US2456804A - Thread finishing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 21, 1948. A. E. WINSLOW V THREAD FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 11. 1944,

'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JVlek/ZIZ Mao/o W ll Z ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1948- A. E. WINSLOW I I THREAD FINISHING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 11. 1944 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1944 Dec, 21, 1948. wg s ow 2,456,804

THREAD FINISHING MACHINE '7 She'ets-Sheet 3 HNVENTOR Dec. 21, 1948. E 5, wmsgow 2,456,804

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Origihal Filed Jan. 11, 1944 '2' Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTNS Dec. 21, 1948. A. E. WINSLOW 2,456,804

THREAD FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 11, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet '5 mvsmon wary/5 M725! w 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1948. A. E. WINSLOW 2,456,804

THREAD FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. I1, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1948. A. E. WINSLOW THREAD FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 11, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR 0716a,! )5. Mn s/o w v WM flak,

ATTORNEYS pecially in hot Patented Dec. 21, 1948 THREAD FINISHING MACHINE Albert E. Winslow, Norwich, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Universal Winding Company, Cranston, R. 1., a corporation of Massa chusetts Originalapplication January 11, 1944, Serial No.

Divided and this application Decembet 9, 1944, Serial No. 567,388

Claims. (Cl. 34-454) 1 This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 517,862, filed January ll. 1944, now Patent Number 2,400,325.

This invention relates to a thread finishing apparatus for the application of a coating or size which may be desirable for various purposes.

Threads of different materials require different finishing in orderv that the threads may be manipulated in such machines as knitting, braiding, weaving, or the like, where the threads are subjected to friction in the working of the threads into various fabricated articles.- In the application of the coating or sizing heat is reduiredfor drying the sizing on the thread.f The heat which is required for drying-the thread in a machine which is in use today lacks control and the room in which such a machine is operated becomes excessively warm and uncomfortable esweather while at'the same time there is an undesirable loss of heat. In machines which are used today the assembling package upon which the sized thread is packaged usually supplies the pull on the thread to draw it through the machine in which the sizing is applied. Such an arrangement makes it diilicult to control the speed of the evergrowing package that an even feed may be had and much slip and lost motion with consequent wear on the friction driving belt is experienced. Further the slip makes stretching of the. thread difilcult. v

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which the heating chamber will be nicely controlled to conserve the heat and apply it to the threads without excessively heating the room.

Another object of the invention is to improve the drying of the coating applied to the threads.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the apparatus from the supply packages through the coating machine and to the take-up creel;

. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the coating machine;

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the drive for the various rotating parts of the machine with drive to shaft 60 omitted;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the means of driving or supplying power to the main drive shaft of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing themounting of the heating chamber;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the machine with the heating chamber omitted and illustrating the arrangement of the driving belt for the various rotating parts;

Fig.- 7 is a plan view on a somewhat larger scale showing the entering end of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in section illustrating in somewhat more detail and on a larger scale the delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 illustrating the mounting of the delivery roll at the entering end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section of the same parts taken on line ill-i0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail illustrating the so drive for the traverse bar;

Another object of-the invention is to provide an arrangement so that the heating chamber will have heating energy applied thereto only during the time that the machine is operating. The

heating chamber being automatically turned off when the machine is stopped.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustment of the means of distributing the size, over the thread that the desired coating may be had.

Another object of the invention is to control the thread action by control of the temperatures which it is successively subjected to.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, as will be more fully described and par;- ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 12 is a lateral section through the brush chamber of the machine;

Fig. 13 is an elevation illustrating a. brush adlusting mechanism Fig. 14 is an elevation of a pair of supply packages;

131g. 15 is a sectional view of the cooling unit; an

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit of the apparatus.

