Field of the Invention
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The present invention relates to a wing traverse apparatus (also known as a
"rotary traverse apparatus") that traverses a yarn by transferring it between a
set of opposedly rotating traverse wings.
Background of the Invention
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A conventional wing traverse apparatus provided with traverse guides that
form a traverse track in which the yarn wound into a package is traversed, and
with a set of opposedly rotating traverse wings that transfer the yarn
therebetween at yarn transfer points defining lateral ends of the traverse
track, is known. Such a traverse apparatus traverses the yarn by transferring it
between the traverse wings at the yarn transfer points.
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This traverse apparatus, however, is arranged such that the rotary track of
the traverse wings and the traverse tracks of the traverse guides set a fixed
traverse width between the yarn transfer points. Consequently, it is very
difficult to change the traverse width to perform "creeping" or to form
packages with tapered ends.
Summary of the Present Invention
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It is an object of the present invention to provide a wing traverse
apparatus capable of performing creeping, and capable of forming a package with
tapered ends.
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The present invention discloses a wing traverse apparatus having a traverse
guide that defines a traverse track for a yarn, and a set of traverse wings
that rotate in opposite directions and which transfer the yarn at yarn transfer
points defining lateral ends of the traverse track, the apparatus characterized
in that it is provided with a means for changing the distance between the
rotary centers of the traverse wings.
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Thus, by changing the distance between the rotary centers of the traverse
wings during winding, the yarn transfer points can be moved in the directions
in which the yarn is traversed, thereby changing the traverse width.
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Gradually narrowing the traverse width during winding results in a package
with tapered ends. Alternatively, appropriately narrowing and widening the
traverse width during winding allows creeping to be reliably performed, thereby
helping to prevent the formation of so-called "saddle-bag" packages.
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In the present invention, the traverse guides of the wing traverse
apparatus are formed as a pair of guide plates, each guide plate is connected to
the respective rotary centers of a respective traverse wing, and the guide
plates move in concert with the movement of the rotary centers of the respective
traverse wings.
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When the guide plates are moved in concert with the shifting of the
traverse wings, the yarn transfer points on the guide plates remain precisely
in the rotary tracks of the traverse wings around their respective rotary
centers even though those rotary centers are shifted.
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In the present invention, a yarn guiding surface on each traverse wing is
arranged so as to become parallel to the movement track of the rotary centers of
the traverse wings at the yarn transfer points.
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When the yarn guiding surfaces of the traverse wings are arranged parallel
to the movement track in which the rotary centers are shifted at the yarn
transfer point, the yarn transfer points on the guide plates can be matched to
the tracks of the traverse wings with even greater precision, and the yarn
transfer operation can be performed even more smoothly. This even despite the
fact that the rotary centers are shifted.
Brief Description of the Drawing
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- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the wing traverse
apparatus of the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a frontal view showing an A-A perspective in Figure 1 of the
wing traverse apparatus.
- Figure 3 is a top-down view showing a B-B perspective in Figure 2 of the
wing traverse apparatus.
- Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the driving device
of the wing traverse apparatus.
- Figure 5 is a frontal view showing the rotary centers of the traverse wings
shifted such that eccentricity is large.
- Figure 6 is a diagram showing wound packages.
- Figure 7 is a diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the traverse guide
of the wing traverse apparatus.
- Figure 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between the traverse apparatus
and the winding of the package.
- Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the wing traverse apparatus of the
present invention employed in a winder.
- Figure 10 is an enlarged partial view of Figure 9.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
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The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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The wing traverse apparatus traverses a yarn into a package by rotating a
set of two traverse wings arranged one in front of the other relative to the
direction in which the yarn runs toward the package. The rotary wings are moved
apart or brought close together by changing the distance between the rotary
centers of the wings. This enables the traverse width to be changed.
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As shown in Figure 1 to Figure 4, the wing traverse apparatus 1 is
comprised of a traverse guide 10 that guides the yarn along a traverse track,
and a set of traverse wings 4, 5 arranged one in front of the other that
traverse the yarn Y that is taken up into a package P. The traverse apparatus 1
is also provided with a driving device 6 (see Figure 4) that rotates the
traverse wings 4, 5 and laterally shifts both the traverse wings 4, 5 and the
traverse guide 10. The rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4, 5 are
arranged eccentrically in the lateral (traverse) direction.
