US2219804A - Method and apparatus for setting up yarns in a slasher - Google Patents

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP mans m A SLASHER C. H. BOYCE Oct. 29. 1940.

5 sheets she et 2 Zmventor [eszi r/i fiaya'e (Zttorneg Z n f a a w M I 0 a A; a w m .uh L J 8 u m H 7 m 7/" F 4 7 l 6 C. H. BOYCE Oct. 29, 1940.

Filed Jul 22', 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Gttorneg' Get. 29. 1940. c. H. BOYCE 2,2 4

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP YARNS IN A SLASHER Filed July 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zhwentor v attorney 0d; 29. 1940. c, BOYCE 2,219,804

IETHOD AND APPARATUS FUR SETTING U P YARS In A SLASHBR Filed July 22, 1359 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sumter attorney Patented Oct. 29, 1940 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP YARNS IN A SLASHER Chester H. Boyce, Blackstone, Mass., assignorto Lonsdale Company, Providence, R. I., a. co p ration of Rhode Island Application July 22, 1939, Serial No. 285,901

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for setting up yams in a slasher. More particularly it provides that the multiplicity of yarn ends from a number of filled beams (which yarns are to be drawn through the slasher in the form of a flat sheet called the warp) may be preliminarily counted-in and properly grouped in the dents of an improved type of comb which, during the setting up process, can -be drawn with the new yarns through the slasher and then upon reaching the regular comb loca tion be quickly and easily secured removably in operative position.

Slashers of the-general type to which the invention relates ordinarily comprise a stretcher frame, a vat for holding sizing liquid,drying cylinders, separating rods, a comb, and a warp beam on which the finished'warp is wound. A supply creel, behind the slasher, holds a plurality of beams from which the yarns are drawn to make up the warp.

It has heretofore been proposed, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,036,744'

granted April 7, 1936, to Kenneth B. Cook, to precount the yarns from a supply creel preparatory to feeding such yarns through the slasher. To this end the aforesaid patent discloses a counting-in frame having a counting-in comb with upstanding pins providing dents. The patent describes how the new yarns are counted into sheaths which are temporarily placed in these dents and at the same time a lease is taken of the separate sheaths. This involves placing a lease string across the warp to maintain the alignment and division of the new sheaths during the subsequent pulling of the yarns through the slasher so that when the new yarns reach the operating comb mounted on the slasher the predetermined sheath for each dent may be easily selected and placed in its proper dent. After such lease is taken during the pre-counting-in on the counting-in frame, the yarns are removed from the counting-in comb and tied together in several groups, which in turn are tied to similar .groups of the yarns that make up the warp which has has to do with providing an im- I latter is drawn through the slasher. This drawing of the filled comb through the slasher is a feature of my improvements in that it not only greatly shortens the time consumed in actually changing over the slasher from an old to a new' 5 warp, but it affords a material saving in theyarn that has heretofore been wasted during the course of making this transfer. Thus it is a principal object of the invention to reduce the time that a slasher must stand idle, while it is 1 being set up for a new warp, by providingfor a precounting-in of the new yarns within a comb which can be drawn with the yarns through the slasher, and which, upon its arrival at the regular comb position, can serve as the regular operating comb during the normal operation of the slasher.

Among the other objects of my improvements is the provision, as has been suggested, of an improved counting-in frame having means for term 20 porarily holding my novel comb thereon while the counting-in takes place. Also I provide on the counting-in frame means for drawing the yarns from the beams and maintaining them in the same relation they will have while running 25 through the slasher.

Another object is to provide an improved comb which is adapted to pass through a slasher without damage to itself or to the slasher, and which is interchangeable between its counting-in si- 30 tion on the counting-in frame and its position as. the operating comb on the slasher.

A further object is to provide means for hold-, ing the counted-in sheaths in the comb while both are being drawn through the slasher.

Still another object is to provide improved means for mounting and adjusting the comb at the regular operating comb position on the slasher.

And a still further object is to provide spacers 40 for thecomb to maintain its convolutions in proper position with respect, to one another and prevent. any pinching or binding on the yarns as they pass through the dents;

It is, moreover, an important featurethat ;con-" .siderable savings in yarn, sizing,,and-;starch may i be effected by my new method as compared with 'what has been usual and customary heretofore.=-

. These several objects and resultsv may be at,- tained by providing two interchangeable combs, either of, which can function astheoperating ,comb on the slasher while the other is in use on. the counting ein frame for a prewounting-in of the yarns from fresh beams on a spare creel. Each comb is preferably made of relatively stiff v and strong material wound in convolute form.

