US1953368A - Combined drawing and spinning frame - Google Patents

Description

April w. SPRING 1,953,368

COMBINED DRAWING AND sPImiINe FRAME Filed. Nov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvenfon WalTer M. Spring byMWd M April 3, 1934. w. M. SPRING 3 7 COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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April-3,1934; I w. M. SPRING 6 COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v lnvenTor. WolTer M. Spring b MWkW I ATTys.

April 3, 1934- w. M. SPRING. 1,953,368

COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1931] 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A \nvenToi. Wafier Mfipflng by Artys.

Patented 7 Apr. 3, .1934

' COMBINED DRAWING FRAM EAND SPINNING Walter M. Spring, Springvale, Maine, assignor to Sanford Mills, Sanford Maine Application November 2,

, Maine, a corporation of 1931, Serial No. 572,473

2 Claims. (01. 118-39) This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the continuous multistage processing of roving or yarn strands in 'the production of yarn wherein and whereby the strands advance 5 continuously in the same direction throughout the several stages of doubling, drawing and twisting.

In the process of forming yarn a plurality of strands of roving are doubled, drawn or attenuatedand twisted and this operation is repeated several times with the resultant composite strands. While thenumber of stages vary and the number of machines employed vary according to the character of the fibre and the kind of yarn ultimately to be produced, and while the machines employed are of, varioustypes and known by various names, it is the universal practice to employ a plurality of independent machines for each drawing or attenuating and Q twisting operation. A plurality of strands is fed usually from a plurality of spools,as from a creel, into the first machine and these strands therein are doubled, drawn, and slightly twisted and then wound upon suitable bobbins or car-' 5 iriers. A plurality of these bobbins or carriers is then, placed in the second machine and the strands unwound therefrom, doubled, drawn and twisted and wound upon another series of bobbins or carriers in the second machine. Thus the operations are repeated with succeeding machines. It will thus be seen that the direction of travel of the strands is reversed each time it passes from one machine to another andthat much time and expense is involved in the winding onto and unwinding from the bobbins or filling carriers between the successive operations. In preparing the strand for the final spinning operation, it is common to pass the strands successively through three sets of apparatus having doubling, drawing, and twisting elements and these machines or pieces of apparatus are known by various names, such as drawing framesor fly frames. Broadly considered, there is little difference between the drawing or fly frame and the spinning frame which performs the final operation in producing the yarn. The main difference is in the amount. of twist imparted to the strand. In the drawing or attenuating operation only enough twist is imparted to enable the strand to withstand the drawing or attenuating operation without breakage, while in the spinning operation suificient twist is imparted to produce the character oi. yarn desired.

The present invention has for its object to pro- 55 vide a process and apparatus in which the retion are completed.

The object of the invention is further to pro- ,vide such a processand apparatus in which each twisting operation prior to the last or final'twist is effected while the strands are passing from the preceding drawing operation to the 'succeeding drawing operation.

The object of the invention is further to provide an apparatus in which this multistage proces'sing'of theyarn is secured and the twisting operations prior to the final twisting operation are performed by twister tubes engaging the strands as they pass from one drawing operation to the next drawing operation.

The object of the invention is further to provide an apparatus for producing either finished yarn or a composite strand from a plurality of strands by a plurality of drawing operations in which a convenient gear changing means is provided for changing the draft.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and-will be particularly pointedout in the claims.

As the general nature of drawing frames, fly frames'and spinning frames is well known to those skilled in the art, and as the invention is not concerned with various details of these machines except in features hereinafter specified, it is only necessary to illustrate and describe the general features of a preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention and carrying out the process, together with such details as are particularly required by the invention The strands'are herein-illustrated as taken from a plurality of spools on a creel,-then doubled, drawn and twisted by a plurality of units, then again doubled, drawn and twisted by a second plurality .of units in a second stage, and then doubled, drawn and twisted by a plurality of units ina third stage. third stage may be either that of a final preparatory operation or of a spinning op ation, depending, as already creased to any desired extent according to the 11 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention and for carrying out the process of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail drawing illustrating the speedchanging gear mechanism for adjusting the draft.

Fig. 4 is an end view of'the gear'mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end-view of the gear mechanism looking in the opposite direction from that of Fig. .4 with the casing thereof partially broken away.

Fig. 6 is a ditic view in perspective showing the steps employed in producing finished strands and the process of combining or doubling a plurality of strands into the finished strands.