In proceeding with this invention the general plan is to draw threads by feed rolls from a plurality of supply packages, which threads will be gripped and arranged in side-by-side relation for the width of the machine making in eflect a web of threads for feeding through the machine. The threads are also gripped by a pair of delivery rolls which travel at a surface speed greater than the surface speed of the feed rolls. This results in a stretching of the threads between these two feed rolls. A coating or sizing is applied to the threads at this entrance and thissizing is dried upon the threads as they advance through the machine. Drying is done by applying controlled heat to the web of threads and by also brushing 3 the threads; The brushing serves to spread the coating or sizing on the threads and also serves by its friction on the threads to assist in the drying of them. Brushing takes place at several dillcrent points between the feeding in and delivery nip rolls and afiects a polishing of the coating which is applied to the threads. As soon as the threads emerge from this coating machine they are chilled at a point below room temperature which serves in many cases to limit the contraction of the thread which might occur after having been stretched. However, in order to positively prevent any contraction, each thread is maintained under a substantial tension, and packaged on a non-collapsible spool as it emerges from the machine. 7

The apparatus may be considered as being in three parts and in Fig. 1 of the drawing I designate A as a supply creel, B the coating unit or machine, and C the take-up or packaging-creel. The yarns are maintained under tension from the time the leave the supply creel until they are wound on the packages at C.

The supply creel consists of a plurality of pins l5, l arranged in pairs upon which headless packages ii, i? may be mounted. Each strand is drawn from one of these'packages while the opposite end 18 of the strand from this package is tied onto the lead-oil end i9 of the strand on the companion package mounted on an adjacent pin. Thus, as one package runs out the nextpackagestarts to furnish the supply. The operator replaces the run-out package with a fresh one tying the lead-ofi end in the fresh package to the tail end of the package which is operating. Thus, no stopping of this machine need occur for furnishing a supply of the thread which is to be sized. This method of furnishing a supply is known in the textile industry.

The operation on the thread at the machine or unit B involves some novel steps as well as new apparatus and will be explained and claimed in detail in this application. The unit 0 provides a take-up for each strand or yarn end and while any take-up mechanism may be utilized so far as this machine is concerned which will maintain a tension on the yarn I have illustrated herein a novel form of take-up mechanism which will be described and claimed in greater detail in my co-pending application Serial No, 517,861, now Patent No. 2,400,324.

With reference to the machine, designated B, as a part of the apparatus, I have provided a suit abl framework 20 in which various parts are mounted in bearings for rotation and as shown in Fig. 6 there are mounted at spaced intervals along the framework 28 shafts 2i, 2|, and 2!", each mounted at each end in an adjustable hearing 22 (see also Figs. 12 and 13) which is carried by the slide 23 in turn vertically adjustable in guideways 23 which are fixed on the framework of the machine. The amount of adjustment is indicated by the scale 25 and datum line 26 and is efiected by the threaded shaft 21 which extends through the worm gear 28 having a threaded bore 65 to engage therewith. The worm gear meshes with the work 29 (see Fig. 12) which may be actuated through the shaft 39 by the crank 33. A" duplicate arrangement of shaft 2?, worm gear 28', worm 29', provides for the adjustment of the opposite ends of each of the shafts 21, 2i, 2!" heretofore mentioned. Upon each of the shafts" 2|, 2|, or 2|", a brush 32, 32', 32" is mounted for rotation as the shaft is driven.

At the feeding in end of the machine a' pair of assess;

4 a nip rollsslland 38 (see Fig. 2) are provided to grip the thread between them and prevent a slipp e of the threads with reference to either of these rolls, while a similar pair of rolls 3! and .5 38 are .provided at the delivery end of the machine was to draw the threadsfrom the feed-in rolls 35 and 36 across the brushes 32, 32', and 82".- The delivery rolls are driven at a surface speed sufficiently greater than the feed-in rolls to 16 stretch the threads as they pass through the machine.

f'The upperrolls 35 and 31 of each of the pair of nip rolls'are fixed while the lower rolls 3! and 3B of each pair are eccentrically mounted with 15 reference to the center of these upper rolls 3B and 3?. This mounting is illustrated in greater de-' tail for the set of rolls 31, .38 in'Figs. 8 to 10,

