GB2044813A - Improved strand winding device and support cap for yarn tube carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

An end cap adapter for supporting an end of a tubular yarn carrier, comprises an end cap (20) having an axial projection (44) for insertion into the ends of a tubular yarn support carrier. Mounted on the projection of the end cap is a resilient, radially expandable ring (62) having internal surface portions matingly received about the projection with radial protrusions on the projection residing in corresponding recesses in the ring. Upon initial rotation of a yarn support tube by peripheral engagement with a driving roller, the tube and rings of the end cap adapters move slightly relative to the main body of the cap to move the cap projections into engagement with surface portions of the ring and expand the ring against interior walls of the tube, thus ensuring positive grip of the tube to prevent improper transfer tail formation and provide proper yarn package build during yarn collection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved strand winding device and support cap for yarn tube carriers This invention relates to an improved strand winding device and support cap, or adapter, for rotatably supporting the ends of a tubular carrier during collection of strand material in package form thereon, and, more particularly, to an improved end cap for supporting a textile yarn collection tube which is rotatably driven during yarn collection and yarn package build-up by peripheral surface engagement with a driving roller.

In high speed winding devices for collecting strand material, such as textile yarns, in package form, it is a common practice to collect the yarns after processing on a peripherally driven tubular carriage. Typically, yarns subjected to a texturizing or other heat treating operation, such as on a false twist machine, are collected on paper or plastic tubes, with each tube being engaged by and supported at its ends for rotation on end caps, or adapters, which are in turn mounted for free rotation on spaced support arms. After supportably positioning the tube on the end caps, the tube is placed in rotation by bringing it into peripheral engagement with a driving roller which frictionally contacts the outer surface of the tube and yarn being collected thereon to rotate the package.

It is further a practice in forming such yarn packages to provide an initial small amount of yarn adjacent one end of the tube outside the main portion of the yarn package formed on the tube. This small amount of yarn, referred to as a yarn "transfer tail", is utilized subsequently to connect the yarn strand in one package to a yarn strand in another yarn package for continuous yarn supply in further yarn handling operations.

In collection of yarns on textile yarn processing machines having a continuous yarn feed, it is the practice, when doffing a yarn package at a collection position, to temporar ily direct the oncoming yarn to "waste" until a full yarn package is removed and a new support tube is inserted at the collection position. Such is generally accomplished by use of a suction device located adjacent the yarn collection position into which the moving yarn strand passes during doffing. Upon completion of doffing and insertion of a new yarn support tube at the collection position, the tube is brought into engagement with the driving roller to rotate the tube.The moving yarn strand being fed to waste is then guided by the machine operator into a yarn holding guide adjacent one end of the tube and then is passed into a cutting device mounted on the adjacent end cap supporting the tube.

This operation cuts the yarn from the waste portion of yarn and starts a yarn transfer tail build-up on the end of the tubular carrier.

After sufficient build-up of the transfer tail, the yarn is then removed from the holding guide into the yarn traverse guide mechanism adjacent the surface of the carrier which moves in a programmed manner across the yarn carrier to build the yarn package.

In prior art devices of the type above described, difficulties have been encountered in transfer tail formation due to undesirable relative movement between the driven yarn support tube and the end caps, or adapters, which hold the tube for rotational movement.

Because of slight variations in diameters of the support tubes, the rotatably driven tubes often move relative to the supporting end caps during rotation, causing yarn in the transfer tails to become entangled or dislodged from the support tube during the yarn cutting operation. Relative movement between the end caps and tube precludes instantaneous cutting and pulls the yarn strand onto or off of the tube, resulting in improper transfer tail formation and lost time for clearing the entangled yarn from the winding device.

In addition, with yarn support tubes of varying internal diameters, the tubes often become misaligned or wobble on the support caps during the winding operation, resulting in improper package build-up on the tube and poor package formation.

It has been known to provide adapters for attachment to a rotatably driven spindle for securely positively engaging internal portions of a yarn carrier rotatably driven thereby. Our prior U.S. Patent 3,695,561 describes one such device. However, it has not been known to provide adjustable end caps for positive engagement of yarn tube carriers in winding devices of the surface-driven package type described above, or to accomplish the ends and improvements obtained by the present invention described herein.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn package winding device and support cap, or adapter, for engaging and supporting ends of a surface-driven yarn support tube to preclude relative motion between the end cap and the surface-driven tube mounted for rotation thereon.