In order to give a better'understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. A sufficient number of 'elements are incorporated in the embodiment illustrated to reduce three'hundredand eightyfour strands to eight finished strands. The three hundred and eighty-four strands are supplied byas many spools or bobbins I mounted upon a creel 2 or any other suitable support. The necessary drawing and twisting elements are incorporated in a single condensed imit having a frame 3.

For purposes of description the spools 1 upon the creel 2 will-be considered as divided into four main groups disposed in horizontal layers, one above the other, each layer being two spools deep, 'four spools wide and twelve spools long.

. twenty-four single composite strands which are disposed horizontallyacrossthe machine and fed to drawing rolls incorporated in each of the four mechanisms. After receiving their proper draft the composite strands are fed through twister tubes mounted adjacent the bite of'the drawing rolls where they are given their proper twist. A total of ninety-six composite strands are thus formed by the four main groups of mechanisms andthese strands are then combined into twen ty-four groups of four strands each, the four strands of each of the twenty-four groups are then combined or doubled and fed'to drawing rolls incorporated in two additional drawing roll mechanisms8 and9situatedcloselyadjacentt0 the other mechanisms, and preferably one above the other. Each of the m 8 and 9 re- Sceives twelve of the twenty-four composite strands available and perform another draft operation thereon, after which the strands are passed through twister tubes, where they receive additional twist in the same direction as that of the prior twisting operation.

From this point the twenty-four composite strands are again combined into eight groups containing three strands each. The three strands of each group are then combined or doubled into eight composite strands which are led to the unit 10 in which they are given another draft and are twisted upon a standard fiy frame spindle twisting mechanism to produce eight strands which may be either the final operation preparatory to spinning or even the spinning operation itself.

The exact manner in which the strands are combined or doubled is shown best by following through the formation of two finished strands as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. The formationof two finished strands is chosen for illustration rather than one, for the reason that the method of combining the strands which originate at divergent points in themachine to produce a greater uniformity of product is more clearly shown.

Fig. 6 represents the disposition of strands in that portion of the machine above the dotted line shown in Fig.2, and bounded by a vertical plane extending downwardly through the machine at this point. The finished strand is produced in the remaining portion of the machine in the same manner as that illustrated in Fig. 6.

In the portion of the machine illustrated diagrammatically, there are ninety-six strands coming from ninety-six spools or bobbins in the creel which are not shown in Fig. 6. These strands are divided into twenty-four groups of four each, the four strands of each group being combined in a guide eye or other suitable means at points 11. Each group is then processed by drawing and then twisted into a single composite strand by means of twister tubes at points 12. The twenty-four groups of four each. Each groupis then combined into six individual composite strands at points 13. The four composite strands contained in each of the six groups are combined into one by leading two strands from one of the layers. from which the twenty-four strands arebeing delivered by the prior step in processing the yarn, and two from the layer above or below the first named layer as clearly illustrated in- Fig. 6. The

composite strands are then divided into six six composite strands disposed in two layers contwo strands from the lower layer and one from I the upper layer. ,7

A thorough mixing of the fibre coming from different spools of the creel or supply is obtained in the manner above set forth to produce a final strand which is of very uniform quality. While the above method of combinin the strands produces satisfactory results, it is within the scope of the invention to combine any desired .number of strands in any manner suitable to the character of the product to be produced.

The drawing and twisting mechanisms are fixed in the frame 3 and since they are substantially similar in construction, only one of the. 150

a plurality of feed rolls 19, 20, 21, and 22 which are pivotally mounted in the frame 23 of the mechanism. The bottom roll 22 is driven by means of a gear 24 fixed upon its shaft and meshing with a train of gears 25 which has an interchangeable element by means of which its speed rate may be changed. The strand enters between the rolls 19 and 20, passes around one-- half of the circumference of the roll 20 between the roll 20 and the roll 21, then passes around one-half of the circumference of the roll 21 and thence between the rolls 21 and 22. The strand then passes over idler rolls 26 and enters between a pair of draft rolls 2'7 and 28.

In each of the mechanisms 4, 5, 6, and '7, the rolls 27 are driven by means of a vertical shaft 29. The means employed to drive the rolls 27 from the vertical shaft'29 comprises a pair of spiral gears whose axes are disposed at an angle of 90 and are received in casings 30. The other end of the rolls 2? are provided with gears which mesh with and drive the gear trains 25. The upper draft roll 28 is divided into four sections and is driven by frictional engagement with the roll 27 in the usual manner. The pressure exerted between the rolls 27 and 28 is adjustable by means of a mechanism indicated generally at t 31, and which is disclosed in my pending application-Serial No. 534,487, filed May 2, 1931.

