IMPROVED TWISTING AND WINDING MACHINE

Abstract: An improved twisting and winding machine (10) which twists and winds multi-strand material in a continous operation without the need for excessive doffing and which includes a feed device such as a roller assembly (12) by which the multi-strand material is delivered and further includes an up-down carrier bar (24) which has a free spinning yarn guide coaxial with a powered spindle (S) onto which the yarn is wound, also, an arresting means to limit rotational movement of the free spinning yarn guide frame relative to any changes of the angular velocity of a bobbin (B) on the spindle (S), and an improved tensioning apparatus to apply a preselected tension to the yarn passing through the machine. The structure for providing the tension includes a member which is connected for rotation with the free spinning yarn guide, and a member which is movable in an up-down direction in conjunction with the carrier bar (24). In one embodiment, that member connected for rotation with the yarn guide is disposed axially through a twister ring and traveler assembly with a twisted yarn extending downwardly from the traveler through an axial slot of this member and through an up-down reciprocating carrier bar supporting a depending rotatable free spinning yarn guide frame, through which the yarn is wound onto the bobbin (B), and said arresting means is adapted to control the relative rotation of the free spinning yarn guide in relation to the rotation of the driven spindle (S).

Description: Description IMPROVED TWISTING AND WINDING MACHINE Technical Field This invention relates in general to an improved twisting and winding machine and more particularly to an earlier disclosed and patented twisting and winding machine, see U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 218,252. Background Art The present invention provides an improved tensioning and arresting means " in a machine for making relatively big yarn packages. The tensioning means generally includes a rotatable assembly with a rotatable member which is rotatable with a free spinning yarn guide and a member movable up and down in response to an up-down motion of a carrier bar. Several variations of the tensioning means are dis¬ closed with the improved twisting and winding machine. State of the Prior Art: Textile mills currently form yarn from sliver or roving made of multi-fibres which are first passed through a series of pairs of drafting or stretching rollers. From the drafting rollers, the yarn is extended through a guide and then to the traveler on a twister ring, where the plurality of fibres are twisted to form a yarn. A rotatably driven spindle is axially disposed relative to the twister ring and traveler whereby the twisted yarn is directly wound about the length of a bobbin. Further Background In order to allow for the making of relatively large bobbins a free spinning yarn guide has been incorporated and disclosed. This invention includes an improved tensioning means. The invention is of an improved twisting and winding machine characterized by a free spinning yarn guide and an improved ten¬ sioning means. Obj-ects of this Invention: Generally it is an object of this invention to provide an improved tensioning means for applying tension to multi-strand material operated upon by the machine which has a free spinning yarn guide frame. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arresting means for preventing unravel¬ ling of the bobbin as the speed of the twisting and winding machine is varied. Brief Description of the Drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the machine and illustrating a first embodiment of a tensioning means in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a partial plan view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 3 is a view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direc¬ tion of the arrows; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a second and alternative embodiment of the tensioning means; Figure 5 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 6 is a view illustrating the machine and a third alternative embodiment of the tensioning means; Figure 7 is a view taken on the plane indicated by line 7-7 of Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 8 is a side partial cutaway view of the improved arrsting means as seen with a connecting rod attached to the free spinning guide and inserted into the hollow spindle. Description of the Preferred Embodiment: With reference to the drawings, three embodi¬ ments of the tensioning means are illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 6 respectively, and an improved arresting means is illustrated in Figure 8. In those c figures the tension apparatus is generally indicated at 21, 61 and 71, respectively. It is shown as a part of a twisting and winding device 10. It is designed to provide tension to multi-strand material Y as it is wound on a