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Traverse guide 10 is comprised of a right traverse guide plate 2 and a left
traverse guide plate 3. In the present embodiment, lateral yarn transfer points
a, b (points where the traverse direction of the yarn is reversed), are formed
at an equal distance L from the midpoint of the traverse track along the axis of
the package P. The traverse guide plates 2, 3 form a guiding contour 7 along
the traverse track between the yarn transfer points a, b. The guiding contour 7
is comprised of a flat section 7a that runs parallel to the axis of the package
P, a curved section 7b formed radially around the rotary centers 02, 03 of the
traverse wings 4, 5 and extending from the end of the flat section 7a to the
yarn transfer points a, b, and a reverse straight section 7c where the yarn
reverses direction, formed parallel to the axis of the package P. The traverse
guide plates 2, 3 are arranged one in front of the other. The left guide plate
3 is coupled to the traverse wing 5 via a shaft at the rotary center 03 of the
traverse wing 5, the axis arranged eccentrically to the right of the rotary
center 02 of the other traverse wing 4. The right traverse guide plate 2 is
coupled to the traverse wing 4 via a rotary shaft at the rotary center 02 of
the traverse wing 4. By coupling the right traverse guide plate 2 at the rotary
center 02 (rotary shaft) and the left traverse guide plate 3 at the rotary
center 03 (rotary shaft), the traverse guide plates 2, 3 partially overlap, and
bring the yarn transfer points a, b into symmetrical alignment.
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The traverse wings 4, 5 are arranged in parallel planes with the traverse
guide plates 2, 3. The traverse wing 4 is arranged between the two traverse
guide plates 2, 3, and rotates freely around the rotary center 02 (rotary
shaft) on the side of the yarn transfer point b. The traverse wing 5 is
arranged between the traverse wing 4 and the traverse guide plate 3, and
rotates freely around the rotary center 03 (rotary shaft) on the side of the
yarn transfer point a. Each of the traverse wings 4, 5 are formed in point
symmetry relative to their respective rotary centers 02, 03 (rotary shafts).
Wing tip sections 4a, 4b are formed on either side of the traverse wing 4,
separated 180 degrees in the direction of rotation from each other. Similarly,
wing tip sections 5a, 5b are also formed on either side of the traverse wing 5,
again separated 180 degrees in the direction of rotation. Each wing tip section
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b is provided with a yarn release point c arranged at the end of
the respective tip on a central axis running lengthwise through the middle of
the respective traverse wing 4, 5. Yarn guiding surfaces 8, 9 extend away from
the yarn release point c at 45 degrees angles to the yarn release point c. The
angle at which the yarn guiding surfaces 8, 9 extend away from their
respective yarn release point c need not be set at 45 degrees, but it should
preferably be set at an angle at which the guiding surfaces 8, 9 and the
track f along which the rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4, 5 are
moved become parallel.
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The traverse wings 4, 5 rotate in opposite directions. When the wing tip
sections of either of the traverse wings 4, 5 reach the yarn transfer point a,
the yarn release point c of the traverse wing 4 aligns with the yarn transfer
point a, and the yarn guiding surfaces 8 on each of the wing tip sections 4a,
4b, 5a, 5b become parallel to the straight section 7c of the traverse guide
plate 2. Alternatively, when the wing tip sections of either of the traverse
wings 4, 5 reach the yarn transfer point b, the yarn release point c of the
traverse wing 5 aligns with the yarn transfer point b, and the yarn guiding
surfaces 9 on each of the wing tip sections 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b become parallel to
the straight section 7c of traverse guide plate 3 (See Figure 2).
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The traverse wings 4, 5 have rotational tracks S1, S2, respectively, that
extend slightly beyond the periphery of their respective traverse guide plate
2, 3. When the traverse wings 4, 5 are rotated in tandem, they function in
concert to traverse the yarn Y by transferring the yarn Y at the yarn transfer
points a, b. The rotational track S1 of the traverse wing 4 passes through the
yarn transfer point a, and the rotational track S2 of the traverse wing 5 passes
through the yarn transfer point b.
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The traverse wing 4 rotates clockwise, with the traverse wing 5 rotating
counter-clockwise. When the yarn guiding surface 9 of the traverse wing 4
reaches the yarn transfer point b, it meets the yarn Y and carries it back
towards the yarn transfer point a, thereby traversing the yarn Y. The traversed
yarn Y is guided along the curved section 7b of the traverse guide plate 2,
moving along the yarn guiding surface 9 of the traverse wing 4 towards release
point c as the yarn Y and the traverse wing 4 approach the yarn transfer point
a. When the yarn release point c of the traverse wing 4 meets the yarn transfer
point a, the yarn Y slides past the release point c and is released from the
traverse wing 4. At the moment the yarn Y is released, the yarn guiding surface
8 of the traverse wing 5 aligns with and becomes parallel to the straight
section 7c of the traverse guide plate 2, and the yarn Y released by the
traverse wing 4 is smoothly transferred to the guiding surface 8 of the
traverse wing 5. The yarn Y is then traversed to back to the yarn transfer
point b where the same process is repeated, thus smoothly and continuously
traversing the yarn Y between the traverse wings 4, 5.
