US1962693A - Flier block construction - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1934. M. J. MCHALE 1,962,693

FLIER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 27, 1933 liiiiiiiiiiliyv Patented June 12, 1934 FLIER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Michael J. McHale, Scranton, Pa.

Application December 27, 1933, Serial No. 704,172

12 Claims.

My invention relates to flier blocks and more particularly to an improved anti-kink construction for flier blocks.

A conventional flier consists essentially of a body portion, a foot member adapted to fit into an aperture formed on the end of a bobbin and flier wires supported by the body of the block. The flier is associated with the bobbin from which the silk or other material is to be unwound and is free to rotate on the bobbin spindle; the silk withdrawn from the bobbin is suitably tensioned and'provided with a twist before it is wound on a second or storage bobbin, preparatory to shipment or use in fabricating machines.

The winding machine comprises a plurality of spindles having bobbins mounted thereon, the bobbins upon which the silk is wound before it is twisted being below the line of bobbins which receive the silk after it has been properly tensioned and twisted. When the winding machine stops, the flier due to its momentum, makes one to three revolutions after the upper and lower bobbins are at rest; this movement of the flier draws additional silk from the lower bobbin and since the upper bobbin is not rotating, it does not take up the silk, with the result that kinks are formed in the thread. If the kinks are allowed to go through after the machines are started up, a defect will appear in the goods made from this particular run of silk.

In order to remove the kinks, according to present practice, it is necessary to break the threads and tie up the ends again before the machine is started. It will be appreciated that in the average silk mill, comprising fifteen thousand to twenty-five thousand spindles, that considerable time is required by the operatives in breaking and tying up the ends of the silk thread before all of the machines are in operation.

Formerly, with the exception of a break-down in the driving mechanism, the winding machines were only closed down once a week. Due to a recent change in the working hours for employees of silk mills generally. it has become necessary to shut down the machines more frequently, in some instances, once every twenty-four hours. Since considerable time is required to effect the cutting and tying of the ends of the threads, the efficiency of operation and output of mills using the conventional flier blocks have been considerably reduced.

It is the purpose of the present invention to prevent kinks from forming in the silk as it is taken off the lower bobbin and wound on the upper one, thus eliminating the necessity of cutting and tying the ends of the threads. This is accomplished by providing a flier block having a foot constructed and arranged to coact with a seat formed in the bobbin whereby the flier rotates with the bobbin when the winding machine 0' is slowing down and just before rotation of the bobbin is stopped.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved fiier block construction, adapted to prevent kinks from forming in the thread when the 5 winding machine stops.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flier block formed by the foot member adapted to seat in a recess in the bobbin, the frictional engagement between the foot and the recess acting as a brake to slow down the rotation of the flier with respect to the bobbin.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a flier block assembly wherein the bushing used to reclaim the bobbins, in which the spindle opening has become worn, may be used as a bearing surface or seat for the flier block.

A further object of my invention is to provide a nonkink forming flier block assembly wherein a seat member may be formed integral with the bobbin or as a separate element adapted. to be attached to a bobbin.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved thread tensioning and flier wire locking device whereby the tension placed upon the thread, as it is being wound, may be varied.

In the drawing: I

Figure l is an elevational view partly in section showing my improved flier block attached to a bobbin.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing a modiflcation of the block.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section showing a modified form of a bobbin.

Fig. 4 is a view along line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing the relative positions of the bobbin on a winding machine.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a spindle 1 having a bobbin 2 mounted thereon. The bob- 1 0 bin is provided with a flange or cup member 3 adapted toseat in a recess formed in one end of the bobbin and is provided with an opening 4 through which the foot of the flier block is inserted when the block is placed in position on the spindle and associated with the bobbin.

