US2395465A - Yarn winding machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

'YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNE Feb. 26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT E-T AL YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 A? CL-w XAWAT ORA/E) Feb. 26, 1946.

L. M. COTCHETT ET AL YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 -ffIEIZl INVENTORS .GJM MI. mam;

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ATTORNEV Feb. 26, 1946. M. COTCHETT ET AL YARN WINDING MACHINE e Shets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1944 25m. 6am (Zw Feb. 26, 1946. I 1.. M. COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

YARN WINDING MACHINE Feb. 26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TORS Lou/5 M. Cara/5r;- LE5 r47? CHM/55a #4 new mkmerow AT TOHZVE Y Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED YARN WINDING MACHINE Louis M. Cotchett, Hingham, and Lester Campbell, Ferdinand F. Stange, and Alfred W. Arterton, Westfleld, Mass, assignors to Foster Machine Company, Westfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts I Application February 3, 1944, Serial No. 520,886

24 Claims. (Ci. 24235 .6)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in winding machines. and more particularly to novel and improved means in such machines for realizing continuance of winding of a supply of yarn and a package.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

v The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein'and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodimentof the invention, andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. a

Of the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a plan view of a winding machine typical of the kind to which this invention can be successfully applied; l

[Figure 2 is a vertical section of one of the winding units of Figure 1 and associatedparts, embodying a typical and illustrative form of the present invention; l I

Figure 3 is another vertical view similar to Figure 2 but showing difierent'details;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a detail of the apparatus forming this invention, as embodied;

Figure 5 is a detailed viewof the duct member illustrated in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is adetailed view of cam actuating mechanism forming part of the embodied appal ratus;

Figure 7 is another detailed viewof the cam actuating mechanism, of Figure 6 with certain additional operating elements; a r r Figure 8 is a detailed view of the mechanism of Figure 6 with the operating parts in different relative positions;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the parts in the different relative positions of Figure 8 and r i Figure 10 is a fragmentary view with certain parts broken away of a portion of the apparatus particularly showing the suction and blowing nozzle in'accordance with the invention.

The present invention has for its object, broadly, to provide in a winding machine means for readily and quickly finding the yarn end on a package which is'partially wound and withdrawreadily. united with the yarnend of a supply bobbin. a j

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a; winding machine,means whereby a predetermined and controlled length of yarn may be withdrawn from a partially wound package and placed in a position to be readily united with the yarn from, a supply of yarn. -.A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for drawing ameasured length froma package of a winding machine and locate this for ready tying with the free end of yarn of a supply mass. Other objects of the invention are: to provide means tofacilitate finding theend of the yarn thereon; to provide. means to permit the drawing of a yarn end from .such a package along a predetermined path; to automatically have such a free end. picked up and associated with an end of yarn from a supply source, for easy, and rapid tying; andto have'all these steps performed automatically in correct sequence for operations ,of as: sembling anend of the yarn on the packagewith an end of a supply mass. g

In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the invention is illustratively applied to a multi-unit winding machine having aplurality of surface driven winding units arranged in a continuous series, each winding unit comprising a constantlyrotating driving ro11, a pivoted arm carrying a package core receiving spindle or shaft which can be lowered to bring "the core into driving relation to the roll so that yarn or other filamentous material is woundon the package by theirotation of the roll and core. Usual yarn guide means are traversed back and forth across the surface of the package to wind the yarn properly on the core. a a a 1 I The winding units are preferably identical and may be divided into two groups of about fifty each, the two groups'facing in opposite directions, while the driving rolls for each group are alined, mounted onand driven by a common shaft, each of the two group shafts being driven by a separatemotor at the desired winding speed.