As it is traversed, the yarn Y is taken up into package P at a traverse
width T equal to the distance between the two yarn transfer points a, b. Since
the yarn Y is always transferred at the yarn transfer points a, b by the
traverse wings 4, 5 and the traverse guide plates 2, 3 as described above, the
traverse width can be stabilized, enabling nice packages P to be regularly
produced.
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The traverse guide plates 2, 3 and the traverse wings 4, 5 are driven by
the driving device 6 shown in Figure 4.
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The driving device 6 is provided with a pair of freely rotatable pulleys 15
at the rotary centers 02 and 03. The rotation of the pulleys 15 rotates the
respective traverse wings 4,5 independently of the traverse guide plates 2, 3.
The driving device 6 is also provided with a pair of sliders 16 ("guiding
mechanisms") which slide the respective rotary centers 02, 03 in the axial plane
of the package P. The sliders 16 are arranged one in front of the other so that
they do not interfere with each other. The sliders 16 apply force to the rotary
centers 02, 03, pushing them away from each other. Each pulley 15 is connected
to a transmission pulley 18 via a timing belt 17. The timing belts 17 are guided
by rollers positioned outside thereof, and extends to the transmission pulleys
18. Each transmission pulley 18 is engaged with a rotary conversion mechanism 19
through a respective output shaft on the rotary conversion mechanism 19. The
rotary conversion mechanism 19 is connected to a pulley 24 of a driving motor 23
via input-side pulley 20, transmission pulley 21, and timing belt 22. The
rotary conversion mechanism 19 imparts rotation in the opposite direction to
each of the transmission pulleys 18 arranged on the input side of the driving
motor 23, and therefore may be comprised as a gear, a pulley, a timing belt,
etc.
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The driving motor 23 of the driving device 6 rotates the timing belt 22,
and the pulleys 20 and 21, providing input to the rotary conversion mechanism
19. The rotary conversion mechanism 19 rotates the respective pulleys 18, 18 in
opposite directions, thereby imparting rotation via the timing belts 17, 17 to
the rotary axis pulleys 15, 15. This rotates the traverse wings 4, 5 in
opposite directions.
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The driving device 6 is also provided with a ball screw 25. The ball screw
25 is comprised of a ball screw shaft 26, and a pair of nuts 27, 28, namely, an
upper nut 27 and a lower nut 28. The ball screw shaft 26 engages with a bevel
gear 29 which is driven by a driving source (not shown in the drawing). The
upper nut 27 supports the rotary conversion mechanism 19, and the lower nut 28
rotatably supports the transmission pulley 21. The input-side pulley 20, the
transmission pulley 21, and the timing belt 22 on the input side of the rotary
conversion mechanism 19 are all arranged between the upper nut 27 and the lower
nut 28 of the ball screw 25. The timing belt 22 is guided on the outside of the
belt by rollers, and extends to a pulley 24 on the driving motor 23. It should
be noted that the pulley 20 can be connected directly to the driving motor 23,
and the driving motor 23 can be arranged so as to move vertically.
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The driving device 6 elevates the rotary conversion mechanism 19 and the
transmission pulley 21. This is accomplished by rotation of the ball screw shaft
26 by the driving source, which causes the upper and lower nuts 27, 28 to
elevate, thereby lifting the rotary conversion mechanism 19 and the
transmission pulley 21. The sliders 16 are pushed in opposite directions by the
force operating against them, moving with their respective timing belts 17,
thus moving the rotary centers 02, 03 away from each other (in the axial plane
of the package P). This consequently increases the eccentricity ε between the
rotary centers 02, 03. Alternatively, the rotating the ball screw shaft 26 in
reverse pulls the rotary centers 02, 03 closer together, decreasing the
eccentricity ε between the rotary centers 02, 03. As shown in Figure 5, the
traverse wing 4 moves with the traverse guide plate 2, and the traverse wing 5
moves with the traverse guide plate 3, enabling adjustment in the traverse
width T. Thus, increasing the eccentricity ε between the rotary centers 02, 03
of the traverse wings 4, 5 decreases the traverse width T, while reducing the
eccentricity ε increases the traverse width T.
