US2109863A - Yarn feeding device - Google Patents

Description

R. H. LAWSON ET AL March 1, 1938.

,YARN FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ava/57ml 414/1153 March 1, 1938. 3. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,109,863

YARN FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [WE/V7025.- 203527154 LA W-S'dA j 1 1 71; LIAM Z. JMJT Z'R, Aycus'rzzv 61462615:

atented Mar, t, 1938 YARN FEEDING DEVICE Robert H. Lawson and William L. Smith, In, Pawtucket, and Augustin Gagn, Central Falls, R. I., assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 14, 1936, Serial No. 96,060

In Canada February 18, 1936 10 Claims.

The invention herein described concerns s called positive feeding devices for textile machines, more especially knitting machines of similar type to that claimed in applicants co-pending ency toward over-running. This over-running creates a temporary condition of slack yarn which has an efiect on thefabric knitted, such overrunning being one of the difficulties which we 5 United States applications Ser. Nos. 14,492, 56,363, overeeme y the p s t ve eed ng means herein 5 and 73,326, and this case is a continuation as to descrlbedall common subject matter of those co-pending The m 1S pped ou the positively cases Among the purpo es of the invention are tated feeding element and. also about another the positive f di g of a yam from the source freelyrotatable member which is to be driven by of supply under a minimum f tension and com the yarn itself. It is a further characteristic of trolling this feeding in such a manner that flucthe invehtien that Said y rn must be wrapped tuations in resistance offered to the drawings of t th s second or driven deme t, some turns the yarn will be eliminated to as great an extent m e dllectloh 9 drive the element and other as possible, and further to provide automatic turns in the opposite direction to resist the movecompensation of the feeding to prevent over-runment of the element to h v a drag created ning This is particularly applicable to cases thereon by the adverse contact with said elewherein the yarn is being fed at varying and rapment- H idly flu tuati speeds Now referring to Figs. 1-3 a spindle I having In drawings; thereon a series of pins or wires 2 held in place Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the inby (uses 3 e 4 fixed t0 the p le comprise a 0 ti as t would be applied to n- 4 a yarn engaging and feeding roller or element about knitting machine; wh ch a yarn 5 has been wrapped several times.

is a plan showing one positive feedi This spindle passes through bearings in a sleeve mechanism as een from the end thereof; 0r indicated generally at 6 and. is driv- Fig. 3 is a section taken about mid-way of one en by g of Pinion 7 engaging the teeth of a 25 of e f di elements; master driving gear 8. It is to be understood that F1gs 4 and 5 Show elevations f a yam several other siimlar feeding devices are to be m c which is employed to keep separate he spaced about themachme and would be driven by contolutions of yarn which pass about each rosaid gear 3 e Inserted 111 a eeslng ade up of hating fe ding element; v annular portion 9, base I!) and cover ll. These 30 Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating a modified Parts a e descrlbedm detail in the mendform of i ti n s pplications above mentioned so that no fur- Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views'of the same showthe! descnptlol} 1s necessary i ing a movable, driven, braking rollerin active and A flange 15 ffmned es e Integral p rt Of inactive posimm bushing 6 and retains the entire assembly in po- 35 The positive feedingdevice herein described Simon by s e D D but procomprises a driven, yarn feeding ele t about vides for quickly detaching the entire unit when which the yarn to be fed is passed several times necessary- At the lower end of flange I! we have so that said yarn is frictionally advanced by the attached an angular h e hevmg a Its ow- 40 rotating element. As was characteristic of the er end e111? eenymg PIVOt pon which the 40 copendmg applications above mentioned by spindle i1 is free to rotate, this spindle also ropllcant, the yarn feeding element is driven t tates in a hearing it formed in a stud l8 respeed in' excess of that required to feed the yarn tamed in an extenslen fixed t0 the upper end if no slippage were contemplated. However, debracket Braeket also has a comb genpending upon the amount of resistance offered at any indicated by numeral 29 and having 45 the supply and upon the rate at which the driven yarn is to be consumed, this driving or rotating element about which the yarn is snubbed or wrapped will engage that yarn and feed it with a amount of tractlve efiort whi h 111 b govdescribed lngreater detail in one of the para- 50 erned automatically to suit the occasion. With graphs e wi some particular types of yarn and especially while -p e 2| Pivots en Stud l and as an arm consuming the yarn at varying rates, for exam-. n i ns O 't e ub 22 and threaded extension pie, knitting pattern work such as knitting and' 23 attached h reto. A-wlre 24 extends down from the hub 22 in close proximity so spindle I! 5b floating, there has been found to be some tendries of inclined slots cut in its projecting sides for thepurpose ofguiding the several turns of yarn passing about'the rotating feeding elementand about spindle ll. f This guidingmeans will be and the yarn 5 passing about spindle I1 is also passed over the lower end of this wire 24 so that upon certain conditions to be described, the arm and wire will be swung in an are as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. A weight in the form of a knurled thumb nut 25 is threaded upon screw 23 and is maintained in place by tension spring 26. To vary the amount of effort required to swing this arm and wire in the arc illustrated the weight 25 may be adjusted closer or farther from the point about which the arm swings. As illustrated in Fig. 2, element l9 acts as a stop for the wire 24 in one direction and keeps the wire and arm from swinging in the wrong direction.

