Textile winding machine with apparatus for removing debris on and around a traveling yarn

A debris removing apparatus for a textile winding machine is provided and includes an air stream channeling device, an air drive device, and a structure forming an opposite opening. The air stream channeling device includes an intake opening and a pair of wall members each having a generally planar portion extending substantially parallel to a lateral plane on which a linear travel path of a yarn lies as the yarn travels between a supply package to another yarn package at a winding station of the textile machine. The generally planar portions channel air drawn in through the intake opening by the air drive device into an air stream which travels parallel to the lateral plane toward the traveling yarn. The air stream flows around the yarn and entrains debris on and around the yarn for transport away from the yarn. The air drive device, in one aspect of the invention, includes a suction housing through which suction is applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a textile winding machine having an 
apparatus for removing debris on and around a traveling yarn and, more 
specifically, an apparatus for applying a stream of air transversely to 
the direction of travel of a traveling yarn as the yarn travels from a 
supply package to another yarn package to effect removal of debris borne 
along with the traveling yarn. 
U.S. Pat, No. 4,917,326 to Kojima et al discloses a cover for covering the 
top portion of supply package positioned at the winding station of a 
textile winding machine for removing fluff generated during the winding of 
yarn from the supply package to another yarn package. A suction pipe is 
connected to the cover for suctioning away fluff (e.g., fine debris 
particles) which are generated during the unwinding of the yarn from the 
supply package. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,138 to Ichiba discloses an apparatus for preventing the 
scatter of fly in a winder. An upper member having an open bottom end is 
disposed around a yarn tensioning device above the supply package being 
unwound. A lower member at least partially surrounds the supply package 
and has a top open end open towards the bottom open end of the upper cover 
member. Suction is applied to the interior of the upper cover member to 
create a fluid flow through the interior of both the upper and lower cover 
members to thereby remove fly generated within the two cover members. 
However, neither the fluff scattering preventing apparatus disclosed in 
Kojimi et al nor the fly scatter preventing apparatus disclosed in Ichiba 
satisfactorily address the problems associated with the removal of debris 
which is typically carried along by a traveling yarn such as, for example, 
a yarn being wound from a supply package during winding of the yarn onto 
another yarn package on a textile winding machine The velocity of the 
traveling yarn tends to create a column of air surrounding the 
circumference of the traveling yarn whose direction of flow is the same as 
the direction of travel of the traveling yarn. This column air entrains 
debris, and in particular, entrains fine particle debris, and transports 
this debris therealong as the column of air flows along the circumference 
of the traveling yarn. 
So long as the traveling yarn travels in an essentially linear travel path, 
the column of air flowing therewith remains undisturbed and the debris 
entrained in the column of air is transported thereby until the traveling 
yarn reaches other locations along the textile winding machine at which it 
changes its direction of travel or comes into engagement with a compound 
of the textile winding machine. In this manner, components as yarn 
tensioning devices, yarn break, and other components which are typically 
disposed between a supply package and the feed yarn package for handling 
of the yarn, tend to accumulate debris which has been dislodged from the 
traveling yarn. The accumulated debris on these components detrimentally 
impacts their operational deficiency. 
Moreover, if the traveling yarn has not been cleaned of such accompanying 
debris before traveling into engagement with or past such components, the 
resulting turbulence caused by the engagement of the traveling yarn with 
these components tends to cause a relatively wide dispersal of the debris 
entrained with the column of air, thus further complicating the removal of 
such debris from the components Accordingly, the need exists for 
dislodging debris traveling with a yarn as it travels between two 
locations such as, for example, from a supply package to another yarn 
package. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a textile winding machine having a debris 
removing apparatus which advantageously removes debris on and around a 
traveling yarn by directing an air stream around the yarn. 
Briefly described, the present invention provides, a textile winding 
machine comprising a winding station having means for winding yarn from a 
supply package onto another yarn package, the yarn traveling along a 
linear travel path during at least a portion of its travel between the 
supply package and the other yarn package and an apparatus for removing 
debris traveling with the yarn as it travels from the supply package to 
the other yarn package. The apparatus includes air stream channeling means 
including an intake opening, a first wall member, and a second wall 
member, an air drive means and a means forming an opposite side opening. 
Each first and second wall member has a generally planar portion extending 
substantially parallel to a lateral plane on which the linear travel path 
lies on a respective side of the lateral plane and each generally planar 
portions is at least partially coextensive with the linear travel path in 
the direction of travel of the yarn, the generally planar portions forming 
therebetween an air stream channeling chamber intersected by the lateral 
plane and extending laterally to one side of the linear travel path. The 
air stream channeling chamber is communicated with the intake opening and 
open toward the yarn traveling along the linear travel path. 