Means at each end facilitate the removable mounting of the comb both on the counting-in frame and on the slasher. The convolute or spiral arrangement of the comb permits it to be drawn with its sheaths of yarns through the slasher to its operating position on the head frame. Thus the same comb serves first on the counting-in frame for the pre-counting-in of the yarns and then serves as the operating comb on the slasher for the new warp. Whenthe comb reaches its operating position it need only be set in a support which will have been vacated by a similar comb which functioned with the outgoing warp.

Retaining means can conveniently be placed within the convolutions of the comb to retain the sheaths within the dents while the comb is fed through the slasher and mounted in operating position, after which these-retaining means may be removed leaving the sheaths still in the dents. And adjustable means on the comb support at the regular comb position combines with the convolute structure of the comb to facilitate adjustment of the width of dents to suit particular requirements. Spacers on the comb maintain the proper spaces between convolutions of the'comb and prevent the yarns from being pinched as they pass through the dents.

The best modes in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings but these are to be deemed merely illustrative for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention'disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus of the general type to which the invention relates, comprising, from left to right, a loaded creel of beams of yarn, a stretcher frame, a sizing vat, drying cylinders, and a head frame carrying separating rods, the comb guide and tension rolls and the'warp beam on which the finished warp is wound. In this figure my improved comb is indicated by dotted lines in various positions along its course of travel from where it leaves the counting-in frame to its final full line position near the warp beam;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the apparatus of Figure 1, but showing also a spare creel of fresh beams associated with my improved counting-in frame which has one of my improved combs mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of my improved counting-in frame;

Figure 4 is a top plan of the counting-in frame, the sheet of yarns being omitted;

Figure 5 is a perspective of my improved comb, the mid-portion thereof being broken away;

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the spacers may be employed one at each end of the retaining members shown in Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a comb with the yarn retaining members and spring clips as-,

sembled therewith, mid-portions of the comb and the members being broken away;

Figure 12 illustrates an apron which may be tied about the comb during its travel through the slasher;

Figure 13 is a perspective illustrating the manner of mounting, securing, and adjusting one end of the improved comb on its support on the head frame shown in Figures 14 and 15;

Figure 14 is a top plan of the head frame of the slasher with my improved comb mounted thereon; and

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the same frame.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 may be regarded as representative of apparatus such as a slasher or a warper generally used for treatment of warp yarns. A creel ID ,has rotatably mounted thereon several beams I2 each of which has numerous yarns wound thereon. These yarns from the several beams eventually leave the creel in a flat sheet-like form termed a warp which continues throughout the slasher being indicated by a line marked with the reference numeral l4.

This warp is drawn over and under the usual rolls of a stretcher frame It, and thence through sizing liquid in a vat l8 provided with a guide roll 20 from which the warp is drawn downward into the sizing liquid and around the under side of a submerged roll 22. From the latter, the warp passes between suitable pairs of squeezing rolls 24 and thence to the surface of a large drying cylinder 26. From this large cylinder the warp passes to the surface of a smaller drying cylinder 28 and thence forward near the bottom of the cylinder frame 29 to a guide roll 30 on the head frame 3|. The warp then travels upward around another guide roll 32 whence it moves forward in a generally horizontal direction past separating rods 33, through the comb C, under a particular guide roll 35 and thence past other guide and tension rolls 36 and finally is wound on a warp beam 31.

Prior to the advent of the methods disclosed by Cook in his Patent No. 2,036,744, previously mentioned, it was necessary when introducing a new warp to the slasher to tie groups of its yarns to similar groups of the warp just being finished so that the new warp would be drawn through the slasher by the outgoing warp. Also it involved a tedious and time-consuming operation of counting-in the yarns into the ordinary comb permanently mounted on the head frame. This latter was avoided by Cook who provided for precounting-in on a separate counting-in comb before the fresh beams of yarn are moved to a position behind the slasher and while the slasher is operating with another warp; However, in the Cook method, since the pre-counting-in is performed with a separate counting-in comb mounted on his counting-in frame, the yarns must again be separated as determined by his lease string and placed in the dents of the operating The present invention goes beyond these prior practices by providing that the pre-counting-in of yarns is effected with the same comb which will function with the new yams in the slasher, the comb being adapted to be drawn with the new yarns through the slasher to its operating position.