The strand emerges from the draft rolls after receiving the proper draft and is fed through twister tubes 32 which are mounted rotatably upon the mechanisms in a horizontal position. The twistertubes are of usual construction and serve to induce the proper twist into the roving as it passes therethrough. The mechanisms 8 and 9 are similar to the mechanisms 4, 5, 6, and '7 and are driven by means of a vertical shaft 33 upon which are mounted two pairs of spiral gears within the casings 34. One of each of the pairs of gears are secured to the shaft 33, whilethe other gear of each pair is fixed to the draft rolls 2'7. The feed rolls in the mechanisms 8 and 9 are driven from the rolls 2'! through the gear trains 25 in the same manner as that described in connection with the other mechanisms.

The various strands are combined or doubled, drawn and twisted as already described and emerge from the mechanisms 8 and 9 to be given their final processing of drawing and twisting in the mechanism 10. This latter mechanism is provided with feed rolls and drawing rolls similar to the other mechanisms, and, in addition, is shown as provided with eight standard fly frame spindles 35, which receive the output delivered by the mechanisms 8 and 9 and give the eight final strands their finishing twist and wind the yarn upon the bobbins 36. The unit 10 is similar to the usual type used in the production of mohair yarn, and embodies the usual traverse mechanism and driving elements which it is not necessary to describe;

All of the elementsof the machine are driven from a main driving-shaft 37 having a tight swung upwardly until the gear 60 meshes with pulley 38 and a loose pulley 39 thereon, upon which is received a belt connecting the machine with a line of shafting, a motor, or any other suitable power supply not shown in the drawings. The shaft 37 has fixed thereto one of a pair of spiral gears whose axes are disposed at an angle of 90. The other gear of the pair is fixed to a shaft 40. The shaft 49 projects into and has a bearing in the casing .41 of a gear-changing mechanism. The shaft 40 extends throughout the length of the casing having a bearing at both ends thereof and a bearing 42 near the cen- 'tral point of the casing. Upon the shaft 40, be-

tween the end bearings and the central bearing 42, are mounted a pair of drum gears 43 and 44 having teeth out throughout their length. A shaft45 is joumalled in one end of the casing 41 in parallel relation to the shaft 40 in bearings 46 and 47. The shaft 45 extendasub stantially throughout one-half of the lengtli'of the casing. Another shaft 48 is journalled in the other end of the casing in parallel relation to the shaft 40 and mounted in bearings 49 and 50. The shaft 45 has fixed thereto a plurality of gears 51 of diflerent pitch diameters, while the shaft 48 has secured thereto a group of gears 52 of different pitch diameters. The shaft 40 has mounted thereon a swinging frame which spans the drum gear 43 and is composed of a shaft 53, rigidly secured at its ends in a pair of arms 54 and 55, which are mounted loosely at their inner ends upon the shaft 40 and extend along the end faces .of the drum gear 43. A similar swinging frame spans the drum gear 44 having a shaft 56 fixed at its ends in arms 5'? and 58 which are mounted'll loosely at their inner ends on the shaft 40 adjacent the end faces of the gear 44. I

The shaft 56 has splined thereto a bifurcated frame 59 which is slidable throughout the length thereof and has pivoted therein an idler gear 60, which is situated in position to mesh with the gear 44 at all times and in any position of the swinging frame. In order to establish a driving relation between the gear 44 and any one of the gears 52, the bifurcated frame 59 carrying the gear 60 is moved along the shaft 56' until the gear 60 is in the same plane as the particular gear 52 with which it is desired to establish a drive. The frame spanning the gear 44 is then the gear selected upon the shaft 48.. To lock the parts in this position an extension 61 is provided from the frame 59 and extends outwardly through a slot 62 in the casing and has a handle portion 63. Within the handl is a plunger 64 which is forced radially inward toward the shaft 40 by means of a spring. 65., When the gear 60 is positioned properly in mesh with the gear selected, the plunger will enter an aperture 66' in the casing. A series of apertures 66 are provided in the casing and so positioned as to lock the gears in mesh to drive through any one of the gears 52. When it is desired to change the gear ratio, the plunger 64 is withdrawn from 146 the aperture 66 by means of the head 67 upon tithe outer end of the plunger and the parts ar re-positioned to secure the desired ratio.