bobbin B about a spindle S. In 0 each of the preferred embodiments, the same numeral is utilized to describe common components so as not to unduly lengthen the specification. In each embodiment there is a twisting and winding device 10 with a top roller assembly 12. The 5 roller assembly 12 is mounted on a first support 14 and discharges a plurality of strings or threads Y, through a guide means 18 to be twisted and wound by the machine. The roller assembly is driven by con¬ ventional drive means 4. The machine includes a _ generally U-shaped guide frame 30 which is rotatably supported for substantially free or spinning rotation by means of a central top hub 31 arranged in a de¬ pending relation to the bottom side of the up-down carrier bar 24 through a bearing 32 fixed therein. 5 The carrier bar 24 is driven by a conventional drive means which is not shown. The drive means may in¬ clude an eccentric cam or other means to produce a variable rate up-down motion for the purpose of winding conical yarn packages or for the purpose of 0 precision winding. Since a conical package has variable diameters, in order to prevent a larger number of winds about the areas of smaller diameter, the speed of the up-down motion of the carrier bar 24 may be correspondingly synchronized to be fastest 5 when the bobbin is being wound at the area of smallest diameter and slowest when the bobbin is being wound at the area of largest diameter. In this fashion, an equal number of winds may be delivered at each point of the bobbin. Similarly, variations on this system may be produced for precision winding and/or any given desired layout of the yarn. Addi¬ tionally, a control system should be included to slow the_ rotation of the cam, in order to slow the up-down movement of the carrier bar, as the size of the package increases, and to permit the same number of turns to be made about the bobbin at each particular point. The U-shaped frame has at least one hollow leg such as 78 in Figure 1 which in a preferred embodiment is generally tubular in shape and through which the multi-strand material Y passes freely to a bobbin B, about a spindle S by means of a yarn guide arm 96 which is biased into surface engagement with the bobbin, for example, by the action of the spring 97. The spindle S is rotatably supported through a fixed bottom support member 36, engaged with a fixed collar 38 and a fixed pulley 40 engaged by a first drive belt 42. Pulley 40 and first drive belt 42 are driven from a common drive shaft (not shown) to each spindle in the bank of yarn machines by a convent¬ ional drive means 8. The guide means 18 is in axial relationship with an annular hole 74 in the top end of the rotatable hub 31 of the guide frame 30. The plurality of threads Y passes from the guide means 18 through the annular hole 74, the hollow leg 78, and the guide arm 96, and onto the bobbin B. In order to prevent unravelling of the spindle S, arresting means 120 act to slow the free spinning frame 30 as the spindle rotation slows. The arresting means 120 is composed of a guard frame which has an enlarged bottom plate 122, fixed as by a collar 124 for rotation with the spindle S. On the plate 122 there are a pair of vertical, diametrically opposed paral¬ lel upwardly extending legs 128 and 130 outboard of the free spinning guide frame legs 78 and 80. On the leg 80 a vertically disposed strip 131 of flexible material, such as leather, is secured as at 132 for contact with one of the legs 128, 130 of the guard frame 134 for the purpose of arresting relative motion of rotation between the free spinning guide frame 30 and the spindle S, when the rotational movement of the spindle is arrested. Attached to the ends,, of the legs of the guard frame and free spinning frame are circular restraining bars 136 and 138, respectively. The circular bar 138 of the free spinning frame 30 circumscribes the bobbin and is of a sufficient diameter such that it does not touch the bobbin. Similarly, the circular bar 136 of the guard frame circumscribes the free spinning frame without touching it. The restraining bars 136 and 138 are designed to prevent the legs of the guard frame and free spinning frame from bending outward under the pressure of rotational forces. An alternative design to the arresting means 120 described above is shown in Figure 8 " , where an im¬ proved arresting means 120 is comprised of a ratchet wheel 140 attached to the spindle S. The ratchet wheel 140 has a rotatable inner portion 142 with a hollow center 145 and a key 143 extending into the hollow center 145. The rod 141 is fixed to the free spinning frame 30 at the hub 31 and slides through the hollow center 145 and into the hollow cavity of the spindle S in an up-down movement. The longi¬ tudinal slot 144 on the rod 141 coincides with the key 143 to prevent free rotation of the rod 141 except in the direction allowed by the ratchet wheel 140. As the up-down bar 24 is driven by the external