Figure 2 shows a spare creel l8 beside the creel H) which is in operative relation to the slasher.

Each creel is movable on tracks H to differentsides of the slasher so that either may be the spare while the other is in operating position. A counting-in frame 38 is mounted on casters 39 and may be moved readily fromone side to the other of the regular creel position, for association with whichever creel at the time constitutes the spare. Referring more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the counting-in frame 88 is usually positioned in front of the spare creel and is properly aligned therewith by the removable aligning bars 40, one at each side, engaging in side brackets 42, 44 on the counting-in frame and in bracket 46 on the creel. According to the invention, one of my improved combs CI, similar to comb C at the forward end of theslasher, is removably mounted on the uppermost forward portion of the frame 38 and extends from side to side across it.

.The comb C (and C I) comprises a helically wound strip of strong relatively stifl' resilient material, preferably metal, formed at each end with a loop 48. (See Figure 5.) Spacing clips 58 (Figures 5 and 6) are adapted to be fitted over the under portions of alternate convolutions of the comb, to keep the convolutions in proper alignment when in operating position and thus prevent any pinchingof yarns within the dents when the comb may be set for reduction of breadth of the warp as it approaches the warp beam from the drying cylinders. When the warp yarns are being counted-in the comb Cl rests in a troughlike support 52 mounted on the counting-4n frame 38, and is held there by means of the end loops '48 which engage around upstanding pins 54, one

at each end of the support 52.

In Figure 3, the yarns from the beams l2 of the spare creel I8 form a sheet-like warp indicated by the line marked l4. These yarns extend over guide roll 58 mounted on the creel and thence over the counting-in frame to the small roll 58 which is swingable between operative and inoperative positions. In Figure 3, roll 58 is in operative position holding the sheet of yarns out of comb Cl. From roll 58 the yarns pass over guide roll 88 and thence to a draw roll or beam 82. A gear 64 on shaft 66 of beam 62 meshes with a gear 88 on shaft 18 which latter may be rotated by handle 12 to wind the yarns on the beam. Ratchet mechanism 14, 18 prevents anticlockwise rotation of the beam. Racks 18 at the rear end of the counting-in frame hold numerous separating rods 19, only one of which is shown. When yarns are taken from the creel, guide strings are put in between yarns from different beams to tell where to put the separating rods' 'l8 used on the counting-in frame. By means of such rods the operator is aided in his selection of the yarn ends making up each sheath to be placed in a dent of the comb. The provision for drawing the yarns from the spare creel to the draw beam 82 enables the warp to be formed'on the counting-in frame just as it willbe operated upon during its travel through the slasher.

After the yarns from the respective beams are connected to the draw beam 62, as in Figure 3, theroll 58 may be swung out of yarn supporting position to its inoperative position 58' (shown dotted) permitting the yarns to fall promiscuouswarp. The operator now inserts the .separating -ly into the dents of the comb. The yarns are then counted-in, after which the rods 18 are removed and, if desired, other guide strings may be inserted which will subsequently be replaced by the separating rods 83 used on the head frame. 8

. Counting-in involves a counting of the yams into sheaths in accordance with a predetermined design and the placing of each sheath in its proper dent of the comb. After all the yarns in the warp have been thus counted-in the yarns are temporarily retained in the dents of the comb by retaining members 88 and 8|. One member (88) is passed through the convolutions of the comb under the yarns and the other member (8|) is likewise passed through the convolutions of the comb above the yarns, the two members for the moment being engaged by means of holes 88a and Ma with the posts 54 on the support 52. Upon the comb and retaining members being lifted from the support 52, clips 82 are applied to the ends of the retaining members, the pin 83 of a clip passing through the holes in the retaining members and through the loop 48at the end of the comb, as shown in Figure 11.

An apron 84 (Figure 12), of any suitable flexible and protective material, may then be wrapped about the comb and at least aroundits lower portion to prevent its marring the rolls and cylinders as it passes through the slasher.