Cooperating with the several winding units in succession, and moving relatively to them isa tender, and means are preferably. providedfor moving the tender past the several winding units which are preferably fixed with reference to the machine frame. The tender is supported by and moves on a trackway, which trackway preferably extends along the multi-unit winding machine nearits baseand forms an endless track having two 'straightfportions parallel to eachother, one

ing this yarn end to a position where it can be at either side of the machine, these straight por- In accordance with this invention, the tender also includes a suction nozzle which is preferably relatively thin, of a width greater than the package being wound and is directed toward the package, so that after the yarnhas been exhausted from a supply bobbin or'the supply yarn is broken, the loose yarn end on the package may be automatically found and sucked into the nozzle by the current of air. To provideior the suction, the tender carries a blower which may 2,395,466 e v t g I Also as embodied, along the trailing edge and be conveniently electrically driven by a motor,

and the suction nozzle is connectedto the intake side of the blower by an air duct extending for a considerable distance in a generally downward and outwardly direction away from the package.

As the t nder movesforward, it comes to a winding unit and the suction nozzle is moved forward and close to the periphery of the package, thereby sucking the yarn end into the suction 'riozzleQ The duration of association of the nozzle near the package is regulated with the unwinding braking mechanism to draw of! the desired length of yarn. "Continued movement ofthe tender causes a hook to move through a slot-in the suction duct' and to engage the yarn end and withdraw it to a position tobe assembled, properly spaced and parallel, with the yarn endsfrom the new supply. After that, the two ends maybe united by a knotting device, or manually. Suitable cams are provided, to obmm these operations in correct sequence and timing. Reversing means arepreferably applied to the package prior to or simultaneously with the application of suction. I i

Furthermore, as embodied, means are provided to expedite and insure the freeing of the yarn end from the surface of the package, comprising a blowing nozzle immediately next to the suction nozzle, the exhaust air from the blower being directed to flow along the top ofthe suction nozzle so that, when the suction nozzle is extended, an opening'is formed by the mouth of thereby considerably enhancing the sweeping action'of the air current to blow free, lift and draw oi! the loose end from the wound package into the suction nozzle.

Means are also. preferably provided for causing the package to rotate in a reverse direction during the application of suction thereto, to facilitate drawing of! the desired length ofyarn. To this end, there is provided an idle, intermediate roll, mounted in a bracket that is swingwith the intermediate roll, said intermediate roll.

being" positioned in frictional contact between the driving roll and the package causes the package to rotate in a reverse or unwinding direction.

at the underside of the suction duct is provided a long narrow slot extending into the nozzle, and for a considerable distance toward the blower, and means are provided for engaging the yarn drawn into the suction duct and for removing it from the, duct through this long narrow slot. For this purpose a second slot, parallel to the path of movement of the tender, intersects the long narrow slot, and a hook member is provided on each winding unit on the frame which hook may enter and pass through the second slot as the tender moves. During this passage the hook engages the yarn lying in the duct so as to slide the yarn laterally of the duct and finally through the long narrow slot, the length of yarn having been predetermined, and being more than sufllcient to extend past the second slot. Pref- "erably this yarn engaging and removing hook is associated with a clamp which holds and carries the leading end of the yarn from the reserve supply bobbin so as to assemble the leading end of the reserve yarn supply with the exhausted end of the yarn wound on the package, thereby positioning the two yarn ends readily for tying; either manually or by a mechanical knotter.

The knotter may be of conventional design, and if'mechanical is preferablymountedon-the tender so as to receive, engage, trim, and tie the assembled yarn ends into a secureknot of the desired type. Where the mechanica1 knotter is carried by the tender,'it is preferably actuated'in correct timed relation, by the travel r the knotter past the winding unit.

Thus each winding unit continues to wind'yarn from a supply mass or bobbin onto a package by.

contact of the package with the driving roll, and

when the yarn supply 'has been exhausted, the bobbin is dotted from its supporting pin which is now ready to receive a new supply mass dropped onto it by the operative.' As the operative drops the new bobbin into place, its leading yarn and is held and preferably placed in a clamp adjacent a the hook to ready it for the subsequent passageing lever has a running position and an off position, and cam means are provided on-the tender to be engaged by the starting lever only in its off position, this engagement being necessary to cause actuation of the various tender-carried parts cooperating with the winding unit.