The air drive means drives air through the intake opening, along the air 
stream channeling chamber and into and around the yarn traveling along the 
linear travel path, the air stream channeling chamber channeling air into 
an air stream traveling parallel to the lateral plane toward the yarn in 
the linear travel path. The means forming an opposite side opening forms 
an opening on the opposite side of the linear travel path as the air 
stream channeling chamber relative to the lateral plane, the opposite side 
opening being intersected by the lateral plane and having a cross 
sectional extent relative to the cross sectional extent of the air stream 
channeling chamber to permit the air stream channeled by the air stream 
channeling chamber toward the yarn to flow around the yarn and entrains 
debris on and around the yarn for transport away from the yarn. 
The textile winding machine preferably also includes a yarn braking device 
for controlling the rate of travel of the yarn as it travels between the 
supply package and the other yarn package, and the means forming an 
opposite side opening includes a pair of interconnecting portions, each 
the interconnecting portion being connected to a respective one of the 
first and second wall members and to the means forming an opposite side 
opening and each the interconnecting portion defines one edge of the 
opposite side opening on a respective side of the lateral plane Also, each 
interconnecting portion preferably extends from the generally planar 
portion of a respective one of the first and second wall members outwardly 
relative to the lateral plane to the means forming an opposite side 
opening. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, the generally planar 
portions of the first and second wall members are at a spacing from one 
another greater than the cross-sectional extent of the yarn. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, the textile winding 
machine further comprises a means forming a chamber in which the supply 
package is disposed during winding of yarn therefrom, the chamber 
extending beyond the top of the supply package relative to the direction 
of travel of the yarn, and the air stream channeling means is disposed 
intermediate the chamber forming means and the yarn braking device. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the air drive means 
is a suction applying device for applying suction through the air stream 
channeling means. 
The textile winding machine preferably also includes a yarn end splicing 
end device and a yarn end engaging device having an arm member pivotally 
mounted to the textile winding machine for pivoting in a plane parallel to 
the lateral plane, the arm member forming a suction conduit and a free end 
of the arm member defining a suction opening at the end of the suction 
conduit. The arm member is pivotable between a yarn end engaging position 
in which the suction opening of the arm member is disposed intermediate 
the debris removing apparatus and the chamber forming means for applying 
suction to draw a yarn end of the yarn into the suction conduit of the arm 
member and a yarn transfer position in which the suction opening of the 
arm member is disposed for positioning the yarn engaged by the arm member 
in the yarn end splicing device. 
According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the textile 
winding machine includes a balloon breaking device located intermediate 
the chamber forming means and the debris removing apparatus. 
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the textile 
winding machine includes a slub catcher mounted to the chamber forming 
means for removing yarn slubs as the yarn travels from the supply package 
to the other yarn package. 
According to a further additional aspect of the present invention, the 
textile winding machine includes a cover portion extending between, and 
connected to, the interconnecting portions. The cover portion preferably 
includes a yarn guiding element for guiding the yarn as it travels between 
the supply package and the other yarn package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 1, a textile winding machine I having a winding station 2 is 
illustrated. The textile winding machine 1 includes the preferred 
embodiment of the debris removing apparatus 17 of the present invention 
and FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the features of the debris removing apparatus in 
greater detail. 
The textile winding machine 1 includes a conventional yarn package 
transport assembly 3 for transporting yarn packages to the winding station 
2 for unwinding thereat. The winding station 2 is mounted on a frame 4 and 
includes a rocking shaft 6 of a creel 8 mounted on a machine frame 4 and 
carrying the tube of a cross-wound bobbin 9. The bobbin 9 is in contact 
with a yarn guide drum 10 and is driven by the yarn guide drum 10 by means 
of friction in the direction indicated by the arrow 11. The yarn guide 
drum 10 is provided with reversing thread grooves for guiding a yarn 12 
from a package being unwound at the unwinding location onto the bobbin 9 
as a cross-wound bobbin. The creel 8 is raised by a handle 13 to lift the 
bobbin 9 off the yarn guide drum 10. 
At the start of winding, an empty tube 14 is clamped into the creel 7, as 
is shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines. As the bobbin 9 is built, the creel 8 
pivots upward along a circular arc 15. 
The yarn 12 is supplied to the yarn guide drum 10 through a yarn eyelet 16. 
Yarn 12 traverses along a path 12' as it travels between the yarn eyelet 
16 and the yarn guide drum 10. 
