US1212668A - Apparatus for unwrapping yarn-chains. - Google Patents

Description

H W. OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

7 APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, l9l5- 1,212,668, Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fl Z116 n tar 7 LOW H. W OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 1. 1915. 1,212,668. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEET$SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETSHSHEET 3.

Inventor dt y.

H W. GWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I, I915.

H W. OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

' APPLICATION HLED JULY 1. 1915- 1,Q12,668, I Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ED sA Es PAENT OFFIO HERBERT w. OWEN, OF EWISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To DRAPER COBPORATION, .OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF I, Application filed July 1915- serial To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT W. OwEN, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Lewiston, county of Androscoggin, and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus'for Unw'rapping Yarn- Chains, of which the following descnptlon, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to machines for unwrapping from yarn chains the cord or thread by which the yarns oi: the cha1n are held together during the dyeing, bleachlng, or similar process. After the wrapped yarn chain has been d ed, bleached, or similarly treated and drie it is necessary to remove the wrapping cord or thread before the yarn can be wound upon beams for use as warp or upon bobbins, quills, or the like for use as filling. Means have heretofore been devised for this purpose wherein the wrapping cord or thread was unwound from the yarn chain and placed upon a receiver as the yarn chain was drawn through the unwrapping mechanism by means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain. In such class of machines, however, it is desirable that the wrapping cord or thread shall depart from the yarn chain at an angle sufiiciently obtuse to prevent the wrapping cord or thread .from clinging to the yarn chain, and such angle is dependent upon the relative linear speed of the yarn chain and rotary speed of the flier or unwrapping mechanism. In recognition of this fact in the prior machines above mentioned, adjustable means were provided for drawing the yarn chain through the machine whereby the operator, was enabled to adjust the speed ratio of the yarn chain and flier or unwrapping mechanism. This drawing means, however, acted upon a portion of the yarn chain after it has been unwrapped, with the result that the linear travel or speed of the wrapped chain as it approached the unwrapping mechanism was not uniform owing to the various disturbing causes between the source of yarn chain supply and the drawing means, and consequently, the point at which the wrapping cord or thread left the yarn chain constantly varied, as did also the angle of its departure.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' j ArPAnA' UsEOn UNWRAPPING YARN-CHAINS.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

With these facts in view, one of the Objects of the present invention is to provide means whereby the rotary speed of the flier or unwrapping mechanism and the linear speed of the yarn chain as it approaches said flier or mechanism may be proportioned to properly locate the point of departure of the wrapping cord or thread from the yarn chain and such proportion be continuously maintained, whereby the desired angle at which the wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chain may be substantially constant.

To this end the present invention provides means to act upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism for positively drawing the wrapped chain from the Source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, and means acting upon the yarn chain after it has been unwrapped for maintaining it under uniform tension as it is supplied by the positive drawing and feeding means. This feature of the invention, while applicable to the unwinding of single yarn chains, has special importance where several yarn chains have been wrapped together for the bleaching or dyeing process. In this event, the present invention proposes to separate the several yarn chains immediately after the wrapping cord or thread has been unwound therefrom, and to pass each of the Separated yarn chains to separate means for maintaining them under Suitable tension as they pass from the unwrapping mechanism. As the unwound yarn chains are thus separated, some of the yarns of one chain are liable to cling or stick to the yarns of another yarn chain, and be broken, therefore, a further important feature of the present invention contemplates means for detaching any such clinging yarns from an adjacent yarn chain to which it does not belong and causing it to follow its own yarn chain. Should such clinging yarn or yarns fail to be thus separated from a yarn chain to which it does not belong, a further feature of the invention consists in means to stop the machine, in order that the attendant may disentangle the yarn or yarns before they break.

The above and other features of the invention will best be made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings of one good practical form of the invention, it being understood that details of said illustrated means may be changed within the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a general side elevation showing an apparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing more particularly the unwinding mechanism, illustrated at the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing the wrapped chain positive drawing and feeding means, the unwrapped chain tension means, and certain features of stopping mechanism; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the parts shown by Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detached detail showing more particularly and diagrammatically the wrapped chain drawing and feeding cones and the unwrapped chain tension means,

- looking in the general direction indicated by the arrow (1, F ig. 3, some of the parts being shown in section; and Fig. (i is a dctail side elevation looking from the left, Fig. 4, of means for operating the delivery spouts for the unwrapped yarn chains.