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In other words, the wing traverse apparatus 1, as shown in Figure 5, allows
the eccentricity ε between the rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4,
5 to be adjusted by adjusting the relative positions of the rotary centers 02,
03, thereby allowing the yarn Y's traverse width T to be adjusted.
Consequently, by gradually decreasing the traverse width T, T1, T2, T3, over
time, as shown in Figure 6, the package P with a tapered end can be formed.
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By comprising the apparatus such that the contours of the traverse wings 4,
5 at the yarn transfer points a, b become parallel with the track in which the
rotary centers 02, 03 are slid, and by moving the traverse guide plates 2, 3 in
concert with the rotary centers 02, 03, the yarn Y can be uniformly transferred
even when the rotary centers 02, 03 are moved.
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Specifically, when the rotary centers 02, 03 are moved:
- 1) The rotational tracks S1, S2 of the traverse wings 4, 5 intersect the
yarn transfer points a, b on the respective yarn traverse guide plates 2, 3;
- 2) The yarn release points c of the traverse wings 4, 5 intersect th
respective yarn transfer points a, b;
- 3) The yarn guiding surfaces 8, 9 of the traverse wings 4, 5 align with the
straight surface 7c of its respective traverse guide plate 2, 3, whereupon the
guiding surfaces 8, 9 become parallel with the track in which the rotary centers
02, 03 move.
- 4) Even if the timing or location of the yarn transfer between the traverse
wings 4, 5 varies slightly due to changes in the yarn tension, the shape of the
traverse guide plates 2, 3 ensure that the yarn will always be transferred at
the same location (yarn transfer points a and b), ensuring a stable traverse
width;
- 5) Even if the rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4, 5 are moved,
the vertical distance H between the respective rotary centers 01-03 (movement
track f) and the respective yarn transfer points a, b remains constant (See
Figure 5).
-
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In other words, moving the rotary centers 02, 03 does not interfere with the
normal yarn transfer operation.
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Additionally, by periodically narrowing and widening the traverse width,
the formation of saddle-bagged packages can be avoided. In other words, as shown
in Figure 6A, creeping can be performed by periodically changing the traverse
width between Ta1 and Tb1 (Tb1 < Ta1). Creeping, by alternating the traverse
width between the yarn turn points d and e (d > e) can thus help prevent the
formation of the saddle-bagged packages.
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By providing a traverse guide plate 11, as shown in Figure 7, the package
winding density across the traverse width T can be held constant. In order to
achieve a fixed winding density, the traverse guide plate 11 may need to be
formed to a particular curved contour. This curved contour should set both a
constant rotary angle 1 of the traverse wings 4, 5, and a constant winding
width increment h. Moreover, the rotary shafts of the traverse wings 4, 5 should
be coupled to their respective traverse guide plates 2, 3 formed as the curved
contour as shown in Figure 7.
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In the traverse apparatus 1 of the present invention, setting the angle
of the tip sections of the traverse wings 4, 5 to 45 degrees allows the height
of the yarn transfer points a, b relative to the rotary centers 02, 03 to be
held constant. Thus, in order to ensure reliable performance of the yarn
transfer operation, it is preferable to have the angles of the tip sections
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b set at 45 degrees so as to create the arrangement shown in
Figures 1 to 4. Although the traverse wings 4, 5 in shapes other than those
shown in Figures 1 to 4 may be employed by the wing traverse apparatus 1 of the
present invention, for example, one in which the angle of the tip sections
of the traverse wings 4, 5 is set to approximately 90 degrees or 90 degrees.
However, in such an arrangement, when the eccentricity ε at which the rotary
centers 02, 03 are shifted is large, the vertical distance H between the yarn
transfer points a, b and the rotary centers 02, 03 can no longer be held
constant (as shown in Figure 8A). The lowering of the yarn transfer points a, b
relative to the rotary centers 02, 03 changes the distance D between the yarn
transfer points a, b and the package P, as shown in Figure 8B. This change in
the distance D may have negative effects on the winding of the yarn Y into
package P.
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Consequently, although different shapes of the traverse wings 2, 3 can be
employed, in order to maintain a fixed distance D and a fixed height H of the
yarn transfer points, the angle of the tip sections in the area at which the
traverse wings 2, 3 approach each other and reach the yarn transfer point should
preferably be 45 degrees or approximately 45 degrees.
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Application of the wing traverse apparatus of the present invention in a
take-up winder will now be explained with reference to Figure 9.