As it comes from the yarn supply unit 3, yarn 12 runs through a 
conventional clearer 18 and a conventional waxing device 19 before it 
reaches yarn eyelet 16. In the event of a yarn break, the yarn can be 
drawn into a suction nozzle 20 which is connected to a conventional 
suction source 21. 
To restore a yarn connection after a yarn break, a conventional splicing 
device 22 is located to the side of the yarn or thread course between the 
yarn tensioner 17 and the clearer 18. This splicing device 22 operates 
automatically in a conventional manner. 
After a yarn break, the incoming yarn end is usually still present under 
the clearer 18. It is caught there for the purpose of splicing by a 
conventional yarn receiving element in the shape of a suction tube 24 
which can pivot about a pivot 23 and whose suction intake mouth 25 is 
pivoted along circular arc 26 below the yarn clearer 18 and back again 
into the initial position. 
The upper yarn end has usually been wound onto the winding bobbin 9 after a 
yarn break. It is drawn in by suction by a suction intake nozzle 27 of a 
suction tube 29, which pivots about a pivot point 28. When the suction 
tube 29 is pivoted downward, the suction intake nozzle 27 moves with the 
engaged upper yarn along a circular arc 30. The entrained yarn is threaded 
thereby into the reversing thread groove of the yarn guide drum 10, the 
yarn eyelet 16, the waxing device 19 and the measuring slot of the clearer 
18. It is also grasped by a conventional grasping means (not shown) of the 
splicing device 22 adjacent the lower yarn held by the suction intake 
mouth 25 of the suction tube 24. Immediately after restoration of the 
splicing connection, the splicing device 22 frees the yarn for resumption 
of the winding operation. 
The winding station 2 includes a plurality of independently movable tube 
support members 38,39 and 40 for individually supporting a plurality of 
yarn packages 35,36 and 37, respectively, which comprise yarn built on an 
individual tube. Each yarn package 35-37 includes an upper reserve winding 
such as, for example, the upper reserve windings 33 and 34 on the yarn 
packages 36 and 37, respectively. As seen in FIG. 1, each tube support 
member 38,39,40, includes a cylindrical base plate, a top cylindrical 
plate, and a cylindrical upright component, the plates and the upright 
cylindrical component 45 being coaxial. The upright component has an outer 
diameter compatibly configured with respect to the inner diameter of the 
tubes onto which the yarn of the yarn packages 35-37 is built. 
Accordingly, the tube support members 38-40 individually support the yarn 
packages 35-37 in an upright disposition. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the winding station 2 includes a conventional delivery 
assembly 68 having an endless belt for delivering the tube support members 
38-40 to a preliminary location, a conventional discharge assembly 69 
having an endless belt for transporting the tube support members 38-40 
from a discharge location to a further handling location (not shown) and a 
cross-transport assembly 32 for transporting the tube support members 
38-40 along a cross path extending from the preliminary location through 
an unwinding location to the discharge location. The cross-transport 
assembly 32 transports the tube support members 38-40, with the yarn 
packages 35-37 supported in upright dispositions thereon, to the unwinding 
location for individual unwinding of the yarn packages at the winding 
station 2. 
The cross-transport assembly 32 includes an endless belt 70 trained around 
a pair of guide rollers 71,72 and driven by a conventional endless belt 
drive motor (not shown) in the direction indicated by the arrow 61 in FIG. 
1. The junction of the delivery assembly 68 and the cross-transport 
assembly 32 defines the preliminary location. The tube support members 
38-40 are transferred from the endless belt of the delivery assembly 68 to 
the endless belt 70 of the cross-transport assembly 32, at the preliminary 
location, in conventional manner. The junction of the endless belt of the 
discharge assembly 69 and the endless belt 70 of the cross-transport 
assembly 32 defines the discharge location. The tube support members 38-40 
are transferred from the endless belt 70 of the cross-transport assembly 
32 to the endless belt of the discharge assembly 69, at the discharge 
location, in conventional manner. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the yarn end loosening apparatus 3 includes a support 
frame 5, a first support post 66 extending vertically from the support 
frame 5 and supporting a first movement means 64, a connector 62 and a 
first chamber portion 50a and a second support post 67 supporting a second 
movement means 65, a second connector 64 and a second chamber portion 50b. 
The first chamber portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b form a 
gas guide chamber 50 when they are in mating contact with one another. The 
first movement means 64 and the second movement means 65 are each 
configured as a conventional hydraulic cylinder actuable to selectively 
retract and extend the respective associated connector 62 or 63, which are 
each configured as conventional hydraulic cylinder rods. The first 
movement means 64 and the second movement means 65 are each operatively 
connected by a plurality of conventional connectors 74 to a central 
control unit 73 mounted to the winding station 2. The connector 74 can be, 
for example, flexible pneumatic conduits. 