If the yarn has been exhausted, the means have caused movement of the package to: be raised to its stopped or idle position, and the tender carrying mechanisms are engaged by the starting leveri-n its consequent of! position, and thereby causes actuation. of the various tender-carried Darts.

' Cam means are provided for resetting the starting lever as-the final operation of the tender on.

the winding unit, these means operating, of

course, only in case the starting leveris not already in running position.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailedde-n scription as well'are exemplar andexplanatcry of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings which show the present preferred embodiment ofthe invention there is illustrated amulti-unit winding machinehaving a plurality assumes:

of windingunits 30 arranged in two parallel alined series facing'in opposite directions with the back sides of the. winding units of one series adjacent to the backsides of the winding units 'of the other series.

These winding units are of substantially conventional construction and each comprises a driving roll 32 carried and driven by shaft 33 which is rotatably journalled in bearings 34, all of the rolls 32 for a given series being mounted on a single shaft 33, suitably driven. 'Bearings 34 are mounted on a unit frame 39, and these unit frames are securely fastened to the main frame 40 of the machine.

For rotatably supporting the core 44 on which the package 45 is to be wound, there is provided a wooden core" 42 (or an iron cone shell not shown) which is freely rotatable on a spindle 43 pivotally supported in the end of an arm 43 which is rotatably mounted by means of collar 4'! on a shaft 48, extending from one end of the machine to the other, the arms 46 being held against easy movement by a heavy spring 43 fast to'the collar 41 and having a rolled end 50 which rides in the groove 51 of collar 52 fast to the shaft 48. The. arms 46 for each series of winding .units are mounted on thecommon shaft 48, but extend therefrom in opposite directions, and hold the cone spindles 43 at such an angle that substantially' full contact may be established between the package core 44 and the drivingroll 32, thereby rotating the package core by frictional contact with its surfaceto wind yarn on the package.

Means are provided for traversing the yarn throughout the desired distance on the package core and for this purpose a cylindrical traverse cam ismounted adjacent to the driving roll 32 andin parallelism therewith, thetraversecams for all of the winding unit; ofeach series being mounted onand driven byacommon shaft 55 which is suitably driven from a motor (not shown) provided with means to automatically recurrently vary the speed of cam shaft '55. The traverse cam and thread guide may be of conventional construction but in the illustrative embodiment comprise a thread guidesupported at the end of a finger .34 which is reciprocated;

in a controlled varied timed relation to the rotation of shaft 33 by means of the usual cam groove in the cylindrical cam 56 on shaft 55. Thus as the package is rotated by the driving roll 32, yarn tail in the prior patent to McKean, 1,992,757,

the structure of which is substantially duplicated here. The prior patent to McKean'shows a typisoon as a new yarn has been joined to cal form of drive for the driving r011 32 and'the cylindrical cam 56. and are so shown. Thus each of the winding units has friction means for driving the package by its surface, and for winding. on the packag a yarn which is traversed by a reciprocating thread guide, while'the yam is drawn through the tensioning mechanism from the yarn supply'mass or bobbin.

Each unit is also provided with suitable means for automatically raising the package out of contact with its driving roll to stop its winding when the yarn breaksor is exhausted from the supply bobbin.

Figure 2 shows the position of the parts after the starting handle H0 has been released, and while the machine is inoperation. .As will be noted the thread bar I03 has been lowered so that the thread now runs in the guide 00, and also shows the parts in running position, with the dropwire H2 held in lowered position by the tension of the thread. j

Raising of the dropwire 2 to position II2A causes roller I2l to engage the cam I20 thereby.

releasing latch I24 and allowing the handle I I0 to be raised to a stop position carrying with it arm I03 which moves the ratchet finge I06 forward about. its pivot while'it is in engagement'with the teeth of rack I04, thereby swinging the pack age upwardly regardless of its diameter. 7

The winding mechanism may be restarted as the end of the yarn on the package. 1

As a new bobbin I0 is dropped onto a pin I3 of'su'pport' II to replenish the bobbin supply, the operative keeps hold of the free end of the yam and clips the yarn end in the slot 334 in a,

hook 335 which is alsosupported on the upper end of ashaft I4, extending from support 11..

thereby holding the free end of the yarnready for the assembling and knotting operations whichare later to be performed;

In accordance with the present invention,

' pneumatic means are provided for loosening the free end of the yarnfrom the package 43 being Y is traversed back and forth along the length of on the package in uniform layers.