source, the bar 24 causes the rod 141 to move up and down in the hollow center 145. In a slight varia¬ tion, the rod 141 includes a geared portion 146 which engages with a mating hollow portion of the hub 31. The geared portion 146 is locked in the mating posi¬ tion by a snap 147 embedded in the hub 31. A hori¬ zontal arm 148 is attached to the inner part 142 of the ratchet wheel 140 and extends outwardly from the ratchet wheel 140 to hold a vertical arm 151. A ratchet 150 rotatably and horizontally connects to the vertical arm 151 and is spring-urged against the ratchet wheel 140 by a spring 149. Operationally, as the bobbin rotates, the yarn rotationally pulls the free spinning guide 30 which in turn causes the rod 14l_ . to rotate. When the spindle S is slowed, the ratchet 150 will engage with the nearest tooth of the ratchet wheel 140 to prevent the free spinning guide 30 from turning faster than the bobbin B and unravel¬ ling the bobbin. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the free spinning guide frame 30 may be rotatably at¬ tached to a fixed support member, and, the spindle S may be rotatably fixed to an up-down bar. In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1, the tension apparatus includes a twist- ing ring assembly 20 which is attached to a fixed support 22. The twisting ring assembly includes a conventional twisting ring 50, which is fixed at 52 to the fixed support 22. The tension apparatus also includes a vertical rotor 54 or artificial bobbin which is rotatably axially supported by a,coupling 33 which is attached to a central top hub 31 which rotatably supports the U-shaped frame 30 by fixation to the up-down carrier bar 24 through the use of a bearing 32. The vertical rotor 54 is hollow and cylindrical with a longitudinal slot extending the length of the rotor, preferably, terminating in a cap-shaped smooth outer guide surface providing for yarn flow. The effect is that as the machine oper¬ ates the rotor will rotate synchronously with the yarn guide 30 and thereby tug the traveler ring 60 around on an annular track which is part of the twisting ring 50, where the multi-strand material Y is looped from the roller assembly through the trave¬ ler, into the slot of the rotor, through a hole in the carrier bar, into the yarn guide 30, and onto the bobbin B. The friction acting upon the multi-strand material as developed by the traveler and rotor tension apparatus is transferred by the material into the yarn guide 30 with respect to the rotation of the bobbin B creating a drag on the free spinning yarn guide. The size of the traveler may be increased or decreased in order to create a particular drag on the guide-. The result of increasing the traveler size is to increase the tension of the yarn to be wound onto the bobbin. The longitudinal slot in the cylindri- cally shaped rotor compensates for the up-down motion of the U-shaped frame by allowing for a continuous flow of the material and also contributes to the Q application of drag on the guide as friction develops between the material and the lip of the slot. It must also be appreciated that if the yarn guide does not have a means to structurally maintain contact with the bobbin at a point coincidental, or nearly 5 coincidental, with the point of delivery of material from the guide to the bobbin then the material will not tightly wind in an even manner. In each of the preferred embodiments, an arm 96 extends from the yarn guide to contact the bobbin and the material Q flows through this arm onto the bobbin. A spring 97 acts to urge the arm 96 against the bobbin, pre¬ venting the arm from simply flying away from the bobbin as the guide rotates and maintaining the tight and even wind developed by the application of drag 5 forces from the traveler ring and slot. The rotor is of such a length in relation to the up-down stroke as to maintain strands at all times in the slot of the rotor through which the yarn flows. As the rotor 54 rotates, it moves up and down inside the twisting Q ring 50; and, the traveler 60, simply rotates on its track as friction developed by the flow of material through the traveler pulls the traveler along. In summation, the operational effect of the twisting and winding machine in coordination with the tensioning 5 apparatus is that the multi-strand material is pulled from the yarn guide 30 at substantially the same rate that it is being wound on the bobbin and the pre¬ selected tension developed by the traveler size is maintained on the material. Arresting means controls the relative rotation of the free spinning yarn guide in relation to the rotation of the spindle, when the angular velocity of the spindle is changed so that the_angular velocity of the yarn guide does not excέed the angular velocity of the bobbin. In the second preferred embodiment, as illust¬ rated in Figure 4, the tension apparatus 61 is com¬ prised of an adjustable coupling means 62 which is attached to the up-down