The first chamber portion 50a is fixedly connected to the free end of the 
connector 62. The second chamber portion 50b is fixedly connected to the 
free end of the connector 63. As seen in FIG. 1, the first chamber portion 
50a and the second chamber portion 50b support a plurality of jet nozzles 
51,52 and 53 which are operatively connected by a plurality of flexible 
conduits 54,55 and 56, respectively, to a conventional regulating valve 
57. The regulating valve 57 regulates the outflow of compressed gas from a 
conventional compressed gas source 58 operatively connected to the central 
control unit 73. The jet nozzles 51,52 and 53 direct jet streams of gas, 
which are supplied via the conduits 54,55 and 56 from the compressed gas 
source 58, against a yarn package positioned between the first chamber 
portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b to loosen a yarn end on the 
yarn package, as described in more detail below. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the first chamber portion 50a and the second chamber 
portion 50b are respectively movable to a chamber forming position in 
which they define the gas guide chamber 50. In this regard, as seen in 
FIG. 1, the first chamber portion 50a includes a semi-cylindrical body 
portion having an axial extent greater than the length of any of the tubes 
supported on the tube support members 38,39,40 and an enlarged foot 
portion having a radial extent greater than the radial extent of the 
semi-cylindrical body portion. As seen in FIG. 1, the enlarged foot 
portion has a radial extent sufficient to accommodate the base plate and 
the top plate of a respective one of the tube support members 38,39,40 
when the tube support member is positioned between the first chamber 
portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b in the gas guide chamber 
50. 
The second chamber portion 50b includes a semi-cylindrical body portion 
and, as shown in FIG. 1, an enlarged foot portion having a radial extent 
greater than the radial extent of the semi-cylindrical portion. The radial 
extent of the enlarged foot portion is sufficient to accommodate the base 
plate and the top plate of a respective one of the tube support members 
38,39,40 when the respective tube support member is positioned in the gas 
guide chamber 50. 
The first chamber portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b are 
compatibly configured with their respective semi-cylindrical body portions 
having the same radius and their respective enlarged foot portions having 
the same cross sectional radial extent, such that the semi-cylindrical 
body portions and the enlarged foot portions, respectively, mate with one 
another along a first interface line 59 and a second interface line 60 
when the first chamber portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b are 
moved into the chamber forming position to form the gas guide chamber 50. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the free end of the connector 62 is fixedly connected 
to the semi-cylindrical body portion of the first chamber portion 50a and 
the connector 63 is fixedly connected to the semi-cylindrical body portion 
of the second chamber portion 50b such that the semi-cylindrical body 
portions are supported in a vertical disposition. Thus, the gas guide 
chamber 50 includes a cylindrical portion, formed by the semi-cylindrical 
portions of the chamber portions 50a,50b, having an axis 183. The first 
chamber portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b are oriented 
relative to one another such that the first interface line 59 and the 
second interface line define a line which intersects the direction of 
travel 61 at a 45 degree angle. 
The winding station 2 includes a conventional yarn end receiving element 
having a suction tube 24 for applying a suction force through the suction 
mouth 25. The suction tube 24 is movable to move the suction mouth 25 
along a circular arc 26. The yarn end receiving element is operable to 
receive a yarn end loosened from a yarn package at the unwinding location 
to convey the yarn end to a yarn delivery component such as the splicing 
device 22 of the unwinding machine 2. 
The yarn end loosening apparatus 31 operates as follows to loosen a yarn 
end of a yarn package supported on one of the tube support members 
38,39,40 and to support the yarn package during subsequent unwinding of 
the yarn from the yarn package at the winding station 2. The tube support 
members 38,39,40, each supporting a tube having a yarn package built 
thereon such as, for example, the yarn packages 36,37 supported on the 
tube support members 39,40, respectively, are delivered by the delivery 
assembly 68 to the preliminary location for feeding to the unwinding 
device 2. In conventional manner, the tube support members 38,39,40 are 
loaded onto the endless belt of the cross-transport assembly 32 such that 
they are transported in the direction of travel 61 while arranged serially 
with respect to each other, as seen in FIG. 1. 