The invention is shown and will hereinafter he described as embodied or employed in an apparatus for treating two yarn chains that have been dyed or bleached whilebound together by a wrapping cord or thread, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted in this respect, be cause it may and in some cases will be employed for treating a greater munber of yarn chains wrapped by a cord or thread; and, as to some features, it is adapted for the treatment of a single wrapped yarn chain, all of which, however, will be clear to those skilled in the art.

The mechanism for unwinding the wrapping cord or thread from the yarn chain or chains, and placing it upon a receiver for subsequent use, may be of any appropriate character, but as herein shown comprises the frame 1 on which is mounted the shaft 2 provided with fast and loose pulleys 3 and 4. A pinion or gear wheel 5 on the shaft 2 transmits rotative movement through an idler 6 and gear 7 to the shaft 8. These parts, as well as the flier 9, the receiver or spool 10, its traversing cam 11 and connections for transmitting appropriate uniform unwinding rotary movement to the flier and traversing movements to the receiver or spool 10 from the shaft 2 may all be substantially as described in the United States patent to H. F. Straw, No. 550,656.

Pivotally mounted on an arm 12 projecting from the frame 1, is a belt shipper 13 to which is connected a spring 14 normally acting to throw the belt shipper 13 in position to move the belt 15 from the fast to the loose pulley on the shaft 2. Extending from the belt shipper 13 is an arm 16 adapt- Leashes ed to be engaged by a latch 17, Fig. 1, pivoted at 18 to retain the belt shipper from movement responsive to the spring 14; with the driving belt 15 on the fast or driving pulley, the construction being such that when the belt shipper is moved to place the bolt on the tight pulley, the latch 17 will retain it in such position until said latch is rocked clockwise, Fig. 1, as will hereinafter appear, whereupon the belt shipper will be released to the action of the spring 14 to place the belt upon the loose pulley and stop the winding mechanism. The latch 17 has an upper portion whereby, as pointed out in the patent abovementioned, the un winding mechanism may be stopped when the wrapping cord or thread 20 breaks or becomes too slack.

From the construction above described, it will be apparent that the flier or unwrapping mechanism will rotate at a substantially constant and uniform speed, once its operation has been established; and if the linear speed of the wrapped portion of the yarn chain can be once properly proportioned to the rotary speed of the flier or unwrapping mechanism and thereafter be continuously maintained, the point at which the wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chain and consequently the angle of its departure will remain substantially constant.

At a suitable osition relative to the unwinding mechamsm, a support is provided, which is conveniently formed as a frame 21 generally of rectangular form suspended by hangers 22 from an overhead support, such as the ceiling, but, of course, the frame may be otherwise sustained.

Mounted in suitable bearings 22 secured to the opposite side members of the frame 21 is the head shaft 23 which may be operated at uniform speed from connection with the winding mechanism, as will more fully appear. Secured to rotate with the shaft 23 is the main drawing and feeding cone 24 preferably faced with some yielding material, such as leather or the like, and similarly secured to said shaft are the main tension rolls 25. The number of such tension rolls will vary in accordance with the number of yarn chains that have been wrapped together by the wrapping cord or thread. In the illustrated form of the invention, twoof such rolls are shown, and eachis preferably provided with side flanges 26. Fig. 5.

The main drawing and feeding cone is to act upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain and positively draw it from a suitable supply and feed it toward the uuwrapping mechanism at a uniform predetermined linear speed, and the purpose of the tension rolls 25 is to act upon the unwrapped portion or portions of the yarn chain after they have passed the unwrapping mechanism to maintain them under constant tension and deliver them to the delivery chutes. Tojinsure this relative action of the drawing and feeding cone and the tension rolls, the latter are made of somewhat greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the drawing and. feeding.

cone, see Fig. 5 and since theremay be some slip between the'unwrapped portions of the yarn chain and the tension rolls, the'latter are preferably made with smooth surfaces calculated to permit such slip without injurious effect upon the unwrapped portions of the yarn chains, while the surface of the drawing and feeding cone is made of a more adhesive character to effect positive move-. ment of the unwrappedyarn'chain therewith. p