bar 24. The adjustable 0 coupling 62 as shown in Figure 5 includes a screw adjustment 64 which threads through a hollow well defining structure 66 which is fixed to the up-down carrier bar 24, a spring 68 which is urged by the screw against a bar 82, where the bar extends freely 5 through a hole on the opposite side of the well from the screw, an arcuate bar 84 which is fixed at its vertex to the portion of the bar extending out from the well, and roller means such as the illustrated two rollers 86 which are rotatably attached to the o ends of the arcuate bar. In addition the tension apparatus is comprised of a wheel 88 with a hollow center which is fixed to the top hub 31 and freely rotates with the yarn guide 30. As the screw 64 is adjusted to urge the spring 68, the rollers 86 exert 5 a frictional force on the wheel 88, which in turn acts to slow the free spinning motion of the yarn guide. The result is that the multi-strand material flows freely through the hollow center of the wheel 88, down the hollow portion of the yarn guide 30 and 0 onto the bobbin B. As the bobbin rotates, the mate¬ rial pulls the yarn guide to follow the bobbin B rotation. The tension apparatus provides drag. In the third preferred embodiment, as illust¬ rated in Figure 6, the tension apparatus 71 is the 5 overall weight of the yarn guide which may be in¬ creased by adding identical weights 72 one of which is attached to each leg of the U-shaped frame by fastening means such as clamp 74, a screw 73, and a nut 76 (Figure 7). The result is that the free movement of the U-shaped frame is subject to a drag by reason of its weight providing a preselected tension on the yarn. _, . While a preferred form of the instant invention has been herein described, it will.be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. OMPI

Claims: Claims 1. A twisting and winding machine for use in making packages of twisted wound yarn from multi- strand material in a continuous operation, without th " need of doffing small bobbins from twisting machines, interconnecting the separate lengths of twisted yarn material from the small bobbins, and winding that material on separate winding machines, and, wherein said twisting and winding machine in¬ cludes a) a free spinning yarn guide coaxially arranged for rotation about a spindle for delivery of the yarn, where said yarn is wound about the spindle forming a bobbin, and, b) where said guide has a arm which is urged against the bobbin and delivers the yarn from the guide to the bobbin, c) a carrier bar between the delivery means and the spindle with the yarn guide rotatably attached to said carrier bar which moves in an up and down motion relative to the spindle, said carrier bar having a hole substantially coaxial with the spindle, d) means to move the carrier bar, e) a spindle which is rotated mechanically by a power source at a spindle speed, where said spindle speed is the tangential speed at the outer diameter of the bobbin, f) arresting means to control relative rotation of the free spinning yarn guide in relation to the rotation of the spindle when the angular velocity of the spindle is changed so that the rota¬ tional speed of the yarn guide does not exceed the spindle speed, g) tension means for maintaining tension on the multi-strand material as it is wound on the bobbin, and h) means to deliver material to be twisted and wound by the machine at a delivery speed, where said delivery speed is less than or equal to said spindle speed, said tensioning means comprising a member rota- b c table together with the free spinning guide, said member being movable up and down in response to the up-down motion of the carrier bar, and, when in use, a force transmitting structure comprising the strand material which: 1) interconnects said tension means . to the guide and reflects a drag force developed by the tension means onto the yarn guide, and 2) inter¬ connects the roller assembly to the tension means for transmitting said delivery speed of the multi-strand material to the guide. 5 2. The machine as described in claim 1 where said rotatable member comprises a twisting ring assembly which is fixed to a fixed support above the carrier bar such that the center of the ring assembly 0 is coaxially aligned with the spindle, said twisting ring assembly is comprised of a conventional twisting ring with a hollow central area and which is fixed to the fixed support, said twisting ring has an annular track upon 5 which a conventional traveler engages for free cir¬ cular movements, such that the material passes from the roller assembly, through the traveler and into the up-down member; said up-down member comprises a vertical rotor 0 or artificial bobbin which is rotatably axially supported by a coupling means which is attached to a central top hub of the free spinning yarn guide which in turn is rotatably fixed to the up-down carrier bar by a bearing means, said up-down member having a hole 5 in the