As the tube support members 38,39,40 travel in the direction of travel 61 
toward the unwinding location, the second chamber portion 50b is initially 
disposed in a clearance position in which it is sufficiently spaced from 
the cross path to permit the tube support members to be moved therepast by 
the cross-transport assembly 32. The second chamber portion 50b is 
disposed in its clearance position by appropriate control of the second 
movement means 65 by the central control unit 73. Specifically, the 
central control unit 73 controls the second movement means 65 to cause it 
to be charged with a conventional hydraulic fluid from a conventional 
hydraulic fluid source (not shown). The charging of the second movement 
means 65 with hydraulic fluid causes the connector 63 to be retracted into 
the second movement means 65, thereby displacing the second chamber 
portion 50b laterally toward the same side of the cross-transport assembly 
70 as the side on which the second support post 67 is disposed to an 
extent sufficient for the cylindrical body portion and the enlarged foot 
portion to be clear of the cross path. 
The first chamber portion 50a is initially disposed in the chamber forming 
position whereby it intersects the cross path. The semi-cylindrical body 
portion and the enlarged foot portion of the first chamber portion 50a 
face in the direction opposite to the direction of travel 61. 
The cross-transport assembly 32 eventually moves the forward-most tube 
support member 38, as viewed in the direction of travel 61, past the 
second chamber portion 50b, which is disposed in its clearance position, 
and, further, into contact with the inner surface of the first chamber 
portion 50a. The base cylindrical plate of the tube support member 38 
contacts the enlarged foot portion, whereby further travel of the tube 
support member 38 in the direction of travel 61 is prevented. The tube 
support member 39, which is the next tube support member following the 
tube support member 38, has its base cylindrical plate in contact with the 
base cylindrical plate of the preceding tube support member 38 due to the 
continuous action of the endless belt of the cross-transport assembly 32. 
The central control unit 73 then controls the second movement means 65 to 
extend the connector 63 to thereby effect movement of the second chamber 
portion 50b from its clearance position to the chamber forming position in 
which the second chamber portion 50b and the first chamber portion mate 
along the first engagement line 59 and second engagement line 60 with the 
yarn package supported on the tube support member 38 supported in upright 
disposition therebetween. The enlarged foot portion of the second chamber 
portion 50b displaces the tube support members 39 and 40 slightly in the 
direction opposite to the direction of travel 61 during the movement of 
the second chamber portion 50b from its clearance position to the chamber 
forming position. Accordingly, once the second chamber portion 50b is 
disposed in the chamber forming position, the enlarged foot portion 
extends between the respective cylindrical base plates of the tube support 
member 38 and the tube support member 39 to thereby space the two tube 
support members from one another. 
The gas guide chamber 50 formed by the first chamber portion 50a and the 
second chamber portion 50b provides a substantially sealed enclosure along 
the extent of the yarn package supported on the tube support member 38. 
Accordingly, once the second portion chamber 50b mates with the first 
chamber portion 50a to form the gas guide chamber 50, the central control 
unit 73 can control the regulating valve 57 to supply compressed gas to 
the jet nozzles 51,52 and 53. As seen in FIG. 1, the jet nozzles are 
oriented to direct jet streams of gas in inclined tangential directions 
with respect to the yarn package to loosen a yarn end of the yarn package. 
The loosened yarn end is directed upwardly under the influence of a helical 
gas flow which occurs due to the orientation of the jet nozzles 51,52,53 
and the cylindrical shape formed by the semi-cylindrical body portions of 
the first chamber portion 50a and the second chamber portion 50b. The 
helical flow of gas eventually lifts the loosened yarn end toward the top 
of the gas guide chamber 50 for engagement of the yarn end by the suction 
mouth 25 of the suction device 24. Once the suction device 24 has grasped 
the loosened yarn end, the suction device 24 signals the central control 
unit 73 in conventional manner and the central control unit 73 controls 
the regulating valve 57 to cease the flow of compressed gas from the 
compressed gas source 58 to the jet nozzles 51,52,53. The central control 
unit 73 also controls the suction device 24 to swing the suction mouth 25 
along the circular arc 26 to deliver the engaged yarn end to the splicing 
device 22 for subsequent continued unwinding of the yarn from the yarn 
package disposed within the gas guide chamber 50. 
The circular arc 26 through which the suction mouth 25 of the suction 
device 24 is moved lies on the lateral plane P. Accordingly, the pivoting 
of the suction mouth 25 along the circular arc 26 delivers the engaged 
yarn end to the splicing device 22 and also disposes the yarn between the 
generally planar portions of the wall members in position for removal of 
debris around the yarn by the debris removing apparatus 17. 