The present invention is an end cap adapter for supporting an end of a peripherally driven, tubular yarn carrier during rotation thereof, comprising (a) a support cap having a central rotational axis and a radially extending edge portion; (b) central, axially extending projection means on one face of said support cap, said projection means having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced about the central axis of said cap; (c) means on said cap for mounting the cap on a support member for free rotation about its central rotational axis; and (d) a resilient, radially expandable ring mounted on said central projection means of said cap, said ring having an outer peripheral surface with means thereon for frictionally engaging the inner wall surface of a tube carrier received thereover, and an inner surface having a configuration to be loosely received about said cap projection means with said radial protrusions of the cap projection means being matingly received in correspondingly spaced recessed portions in the inner surface of the ring, whereby rotation of a tube carrier received on said ring causes slight relative rotational movement of said ring about said projection means to move said protrusions out of said recesses to expand the diameter of the ring against the inner wall of the tube carrier.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a textile yarn collection device of a textile yarn processing machine, wherein the yarn package is rotated during collection by peripheral engagement with a driving roller; Figure 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional elevation view of an end cap adapter of the present invention which is employed to grippingly engage the inner end portions of a tubular yarn carrier on the collection device seen in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end cap adapter of the present invention, taken generally along line Ill-Ill af Fig. 2;; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the end cap adapter as seen in Fig. 3, but showing the split ring of the adapter in the position it assumes during rotation of a tubular carrier support thereon; and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the end cap adapter of Figs. 2-4, showing the support elements for attaching the adapter for free rotation on the support arm of the winding device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a yarn package collection device 10 of a textile yarn processing machine, not shown. As is well known in the art, a yarn strand 12, after suitable processing, is continuously directed by yarn traverse guide means 14 onto the surface of a yarn tube carrier 1 6 and wound package 1 7 (shown in dashed lines) which is supported at each end for rotation about its longitudinal central axis on end cap adapters 18, 20. Each of the end cap adapters are, in turn, mounted for free rotation about its central axis on spaced support arms 22, 24 by suitable shaft and bearing means more particularly shown in Fig. 5.

Support arms 22, 24 are pivotally attached to a support frame member 30 to permit the yarn carrier tube 1 6 and any yarn collected thereon to be pivoted into and out of peripheral engagement with a driving roller 32, as is well known in the art. Positioned adjacent the surface of the carrier tube 1 6 when the tube is in driven engagement with the roller is the conventional yarn traverse mechanism 14, and yarn transfer tail guide 36. Also located adjacent the yarn collection device of the textile processing machine is a pneumatic suction device or tube 38, which receives the oncoming yarn strand for collection as waste during the yarn package doffing operation, as in known in the art.

In conventional yarn package doffing operations on a yarn processing machine having continuous yarn strand feed to the yarn collection point, upon completion of package formation on the support tube, the yarn package is pivoted by support arms 22, 24 out of driving engagement with the driving roller 32, and the oncoming yarn strand is separated from the package yarn and directed to the waste collection suction device 36. The yarn package is then removed from the end caps 18, 20 by sideways pivotal movement of one of the support arms 22 to disengage the ends of the tube from each of the end cap adapters.

An empty support tube is then placed into engagement with the end cap adapters and the tube pivoted into rotational engagement with the driving roller 32. The moving yarn strand passing to waste is then placed manually into the transfer tail guide 36 adjacent one end of the yarn tube and pulled by the operator across the peripheral surface of the adjacent end cap 20.As seen in Figs. 2-5, the periphery of the end cap 20 is provided with a plurality of inverted V-shaped notches 39 having sharp inner surfaces which serve to grip and sever the oncoming yarn strand from the waste portion, as the oncoming strand is guided by guide 36 to form a plurality of yarn wraps 37 about the adjacent end of the yarn carrier tube 1 6. After a sufficient length of transfer tail has been placed on the end of the tube, the yarn is removed from the transfer tail guide 36 and the yarn traverse guide 34 thereafter directs the yarn in programmed manner across the tube to build the yarn package 1 7 thereon.

As heretofore mentioned, it is common in the art that yarn support tubes of the type described have slight variances in their internal diameters as a result of manufacturing tolerances, wear, handling or the like. It is thus frequently the case that the end cap projections on which the ends of the tube are received do not precisely fit the internal diameters of the tubes to be placed thereon, causing improper alignment of the tubes on the supporting end caps, as well as slippage and relative rotational movement between the end caps and the tube during rotation of the tube by the driving roller. In such cases, improper yarn package formation occurs during the winding operation.In particular, when the oncoming yarn strand 1 7 is cut from the waste portion during formation of the transfer tail on the tube, engagement of the yarn with the cutting deevice on the end cap periphery causes the end cap to slip relative to the rotating tube and not properly cut the yarn when the tube is loosely received on the end cap. As can be appreciated, when the yarn is not quickly or properly cut, the attempted cutting operation can either dislocate the transfer tail 37 from its proper position on the tube or pull waste yarn into the winding device to entangle the same.