In actual practice one very satisfactory way to thread up the device is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the yarn 5 being passed about the feeding element, a turn around spindle ll, then two turns wherein the yarn passes about the element, spindle l1 and wire 24, the spindle I! thus being contacted three times by the yarn for the purpose of driving it. Said yarn is now passed about the element, by the opposite side of spindle I! and about the wire 24 and then back to the element. and from that to the needles of the knitting machine or whatever other disposal is to be made of the yarn being advanced. The yarn will thus be frictionally advanced by the driving element and at the two turns illustrated at 21 and 28 will be retarded by the rotation of spindle l1 adversely to the direction of travel of the yarn. This condition prevails while wire 24 is in a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 1, full lines. The driving effort imparted to, the yarn will thus be the difference between that exerted by the said driving element and the drag created by the adverse movement of spindle II. This drag has been found very eifectivein eliminating any tendency of the yarn to overrun as above mentioned. Now in the event additional resistance is encountered on the supply side of said feeding device, there will be a temporary tightening of the yarn coils about elements 2, l1; and 24 thus swinging the yarn and wire into a position somewhat as indicated in Fig. 3. This movement gives some relief to any temporary tightness of yarn on the needle side of the device. In this position the stretches of yarn at 21 and 28 upon which drag was exerted by the adverse movement of spindle I! will be swlmg free of said spindle and the full driving effort of the rotated driving roll will be in effect.

For some types of yarn and certain pattern work which may be effected it may be found necessary to pass the yarn in opposition to the movement of spindle I! a greater number of times or perhaps, fewer turns, this all being discovered by the knitter and being peculiar to each different condition.

Another scheme for threading the mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 2, the purpose of this particular threading being that of obtaining results similar to those obtained in the modification, Figs. 6, 7, and 8. By this method we thread the yarn about the feeding element, one turn about the free roll or spindle l1 and then several turns about the feeding element, spindlel'i and wire 24, and then lead the yarn to the needles. All of the stretches of yarn which pass about spindle I1 and wire 24 pass to the same side of the spindle so that there is a definite tendency to drive the spindle and none to retard its rotation. The result is that increases in tension cause the arm 23 to swing in an arc as indicated, the compensating action being sufiicient for feeding some yarns at a definite predetermined tension.

The stretches of yarn which pass spindle I! may not touch it except when arm 23 and wire 24 are swung from the full line to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 2. The movement of the arm and wire will provide for taking up any sudden tension which may be imposed upon the yarn at the delivery side of the device. There are many different ways of threading this feeding mechanism and it is not the purpose of this disclosure to go into a discussion of more than has been shown by way of example; the mechanism is to be claimed and obviously applicants are entitled to protection for the mechanism no matter what the uses are to which it may be put.

The yarn combs 20 indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 have a series of slots 29 within which the yarns are kept separate and within which they are held by a wire 30 pivoting in a hinge 3|, this wire extending upwardly to either side of the comb to close the slots thus preventing the escape of any one of the stretches of yarn passing therethrough. At one side the wire has been bent as indicated at 32 and snaps over the top of the comb and is thus secured in position. The dot and dash line showing of Fig. 5, indicates the opened position of the wire in which position the elements are to be threaded.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 we will describe a modified form of the invention wherein a spindle 33 rotates within bearings in a sleeve 34 and carries discs 35 and 36 maintaining a series of wires or'rods 31 about which the yarn is wrapped all as described with respect to the corresponding elements in Fig. 1, etc. A flange 38 carries a bracket 39 attached thereto at the lower angular portion 40 of the flange by means of screws 4|; this bracket also has attached about mid-way thereof a comb 42 similar to the comb 20 which functions to separate the turns of yarn and guidethem to and from the driving element. A yarn 43 is threaded through a guide 44 and makes several turns about the driving element to be frictionally advanced by contact with the wires 31, each convolution of this yarn being guided through comb 42 and also about spindle or roller 45.

This roller 45 rotates upon a pivot 46 projecting upwardly from the lug 41 and within an opening 48 in an arm 49 at the upper end, Figs. '7 and 8. This arm 49 pivots at 50 at one side of arrannular piece 5| which attaches to bracket 39 by a downwardly projecting extension 52 and which also has another downwardly projecting portion 53 carrying a felt pad 54 or similar block of material which serves as a brake. This brake normally works on the upper surface of spindle or roller 45 which may be made of metal or fiber or of any other suitable material.