Once the yarn on the yarn package supported on the tube support member 38 
has been completely unwound, only an empty tube remains on the tube 
support member 38. In correspondence with the completion of the unwinding 
of the yarn package, the central control unit 73 controls the first 
movement means 64 to retract the connector 62 to thereby move the first 
chamber portion 50a from the chamber forming position to a clearance 
position in which the first chamber portion is cleared from the cross path 
sufficiently for the tube support member 38 to be conveyed therepast by 
the cross-transport assembly 32 toward the discharge location. 
Additionally, the central control unit 73 controls the second movement 
means 65 to retract the second chamber portion 50b from the chamber 
forming position to its respective clearing position. 
Once the second chamber portion 50b reaches its respective clearance 
position, the next following tube support member 39 is moved by the action 
of the cross-transport assembly 32 in the direction of travel 61 into the 
unwinding location. In coordination with the movement of the tube support 
member 39 into the unwinding location, the central control unit 73 
controls the first movement means 64 to move the first chamber portion 50a 
from its respective clearance position to a travel blocking position in 
which the enlarged foot portion sufficiently extends into the cross path 
at the unwinding location to prevent further travel of the tube support 
member 39 in the direction of travel 61. 
The movement of the first chamber portion 50a from its respective clearance 
position to the travel blocking position is timed in coordination with the 
movement of the support member 38, which has just exited the unwinding 
location, such that the tube support member 38 has traveled sufficiently 
beyond the first chamber portion 50a to preclude the movement of the first 
chamber portion from its clearance position to the travel blocking 
position from hindering the movement of the tube support member 38 toward 
the discharge location. Depending upon the operating circumstances, the 
travel blocking position of the first chamber portion 50a may be 
substantially coincidental with its chamber forming position. In other 
operating circumstances, the travel blocking position may entail the 
positioning of the enlarged foot portion only slightly into the cross path 
but to a sufficient extent to prevent further travel of the next following 
tube support member 39. Thereafter, the first chamber portion 50a is moved 
to the chamber forming position. 
Once the next following tube support member 39 is positioned at the 
unwinding location in contact with the first chamber portion 50a, the 
central control unit 73 controls the second movement means 65 to move the 
second chamber portion 50b from its respective clearance position to the 
chamber forming position. During this movement, the second chamber portion 
50b contacts the tube support member 40, which is now the next following 
tube support member with respect to the tube support member 39 at the 
unwinding location, and displaces the tube support member 40 in a 
direction opposite to the direction of travel 61 as the second chamber 
portion moves into the chamber forming position. The enlarged foot portion 
is now interposed between the respective cylindrical base plates of the 
tube support members 39,40. In correspondence with the movement of the 
second chamber portion 50b into the chamber forming position, the central 
control unit 73 controls the regulating valve 57 to supply compressed gas 
to the jet nozzles 51,52,53 to perform a yarn end loosening operation on 
the yarn package supported by the tube support member 39. 
The debris removing apparatus 17 is mounted to the frame 4 at a location 
for removing debris from the yarn 12 as it travels beyond the top of the 
yarn end loosening 31 in advance of engagement of the yarn by a yarn guide 
77 disposed immediately below the yarn clearer 18 relative to the 
direction of travel of the yarn 12. The debris removing apparatus 17 
includes an air stream channeling means, an air drive means, and an 
opposite side opening forming means. 
The air stream channeling means includes a first wall member and a second 
wall member. Each wall member includes a generally planar portion 
extending substantially parallel to a lateral plane P (shown in FIG. 2). 
The linear travel path 12" of the traveling yarn 12 lies on the lateral 
plane P and each of the generally planar portions of the wall members 
extend on a respective side of the lateral plane P. As seen in FIG. 3, 
each generally planar portion of the wall members preferably has a lateral 
extent of approximately 5 centimeters. 
Each wall member is preferably formed out of lead and includes a horizontal 
flange portion 86,88, a vertical tab portion 85,87, and an interconnecting 
portion 83,84, respectively. The bottom edge of the generally planar 
portion of each wall member is mounted to the horizontal flange portion 
86,88 and extends perpendicularly therefrom. The bottom edge of the 
vertical tab portion 85,87, of each wall member is mounted to the 
horizontal flange portion 86,88, respectively, and extends perpendicularly 
therefrom. The interconnecting portion 83,84 of each wall member includes 
a vertical edge sealingly connected to a vertical edge of one of the 
generally planar portions of the wall members and a bottom edge connected 
to the horizontal flange portion 86,88, respectively. Thus, the 
interconnecting portion 83,84 interconnects one of the generally planar 
portions of the wall members with a respective one of the vertical tab 
portions 85,87. 