center where the yarn passes from the vertical rotor through the carrier bar and into the free spinning yarn guide; said vertical rotor being hollow and cylin¬ drical, and, having a longitudinal slot which extends lengthwise to provide an area through which the material may flow during operation of the spinning and winding machine, and having an upper and a lower portion, where said lower portion couples to said coupling, and said vertical rotor penetrates the central area of the twisting ring and has a length such that when the up-down carrier bar reaches the down position, the vertical rotor reaches a suf- ficient height above said twisting ring to allow for continuous flow of the multi-strand material and; said force transmitting means comprises the material which is guided from the roller assembly, through the traveler, through the vertical rotor of the carrier bar along the yarn guide and the arm, and onto the bobbin such that as the bobbin turns, the yarn guide is forced to follow by the tension deve¬ loped as the flow of the thread through the traveler and rotor creates additional drag in the radial direction. 3. The machine as described in claim 1 where said rotatable member and said up-down member com¬ prise an adjustable coupling means which is attached to the up-down carrier bar, said adjustable coupling means extends to a circular member which is matingly engaged with the central top hub such that friction developed by said coupling means against said cir¬ cular member restricts the motion of the free spin- ning yarn guide as adjusted by an operator, said circular member being hollow to provide an area through which a multi-strand material may flow along a hollow portion of the yarn guide and be deposited on the bobbin during operation of the spinning and winding machine passing from the roller assembly. OMPI 4. The machine as described in claim 1 where said rotatable member and said up-down member are combined and comprise two equally balanced; removable and adjustable weights which are attached to the yarn guide -through which the multi-strand material passes to be wound on the bobbin after passing from the roller assembly, and said force transmitting means comprises the multi-strand material which acts to pull the yarn guide as tension is developed and the weights act to slow the free spinning yarn guide as tension is relaxed and allows the bobbin to wind the yarn. 5. The machine as described in claim 1 where said tensioning means includes said arm of the guide which is urged against the bobbin by a spring means such that when the twisting machine is in use, said urged arm maintains contact with the bobbin to deliver an even and tight wind to the bobbin. 6. The machine as described in claim 1 where said guide frame has at least two legs and a circular bar attached to said legs, said circular bar circum¬ scribing the bobbin without touching said bobbin, and, said arresting means comprises a guard frame, said guard frame has at least two legs and a circular bar attached to said legs, and, said circular bar circumscribing the guide frame without touching said guide frame, such that while the twisting and winding machine is in use the legs of the guide and guard frame are prevented from bending outwardly under the forces generated by rotation. 7. The machine as described in claim 1 where said spindle having an upper portion, said upper portion having a cylindrical cavity, said arresting means comprising, a ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel being fixed about said upper portion of the spindle and having a rotatable inner wheel, said inner wheel having a top surface and a hollow circular center corresponding to said cylindrical cavity of the spindle, and, an inner perimeter surface, said inner perimeter surface having a key means extending into said circular center, said ratchet wheel having an outer perimeter, a ratchet assembly having an arm fixed to said top surface, said arm extending beyond said perimeter of said ratchet wheel, a vertical extension fixed to said arm, a ratchet having a first and a second end, said first end being rotatably attached to said vertical extension and said second end abutting said ratchet wheel, a spring means urging- said second end of said ratchet into abutting relationship with said ratchet wheel, and, a cylindrical rod, said rod having an upper and lower portion, said upper portion being fixed to said free spinning guide with said rod in coaxial align¬ ment with the spindle, said lower portion of the rod being sized for and slidably inserted into said cylindrical cavity of the spindle, said rod having a longitudinal slot extending along said lower portion, said longitudinal slot being sized to slidably mate with said key means of said ratchet wheel. O PI « >

Inventors: JACOBO MARIA GADALA, JACOBO, MARIA, GADALA
Applicants: JACOBO MARIA GADALA, JACOBO, MARIA, GADALA
Application year: 1983
Main classification: D01H1
IPC codes: D01H1