GB1482861A - Device for gripping yarn ends - Google Patents

Abstract

1482861 Gripping yarn ends ELITEX 12 Aug 1975 [12 Aug 1974] 33550/75 Heading D1J The invention relates to means for use in automatic winding machines in which yarn is wound onto large bobbins from successively presented small cops, and comprises means for gripping a yarn end housed in a tube of a cop and transferring the yarn end to a knotting mechanism. In Fig. 1 the yarn gripper 1 is carried by an arm 14 having a part 3 that is rotatable in bearings 5 in a pneumatic chamber 1. A radial opening in the part 3 enables air to be sucked through the arm 14 into the chamber 1. An automatic knotting mechanism controls a cam 12 to cause the gripper 1 to be moved from its lower broken line setting to its upper broken line setting when a yarn end has to be drawn off a bobbin 22 for knotting purposes. According to the invention the gripper 1 comprises a sliding insert 16, Fig. 2, that is biassed to the right in the drawing by a spring 17. Slidable in the insert 16 is a bush 19 that is biassed to the left in the drawing by a spring 21, the bush 19 carrying a socket 18. Rotation between the parts 16, 19 and 14 is prevented by a pin and elongated slot connection 20. When the arm 14 swings the gripper 4 downwardly in Fig. 1 into engagement with the bobbin end, the bush 19 is pushed axially into the insert 16, as in Fig. 3, to cause a port in the socket 18 to be aligned with a port in the insert 16 and the bore of the arm 14. The yarn end can thus be sucked off the end of the bobbin 22. As the gripper swings upwardly the components thereof assuming the relative settings shown in Fig. 2 whereby the yarn end is gripped and drawn upwardly with the gripper. When the gripper reaches its uppermost setting the insert 16 strikes against a stop 23, Fig. 1, and this causes the components of the gripper 4 to assume the relative settings shown in Fig. 4 whereby the yarn end is released for knotting purposes. Fig. 5 (not shown) illustrates a modification in which the gripper is not mounted on a rotatable arm 14 but is displaceable in a linear direction by piston and cylinder means.