The yarn supplied for winding is carried on bobbins 10 which are tubular and have a mass of yarn 1| thereon, being shown as the type of bobbin which would be produced by conventional the package core by the thread guide 60 to lay it spinning machines. These bobbins are support- Suitable driving means are provided for moving the tender past each unit, such means comprising, f desired, an electric traction motor operating through ears'or by belts to cause the tender to move around the machine.

As the yarn is drawn from the active bobbin it passes upwardly, over a guide bar 342, between the tension washer 3,5I and the bottom washer 343, over the. thread bar I03 and is guided onto the package by the traversing guide 00.

wound and for drawing from the package a we determinedlength of this yarn; For this purpose there is provided a centrifugal blower 240 which is mounted on and carried by the tender- I30 and is driven at high speed from a suitable moto or other prime mover. 244, the speed of the blower being sufilcient to develop a rather high velocity of air. Supported on and above the tender'is a sheet metal air conductor 250 which extends upwardly and toward the package 43 being wound, and this conductor comprises a pressure duct 2H anda suction duct 252. the pressure duct partially surrounding the suction duct throughout most of its length. The suction duct at its lower end 253 i connected to the intake of the centrifugal blower 240, while at its other end.

the suction duct terminates in a relatively thin suction slot. 204 which extends lengthwis of the package 45, and is preferably of a length substantially equal to or slightly, longerthan the package beingwound. At its lower end, theair conductor-250 forms a chamber which includes the blast of air issues from the forward end 256 of the air conductor which is directed against the surface of the package 45 and tends to loosen and dislodge the end of yarn sufliciently to free it'almost immediately from the'layers of yarn on the wound package, thereby allowing the loosened end to be picked up more readily and drawn into the suction duct 254 by the air being sucked therethrough.

Means are provided for periodically projecting the suction duct 252 toward the package being wound, 45, as the tender moves past the winding unit so as to enhance and render effective the suction operating through the slot or duct 254. As

particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the suction duct 252 is mounted on the tender by means of links 26l, one link being pivoted on a pivot pin 262 carried on either side of the tender frame, the links having their upper ends pivotally mounted on a rod 263 supported by strap 264 attached to either side of the suction duct 2 52.

The forward end of the suction duct 252 is provided with a strap 266 extending upwardly therefrom and having a rolle 261 freely rotatable at its upper end and adapted to ride on the upper surface of a cam plate 269 projecting upwardlyfrom the aiik conductor 250, strap 266 extending through a suitable slot in the upper wall of the conductor 25th The shape of cam 269, and the duct 254 moves toward the package in a generally forward and slightly downward direction.

Also connected to the shaft 263 is a link 210 having its forward end connected to the upper end of bell crank 21! which is mounted for rocking movement about a shaft 212 carried by the tender frame, and extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the tender. Bell crank 21! 'is provided with a forwardly extending arm 213 prevents the adherence of the free end to the package as might otherwise occur.

Preferably, and by any suitable means, as by an idler roller 286 mounted to move with duct 254 by a bracket 281 and insertable between driving roller 32 and the package 45 as shown dotted in Fig. 3, the package 45 is reversely rotated at this stage, and yarn is paid off from it and sucked into the suction duct 252, and the free end is carried into the flexible hose 256. Cam 215 is released from hub 296, in proper timedrelation by movement of the tender, to insure that the free end of the yarn has been drawn into the flexible hose 256 but not into the fan 240, and as the suction continues the yarn i laid along the bottom wall of the suction duct 252 and across slots 290 and 29! shown'particularly in Figure 5, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Suction duct 252 is fully restored to its original position as shown in Figure *3 by the positive action of a cam 295 carried by lever 213,operating on the hub 296 projecting from the end of startaction of the link 261 are such that the suction ing lever H0, and the suction duct 252 remains in this position until it approaches the next winding unit for the corresponding reversing and end finding operations.