The described character of the main drawing and feeding cone by its engagement with thewrapped portion of the yarn chain imparts thereto a positive drawing movement from the source of supply and toward the unwrapping mechanism; and further to enjusted position and to which are pivotally mounted at 28 the arms29'. Adjustably secured upon the arms 29 are thebliocks 30 carrying appropriate bearings 31 for the shaft 32 on which the idle rolls 33 are loosely mounted. It will be understood, of course, that there is. one roll 33 cooperating with each of the tension rolls 25.v The shaft 32 may be securedfromendwise movement by means of collars 34 secured thereon as indicated in Fig. 4'. I I 1 Loosely mounted upon the shaft 32 are the arms 35, the", end portions of which are provided with bearings 36 for the shafft' of the idle cone 37. The arms 35 carrying the idle cone 37 may be held from longitudinal movement onthe shaft '32 by suitable collars- 38, the construction being such that the idle rolls 33' will'coact with the tension rolls 25 beneath and'that the idle cone 37 will likewise coact with the main driving and feeding cone 24. The idle rolls 33 and the idle cone 37 are preferably provided with a surface 39 formed of leather or other like material.

from a source of supply as at The yarn. chain to be unwrappeId is takea,

, 1g. 1, an

it passes,

passes asindicated. by the; arrows lover-Ya. suitable guide such'ias thepulley. 40,-whence. as indicated in Fig. 3, over. the,

top of the idle cone 37 and between the idle cone and the main driving and-feeding cone 24 from the bottom .ofwhich itsncourse 1s;v

deflected upward to" a suitable guide such as 41, Fig.1, preferably located directly over the unwinding mechanism. filnplthei illus-, trated embodiment of the invention, thewrapped chain is composed of two separatechains wrapped by the same wrapping cord or thread, and as it passes'downward from the guide 41 to the unwrapping mechanism, the wrapping cord or thread isunwrapped therefrom as indicated in Fig. l, whereupon the now unwrapped portions of the chain pass downward about a guide 42. from which:

the two unwrapped chains pass'to the ten+ sion rolls 25 which. deliver them through suitable laying 'chutes to be hereinafter described, whereby they are arrangedin piles B either on the floor or in suitable recep tacles. Q Mounted upon the head shaft 23 is a belt pulley 43 which is .operativelyconnected to the shaft 2 of the unwinding mechanism by a belt 44, Figs. 1 and 2,. the-construction being such thatthe speedsof rotation Of the positive drawing and'feeding cone andtension rolls onthe shaft -23iwill be dependent upon or 'proportioned-tolthe speed of; ro-

tation of the shaft 2 of the unwrapping mechanism, and consequently i'the linear speed of the wrapped yarn'f chain' and the rotating speed "of the -Junwrapping mechanism wlll maintain a substantially fixed relation, which is not subjected .to' variation due to stretching of the unwrapped-portion of the yarn chain, and therefore the angleo'f departure ofthe '-wrapping cord: or; thread from the yarn chain :will remainlconstant,

the tension rolls 25 acting upon 'jlthe-unwrapped' portions of the yarn chains merely to keep them under tension and deliver to the delivery chutes.

. 5; The desired relation between the linear speed of the wrapped'chain "and the rotary speed of the unwrapping'mechanism may be varied to the .=necessitiesioffieach case. by

them

. causing the wrapped yarn chain toapass about the main "driving andafeeding cone at different portions of its-length; and to this end suitable means .mayzbe provided for directing;v the yarn chain to the desired. portion of the said cone; .In the illustrated form of the invention, this resultis effected by means of a shaft 45 carried in suitable bearings 46 and held from longitudinal movement as by the collar 47. This shaft 45 is provided with a hand-piece 48 by which it may be rotated as desired, and

mounted upon a screw-threaded portion 49 of said shaft is a block 50 which is threaded thereto. The block 50. has a guide 51 usua throu h which the wrapped yarn chain is passe and by which it may be directed to the drawing and feeding cones.