As seen in FIG. 4, the interconnecting portions 83,84 form an included 
angle alpha of approximately 60.degree. which is bisected by the lateral 
plane P. 
The means forming an opposite side opening include a suction housing 82 
having a projecting portion 81, as seen in FIG. 2, and the suction housing 
82 is preferably formed of lead. The suction housing 82 is communicated 
with the suction source with which the suction device 24 is operatively 
connected for applying a suction through the suction housing 82. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the suction housing 82 is mounted to the frame 4 with 
its projecting portion 81 projecting laterally parallel to the lateral 
plane P. As seen in FIG. 2, the free end of the projecting portion 81 is 
open and the vertical tab portions 85,87 of the wall members are fixedly 
connected to the projecting portion 81 by conventional securing means such 
as, for example, welding. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the interconnecting 
portions 83,84 of the wall members extend to the projecting portion 81 and 
each has a vertical edge fixed connected to an inner surface of the 
projecting portion 81. 
The interconnecting portions 83,84 of the wall members define therebetween 
an opposite side opening have an extent b, as measured transversely to the 
linear travel path 12" and the lateral plane P and have a height h, as 
seen in FIG. 3 of approximately 8 centimeters. The height h and the extent 
b of the opposite side opening are selected to provide the opposite side 
opening with a cross sectional extent relative to the cross sectional 
extent of the air stream channeling chamber which permits the air stream 
channel by the air stream channeling chamber toward the yarn 12 to flow 
around the yarn and entrain debris on and around the yarn 12 for transport 
away from the yarn. 
The generally planar portions of the wall members are coextensive with the 
linear travel path 12" in the direction of travel of the yarn 12 and 
formed therebetween and air stream channeling chamber intersected by the 
lateral plane P and extending laterally to one side of the linear travel 
path 12". The respective vertical edges of the generally planar portions 
of the wall members opposite the vertical edges connected to the 
interconnecting portions 83,84 form therebetween an intake opening. As 
seen in FIG. 4, the width of the air stream channeling chamber as measured 
transversely to the linear travel path 12" and the lateral plane P is 
relatively slightly greater than the cross-sectional extent of the yarn 
12. 
As seen in FIG. 2, the planar bottom surface of the projecting portion 81 
is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the horizontal flange portions 
86,88. The horizontal flange portions 86,88 beneficially act as air 
deflectors. 
A yarn sensor 60 is mounted to the bottom surface of the projecting portion 
81 for sensing the presence of a yarn extending between the supply package 
and the debris removing apparatus 17. The yarn sensor 60 can be of a 
conventional configuration such as, for example, a photoelectric cell. A 
guide component 89 in the form of a relatively stiff wire is mounted to 
the top of one of the generally planar portions of the wall members for 
guiding the traveling yarn 12 into the preferred position between the 
interconnecting positions 83,84 for cleaning of debris on and around the 
traveling yarn. 
As seen in FIG. 2, a horizontal cover portion 90 is connected to the planar 
top surface of the projecting portion 81 and to the top horizontal edge of 
each of the interconnecting portions 83,84. The cover portion 90 forms a 
yarn guiding recess 91 having an arcuate edge 92 adapted to guide the 
traveling yarn 12. 
As seen in FIG. 1, a conventional slub catcher is mounted to the chamber 
portion 50a and includes an electronically actuable turning magnet 93 and 
a horizontally extending rod 94 operatedly interconnected to the turning 
magnet 93 for turning thereby through an angle of approximately 
180.degree.. As shown in FIG. 1, the rod 94 extends laterally away from 
the traveling yarn 12 in its inoperative position. Through actuation of 
the turning magnet 93, the rod 94 is pivoted through 180.degree. into 
engagement with the traveling yarn 12 intermediate the top of the chamber 
50 and the debris removing apparatus 17 for eliminating slubs from the 
traveling yarn 12. 
The relatively high velocity of the traveling yarn 12 causes the traveling 
yarn to create a column of air about its circumference which travels with 
the yarn and carries with it fine debris particles and short fibers which 
have been separated from the yarn package. For example, a high performance 
automatic textile winding machine is capable of producing a velocity of 
over 1,000 meters per minute in the traveling yarn 12. The debris removing 
apparatus 17 advantageously operates as follows to remove debris on and 
around the traveling yarn 12 for transport away from the yarn. After the 
yarn has been disposed between the wall members as previously described by 
the swinging movement of the suction mouth 25 along the circular arc 26, 
the central control unit 73 receives a signal from the sensor 60 
indicating the presence of the yarn. The central control unit 73 then 
controls the supply of suction through the intake opening, through the air 
stream channeling chamber between the generally planar portions of the 
wall members, into and around the traveling yarn 12 as it travels along 
the linear travel path 12", through the opposite side opening 80, the 
projecting portion 81 and the suction housing 82. The air stream 
channeling chamber channels the air into an air stream traveling parallel 
to the lateral plane P toward the yarn 12 as the yarn travels in the 
linear travel path 12' and this air stream flows around the yarn and 
entrains debris on and around the yarn for transport away from the yarn 
through the suction housing 82 to a waste collection site (not shown) at 
which the debris is collected. 