As particularly embodied, the invention includes means to permit removal of the free length of yarn in the duct 252 from the duct. To this end the lower trailing edge of duct 252 is preferably formed with a narrow slot 293 (Figure 5) extending from the suction slot 254 pastslots 259 and 29l in duct 252, so that a hook passing straight through either of the slot 290 or 29l may remove the yarn sideways through the duct.

, Means are provided for engaging the yarn in the duct 252 and for removing it through the side slot 293. For this purpose each winding unit is provided with a hook 335 mounted on U-shaped arms 395 which in turn are supported on the upper end of the shaft 14. Hook 935 is formed as an angled plate extending parallel to the direction of travel of the tender and having a lower slot 334 and an upper slot 399, these slots'both being of considerable length, parallel to the di-- rection of travel of the tenderand opening rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the tender, being held, however, rigidly with respect to the winding unit so that the tender moves past them. The arms 395 hold the hook 335 in a fixed position so that the upwardly extending portion of hook 335 may pass through slot 291 as the tender travels.

By this relative movement, the free end of the yarn overlying the slot 29! i threaded into the slot 399 and further movement of the tender causes the yarn to be pulled sidewise, the free end of the yarn having been subjected to tension by the suction and velocity of the air in the hose 256. The free end of the yarn is thus moved from its position to a position close with respect to the leading end of the supply bobbin,rthe free end of which had been previously inserted in slot 334 as the operative dropped the bobbin onto the spindle 18. Further movement of the tender causes the free ends of the yarns to be located near each other on the side of hook 335 away from the package, and ready for the tying or knotting operation which may be performed manually, or with a manually actuated mechanical knotter, or may be carried out automatically.

As illustrated, a knotter 3") is carried by the tender by a bracket 248 and rod 31 I, and depends from its trailing side with its yarn receiving notches in a position to receive the yam ends assembled on hook 335 on further movement of the tender, and other means such as dogs 2, 3| 6 and 3 l 8,-are providedfor actuating the knotter to cause the completion of the knotting operation by further relative movement with respect to the winding unit.

As illustratively shown, the knotter is of the conventional type manufactured and sold by Mill Devices Company and is adapted to tie a Weaver's knot, this conventional type of knotter having been modified by the addition of any suitable actuating members to permit it to be mechanically actuated if desired by the travel of the tender past thewinding units.

As the tender in its regular travel around the winder passes a winding unit it advances the knotter 3 I6 past each winding unit 30 and during the said advancement the knoter 3l0 performs its functions of uniting and trimming two strands of yarn.

Simultaneously with the extending of the suction duct 252 the knotter 3) is lowered and advances in its travel; also the nozzle end 254 of the winding position. v V

A fter the trailing end of the yarn on the packsuction duct 252 has been brought into close proximity to the peripheral surface of the wound package 45 of yarn and means, previously deback to its normal idle position.

Immediately following the knotting operation, the knotter 3H] will have advanced in its regular longitudinal travel with the tender being swung up and back to its normal idle position.

The complete knot tying operation is repeated at each winding unit where the suction duct is' caused to function when a winding package has been stopped due to an end of a strand of'yarn having passed off the drop wire detectdr and allowed said detector to move out of its yarn age 45 has been joined to the leading end of the yarn of the new supply, the winding of package 45 may be restarted, and in its further movement the tender preferably causes starting the arm I I9 to be moved to restarting positionand returned torunning position. It is generally desirable that the yarn be wound under tension, and usual means 35l may be provided for tensioning the yarn as it is wound.

Specifically referring to Figures 6 to 9, which show certain of the cam actuating devices as cam 215 is moved across hub 295, with hub 296 already in its extreme upper'knocked-off position with the package also in knocked-off position, cam 215 is pushed downwardly projecting the suction, nozzle toward the package.