It happens'at times that the wrapped yarn chain as it is positively drawn from the source of supply, as hereinbefore indicated, will snarl, and it is desirable under such conditions that means be provided to stop the machine. To this end, the block 50 which, as described, is mounted upon the screw-threaded shaft 45, has pivoted thereto an arm 52, Figs. 1 and 3, to which is adjustably connected a collar 53 having a guide 54 through which the wrapped yarn chain passes. The arm 52 is connected to a suitable stopping mechanism whereby, upon lifting movement of said arm, the machine will be brought to rest. A good practical form of such stopping mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as comprising a connection 55 between the collar 53 and arm 56 secured to a shaft 57 mounted in bearings 58-extending from the frame 21. The shaft 57 has extending therefrom an arm 59 joined by a connection 60 with an arm 61 pivotally mounted on theframe of the machine and which is itself connected to the latch 17 by a link 62, the

construction being such that upon movement of the rock shaft clockwise, Figs. 1

and 3, the latch 17 will free theshipper 13 and cause the belt to be thrown to the loose pulley.

As the plural yarn chains after being unwrapped pass from the unwrapping mechamm to the tension rolls, they are appropriately supported and directed to their respective tension rolls. In the present form of the invention, this is conveniently effected,

by providing the'frame 21 with the downwardly extending lugs 63, Fig. 3, to which is adjustably connected as at-64, the bracket arms 65 provided with bearings in their lower lportions for the guide shaft 66. Adjustaby mounted, upon the guide shaft 66 are the collars 67, each of which carries a guide 68 for one of the unwrapped yarn chains 69 and 70, Fig. 4. j

When the wrapping cord or thread is unwraplped from the yarn chains, the latter y adhere to one another as they pass downward and about the guide roll 42, and until thev deflection of the individual yarn chains toward their respective guides 68. Should this adhesion between the individual yarn chains be not. readily overcome by the deflection of said yarn chains toward their "respective guides 68, injury to the yarn 1,212,ece

movement of the separate yarn chains 69, 70. One of these sto arms may be conveniently formed by t e arm 56 which, as hereinbefore described, "is joined to the arm 52 by the flexible connection 55. The other stop arm 71 may be secured to the rock shaft 57 and like the arm 56, extends beyond the plane of movement of the separate yarn chains 69, 70. These arms 56 and 71 are preferably so located with respect to the guides 68 that should the yarn chains 69 and 70 fail to separate as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, one or the other there- 'of will meet one of the arms 56 or 71 and cause the rock shaft 57 to be rocked clockwise, Fig. 3, thereby effecting machine stop page, as hereinbefore explained.

Where a plurality of yarn chains are subjected to the dyeing or bleaching operation while wrapped together by a wrapping cord or thread, a yarn of one chain is liable to cling to or become entangled with the yarns of another chain; and when the yarn c ains are separated as hereinbefore described, such clinging or snarled yarn is liable to be broken as the yarn chains pass through their respective guides to the tension rolls. To overcome this objection, and to preserve the integrity of all yarns of the chains, means are provided for insuring that such clinging or entangled yarn shall be detached from the chain to which it does not belong and consequently be not broken as the separated yarn chains pass to their respective yarn tension rolls. This means comprises a ring 72, Fig. 4, through which one of the yarn chains is passed when the ends of the yarn chains are first separated prior to the commencement of the machine operation. The ring 72 is preferably placed upon one of the yarnchams as 70 between the guides 42- at the lower part of the unwrapping mechanism, and the guides 68 through which the separated chains pass. If one of the yarns 73,, for instance, which belongs to the chain 69 should cling to the yarn chain 70 as the yarn chains 69, 70 are separated,

the ring 72 will be lifted by the single yarn 73 and the weight of such. ring will be sufficient to detach the yarn 73 from the yarn chain 70 and cause itto move with its own yarn chain. V

The ring device hereinbefore described is preferably a loose ring and presents a simple and eflicient means for preventing the yarns of one yarn chain fromclingiiig to the yarns of another yam chain and be broken as the chains separate and pass to their re-- spective tension rolls.