By means of the improved cap adapter construction illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2-5, projections on the end caps which engage the internal diameter of the tubes are self-adjusting in diameter during rotation of the yarn support tube to ensure positive grip of the tube and non-relative movement of the end caps and support tube during initial transfer tail formation as well as throughout the yarn package winding operation. As seen in Figs. 2-4, which are enlarged cross-sectional views of the end cap adapter 20 shown in exploded view in Fig. 5, each of the end caps of the present invention is of generally identical construction and comprises a generally circular main body portion 40 having a central rotational axis and a radially extending edge portion 42.Spaced equally about the edge portion of the cap are a plurality of inverted Vshaped notches 39 having sharp bevelled edges which serve as a gripping and cutting surface for a yarn strand pulling into engagement with the periphery of the rotating cap during a transfer tail forming operation.

Axially extending from one face of the cap is a central projection 44 having a peripheral surface extending generally parallel to the central rotational axis of the cap. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the peripheral surface of the cap projection has a plurality of generally straight flat surfaces 48 spaced about the periphery by intervening protrusions 50 which have a generally arcuately curved surface.

Spaced axially outwardly from the protrusions and extending about the periphery of the projection 44 is a circular groove 52 (Fig. 2).

The opposite face of the end cap (Fig. 2) is provided with a central recess having a plurality of spaced resilient fingers 54 disposed therein in circular array. Frictionally received and retained within the fingers is a ring ball bearing 56 (Fig. 5) which surrounds a bushing 58. Shaft mounting means, shown as a threaded bolt 60, washer 60a, spacer 60b, and nut 61, extends through the central opening of the cap 20, ring bearing 56, bushing 58, and a thread guard cup 61 a to secure the end cap to the support arm of the winding device. In this manner, the end cap is supported on the support arm for free rotation about its central axis during rotation of the yarn tube by the driving roller of the winding device.

As seen in Figs. 2-5, surrounding the central projection 44 on the end cap is a resilient, radially expandable ring, shown as a split ring 62 having an external peripheral surface containing a plurality of raised ribs 64. The inner surface of the split ring is configured with a plurality of spaced flat surfaces 65 with intervening recessed portions 66 so as to be matingly received around the projection, with the peripheral protrusions 50 of the projection residing in the corresponding recesses 66 of the split ring (Fig. 3). The split ring is secured loosely on the projection 44 by means of a radially inwardly extending circular flange, or lip 68 (Fig. 2) which residues in circular groove 52 on the cap projection so as to resist displacement of the ring from the projection 40 in an axial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the cap 20.

As seen in Fig. 3, when the end cap adapters are not in rotation, the split ring is loosely secured on the cap projection with the radial protrusions of the projection residing in the correspondingly shaped recesses on the inner surface of the ring. When the cap projection and split ring supported thereon are inserted into the end of the tubular yarn carrier, the yarn carrier placed in rotation by engagement with the driving roller, the split ring 62 is caused to rotate slightly relative to the end cap projection 40 to move protrusions 50 on the end cap projection out of recesses 66 and into frictional engagement with the flat surface portions 65 of the inner surface of the ring, as seen in Fig. 4, thereby expanding the ring against the internal surface of tube 1 6 to securely and positively grip the same.

Thus, with tubes of slightly varying diameter size, when the outside diameter of the split ring of the end cap adapter is smaller than the internal diameter of the tube, the diameter of the split ring automatically increases to positively grip the internal surface of the tube during initial rotation of the tube by the driving roller.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be seen that the improved strand winding device with support cap adapters having self-adjusting projections for frictionally gripping the internal end surfaces of a yarn support tube provides positive engagement of the tube at all times during its rotation by the driving roller of the device, and compensates for tubes of varying internal diameter size to prevent relative movement of the tubes and support cap adapters during yarn package formation, thus eliminating problems inherent in the prior art devices.

Claims (12)

1. An end cap adapter for supporting an end of a peripherally driven, tubular yarn carrier during rotation thereof, comprising: (a) a support cap having a central rotational axis and a radially extending edge portion; (b) central, axially extending projection means on one face of said support cap, said projection means having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced about the central axis of said cap; (c) means on said cap for mounting the cap on a support member for free rotation about its central rotational axis; and (d) a resilient, radially expandable ring mounted on said central projection means of said cap, said ring having an outer peripheral surface with means thereon for frictionally engaging the inner wall surface of a tube carrier received thereover, and an inner surface having a configuration to be loosely received about said cap projection means with said radial protrusions of the cap projection means being matingly received in correspondingly spaced recessed portions in the inner surface of the ring, whereby rotation of a tube carrier received on said ring causes slight relative rotational movement of said ring about said projection means to move said protrusions out of said recesses to expand the diameter of the ring against the inner wall of the tube carrier.

