US2197697A - Slub yarn apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1940. .1. G. KERSHAW SLUB YARN APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1938 3 SheetsSheet l W f M mm W Z Wm 2 April 16, 1940.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE. 3.

' 16, 1940. J. G. KERSHAW SLUB YARN APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1938 Patented Apr.16,1940 a 2,197,697

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLUB YARN APPARATUS John Green Kersliaw, Westmount, Quebec,

Canada, assignor to Dominion Textile Company Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Quebec, Canada Application August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,736 In. Canada May 23, 1938 8 Claims. (01. 57-38) This invention relates to apparatus for produc- It is a further object of the invention to furnish ing slub yarn, positive advantages in simple slub motion for Yarn of this nature is used for weaving fabeasy attachment to existing spinning frames ric, in which the raised portions, occasioned by Without change in the latter. It is a further obthe slubs, create a desirable effect. This effect ject to provide a motion of this nature whichmay 5. may be altered in many ways by varying the beused in conjunction with other motions and lengthand spacing of the slubs during the formawhich may be adapted to operate both sides of tion of the yarn. In most cases a random eirect the pi n n fr me. I is a s ll fur h r objec t is sought for so that there will be no semblance p vide a device of this nature embodying ele- 10 of pattern in the fabric. Various mechanisms ments p rm f extremely fl x l adjustment employed for producing this yarn have embodied and control of the slub length so that Hymalaya" means for varying the slub length and spacing, loth of practically any slub effect may be P but their scope of operation has generally had duced. f a

limitations preventing their practical application With these and other obje in View, the P lfr t th du ti of t i types of 1 1 yarn, cipal featuresvof the invention are embodied in particularly that of r the Hymalaya type, inapparatus employed in conju W a sp cluding very long slubs and a very long repeat. hing frame t increase the p d Of t e b e ar d Yarn of this type is particularly desirab1e 11; middle rolls at intervals, while alternately congives a remarkable random effect in the fabric. meeting the b r011 drive Shaft With an auxiliary I One type of slub motion in general use includes 8111b p one Of these features is p 20 a chain provided atintervals with gearsegments Ciel Op through a! pawl. e d-l ver t0 adapted to speed up the back and middle rolls of Open and Close at a justed intervals a clutch con-' spinning frame by engaging a a connected nection between the back roll drive shaft and. the with them. The chain must move fast enough S Speed driVe- The Gem is'eideipted to move .25 to be able to impart to these rolls a greater than x remely slowly to allow the prod of y normal speed, a long repeat thus requiring acondifferent 5111b lengths and SPe-eingS Without pesiderable length of chain. The same remarks titiOh, b t t t e Same time the pawl and peapply in a lesser degree to slub motions employ ripheral surface of the cam are so constructed ing a clutch operated by a chain having risers and ed o pe te in the rapid closin of actuating the clutch lever. In this case also the t ehto void in ury o the mechanism or 0 chain must move fast so as to close the clutch to the y n by causing an instantaneous p d sharply, to prevent injury to the mechanism or e. A150, the shellp-mevemeht Of'the p the yarn. Moreover, chain devices are generally independently of the 5111b Speed, permits the P inconvenient as compared with those which are duction o re y s o s u s even at the very gear driven. slow cam speed. 35. There are also earn operated slub motions which Other features of the invention are also im are only satisfactory in producing relatively short perterltihsteheerthe Particular Cam slubs and relatively short repeats, 'In these moc udes a number of adiustably u ted se ments.