As the separated yarn chains pass from their respective tension rolls 25, they are delivered to the delivery chutes 74, Figs. 3 and 4, which extend downward from the frame 21 and are given suitable traverse movement to lay the yarn chains in a desired pile. Any suitable means may be provided for properly vibrating the chutes 74, but as herein shown, said chutes are suspended from a shaft by means of suit able bracket arms 76 secured thereto. Pivotally connected at 77 to each of the brackets 76 is an arm 78 whereby the chutes 74 ma be rocked about their pivotal mounting 7 as a center. Means are provided to act upon one of the chutes to secure the desired vibratory movement thereof, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the chutes are connected by a bar 79 whereby they move in unison. A good form of means for thus imparting the vibratory movement to the chutes 74 to lay the yarns in a desired form of piles, is indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, wherein there is loosely mounted upon the shaft 75 a sleeve 80 to which is secured the gear 81 and worm 82, the latter of which is in operative engagement with a worm wheel 83 connected by a link 84 to the arm 78 secured to one of the chutes. The connection of the link 84 to the arm 78 preferably is adjustable as by means of the slot 85 which is engaged by the pin 86 connected to the link 84. From the construction described, it will be apparent that upon rotation of the gear 81 and worm 82, the chutes will be vibrated or rocked as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. To operate the worm 82, the gear 81 is engaged by an idle gear 86 actuated by a gear 92 secured to the driving shaft 23, Fig. 6, but any other appropriate driving connections may be employed.

It is evident from the construction thus far described that the chute 74 will lay the yarn chains 69 and 70 back and forth in the same vertical plane, but it is desirable that such back-and-forth movement shall be progressively in different vertical planes to form a rectangular pile such as indicated at B, Fig. 1; and to this end the present invention provides means for rocking the shaft 7 5 to which the bracket arms 76 are secured. To this end, the shaft 75 has extending downward therefrom the slotted link 87 to which is adjustably connected one end of a pitman 88, the other end of which is pivoted at 89 to the face of a gear or pinion 90, carried in suitable bearings provided by the brackets 91 extending downward from the frame 21. The gear or pinion is rotated by suitable connections with the driving shaft 23 as by the gear 92, the construction being such that upon rotation of the main driving shaft 23, the delivery chutes 74 will be vibrated to lay the unwrapped yarn chains 69 and 70 in suitable superposed horizontal layers.

From the construction heretofore described as one embodiment of the present invention. it will be understood that the wrapped yarn chain is drawn from the source of supply and fed toward the unupon to insure that notwithstanding such association of different yarn chains, of one chain will be effectively from the yarns of the other chain or chains without danger of breaking. These features of the invention will be understood the yarns the yarn cham and" separated I by those skilled in the art, as well as the I advantages incident to the bleaching or dyemg of a plurality of yarn chains wrapped by the same cord or thread whereby the bleaching and dyeing of the several associated yarn chains will affect them all alike, as for instance, in the dyeing operation, the color of all threads of one set of yarn chains will be the same. I

Various changes may be made in the details of the invention and some of the features thereof may be conjointly or' separately used without departin from the true scope of the invention as efined by the claims.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain, a receiver for said cord or thread, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism for positively drawing the wrapped chain from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, and means acting upon the yarn-chain after it has been unwrapped for pulling upon and maintaining the yarn-chain under uniform tension as it is fed toward the unwrapping mechanism by said drawing and feeding means.

2. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain, a receiver for said cord or thread, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism for positively drawing the wrapped chain from a source, of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, means for varying the action of the feeding means upon the wrapped yarn chain to vary the speed at which the wrapped portion ofthe chain shall be fed toward the unwrapping mechanism, and

- supplied by said drawing and feeding means.

3. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain, a receiver upon which said cord or thread is wound as it comes from the yarn-chain, means acting upon the chain before it reaches the said mechanism from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwinding mechanism, and means having a surface speed greater than the speed of the chain for drawing it from the unwrapping machine.

4. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plural number of the chains, a receiver for said cord or thread, means acting upon the Wrapped portion of the chain for positively drawing the wrapped chains from a source of supply and feeding them toward said unwrapping mechanism, means for separating the chains, and means acting separately upon the unwrapped portion of the separated yarn chains for maintaining them under uniform tension as the wrapped chains approach the unwrapping mechanism, as they are unwrapped by said mechanism, and as they pass from said mechanism after being unwrapped.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain for positively drawing it from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, connections between said means and mechanism for causing them to be driven at proportional speeds to maintain the angular departure of the wrapping cord or thread from the yarn chain substantially constant, and means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain for pulling upon and maintaining the yarn chain under unvarying tension as it travelsto and through the unwrapping mechanism.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a yarn chain, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain for positively feeding the chain toward the unwrapping mechanism, driving connections between the unwrapping mechanism and positive feeding means to maintain the angle at which the wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chain substantially constant, means for causing a variation between the linear speed at which the wrapped chain is fed and the speed of the unwrapping mechanism for changing the angle at which the wrapping ,ees

cord or thread leaves the yarn chain, and means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the chain for maintaining the yarn chain under tension.

7. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarni chains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a drawing and feeding cone for drawing the yarn chain from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, a tension roll having a greater surface speed than the drawing and feeding cone and acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain to maintain it under tension as it is fed by the drawing and feeding cone.

8. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chain, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a drawing and feeding cone for drawing the yarn chain from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, a tension roll, of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the cone and acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain as it is fed by the cone.

9. A yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, comprising in its construction an unwrapping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism to feed the yarn-chain positively at desired speed toward the unwrapping mechanism, and

means acting upon the yarn chain with slipping friction after it has been unwrapped, said two means cooperating to maintain unvarying travel and tension of the yarn chain as it is fed to, through, and beyond the unwrapping mechanism.

10. A yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, comprising in its construction an unwrap ping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism to feed the yarn chain positively at desired speed toward the unwrapping mechanism, means acting upon the yarn chain at a surface speed exceeding that of the positive feeding means after it has been unwrapped for drawing it from the unwrapping mechanism, and means for changing the rate of speed at which the wrapped chain is fed toward the unwrapping mechanism.

11. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination of unwinding mechanism, a main drawing and feeding cone located between the source of yarn-chain supply and unwrapping mechanism and acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain to feed it forward toward said mechanism, a smooth surfaced tension roll to act upon the unwrapped portion of yarn chain. and means for operating the drawing and feedmg cone and smooth surfaced tension roll at difi'erent surface speeds.

12. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination of unwinding mechanism, a main drawing and feedin cone located between the source of yarn-c ain supply and unwrapping mechanism and acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain to feed it forward toward said mechanism, a smooth surfaced tension roll to act upon the unwrapped portion of yarn chain, an idle cone and idle roll to act upon the yarn chain as it passes about the drawing and feeding cone and tension roll respectively,

and means for effecting greater surface speed to the tension roll than the drawing and feeding cone. p

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of yarn chains, a feed ng cone between the unwrapping mechanism and source of yam-chain supply actmg upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chains for positively feeding them toward the unwrapping mechanism, means for separating the yarn chains as they are progressively unwrapped, and means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the separated yarn chains to draw them from the unwrapping mechanism.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination .of unwrappmg mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of yarn chains, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chains for positively drawmg the wrapped yarn chains from a source of supply and feeding them toward the unwrappmg mechanism, means for separatlng the yarn chalns as they are unwrapped, means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the separated yarn chains to draw them from the unwrapping mechanism, and means for stopplng the operation of the apparatus should the chains fail to be separated.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, mechanism for unwrafpping a cord or thread from a plurality o yarn chains about which it'is wrapped, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chains for feeding the yarn chains to said mechanism, means for guiding the individual yarn chains into different paths as they leave the unwrapping mechanism, means acting separately upon the unwrapped chains for maintaining the yarn chains under unvarying tension as they are moved toward, through, and beyond the unwrapping mechanism, and means for stopp ng the unwrapping mechanism and feedmg means if the chains fail to be separated into their different paths. 1

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of-yarn chains about which it 1s wrapped, means acting upon the wrapped yarn-chains for feeding the yarn chains to the unwrapping mechanism, means for guidmg the individual yarn chains into different paths as they are unwrapped, rolls actmg separately upon the unwrapped yarn chains after they have been separated to move the yarn chains with uniform speed to and through the unwrapping mechanism, and

stopping means having a part extending beyarn-chains under unvarying tension and travel as they pass through the unwrapping mechanism, and means for stopping the unwrapping mechanism and feeding means if the chains fail to be separated into their different paths.