The slub catcher can be advantageously selectively operated to engage the 
traveling yarn 12 following a yarn break to prevent the traveling yarn 
from being suctioned into the suction housing 82 during the period of time 
between the breaking of the yarn and the engagement of the yarn by the 
suction mouth 25 of the suction device 24. Otherwise, an undesirably 
lengthy extent of the traveling yarn 12 will be suctioned into the suction 
housing 82 before the yarn is engaged by the suction mouth 25 for 
disposition thereby into the splicing device 22. The present invention 
also contemplates that the slub catcher can be configured with two 
oppositely movable rods instead of the single rod 94, or can alternatively 
be configured with a cutter-type mechanism. 
In the event that the traveling yarn 12 breaks during its travel between 
the supply package 31 and the package 9, the suction action of the debris 
removing apparatus 17 draws the lower yarn end extending from the supply 
package 31 into the suction housing 82 and thereby exerts a tension on the 
lower yarn end which advantageously maintains the lower yarn end in a 
position for ready and accurate engagement by the suction mouth 25 of the 
suction device 24. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the debris removing apparatus 
17 maintains the lower yarn end of the traveling yarn 12 in an upstanding 
disposition between the top of the supply package 31 and the suction 
housing 82 so that the suction mouth 25, when it is moved to its yarn 
engaging position 25', can readily draw in the lower yarn into the suction 
device 24 for movement thereby into splicing position in the splicing 
device 22. 
As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the event of a yarn break between the debris 
removing apparatus 17 and the package 9, the debris removing apparatus 17 
and the suction device 24 cooperate together to continuously maintain the 
lower yarn extending from the supply package 35 between the first and 
second wall members. Initially, following a yarn break, the lower yarn end 
is suctioned into the suction housing 82, as schematically illustrated by 
the open line 12a. Thereafter, when the suction mouth 25 of the suction 
device 24 engages the lower yarn end at the yarn end engaging position 25' 
between the debris removing apparatus 17 and the top of the chamber 50, 
the lower yarn end is correspondingly drawn out from the suction housing 
82 during arcuate movement of the suction mouth 25 along the circular arc 
26. When the suction mouth 25 reaches the position 25a on the circular arc 
26, the lower end is in the position schematically illustrated by the 
dash-dot line 12b in which the lower yarn end extends between the first 
and second wall members. Thereafter, as the suction mouth 25 continues its 
arcuate movement along the circular arc 26 through another position 25b on 
the circular arc, the lower yarn end continues to be disposed between the 
first and second wall members, as schematically illustrated by the 
dash-dot line 12c. Thus, when the lower yarn end is ultimately disposed in 
the splicing device 22 for splicing with an upper yarn end, the lower yarn 
end is already disposed between the interconnecting portions 83,84 for 
removal of debris on and around the yarn when the yarn resumes its travel 
between the supply package 35 and the package 9. 
As seen in FIG. 5, the chamber 50 can be provided with a conventional 
balloon breaker 95 which simultaneously acts as an accelerator. So, a 
conventional yarn cleaner 98 can be mounted to the frame 4 above the 
debris removing apparatus 17 which includes a measuring slot 97 through 
which the traveling yarn travels immediately after exiting the debris 
removing apparatus 17. Additionally, the debris removing apparatus 17 can 
be provided with a yarn guide element 92' mounted to the top surface of 
the projecting portion 81 for guiding the traveling yarn 12 as it exits 
the debris removing apparatus 17. 
The yarn cleaner 98 can include conventional yarn cutting elements for 
cutting the traveling yarn 12 in the event that the defective or other out 
of limit portion of the traveling yarn 12 is detected during the travel of 
the yarn 12 between the supply package 35 and the package 9. 
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art 
that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and 
application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention 
other than those herein described, as well as many variations, 
modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or 
reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing 
description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the 
present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been 
described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is 
to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary 
of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a 
full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is 
not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or 
otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, 
modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being 
limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.