The arm 49 is free to swing throughout an angle as illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, the position in Fig. 7 indicating that in which said roller 45 bears against pad 54 to be retarded thereby and in the position of Fig. 8 said arm has been swung up to a position wherein it is stopped by lug 55.

In operation the yarn 43 will be driven by frictional engagement with the wire 31, the said spindle 33 being rotated at a speed faster than that required to advance the yarn. Roller 45 will be driven by the yarn which passes thereabout, but will be retarded by engagement with the pad 54. Whenever any unusual occasion prevents easy drawing of the yarn from the supply,

. running will be possible since the retarding efiect this roller 45' will be moved away from the pad so that the full driving effect of the rotating element will be imparted to the yarn. In actual practice the roller 45 bears with varying degrees of force against pad 54 so that this retarding effect of the pad on the roller and hence on the yarn, will automatically compensate for variations in effort required to draw the yarn from the supply and will cause said yarn to be fed to the needles under a constant tension. No overbecomes a maximum under conditions of slack and thus will prevent any excess yarn feeding.

Two forms of the invention have been illustrated in this case and it is obvious that modifications would occur to those skilled in the art and that said modifications would still fall within the scope of the invention and of the claims hereto appended.

We claim:

1. A yarn furnishing device for knitting machines having in combination a positively rotated spindle about which a yarn is to be wrapped and by means of which said yarn is to be frictionally advanced, another spindle about which said yarn is to be passed in opposed directions so that said spindle will be driven by the yarn and will also tend to retard the advance of the yarn.

2. A yarn furnishing device for knitting machines having in combination a positively rotated spindle about which a yarn is to be wrapped and by means of which said yarn is to be frictionally advanced, another freely rotatable spindle adjacent the first about which coils of the said yarn are passed in opposite directions, an arm movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the axes of said spindle and means projecting from said arm about which the coils of yarn are also passed, said arm being so disposed that upon increase in tension on the yarn, some of the coils of yarn will be moved from engagement with the freely rotatable spindle.

3. Yarn furnishing means having in combination a rotatable element about which a yarn is passed in several wrappings, a spindle adjacent said element about which the wrappings of yarn pass some on one side and some on the other so that the said spindle will be driven by some of the wrappings of yarn and will be retarded by others and means automatically operated by the yarn itself for moving those retarding wrappings of yarn away from said spindle as described.

4. In a knitting machine of the type described, a yarn furnishing device including a positively driven yarn furnishing spindle about which several coils of the yarn are passed, a freely rotatable spindle adjacent and parallel to the first and means between the two for guiding the several coils of yarn from one spindle to the other, an arm swingable at right angles to the axes of the spindles and having a rod projecting therefrom adjacent said freely rotatable spindle and, about which the coils of yarn are passed,

said arm and rod being so disposed that in one position the coils of yarn fully afiect the second spindle to respectively drive and retard the same, and in other positions to which it is movable under yarn tension, will move those yarn coils which retard said spindle away from the spindle to nullify their effect thereon.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said arm has an adjustable weight movable along its length for the purpose described.

6. A yarn furnishing device having in combination a positively driven rotating element, a freely rotatable spindle adjacent thereto and a member about which yarn is to be passed adjacent to both the element and spindle and movable to and from the same, means for guiding yarn in several coils about the three elements and means for moving the said member in a direction to tighten said coils of yarn.

7. In a yarn furnishing device of the type described, a positively rotated feeding element, a freely rotatable spindle and a movable member about which several coils of yarn are to be wrapped for being frictionally advanced, means for guiding and separating the several coils of yarn passing about said element, spindle and member, said member depending from an arm so positioned that it swings in a direction to and from the element to loosen or to tighten the coils of yarn wrapped thereabout.

8. A yarn furnishing device having in combination a positively driven yarn feeding element rotating at a speed in excess of that at which yarn advanced by the element is to be fed, a freely rotatable spindle adjacent and substantially parallel to the axis of said element, an arm with a wire depending therefrom in such a position that coils of yarn wrapped about said element and spindle may also be wrapped about the wire, a weight on said arm for moving the arm and wire in a direction away from the spindle and element but permitting said wire to be moved towards the same in the event of a temporary increase in tension upon the running yarn.

9. A yarn furnishing device having in combination a positively driven feeding element and a freely rotatable spindle adjacent thereto about both of which coils of yarn are to be wrapped to be frictionally advanced, means for keeping the coils of yarn separated and other means functioning upon increase of tension to diminish the size of the yarn coils passing about said element and spindle and vice versa.

10. A yarn feeding device having in combina- AUGUS'I'IN GAGNE.

Images