. tions t pawl i lifted sharply by engagement the arrangement of which creates the desired pe- 40 with anecessarily fast moving cam element. Conripherel repeat on the C The ve of the cam 40 sequently, the respective slub lengths are repeated h h a redlleihg a ys em from the front frequently-t0 create the undesirable effect of uniroll'drive shaft of the spinning frame permits its formity. Furthermore, it is'impractic-al to pros w m n timed t t d a i operat on. duce on this type of apparatus a yarn having long The nature of the cam and of its drive mechanism slubs or a long repeat since the cam must revolve permits it he pieced line Position of y too fast. cess for adjusting the segments, its face being It isto the production of the mixed long and pr f bly in a diagon l position that a pat-' short slubs and the long repeat required by the tern disc may be laid adjacent to it to assist in Hymalaya type of yarn that the present invenpositioning of the segments.

tion has particular application. Thus, a main Having thus generally described the nature of 50."

object of the invention is to provide means for the invention Particular e e ence will be made producing in yarn, slubs varying in length anyto the accompanying drawings illustrating a prewhere from a fraction of an inch to several yarns. ferred mechanical embodiment thereof, and in i and allowing, if necessary, for a very long repeat which? as. of several thousand feet; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view partly in elevation through one side of a spinning frame embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of one side of a spinning frame embodying a slub motion according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the spinning frame shown in Figure 2 also villustrating a part of the other side of the spinning frame.

Figure 4 is a detailed cross section illustrating the type of the clutch used in the apparatus of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view looking in the direction of the front of the cam showing the latter and the pawl and clutch mechanism of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 to 5,

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a segment removed from the cam of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross section along the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a plan View of a setting disc of the type employed to set the segments on the periphery of the cam.

Figure 10 is an enlarged elevation taken in the direction of Figure 6 illustrating particularly the manner of cooperation of the pawl and cam periphery.

The spinning frame Referring particularly to the drawings, A represents a conventional spinning frame including suitably mounted bobbins l 8, back rolls i2, intermediate rolls l3, and front rolls M. It will be understood that only one set of bobbins and one spindle is shown in Figure l and that in the remaining figures, with the exception of Figure 3, only one side of the spinning frame is illmtrated, which is deemed sufficient for the understanding of one skilled in the art. The back rolls are driven by a back roll drive shaft 55 and the front rolls by a front roll drive shaft H5. The middle roll drive shaft Kid is driven from the back roll drive shaft l5. In the spinning operation, wherein the yarn is drawn out to a smaller diameter, the front rolls E l normally revolve at a much greater speed than the back and middle rolls l2 and Hi, the speed ratio being determined to give the required draft to the yarn. For the produc' tion of ship yarn the back and middle rolls are caused, during adjusted intervals, to rotate faster than normal.

The yarn Y passes from the bobbins H, and is drawn out by first passing between the back rolls it, between intermediate rolls i3, and then between the much faster moving front rolls M, and thence it is wound on to spindles 53 by spinning ring travellers. Thus, the spinning operation is accomplished by first drafting and then twisting the yarn.

The front, back, and middle roll drive shafts l5 and I6 and Eta are suitably journalled in the frame A and extend from. end to end thereof, in the drawings these shafts being broken away towards the drive end, which, being customary mechanism, is not shown. I

The clutch The end of the shaft I6 is provided with a gear 59 adapted to serve as a Source of second or slub speed drive for the back roll drive shaft l5 above the gear i9 and meshing with it, mounted on a stub shaft 29 journalled in the frame A, is a gear 2|. On the outer end of the stub shaft-23 is a gear 23 which meshes to the sleeve 2d of a clutch B freely rotatable and laterally. slideable on the shaft it. The clutch sleeve 2 1 carries an inwardly disposed clutch face 25. A companion clutch face 26 is keyed to the shaft l6 adjacent the face 25, the faces 25 and 28 being normally urged apart, to open the clutch B, by a coil spring Zea. Through the mechanism described, the clutch face 25- is driven from the shaft l 6 so that when the clutch B is closed the shaft l5 becomes driven from the shaft I E at a greater than normal, or slub producing'speed, a one-way clutch in the normal drive connections of the shaft l5 permitting it to overrun its normal drafting speed. The speed of the middle roll drive shaft ifia is also increased through its drive connection with the shaft l5.

The mechanism thus described, being of a conventional nature, is easily understood. There with a gear 22 keyed will now be described a preferred mechanism for shifting the back and middle to slub speed and vice versa.