2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, including means on said edge portion for engaging and cutting a strand of yarn to be wound on a tube carrier supported by said cap during rotation of the cap.

3. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cap projection means includes a peripheral surface having a plurality of spaced generally straight surface portions extending in planes generally parallel to the central axis of rotation of the cap, and each of said radial protrusions comprises a curved portion of the peripheral surface of the projection means, said curved portion having a common radius of curvature about said cap central axis of rotation, and said curved surface portions being spaced about said cap projection means peripheral surface between said straight surface portions thereof

4.An adapter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said radially expandable ring is a split ring, each of said recess portions of the inner surface of said split ring are generally arcuately curved surface portions corresponding in length to said curved portion of the peripheral surface of the cap projection means, and intervening straight portions of said inner surface of the split ring generally corresponding in length to the straight surface portions of the peripheral surface of said cap projection means.

5. An adapter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the peripheral surface of said cap projection means includes a groove extending therearound, and said ring inner surface includes a radially inwardly extending circular flange matingly received in said groove of the peripheral surface of the cap projection means to resist displacement of the split ring from the projection means in an axial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the cap.

6. In a yarn strand collection and package forming device including a driving roller, support means including a pair of spaced support arms having a pair of opposed, freely rotatable end cap adapters for supportably engaging end portions of a yarn support tube for rotation therewith, means for moving said support arms and end cap adapters to position a yarn support tube supported thereby in engagement with the driving roller to impart rotation to the tube during yarn collecting operations, and guide means for directing a yarn strand onto the surface of a rotating support tube positioned between said end caps for formation of a yarn transfer tail and for build-up of a yarn package thereon, each of said end cap adapters comprising:: (a) a support cap having a central rotational axis and a radially extending edge portion; (b) means attaching said cap to a support arm of the package forming device for free rotation about its central rotational axis; (c) a central, axially extending projection on one face of said support cap and extending towards said opposed end cap adapter, said projection having. a peripheral surface with a plurality of radial protrusions spaced thereabout; and (d) a resilient split ring mounted on said central projection of said cap, said ring having an outer peripheral surface with means thereon for frictionally engaging the inner wall surface of a tubular carrier received thereover, and an inner surface of said ring having a configuration to be loosely received about said cap projection in mating relation thereto, and with spaced recessed portions in the inner surface of the ring receiving said peripheral protrusions of the cap projection whereby rotation of a tubular carrier supportably received on said ring causes slight initial relative rotational movement of said ring relative to said cap projection to expand the diameter of the split ring against the inner wall of the tube carrier and ensure non-relative movement of the carrier and end cap during yarn package formation on the yarn carrier.

7. Support means as claimed in claim 6, wherein said peripheral surface of said cap central projection comprises a plurality of spaced, generally straight surface portions extending in planes generally parallel to the central axis of rotation of said cap, and each of said protrusions comprise a curved portion of said peripheral surface having a common radius of curvature about said cap central axis of rotation, with said curved surface portions being spaced about said cap projection between said straight surface portions.

8; Support means as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said recessed portions of the inner surface of said slit ring are generally arcuately curved surface portions corresponding generally in length to said curved surface portions of peripheral surface of said support cap central projection, and intervening straight surface portions of said ring inner surfaces generally corresponding in length to said straight surface portions of the peripheral surface of said cap projection.

9. Support means as claimed in claim 6, including means on said edge portion for engaging and cutting a strand of yarn to be wound on a tube carrier supported between said end cap adapters and during rotation of said cap.

10. Support means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said guide means for directing a yarn strand onto the surface of a rotating support tube positioned between said caps of said package forming device comprises a yarn traverse guide positioned adjacent said driving roller to traverse a yarn over the major portion of a support tube mounted on said caps, and a guide member positioned adjacent one of said end cap adapters to direct a yarn cap into engagement with an end portion of a support tube for formation of a yarn transfer tail thereon during rotation of the tube by said driving roller, and said means on said edge portion of said support cap for engaging and cutting a strand of yarn comprises a plurality of spaced generally inverted V-shaped notches having sharp edge portions for receiving, engaging and cutting a yarn strand directed thereinto during rotation of said cap.

11. Support means as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cap and split ring are comprised of plastic.

12. Support means as claimed in claim 6, including means adjacent said package forming device for collecting a running yarn strand as waste yarn during doffing of a yarn support tube from said end cap adapter supporting the tube for rotation thereon.

1 3. An end cap adapter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference td, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.