The flier block comprises a body portion 5 having a foot member 6 and a pair of flanges 7 and 8 forming a peripheral wire receiving groove 9 adapted to receive a flier wire '10. The lower flange '7 is formed with recesses adapted to receive the ends 11 of the combined flier wire looking and tensioning device designated generally by numeral 12. The upper flange 8 is formed with slots along the diameter thereof for the purpose of receiving the vertical portions of the thread tensioning device and prevent it from tilting about its points of support in the lower flange 7. The bobbin 2 is formed with a seat member 13 which may be bored out of the body of the block and is provided with a tapered portion 14. Foot member 6 of the flier block is also tapered and is adapted to seat in the recess formed in the bobbin. The arrangement of the slots and openings in the lower flange together with locking means for the flier wires, is fully disclosed in my application, Serial No. 673,547, and the present invention relating to the novel flier block structure, is an improvement over the disclosure of the above mentioned application.

In the operation of the device, as the thread is unwound from the lower bobbin and carried to the upper bobbin on a winding machine, the flier block is rotated around spindle 1 and at the same time foot 6 is lifted from its seat 14 formed in the bobbin, the block being prevented from moving away from the bobbin by means of the flange 3. When the winding machine slows down and just before rotation of the bobbins is stopped, the flier block drops down so that the foot 6 fits into the seat and due to the frictional engagement between the surfaces, the flier then rotates with the bobbin 2. By means of this arrangement, when the winding machine has stopped, additional thread is not withdrawn from the lower bobbin, for the reason that during the last two or three revolutions of the bobbin, the flier block has been rotating with it. Since the bobbins are stopped at substantially the same time and the flier block is at rest with respect tothe lower bobbin, all of the thread which has been withdrawn is wound on the upper bobbin, before the winding machine comes to rest and hence kinks are not formed in the silk.

Referring to Figure 2, I have shown a modication of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, wherein the seat member 15 is formed of a separate piece of material and adapted to be inserted into the bobbin. In this arrangement, the material 15' may be of metal. wood, fiber, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and is adapted to fit into the opening provided for the bobbin flange. As in Figure 1, the seat for the foot of the flier block is tapered as at 16, the top surface 1'7 of the seat member being spaced from flange 18 formed on the foot. It will be understood, however, that flange 18 in normal operation of the device, does not contact with surface 1'? and is intended to just clear the surface when the block is in its lowermost position.

Referring to Figure 3, I have shown an arrangement wherein a bushing 19 may be formed with a seat 20 adapted to receive the foot of the flier block. It is sometimes desirableto reclaim the bobbins after the opening which receives the spindle is worn too large for the spindle. It is customary to insert in the end of the bobbin a metallic bushing by boring out the opening and threading in or otherwise affixing a bushing to the end of the bobbin. In the present arrangement, bushing 19 is provided with corrugations 21 adapted to thread into the body of the block, the end of. the bushing being flared outwardly to form a seat for the foot of the flier block.

grammatic arrangement of the bobbins showing their relative positions on a winding machine. The thread is unwound from the lower bobbin 22 carried by the spindle 23, the thread 24' being suitably tensioned and provided with a twist by means of the flier and flier wire locking means. As the thread is unwound from bobbin 22, it is wound upon a bobbin 25 driven by the winding machine mechanism. In this connection, it

will be noted that when the bobbins and flier are stopped simultaneously, additional thread is not drawn from the lower bobbin and hence kinks do not form between the flier and the upper bobbin.

Referring" to Figure l, it will be seen that the opening 4 formed in the flange 3 is oblong in shape, in order that the round foot 6 of the flier block maybe readily inserted and held in position on the spindle.

With reference to the combined flier wire locking and thread tensioning device 12, it will be noted that the novel formation of this element permits of variation in the tension placed upon the thread as it is being wound upon a bobbin. The thread tensioning device comprises vertical leg portions 26 terminating in offset portions 27 and ends 11, the ends being adapted to seat in recesses formed in lower flange '7. The upper portion of the thread tensioning device comprises a looped portion formed by bending the leg portions 26 inwardly as at 2'8 and then outwardly as at 29 forming two substantially V-shaped portions 30. The outwardly extending portions 29 are joined at the top, forming a closed loop having a horizontal portion 31.