Extending, diagonally downward from. adjacent the front shaft 16, is a shaft 36 on the upper end of which is fixedly mounted a worm wheel 29, driven from the shaft through a worm 2? mounted thereon. The lower end of theshaft sec-arries a worm 3! engaging a worm-wheel 32 mounted on a transversely extending stub shaft 33 journalled in a bracket 34 forming a part of the frame A. The stub shaft 33 carries, adjacent its outer end, a gear 35 meshing with agear 36 rolls from normal mounted on the inner end of a parallel stub shaft 31 also Ejournalled in the bracket 3d.

The cam The stub shaft 3'! carries on its outer end a bevel pinion 38. This pinion meshes with a bevel gear 39 mounted on a transversely extending shaft as supported by the bracket t l. Mounted on the end of the shaft 50, to the back, relatively to the spinning frame, of the bevel gear 3Q, is a clutch controlling cam C which is a particular feature of the present invention, being adapt-' ed to control the closing and opening of the clutch B. From the above description it is seen that the cam C is rotatable from the front roll drive shaft l6. 1

The cam C is made up of a thick disc-like Wheel 56 centrally connected to the end of the shaft 3 by a nut and washer 5i, threaded thereto and having on its face inside the periphery an annular' T-shaped groove :52. On the wheel 50 are mounted large and small segments 53 and 5 2 respectively, each segment having a transverse body portion 56 overlying the periphery of the wheel 59, an arm 5? lying adjacent the face of the wheel and a finger 58 engaging an additional slot The segments are arranged on the cam so as to produce a peripheral surface having depressions of varying lengths depending upon the lengths of the slubs which it is desired-to prowith a slub'speed drive.

back roll drive shaft of the opposite side F of cum: in the=-yarn. --Relatively short depressions in the peripheral surface are made between the oppositely inclined facesof adjacent oppositely registering small segments 55 while long depressions in the surface are caused by leaving gaps 7 of's'ome-length between segments. It is thus evi-' dent that various arrangements of the segments in this way permits of a tremendous number of differentrepeats'. A corresponding number of. different repeats can-thus be produced in the yarn..- y

Thepawl Controlledfby the cam C to close and open the clutchBisa pawl D. This-pawl consists of a sleeve portion suitably mounted for free rotation on fa pin8I extending from a bracket 83 bolted to the frame ,A. This body of the pawl extends from the sleeve downwardly. at an angle to terminate in awedge-shaped tooth 84 adapted to abut the surface of the cam. The tooth 84 includes aface parallel to the inclined segment faces I52 adjacentthe' direction. of travel of the camas best illustrated in Figure 10, which is particularly important to allow the tooth 84 to move sharply into the depressions in the cam periphery independently of the, cam speed. Connected to a bolt 85a extending from the pawl adjacent 'thetooth 84 is a coil tension spring 86 which extendsdownwardly'and is connected toa bracket 81. extending from the frame A. This spring is adapted to urge the pawl tooth 84 forcibly against the peripheral surfaceof the cam so as to cause'it. to enter the cam depressions rapidly. Extending upwardly in the pawl from the sleeve 89 is a lever portion 88 provided'with an outwardly extending bolt 89 carrying an adjustable nut adapted to abut the end of a clutch actuator lever E. I

" The clutch actuator The lever E comprises a sleeve portion I00 journalled on a diagonally extending shaft- IOI mounted on a bracket I02 extending from the frame A: Fromthe lower end of the lever E and adapted to abut the pawl D there projects downwards a nut I04 for contact with the pawl nut 90. Extending upwardly from the sleeve portion- I00 is ay'oke. I0-'I engaging the sleeve 24 of the clutch 13., In order that the lever E may also be adapted for actuation by an auxiliary cam mechanism,;it is provided adjacent its lower end with a diagonally. extending arm I05 having a knife edge I06, adapted to engage the element of an additional cam H. This arrangement is particularly convenient for use'in connection with an auxiliary relatively high speed cam for producing small slubs. within the spaces between the long-slubs created by the action of the cam C.