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The take-up winder 51 of Figure 9 winds a yarn Y being unwound from a
supply bobbin E on a frame 52, passes the yarn Y through feed rollers 54, 55
and the wing traverse apparatus 1, and winds it into a package P on a bobbin B,
which is rotated by a drum 56. The take-up winder 51 is provided with a cradle
57 that holds both ends of the bobbin B. The bobbin B is held in pressured
contact with the drum 56. The cradle 57 is attached to the frame 52 such that it
is pivotable against the frame 52, and it pivots as the package P grows into a
full package, the cradle 57 pivoting such that it moves away from the drum 56.
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The wing traverse apparatus 1 is arranged between the feed roller 55 and
the drum 56, and is attached to the frame 52. The wing traverse apparatus 1 is
connected on the beveled gear 29 side of the ball screw 25 to the cradle 57 via
a planetary bevel gear train 58, a gear mechanism 59, a lever mechanism (not
shown in the diagram), a pulley 60, and a timing belt 61. Thus, wing traverse
apparatus 1 allows the eccentricity between the rotary centers 02, 03 to be
adjusted through the pivoting of the cradle 57. Moreover, the lever mechanism is
used in shaping the package. Specifically, in order to keep the sides of the
package from bulging outwards because the contact pressure against the package,
the package ends are made to be convex. The lever helps make the convex form.
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The wing traverse apparatus 1 is also connected to a folding-fan shaped
segment gear 63 via the planetary bevel gear train 58 and the gear mechanism
62, as shown in Figure 10. A segment gear 63 is rotated by a circular cam plate
65 of a driving motor 64, thus enabling the wing traverse apparatus 1 to perform
the creeping operation.
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At the start of winding, the cradle 57 takes hold of bobbin B, and the drum
56 is held in contact pressure with the bobbin B as the cradle 57 is pivoted,
rotating the ball screw 25 (and the ball screw shaft 26). This changes the
eccentricity ε between the rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4, 5.
At the start of winding, the traverse width of the wing traverse apparatus 1 is
T.
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With the take-up winder 51 in this state, the drum 56 is driven, rotating
the bobbin B. The driving motor 23 drives the traverse wings 4, 5 in opposite
directions. The yarn Y being unwound from the supply bobbin E is then traversed
by the wing traverse apparatus 1, and wound into a package P around the bobbin
B.
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As the yarn Y is wound into the package P, the diameter of the package P
grows larger, pivoting the cradle 57 and moving it away from the drum 56. The
pivoting of the cradle 57 rotates the ball screw shaft 26 via the ball screw 25,
the rotation imparted via the timing belt 61, the lever mechanism, the gear
mechanism 59, and the planetary bevel gear train 58. This functions to separate
the rotary centers 02, 03 of the traverse wings 4, 5, increasing the
eccentricity ε between the rotary centers 02, 03, and narrowing the traverse
width T. In this manner, the eccentricity ε is adjusted and the traverse
width T is narrowed in proportion to the degree of pivot of the cradle 57 (and
consequently the package build amount). This winds the yarn Y into a package P
with a tapered end, as shown in Figure 6.
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It should be noted that by adjusting the lever ratio of the lever
mechanism, the tapered shape of the package P can be adjusted.
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By controlling the driving motor 64 during the winding of the yarn Y, the
rotation of ball screw 25 (and the ball screw shaft 26) via the segment gear 63
and the planetary bevel gear train 58 can be reversed periodically, allowing
the traverse width at which the package is wound to be periodically alternated
between gradual narrowing and gradual widening, thus performing the creeping
operation. The creeping parameters can be adjusted by changing the shape of the
circular cam plate 65 and the rotary speed of the cam. As should be clear, the
creeping operation helps to prevent the package P from saddle-bagging at the
ends.
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As described above, the wing traverse apparatus of the present invention
changes the distance separating the rotary centers of a set of traverse wings,
thus moving the yarn transfer points in the direction of the yarn traverse.
This allows creeping to be performed, or may allow the formation of a package
with tapered ends.
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Additionally, the traverse guide is comprised as a pair of guide plates,
and when the guide plates are moved in concert with the shifting of the rotary
centers of the traverse wings, the yarn transfer points remain precisely in the
tracks of the traverse wings even though the rotary centers of the traverse
wings are shifted. Consequently, the vertical distance separating the yarn
transfer points and the rotary centers can be held constant, and the yarn
transfer operation can be performed smoothly all the time.
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Still further, when the yarn guiding surfaces of the traverse wings are
arranged parallel to the plane in which the rotary centers are shifted at the
point of yarn transfer, the yarn transfer points on the guide plates can be
matched to the tracks of the traverse wings with even greater precision, and the
yarn transfer operation can be performed even more smoothly. This even despite
the fact that the rotary centers are shifted.