In the use of the thread tensioning device, thread 24 after passing through the eyelet formed in the flier wire arm, is received by one of the portions 30. By thus changing the direction of travel of the thread, it is tensioned before being wound upon the bobbin which is to receive it. In event that greater tension is required the thread may be arranged to pass through both V- portions. This is accomplished by merely passing the thread through portion 39 to the right hand side of the flier block shown in Fig. 1 and then bringing it around in the V-portion at the left of the block.

It will be appreciated that various combinations and arrangements of the thread with re spect to the elements of the tensioning device will cause a variable tension to be placed upon the thread during the winding process.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustrations, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flier block assembly comprising a flier block having a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a foot member formed on the body portion of the block, a bobbin including a head portion and a recess formed in said head portion, the foot member on the flier body being adapted to frictionally engage with the recess in the bobbin head whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate' as a unit during the final interval of their ro tation.

2. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin, including a head portion and a conical shaped recess formed in said head portion, the foot member being adapted to seat in said recess whereby the bobbin and block rotate as a unit during an interval of their rotation.

3. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin, including a head portion and a conical shaped recess formed in said head portion, the foot member being adapted to frictionally engage the conical seat whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

4. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a foot member formed on the body portion of the block, a bobbin, including a head portion having a recess formed therein, and a bearing member for the flier foot seated in the recess, the foot member being adapted to frictionally engage with said bearing member whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

5. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion of the block, a bobbin, including a head portion having a recess formed therein, and a conical shaped bearing member seated in said recess, the tapered foot member being adapted to seat in the conical bearing whereby the bobbin and block rotate as a unit during an interval of their rotation.

6. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed therein, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin including a head portion having a recess formed therein, a bushing in said recess forming a bearing for the foot member, said foot member being adapted to frictionally engage with the bearing during an interval of its rotation.

'7. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed therein, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin including a head portion having a recess formed therein, a bushing in said recess, the bushing being expanded at one end thereof to form a seat for the flier foot, the foot member being adapted to frictionally engage with the bushing whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

8. A flier block assembly comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed therein, said flanges defining a peripheral flier Wire receiving groove, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin including a head portion having a recess formed therein, a bushing in said recess, the bushing being expanded at one end thereof to form a conical shaped seat for the tapered foot member, the tapered foot being adapted to frictionally engage with the conical seat whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

9. In a flier assembly for spinning machines, the combination of a flier block comprising a cen- 'trally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a slot in the block extending across the top and along a diameter thereof adapted to receive flier wire retaining means, a foot member formed on the body portion of the block, and a bobbin including a head portion and a recess formed in said head portion, the flier foot being adapted to frictionally engage with said recess formed in the head of the bobbin whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

10. In a flier assembly for spinning machines, the combination of a flier block comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a slot in the block extending across the top and, along a diameter thereof adapted to receive flier wire retaining means, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin including a head portion and a conical shaped recess formed in said head portion, the foot member being adapted to seat in said recess whereby the bobbin and block rotate as a unit during an interval of their rotation.

11. In a flier assembly for spinning machines, the combination of a flier block comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a peripheral flier wire receiving groove, a slot in the block extending across the top and along a diameter thereof adapted to receive flier wire retaining means, a tapered foot member formed on the body portion of the block, a bobbin including a head portion having a recess formed therein, and a conical shaped bearing member seated in said recess, the tapered foot member being adapted to seat in the conical bearing whereby the bobbin and block rotate as a unit during an interval of their rotation.

12. In a flier assembly for spinning machines, the combination of a flier block comprising a centrally apertured body portion having flanges formed thereon, said flanges defining a periph-- eral flier wire receiving groove, a slot in the block extending across the top and along a diameter thereof adapted to receive flier wire retaining means, a foot member formed on the body portion, a bobbin including a head portion having a recess formed therein, and a bushing in said recess, the bushing being expanded at one end thereof to form a seat for the flier foot, the foot member being adapted to frictionally engage with the bushing whereby the flier block and bobbin rotate as a unit during the final interval of their rotation.

MICHAEL J. McHALE.

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