Curved surface 215' merges into the flat 215" to hold the suction nozzle close to the package for a short period of time suflicientto cause the end of the yarn on the surface of the package to be freed, sucked into the nozzle 254, and a sufficient length of free yarn paid off by the reverse rotation of the package45 so that the free end of the yarn is drawn into the suction nozzle some distance past slot 29L As hub 296 rides off the end of fiat 215', the r upper face of hub 296 is engaged by the underface of the cam 295, also mounted on the arm 21-3 thereby positively rocking bell crank 2 in a counter-clockwise direction to retract suction duct 252 thereby interrupting the reverse rotaunits, and the fan 240 is at the same time driven continuously to create suction in the duct 252 and pressure in the duct 259.

Most of the winding units, except a few in front of the tender, are still winding in the normal manner but certain of the winding units have stopped winding dueto exhaustion of the yarn supply mass or breakage of the yarn, in which 1 case those particular units will be at rest with the package 45 out of contact with the-still rotating driving roll 32.

being wound is resting on its driving roll 32 and is being rotated, while supported on the arm 49, to draw yarn from the yarn supply bobbin 1| through the yarn guide which is traversed back and forth across the package by means of the cylindrical cam 56 driven by shaft 55. In each winding unit, yarn detector H2 is held down by the yarn under normal winding tension, but in case the yarn breaks or becomes exhausted, detector H2 is raised to cause the package to be raised from its driving roll 92 and at the same time starting lever III] is raised to its upper or knocked-off position thereby stopping the winding on that particular winding unit.

Specifically, in accordance with this invention, as soon as the tender I59 approaches a winding 7 unit which has stopped for any reason, the relaj tive movementof the tender and winding unit causes the actuation of the various parts through the .coaction of the different cam mechanisms. r The hub 299 at the end of the starting lever H9 engages with the inclined surface 215 of cam 215 thereby causing arm 219 to be depressedso as to project the suction nozzle 254, towards the stopped package, a

The time of extension of the suction nozzle is such as to provide for drawing an approximately uniform length of yarn from the package into the suction duct.

During the period the suction nozzle is extended, air under pressure andat a considerable velocity is issuing from the forward end 259 of the air duct- 25!] and blows directly against the package thereby facilitating the freeing of the yarn end from the package so that the yarn end is almost immediately found b and sucked into the suction nozzle 254. 5

Prior to the retraction of the nozzle from the package, yarn engaging hook 335 passed through slot 29| to remove the yarn end, thereby assembling the end of the yarn extending from the package with the end of theyarn extending from inclined cam member 295, hub 296 being at that time supported by. means of the roller 211 which rides across the upper face of the plate 291 carried by the tender.

After the yarn ends have been assembled and the suction duct 252 has been retracted, the ends of thetwo strands of yarn are tied together for example by the knotter 3 I II which has been swung down and is actuated to tie the knot, the knotter being moved by the tender while the rack is held stationary on the winding unit.

Thereafter, the tender continues movement to the next winding unit, and the operations previously described are repeated on that unit if the unit has been stopped by exhaustion or breakage of the yarn.

When the packages have been built to the proper size, the operative individually removes them as they become full, thereby preventing overwinding of the packages.

While the invention has been generally and specifically described with respect to apparatus having a plurality of units and one blowing and suction draw off device moving relative thereto, it is obvious that the'invention broadly embraces apparatus where each unit has its separatesuc- In each active winding unit, the package 45' tion air duct operating when needed for the purpose described, with its own hook for picking up the thread or yarn end sucked into its duct.

The invention in its broader aspects is not lim- "itedto the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be madetherefrom within the scope ofthe accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and, without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What we claimis: V

1 1. In a windingjmaohine, the combination of a yarn package core,.means to rotatably support said core to permit winding of yarn thereon, means to apply air underpressure to the yarn on said core to loosen an end thereon, means to apply suction to said end to withdraw a length thereof, and means to lay said length .in a preslot extending substantiallyparallel tothe movement of the tender and through which a yarn end extending from the package may be removed by suction, and means to control the time of application of the suction to control the length of yarn sucked through said slot, to provide a unidetermined path, for the purpose of future as- V sembly with another yarn end.