From the foregoing description it is seen that both the moveable face 2| of the clutch B, and' the cam C are gear driven from-the front roll drive shaft close the clutch B at intervals is the pawl D and the clutch lever E. Hence, a continuous operative cycle is provided by a positive gear drive from the front roll drive shaft I6. I

The linkage between clutches As already'stated, it is an object of the present invention to provide means operated by one slub motion for connecting the back and middle roll drive shafts ofboth sides of the spinning frame This means is best illustrated in Figure -3, wherein" I20 I8. Cooperating with the cam to representsthe pend of the clutch the-spinning frame from that already described. On the end of this drive shaft is keyed the inwardly-disposed face I2I of a clutch C. Inside the face I2I on the shaft I20 is mounted a freely rotatable and axially slideable sleeve I22, carrying the other. clutch face -I23, to which'is secured a gear I25 driven as in the other side of the spinning frame from the front roll drive shaft s'o thatthe clutch face I23 is driven at a slub producing speed. Thefaces IZl and I23 are-normally urged apart by a coil spring I20a.

A horizontally rotatable rocker arm I30 connects the axially moveable faces 25 and I23 of the clutches B and G respectively. The arm I30 is pivotally (mounted on a vertical shaft I3I extending upwards from a bracket I32 --in--the spinning frame-beingv held thereon by a nut- I33. The arm I39 is provided at each end with yokes I34 engaging the sleeves of the respective clutch faces 25 and I23.

By this linkage an inward movement of the clutch face 25, closing the clutch B, cause'sa cor responding outward movement of the clutch face I23,,closing the clutch G. Thus, the cam mechanism C operates to shift simultaneously the back roll drive shaft of both sides of the spinning frame from normal to slub speed or vice versa.

The operation Having thus described the structure of the spin ning frame and the auxiliary slub producing apparatus, the operation of this mechanism will now be referred .to briefly. 'The periphery of the camC is first set, as described, by the adjustment of its various component segments 53 and 54 to present a peripheral surface of the desired'conformation. To assist the arrangement of the segments, a disc I40, as illustrated in Figure 9, may be laid alongside the cam face. Since a 'very small portion of the cam periphery may repre sent a relatively long slub, this adjustment must be accurate to produce the effect desired without 29, the worm 3|, the worm wheel 32, the gear I 35, the gear 36, the bevel pinion 38 and the bevel gear 39, to rotate the cam C at a very low speed which, of course, may be adjusted by changing the size or nature of the gears in the train- As this cam is rotated the pawl tooth 94 is held on the peripheral surface of the segments until it reaches the top edge of a sloping face 62 of "one of the small segments, at which point/it is re leased and snaps down sharply into thedepres sion under the urge of the spring 86, the face 62 of the segment forming a slide for the parallel face 86 of the pawl. It is important to "note that the speed at which the pawl drops into the cam depression is quiteindependent of the speed at which the cam is rotating, thus permitting a very slow cam speed without reducing in anyway the efiiciency of the clutch closing action. As the pawl tooth drops into the depression of'the cam periphery, the upper portion 88 is forced outwardly against the clutch lever E, which'is also forced outwardly, forcing inwardly the upper lever carrying the yoke I01: 75'

chain must move fast enough This forces the slidable clutch face 25 quickly into engagement with its companion clutch face 26 closing the clutch B and causing the shaft to rotate at the speed of the clutch face 26, or in other words at slub producing speed. Through the linkage of the rocker arm 136 the clutch Gr is also closed and the shaft I29 caused to rotate at slub speed through gearing already described.

As the cam C continues to rotate the pawl tooth 84 rides along a gap between the segments; If it is a long depression, the tooth 84 rides on the outer periphery of the wheel 50 between segments, before it is lifted by the sloping face of a small segment, or, if it is a short depression, the sloping face of the small segment starts immediately to lift the tooth 84 fromthe depression to the surface of the segments moving the upper portion 88 in an inward direction and allowing the upper end of the clutch lever E to move outwards under the urge of the spring macausing the clutch faces to part.