The shaft 53 hassplined theretma frame 68 similar to the frame 59 and carrying an idler gear 69 which is adapted to be meshed selectively with any one of the gears 51 upon the shaft 45 in the same manner as described in connection with the frame 59. The frame 68 is provided with a handle extension '70 similar to the handle 150 leys 90 fixed upon the shaft 80.

,has fixed thereon a spiral gear '73 which meshes with aspiral gear '74 fixed to the vertical shaft 33. The shaft 33, therefore, is driven from the shaft 40 through the gear 43, the idler gear 69 and one of the gears 51 which in turn drives the shaft 45 having the gear '73 thereon. The

shaft 29 is driven in a similar manner from the gear 44 on the shaft 40 through the idler gear 60 to one of the gears 52 upon the shaft 48 having the gear 71 fixed thereto. To change the speed of the draft rolls 27, therefore, it is merely necessary to withdraw the plunger 64, withdraw the idler 60 from its intermeshing gear and re-position the idler gear 60 in mesh with the proper gear 52 to give the desired speed. By this means the draft in all four of the mechanisms 4, 5, 6 and '7 is simultaneouslychanged. Similarly, the draft in the mechanisms 8 and 9 is changed by adjusting the speed ratio between the gears 43 and the gears 51 by re-positioning the idler gear 69. Obviously, if it is desired to change-the speed of production of the machine, the interchangeable gears in the gear trains 25 may be changed to change the speed of the feed rolls. If necessary, the draft may be readjusted again by means of the change gear mechanism above described.

The spindles, drawing and traverse mechanisms of the unit 10 are driven in the usual manner,

from a shaft 75. The shaft 75 is driven from a gear 76 mounted on the main drive shaft 37 through a suitable train of gears.

The twister tubes mounted on the mechanisms 4, 5, 6 and 7 are driven from a pulley 7'7 mounted on the shaft 37 upon which is received a belt 78 which in turn drives a pulley 79 mounted on a shaft 80 journalled' in the frame of the machine and extending substantially the full width therer of. Another pulley 81 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft 80 and connected to another cross shaft '82 mounted in the frame of the machine by means of a belt 83 running upon a pulley 84. The shaft 82 has mounted thereon a plurality of grooved pulleys 85. The twister tubes mounted in the mechanisms 41 and 5 are provided with whorls 86 which receive belts 87 which are driven by the pulleys upon the'shaft 82. The twister tubes mounted upon the mechanisms 6 and 7 are provided with whorls 88 whichreceive belts 89 which are driven by a plurality of pul- The twister tubes mounted on the mechanisms 8 and 9 are provided with whorls 91 upon which are received belts 92 which are driven from a plurality of pulleys 93, mounted upon a shaft 94, extending across the machine and driven by a pulley 95 shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, which in turn is driven by a belt 96 shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. The belt 96 is driven from a pulley 97 mounted upon the main drive shaft 37.

There are many advantages resulting from the use of a machine embodying the principles of the present invention. To produce a finished strand which requires multistage processing, it has been necessary to process the strand at each stage in its production upon individual machines, and upon completion of the processing at one stage the machine must be defied and its product fed through the succeeding stage of the process on another machine. The present invention will produce a finished strand of equal grade without stopping the machine for dofling, thus saving much time and labor.

In producing a given quantity of yarn on the device presented herein, the only bobbins requiring handling are those upon the creel which supply the number of strands of fibre necessary to supply the first processing stage for the particular machine in question. In the machine described specifically herein, only three hundred and eighty-four bobbins are handled, whereas in processing yarns by existing methods, atleast two claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: I

1. An apparatus for producing yarn strands by multistage processing comprising a plurality of groups of processing elements, each group com- .prising drawing and twisting mechanisms with the several groups acting in sequence upon strands extending in continuity throughout the apparatus and with each group acting to produce one stage in the processing and aunitary manual means operable selectively to change the draft at any or all of the processing stages except the final stage by changing the speed of all of the drawing elements in each stage simultaneously.

2. An apparatus for producing yarn strands by multistage processing comprising a plurality of groups of processing elements, each group comprising drawing and twisting mechanisms with the several groups acting in sequence upon strands extending in continuity throughout the apparatus, each 'group'acting to produce one stage in the processing, a main drive shaft, a secondary drive shaft for each group of elements connected to. drive all of the draft elements of its group simultaneously, a gear-changing mechanism operable to transmit power from the main drive shaft to the secondary drive shafts and means selectively operable to change the gear ratio of the gear shaft mechanism between the main drive shaft and any or all of the secondary drive shafts except in the final processing stage. i

WALTER M. SPRING

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