'2. In a winding machine the combination of means for supporting and rotatinga yarn pack- :age core for winding yarn thereon from a supply bobbin, means for applying suction over the 7 length of said package core for exploring for a free end of yarn thereon, means for simultaneously blowing air-against said package core for freeing saidend, means for periodically moving .said suction means andsaid package core relative to one another to facilitate said exploring, and means for, withdrawing the length of yarn drawn by suction from said package core from its normal path to a predetermined location for tying with the end of yarn ona supply bobbin.

3. In a winding machine, the combination of a yarn package, means for supporting and rotating said yarn package, means to apply suction at a point proximate to the periphery of said yarn package, means to apply air pressure against the yarn package to free an end of yarn thereon, and

V the frame and means holding a reserve yarn end form length of draw at all times.

,8. In a multi-unit 'windingmachine, the comage and being provided to draw a predetermined length of yam-from said winding package.

9. In a multi-unit winding machine, the com- 7 bination of a frame, means thereon for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having respectively suction and blowing .ducts to move close to the package to suck and blow on the package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extending along an edge thereof, said duct havingtwo intersecting slots parallel tothe path of tender travel, stationary hooks fixed on adjacent one of the hooks, said hooks being movable throughtheslots to remove a yam from the duct through the first slot and to assemble said yarn with the reserve'yarn held by said holding means. i

10. In av multi-unit winding machine, the combination of a frame, means thereon for Su porting and rotating a yarn package, a, travelling tender. having respectively suction and blowing ductsto move close to the packageto suck and blow on the package, said suction duct havin a narrow slot extending along an edge thereof,

said duct having two intersecting slots parallel 40 to the path of tender travel;

means to suck oil a predetermined length of the freed end of yam from said package.

- 4. Inamulti-unit winding machine the combination ofa travelling tender moving past the units, an air suction duct moving therewith and adapted to be periodically projected toward a winding package, to free an end of yarn thereon and draw off a length thereof by suction, means to lay the drawn yarn in a predetermined position across two slots in said duct for subsequent assembly with another end of yam,-and means to pick up said drawn yarn and carry itfrom said slots to a position for tying with said other end of yarn.

h 5. In a'multi-unit winding machine, the com- 11,. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender havingfa suction duct to move close to the package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extending substantially normal to the'movement of the tender fromwhich ayarn end extending from the packagemay be removed, and stationarymeans adapted to engage the yarn and remove it laterally from said slot in the duct, as said travelling tender moves said duct past said stationary means.

12. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a "yarn package, and a tender movable relatively to bination of means for supporting and rotating a Qpackage core on which yarn is to be wound, a

divided air nozzle and means for blowing and sucking air through the different parts of the nozzle to free a yarn end from the package and suck the yarn end into the nozzle.

'6. Ina multi-unit winding machine, the cambination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relatively past the packages, a wide air nozzle carried by the tender and movable toward and from the pack age being wound to suck ayarn end from the package said nozzle comprising two slots extending side by side through one of which air is blown while air is sucked through the other.

7. Ina multi-unit winding machine, the combination of meansfor supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having a suction duct adapted to periodically move close to the package, said suction duet having a narrow the package having a suction duct tomove close .to the package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extending along the trailing side of the.

duct, said duct having two slotsjparallel to the path of tender travel with the two slots} intersecting said'narrow slot at the trailing edge, of

the duct.

