hand, exhibits a longitudinal slot 610 to accommodate the 
other end of the stop 6 on its upper side--that is to say, on its side 
remote from the polyhedral bolt 4 of the paraffining device 2. It is 
therefore possible, after releasing the clamp screw 62, to pivot the 
rail-shaped stop 6 into and out of the operative position in the bracing 
element 61, which forms a pivot bearing, so that the exchange of the 
paraffin block 21 and its subsequent securing upon the polyhedral bolt 4 
can be accomplished in the simpliest and quickest manner. 
In the example of construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the yarn 15 to 
be paraffined is moved from below upwards (see arrow B in FIG. 3). The 
stop 6 is located on the yarn departure side of the paraffin block 21. For 
the presecribed direction of movement of the drive belt 3 (see arrow P), 
the paraffin block 21 rotates counterclockwise in the direction of the 
arrow D. The rotary movement influencing the stop 6, therefore, passes 
from right to left. The bracing element 60, which is constructed as a 
pivot bearing for the stop 6, is arranged in front of this paraffin block 
relative to this rotary movement. The bracing element 61 exhibiting the 
longitudinal slot 610 is accordingly arranged behind the paraffining 
device 2. Thus, the rotating paraffin block 21 causes the stop 6 to be 
pressed into the longitudinal slot 610, and thus secures the stop 6 in its 
operative position. The reason for this is that, although the stop 6 is 
influenced by two mutually opposite torques M and m, nevertheless the 
torque M, which exhibits the longer torque arm (relative to the bracing 
element 60), predominates over the torque m exhibiting a shorter torque 
arm. 
Because the paraffin blocks 21 are driven alternately clockwise and 
counterclockwise by the described drive belt configuration, the bracing 
elements 60 constructed as pivot bearings and the bracing elements 61 
exhibiting the longitudinal slot 610 of each second paraffining device 2 
are also provided in the arrangement illustrated, and the paraffining 
devices 2 located between them in mirror image arrangement. 
In the open-end spinning machine shown, a yarn tension compensating element 
7 is located above the bracing elements 60 and 61. As best seen in FIGS. 2 
and 3 of the drawings, tension compensating element 7 is positioned in the 
path of travel of yarn 15. The shape or configuration of element 7 is such 
as to deflect the thread in such a manner as to equalize the length of its 
path of travel while it is being traversed by the traversing mechanism for 
the windup spool 16. In function, the operation of tension compensating 
element 7 is similar to the tension compensating element 120 disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,576. This element partially overhangs the paraffining 
devices 2. In order to protect the drive belt 3, according to FIGS. 2 and 
3, the mutual arrangement of yarn tension compensating element 7 and 
bracing elements 60 and 61 is made so that these bracing elements 60 and 
61 for the return side 31 of the drive belt 3, which is out of engagement 
with the paraffining device 2, are located close beneath the yarn tension 
compensating element 7. 
In the construction illustrated, the return side 31 of the drive belt 3 is 
guided in a duct 8 which is open on its side facing the paraffining device 
2. This duct 8, which may in principle be of varying construction, is 
formed, according to the construction illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, by the 
bracket 5 constructed as a retaining plate, an angled section 50 thereof, 
and a cover bar 70. The cover bar 70 is an integral component of a plate, 
a further section of which forms the yarn tension compensating element 7 
referred to. 
As a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 reveals, the drive belt 3 need not 
necessarily exhibit a flat shape, but may also have a different, for 
example, round shape. However, the arrangement of the drive whorl 20 
between the bracket (retaining plate 5) and the polyhedral bolt 4 with the 
paraffin block 21 is also not a necessary condition for the drive 
apparatus. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a variant drive apparatus, in which the drive whorl 20 
is arranged on the one, and the polyhedral bolt 4 with the paraffin 
support plate 44 on the other side of the bracket 4 reinforced by 
auxiliary plate 51. The polyhedral bolt 4, which exhibits a bracing plate 
48 for the compression spring 46 at its end facing the bracket 5, is 
mounted integrally in rotation on a shaft 9 in this case. The shaft 9 is 
mounted in a bearing bushing 92 by means of two rolling-contact bearings 
90 and 91. The rolling-contact bearings 90 and 91 are secured axially in 
the customary manner by circular clips 93, 94 and 95 and a spacing bushing 
96. The bearing bushing 92 is pressed into the plate 51. The shaft 9 
carries, at its end remote from the polyhedral bolt 4, the drive whorl 20 
with which the drive belt 3 is in engagement. 
In the case of such a construction, both the driving side 30 and the return 
side 31 of the drive belt 3 are located behind the bracket 5--considered 
from the operating side of the machine--so that the drive belt 3 is well 
protected. 
It will be understood, of course, that while the form of the invention 
herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the 
invention, it is not intended to illustrate all possible forms of the 
invention. It will also be understood that the words used are words of 
description rather than of limitation and that various changes may be made 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein 
disclosed.