Patent ID: 7543463

Claim:
A sealing head for sealing an end opening of a heat set line for setting yarn, and comprising: (a) a bottom sealing roll frame mounted adjacent the end opening and carrying a rotatably-mounted bottom sealing roll; (b) a top sealing roll frame carrying a rotatably-mounted top sealing roll, the top sealing roll frame mounted on the bottom sealing roll frame for pivoting vertical and lateral movement between an open, non-sealing position, a closed, non-sealing position and a closed, sealing position, with the top roll in the closed sealing position engaging a yarn conveyor extending between the top and bottom rolls and into the heat set line for conveying the yarn into the heat set line; (c) at least one power assist assembly interconnecting the top and bottom sealing roll frames for power-assisted movement of the top sealing roll frame between the open, non-sealing position and the closed, non-sealing position, and comprising a force member for unison pivotal movement of the top sealing roll frame in both a vertical and conveying lateral direction between the open, non-sealing position and the closed non-sealing positions; (d) pressurizing springs carried by the top sealing roll frame for resiliently biasing the top roll against the conveyor when in its closed, sealing position; and (e) a locking lever for urging the top roll into contact with the conveyor and locking the top sealing roll frame into either the closed, non-sealing position, or the closed, sealing position.