The action of the pawl in and out of the depressions is continued according to the disposal of ,the segments on the cam periphery and the clutch is opened and closed accordingly, the closing of the clutch always occurring instantaneously as the pawl is released by the segments, the opening of the clutch always being caused as the pawl is lifted by an inclined segment surface. As a result, slubs of varying lengths, bearing a direct ratio to the length of respective depressions on the cam are produced. The length of the slubs and of the intervals between them may be thus calculated in advance and the periphery of the cam adjusted by arrangement I of the segments to produce any desired sequence of slubs.

Advantages summarized The following summarized advantages and the many others possible by the use of this mechanism will become obvious to those skilled in the art.

(1) The mechanism is entirely gear operated, thus enjoying the advantages associated with devices of this nature, and lacking the disadvantages of chain operated mechanisms.

(2) The cam may be easily and accurately adjusted to give the desired effect owing to the manner of its construction; its position permits easy access for the operator, and the use of a standard pattern disc to assist his arrangement of the segments.

(3) The motion may thus be used to produce slub yarn having slubs of practically any desired length, and an extremely large-number of different combinations without repetition of the repeat.

(4) The mechanism is extremely compact, making it practical to operate a number of frames in the production of Hymalaya yarn, where it would be impractical to use a number of the chain mechanism, owing to the cumbersome lengths of chain required.

(5) The cam may be operated at a very slow speed to produce a long repeat since the clutching speed is independent of the cam speed, the spring-operated pawl being pulled down sharply from the surface of the segments into each cam depression, to avoid injury to the mechanism or to the yarn. In apparatus in which the clutching speed is dependent on the cam speed the cam or to avoid injury to the mechanism or to the yarn to obtain fast clutching, which distinctly limitsthe capabilities 'ready furnished.

of theapparatus with regard to length of slub and length of repeat. Y

Practical example In order to further demonstrate the operation and advantages of a cam constructed according to the present invention, an example from actual practice will nowvbe given. v

A slub motion of the following dimensions was applied to a spinning frame:

Slubbing cam inches diameter 12 Slubbing cam including segments do 12% Front r011", do 1 The frame and the elements of the slub were adjusted to operate as follows: I

Front roll i; revolutions per minute 77 Yarn delivered inches per minute 241.78 Slubbing cam, peripheral speed .'do 1:89 Slubbing cam, time for one revolution minutes 19.93 With these characteristics of structure and operation, the following ratios were obtained:

The slubbing cam was required to travel .0078".

to produce 1" of slub.

A yarn was produced in which the length of the repeat was 4687.6" and in which characteristic lengths of slubs in the cloth and ground yarn in betweenslubs, were as follows.

- In this particular example the long slubs pro- 50 duced by the cam were interspersed by short slubs produced by another motion. However, it is'obvious that by adjusting the lengths ofthe depressions between segments very short slubs could also be produced by the cam mechanism of the present invention despite its slow speed.

A quick inward motion .of the clutch is made possible by the urge of the spring upon the pawl.

'It is not wished that this example be considered in a limiting sense but merely to add quantitative data to the qualitative description al- I claim: v t

1. A slub yarn producing attachment. for spinning'frames having a back roll and a front roll, a back roll drive shaft and a front roll drive shaft, normal drafting speed drive connection for said shafts, a slub speed drive connection for said back roll drive shaft, a clutch for engaging said slub speed drive connection, a spring urging said clutch, from engagement with said slub speed drive connection, a clutch lever for actuating said clutch, a rotatable cam for controlling the operation of said clutch,a vpawl operatively intervening said cam. and said clutch leveizmeans urging said .pawl tomove -said clutch into r engaged position, elements on said cam to retain said pawl and clutch in disengaged position, said elements being selectively disposed to form therebetween spaces adapted to free said pawl to permit its release to close said clutch at selected intervals, said elements having inclined faces adapted to return said pawl to clutch disengaged position, a speed reducing drive connection between said front roll drive shaft and said cam for rotating said cam at a low speed.