Assuming that the beams l2 on creel II) have become exhausted the slasher will be stopped and the yarns of the outgoing warp will be cut clear of the beams l2. Their ends will be tied together in groups. The exhausted creel I8 is now pushed along tracks I l in direction away from the slasher and the new filled creel I 8', together with the counting-in frame, is pushed to operative position behind the slasher. The yarns of the new warp are now out between guide roll 68 and the take-up beam 62 and tied into groups corresponding to the tied-up groups of the old warp, and these corresponding groups of the two warps are tied together. The guide roll 56 and its supports 51 are removed from creel l0 and placed on creel l0 preparatory to the next pre-counting-in. The aligning bars 48 are disengaged from brackets 48 and the counting-in frame moved from between creel l8 and the slasher into position in front of creel l8. As the counting-in frame is moved away from behind the slasher, the comb Cl is suspended by the yarns and is ready for its travel through the slasher to its operating position.

The rolls of the stretch control frame l8 and the immersed roll 22 and top rolls of the squeeze rolls 24 are lifted so that the comb may be fed past the stretch control frame and the vat l8. During this setting up procedure, the separating rods 33 of the head frame 38 will have been removed before the tied ends of yarns reach the frame, and the comb (C) used with the previous warp is also removed and can beused on the counting-in frame during the next or succeeding counting-in of another warp.

The comb Cl travels with the new yarns as they are pulled through the slasehr, various momentary positions of the comb being indicated in dotted outlines marked C. When the travelling comb. reaches the operating position the slasher will be stopped momentarily by the .operator while the apron 84, the spring clips 82, and the retaining members 88 and 8| are removed, after which the comb' Cl is mounted in the place of the comb C which served for the outgoing rods 88 between the yarns, returns immersed roll 22 to its place in vat I0, and the top squeeze rolls 24 are lowered to their operating position. The regular slasher treatment can now proceed as soon as the unsized portion of ,the new yarns is run off and the sized yarns are attached to a new empty warp beam 31.

The particular means illustrated for mounting the comb in operating position comprises a trough-like support 80 (similar to support 52 on the counting-in frame 88) which is mounted on angle iron bars 81 and 88 which are movably mounted so as to be moved together transversely of the head frame. The two bars are secured together by cross blocks 89 to 89' to one of which (88') a threaded shaft 80 is rotatably attached and extends through a nut (not shown) mounted 'in the head frame. This nut is not rotatable and.

accordingly as the shaft 80 is rotated by means of gears 9|, shaft 82'and'hand wheel 83, the angle iron bars 81 and 88, the support 86 and the comb C are adjusted crosswise of the head frame to any desired location.

Instead of pins engaging .the loops 48 of the comb as on the counting-in frame, I provide plates 94, 94' with pivoted link retainers for each end of the comb. The plate 94' near the rotatable shaft 90 is fixed to the angled iron bars 81 and 88, but the plate 94 at the opposite end of support 86 is slidably mounted on these bars. This plate 94 may be moved relatively to the angle irons by means of a threaded shaft 96 which coacts with a threaded nut (not shown) attached to the under side of plate 94, and extends through the frame to gears 88. These may be rotated by the shaft I00 and hand wheel I02. Each comb retain- -er comprised a pivoted link I 04 with offset midportion I06 for reaching deep into a dent of the comb. One end of the link I04 is pivoted at I08 on a vertically adjustable post I I0, and the other end is pivotally connected to a latch link II2 whose offset free end can engage over the edge of plate 94 to hold the link in retaining relation to the comb. Thus the comb as a whole may be readily moved crosswise of the head frame or it may itself be adjusted to vary its own length to accommodate different widths of warp.

Just beyond-the comb C in the direction of travel of the yarns is the roll 35. The yarns leaving the comb pass under this roll and are thereby held in the dents'as they travel past the comb.

Beyond this roll 35 are the usual guide and tension rolls, generally denoted by the reference numeral 36, which lead the yarns under proper tension to the wind-up beam 31.

Attention is again directed to the novel method of counting-in the sheaths of yarn in the comb which is to serve as the operating comb on the slasher. This feature enables a considerable saving of time, sizing, starch and the yarns themselves.