18. In an. apparatus of the character described, the combination of mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of yarn chains about which it is wrapped, means for feeding the yarn chains to the unwrapping mechanism, individual yarn chain guiding means for separating and directing the yarn chains into separate paths as they are unwrapped, and means acting yieldingly between the yarn chains as they are separated to prevent a yarn of one chain from following another chain to 'which it does not belong.

'19. In a machine for unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cord or thread by which the yarn chains are held together, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, yarn chain feeding means, means for separating the yarn chains as they are unwrapped, and means acting upon one of the yarn chains for separating a yarn 'of one chain from the yarns of another chain to which it may cling when the yarn chains are separated.

20. In a machine for unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cord or thread by which said chains are held together, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, means for feeding the yarn chains, means for separating the yarn chains as they are --'fed and unwrapped, and a yarn separator 3 ,by which said chains are held together,

the combination of unwrapping mechanism, means for feeding the yarn chains, means for separating the yarn chains as they are fed and unwrapped, and a loose ring yarn' separator through which one of the yarn chains passes for detaching therefrom a yarn of another chain that may cling to the yarn chain passing through the loose 2%. In a machine for unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cord or thread by which said chains are held together, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the plural yarn chains for positively draw ing them from a source of supply and feeding them toward the unwrapping mechanism, guiding means for separating the individual yarn chains after they have been unwrapped, tension means for acting on the unwrapped portions of the individual yarn chains, and a yarn separator supported by the unwrapped portion of one of the yarn chains while under tension to separate therefrom a yarn of another chain that mav cling thereto.

24. In a yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a shaft mounted between the source of yarn chain supply and said unwrapping mechanism, operating connections between said shaft and unwinding mechanism for driving them at proportional speeds, positive drawing and feeding means mounted on said shaft for drawing the wrapped yarn chain from the source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, and tension means also mounted on said shaft and acting on the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain for maintaining it under tension as it passes to and from the unwinding mechanism.

25. In a yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a shaft mounted between the source of yarn chain supply and said unwrapping mechanism, operating connections between said shaft and unwinding mechanism for driving them at proportional speeds, a positive drawing and feeding cone mounted on said shaft and acting on the yarn chain before it is unwrapped for positively drawing it from the source of supply and feeding it unwrapped, and operating connections between the drawing and feeding cone, the tension roll, and unwinding mechanism for causing operation of said parts at proportional speeds.

27. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chains, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a positive drawing and feeding cone for drawing the wrapped chain from the source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, a tension roll for acting upon the chain after it has been unwrapped, and operating connections between the drawing and feeding cone, the tension roll, and the unwinding mechanism for causing operation of said parts at proportional speeds, and adjustable means for directing the wrapped portion of the yarn chain as it comes from the source of supply to difi'erent portions of the positive drawing and feeding cone.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a feeding cone between the unwrapping mechanism and yarn chain supply, operative connections between the feeding cone and unwrapping mechanism, and a tension roll having a surface speed greater than that of the cone to maintain the yarn chain under tension and at uniform speed as it passes from the feeding cone to and through the unwrapping mechanism.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a feeding cone between the unwrapping mechanism and yarn chain supply, means operable at will for directing the unwrapped yarn chain to different portions longitudinally of the cone, operatlve connections between the feeding cone and unwrapping mechanism, and a tension roll having a surface speed greater than that of the-cone to maintain the yarn chain under tension and at uniform speed as it passes from the feeding cone to and through the unwrapping mechanism.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of unwrapping mechanism, a support between the unwrapping mechanism and source of yarn chain supply, a feeding cone and tension roll mounted on said support, means for driving the tension roll at relatively higher surface speedsthan that of the feeding cone to feed the unwrapped chain to and through the unwrapping mechanism under uniform tension and at unvarying speed.

31. In a machine of the character described, the combination of yarn chain unwrapping mechanism, feeding means between the source of yarn chain supply and the unwrapping mechanism, a device acting frictionally on the yarn chain after it has been unwrapped to maintain uniform tension and speed in the yarn chain as it passes through the unwrapping mechanism, a

guide for the wrapped yarn chain between the feeding means and the source of supply, 15 stopping means, and connections between the stopping means and guide to operate the former when the guide is moved by a snarl in the wrapped yarn chain.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 20 name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT W. OWEN.

Witnesses:

H. D. HonoKI N, W. F. Ronnms.

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