' 13. In a multi-unit winding machine, the com- ""bination of'means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relatively to' the package having a suction duct to move close to the package, said suction duct'having a narrow slot extending along the trailing sideor the duct, said duct having two slots parallel to the path of tender travel with the two slotsintersecting the narrow slot at the trailing edge of the duct, and hooks movable relatively through the slots to remove a yarn from the duct through .the first slot. I

14. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having a suction duct to move close to the package, said suctionduct having a narrow slot extending substantially normal to the travel of the tender and in which a yarn end extending from the package is located and may be removed therefrom and means crossing said slot and thereby engaging the yarn for removing the yarn laterally from the duct. i

15. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having an upwardly and inwardly directed suction duct movable toward and from the package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extending along the lower, trailing side 01' the duct the bottom of said duct having a second slot parallel to the path of tender travel with the slots intersecting at the trailing edge of the duct, and a stationary hook associated with means to hold yarn, said hook being movable relatively through the second slot to remove the yarn end laterally from the duct.

16. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotatinga yarn package, a travelling tender having a suction duct to move close to the package, said sucbination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relative past the packages, a wide air nozzle carried by the tender and movable toward and from the package being wound to suck a yarn end from the package, means movable to reverse the rotation of the package, means for timing the reversal oi the package to control the length or yarn drawn from the package, said nozzle comprising two slots extending side-by-side through one of which air is blown while air is sucked through the other.

18. In a multiple unit winding machine, the

combination of means for supporting and winding a package of yarn, a support for a yarn supply mass from which a yarn is wound on the package, a tender movable relatively past the winding units, a blower mounted on the tender, a suction duct having a nozzle adjacent to the package, said duct having'a long narrow slot, a plurality of hooks mounted on the winding unit, said hooks retaining a yarn end from a supply mass, a plurality oi slots in the duct intersecting the narrow slot and through which the hooks may move relative to the slots, said duct being connected to the blower to suck a yarn end from the package into the duct to overlie the plurality of slots, and means carried by the tender for remeans for withdrawing the length of yarn drawn moving the yarn end from theduct, i'or assemdivided air nozzle movable towards and from the package and means for blowing and sucking air through the diiferent parts of the nozzle to free a yarn end item the package and suck the yarn end into the nozzle,

20. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating 9. package core on which yarn is to be wound, and a thin wide air nozzle mounted for movement past the package surface substantially as wide as the length of the package and having a slot formed in a wall of said nozzle, and means for sucking air through the nozzle to draw an end of yarn into the nozzle and placing same in said slot for subsequent removal through said slot for knotting with a supply end 21. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a package core on which yarn is to be wound, a thin wide air nozzle mounted for movement past the package surface substantially as wide as the length of the package and means for sucking air through the nozzle to draw a free end of the yarn of predetermined length into the nozzle and means for removing the yarn end from the nozzle to'assemble it with a supply yarn end including stationary means for engaging the yarn end and laterally withdrawing same under movements of the nozzle past the package.

22. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having a suction duct and a pressure duct both adapted to periodically move close to the package, said ducts having narrow nozzle mouths extending substantially parallel to the travel of the tender and through which a yarn end blown from the package by the air pressure may be removed by suction, and means .to control the length or yarn sucked through said mouth, to provide a uniform length of draw at all times, said means to control the length including a reverse mechanism for said yarn package.

23. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of a travelling tender, a blower, and an air duct connected therewith, said blower and duct being carried by the tender and the air duct extending to be closely adjacent a winding package, said duct being divided to provide suction and pressure portions directed at the package and being provided to draw a predetermined length of yarn from said'winding package, by reversing mechanism acting periodically on said winding packageato unwind same.

24. In a winding machine the combination of 7 means for supporting and rotating a yarn package core for winding yarn thereon, means to support an active supply bobbin, means for blowing air under pressure over said package core to free a yarn end thereon means forapplying suction over the length or said package core for exploring for said free end of yarn, means for periodically moving said suction and blowing meanstoward said package core and into proximity with the yarn thereon to permit said tree end of yarn to be withdrawn by suction, and

by suction from said package core from its normal path to a predetermined location for tying with the end otyarn on a supply bobbin, said means being arranged so that said predetermined location is closely proidmate to said active supply bobbin. I

i LOUIS M. LESTER CAMPBELL.

FERDINAND I". BTANGE. Am W. ARTERTON.

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