Although I have described th application of my improvements to a slasher, it is of course within the scope of my invention to employ them on a warper or any other yarn-handling machine employing a comb which can be drawn through the machine with the yarns to its operating position.

I claim:

1. The method of setting up yarns in a slasher for operation on a new warp, comprising drawoperating comb for the new warp and which temciated with the said spare creel; temporarily retaining the counted-in sheaths of yarns in the dents of the comb; placing the creel and count- -ing-in frame in operative position behind the slasher; removing the comb from the counting-in frame; drawing the comb, with the sheaths of yarns heldtherein, through the slasher to its operating position; mounting the comb, with the sheath of yarns therein in operative association with the slasher; and removing the sheath retaining means-from the comb.

2. The method of setting up yarns in a slasher for operation on a new warp, comprising precounting yarns. supplied from beams mounted on a spare creel apart from the slasher, into a comb removably mounted on a counting-in frame; temporarily retaining the counted-in yarns in the dents of said comb; removing said comb with the yarns retained therein from the counting-in frame; drawing the comb with the sheaths of yarns retained therein through the slasher; mounting said comb with the sheaths of yarns therein in operative association with the slasher; and removing the temporary yarn retaining means from said comb.

3. The method of setting. up yarns in a slasher for operation on a new warp, comprising the precounting-in of the yarns of said warp into the dents of a comb; temporarily retaining said yarns in the comb; moving the comb with said yarns through the slasher to the operating position of said comb; and mounting the comb in operating position on the slasher; and releasing said yarns from said comb leaving the yarns free to move through the dents of the comb.

4. Apparatus for use in setting up yarns in a slasher, comprising a comb adapted to be mounted on a counting-in frame and adapted also to be mounted at the operating position of the comb on the slasher; a counting-in frame; means for removably securing the comb on the counting-in frame; removable means for temporarily retaining counted-in sheaths of yarns in their respective dents of the comb; and means for removably and adjustably mounting the said comb, with its counted-in sheaths of yarn, in the operating position of the comb on the slasher.

5. Apparatus for use in setting up yarns in a slasher, comprising a comb adapted to be mounted on a counting-in frame and adapted also to be mounted at the operating position of the bomb on the slasher; means for removably and adjust ably mounting the comb in the operating position on the slasher, comprising a Support movable across the slasher at said operating position; a plate slidably mounted on the said support and movable in direction along the support; a pivoted link retainer on said plate swingable over an end portion of said comb between adjacent convolutions thereof and adapted to be secured in re- -taining relation to the comb; means for adjusting the plate along the support for regulating the spacing of convolutions of the comb; and means for moving said support and said comb transversely of the slasher.

6. That method of sizing yarn in a slasher which comprises inserting a comb in the leading end of a warp about to be passed through the slasher, securing the said leading end to the trailing end of the warp which is being passed through the slasher, passing the warps and the comb a substantial portion of the distance through the slasher, securing the comb to the slasher, separating the two warps and then passing the warp having the stationary comb thereinthrough the slasher.

7. That method of sizing yarn in a slasher provided with drying cylinder, size box, lease rods, and a take-up'beam, which comprises passing a sheet of warp through the slashing machine and upon the trailing end of the warp becoming exposed, securing the leading and of another set of warp threads to the trailing ends of the warp about to be exhausted, placing a comb in the leading end of the warp about to be passed through the slasher, passingthe comb and the warp through the slasher to a point adjacent the normal position of the lease rods, after the lease rods have been removed, then securing the comb to the slasher frame, then imparting rotation to the take-up beams and to the drying cylinders to advance the warp to a point where the junction point between the two warps is adjacent the take up beam, separating the warp on the take up beam from the warp disposed in the slasher, placing a new take up beam in the slasher, and securing the warp which is disposed in the slasher to the new take up beam and then passing the warp throng the slasher.

8. That method of manipulating warp threads while they are being passed through a slasher which comprises arranging a plurality of warp beams as a unit, placing a comb, in the exposed ends of the warp on said beams, securing the leading warp ends of the warp of said unit to the trailing warp ends passing through the slasher, then passing the warp from the warp beams of said unit through the slasher with the comb therein and after the comb has been passed substantially through the slasher, securing the comb to the slasher for passage of the warp threads.

CHESTER H. BOYCE. 20

Images