2. A slub yarn producing attachment for spinning frames as claimed in claim 1 wherein certain of said elements include inclined faces at the entry-of said spaces, and saidpawl includes a face parallel to said last-mentioned inclined faces and adapted to slide thereupon during its clutch engaging stroke.

3. In an apparatus of the nature described, a rotatable cam disc, a plurality of elements mounted on said disc to form a, continuous clon gated cam surface, gaps of selected length between said elements at selected intervals, clutch actuator means normally held between said elements to retain the clutch in disengaged position including a cam-engaging pawl, means for moving said cam surface relatively to said pawl, said clutch actuator. means being normally held by said elements to retain the clutch in disengaged position, means acting independently of said cam on said actuator means, said gaps adapted to release said actuatormeans for move- I ment of the clutch into engaged position.

4. In an apparatus of the nature describeda cam disc, an annular T-groove in the face of said disc and spaced from the periphery thereof,

a plurality of elements adjustably mounted on said disc to form a working peripheral surface, each of said elements having an arm overlying the periphery of the disc and a shank overlying the face thereof, a T-bolt connected to each'element and engaging in said groove, a clutch actuatormember engaging the working surface of said cam to control the movement of a clutch, means urging said clutch actuator member against said working surface, said elements forming a plurality of selectively spaced apart indentations of adjustable length.

5. In an apparatus of the nature described, a"

cam disc, a plurality of elements adjustably mounted on said cam disc to form a working surface thereon, each of said elements having an arm overlying the peripheral surface of the disc' and a shank overlying the face thereof, means for retaining said elements on said disc, certain adjacent segments having inclined faces forming therebetween indentations, a clutch actuator pawl 'urged against said working surface said pawl having a working surface parallel to th inclined segment faces forming the entry side of the indentations, and means for rotating said cam disc.

6. A slub yarn producing attachment for spina back roll drive shaft and a front roll drive shaft, normal drafting speed drive connection for said shafts, a slub speed drive connection; for

said back roll drive shaft, a clutch for engaging said slubspeed drive connection, a cam shaft, rotatable cam means mounted on said camshaft,

said'oam means having an elongated cam sur' face, a connecting shaft extending from adjacent said cam shaft to adjacent said front roll f drive shaft, a worm of said connecting shaft, a

gear connection between said cam shaft and said wornna worm of said front'roll drive shaft,

a gear clutch in disengaged position, means acting independently of said cam to urge said actuator means to move the clutch into engaged position,

connection between said drive shaft worm and said connecting shaft, clutch actuator said cam being adapted to release and engage said actuator means at selected intervals to cause engagement and disengagement of said clutch. 7. A slub yarn producing attachment for a spinning frame having'front and back rolls on each side thereof, front and back roll drive shaftsfor said front and back rolls, a normal drafting speed connection for said front and back roll drive shafts, a supplemental different slub speed drive connection for each back roll drive shaft,

a clutch on one back roll .drive shaft 'having an outer element moveable inwardly to engage a slub speed drive connection, a clutch on the other back roll drive shaft having an inner element moveable outwardly to engage a slub speed connection rotatable cam means having a connection with said outer element, elements associated with said cam means adapted to selectively and intermittently move said outer element into engaged or disengaged I position, linkage between said outer and inner elements whereby a movement of said outer element causes a corresponding movement of said inner element.

8. An. apparatus for producing slub yarn for spinning frames having a back roll and a front roll, a back roll drive shaft and a front roll drive shaft, normal drafting speed drive connection for said shafts, a slub speed drive connection for said back roll drive shaft, a clutch for engaging said slub speed, drive connection, a clutch actuator member, a clutch closing member normally' urged to move said actuator lever into clutch engaged position, slowly moveable cam means for retaining said clutch closing member in clutch open position and for retaining said clutch closing member to clutch closed position, means for rotating said cam means at a very slow speed to permit long intervals between the movements of said clutch, a clutch closing lever, anelement on said lever for engagement by supplementary cam means operable when said lever is in said clutch open position to permit clutch closing movements intermediate those occasioned by said cam.

' JOHN GREEN KERSI-IAW.

Images