while the mountings! roll 35 is similar thereto. The center shaft of the upper roll 31 is designated 29 4G and at either end a boss or eccentric portion 5i is mounted on thisshaft. This boss '4! forms a bearing for the encircling annulus 42 which is mounted upon it and which forms a part 0! the bracket 43. This bracket carries shaft 44 upon 25 which the lower roll 38 is mounted. As this bracket is rotates about its bearings M the roll 38 will move toward or from the upper roll 3! indicated in dot dash lines in Figs. 9 and 10. These brackets at both ends of the roll are moved in unison by means of the segmental gears 43 formed on the brackets which mesh with pinions 48, the pinions 48 being fixed on a shaft 47 extending from one side of the machine to the other. The shaft 417 is provided with a worm gear 0 (see Fig. 8) at one end which meshes with a worm ll operated by shaft til through the means of a crank which engages the slot Si in the enlarged head thereof. While the weight of this larger roll of the two feed or delivery rolls is such that each would swing about its eccentric mounting by means of gravity so as to firmly grip the threads, the worm gear means provide a positive arrangement by which these rolls maybe brought into firm nipping engagement with the threads to provide a good bite thereon.

At thefeed-in end of the machine the lower nip roll 36 is similarly mounted and swings into a trough 5B which contains a sizing bath I and thus serves to immerse the threads 52 as they lead into the machine beneath the roll 30, thence up over the roll 35 and toward the delivery rolls 31 and 38.

It is desirable that all of the rotating. parts be operated in unison. The drive of the machine comprises a main drive shaft (see Fig. 6) which is driven by a low speed motor Bl (see Fig. 4) through belt 52 onto the large pulley 63 which is connected to the drive shaft 88 through an overrunning clutch as There is also provided upon 60 the shaft to a high speed drive which consists of a motor 65 which operates through a Reeves drive $8 from which there extends a belt $7 to a pulley as which is fixed upon the shaft at. When this belt drives the shaft at high speed, the shaft 68 will operate freely without being retarded by the pulley 33 by reason of its connectionto the shaft through the overrunning clutch 56. At the inner end of the shaft 83 a gear 89 is provided. This gear 89 drives the gear 10 on the upper shaft 40 of 70 the delivery rolls 3?. Upon this shaft is is provided another gear H which meshes with the gear 72 on the shaft 65 upon which is mounted the larger roll of the delivery pair 38. I

The inner end-of this shaft 89 (see Figs. 3 and 75 6) is also provided with a pulley it over winch upon pins runs a belt 15 to drive a pulley I. on shaft II at the opposite end of the machine upon which shaft I! there is a gear 13 which meshes with a gear I9 on the shaft 30 (see also Fig. '1) for driving the upper feed-in roll, 35. This belt 15 extends beneath idlers BI and 32 which are mounted on brackets 03 and 84 (see Fig. 3) and adjusted aboutthe supports 85 and 33 so as to exert the desired amount of tension on the belt I! of the drive of these nip rolls for feeding and delivering the work. The arrangement is such as to sizes or' diameters of the rolls that the delivery'rolls will be driven faster than the feed rolls so as to exert from one to twenty per cent stretch in the threads which pass through the machine.

n the shaft 80 there is a gear 31 which drives gear 88 on shaft 89 upon which the lower feed roll 36 is mounted and by means of which it is driven. I

In order to effect a drive with the brushes pulley 90 is provided on shaft 60 (see Figs. 3 and 6) which drives pulley 9| on shaft 2i" by belt 32. A second pulley 93 on this shaft -2I" furnishes drive through belt 94 to pulley "on shaft 2I' which may be tensioned by idler 00 on bracket arm 91 (see Fig. 3) by adjustment aroundshaft 98. Pulley 99 on shaft 2I' serves as a means for driving belt I00 which engages pulley IIII on shaft 2| to drive the same, this belt I00 being tensioned by means of pulley I02 (see P18. 3) adjustably by bracket arm I03 around the shaft I04.

Traverse bars at both ends of the machine are provided for traversing the threads across the roll. At the delivery end of the machine, a spiral gear IIO (see Fig. 11) is mounted on the shaft 40 and engages spiral gear III to operate shaft II2 upon which the crank H3 is mounted so that its pin II4 will guide IIB so as to oscillate the bar H3 which carries pins III back and forth to move the threads 52 which extend between the pins back and forth across the roll. The feed-in. end of the machine is provided with a similar traverse, there being there illustrated the spiral gear III, the shaft H2, and crank H3. In. this'case, however, instead of engaging the traverse bar I20 directly a pitman I2I is provided for engag ing the crank pin 4' which is pivoted as at I22 on the arm of a bracket I23 which bracket extends to the traverse bar I20 for oscillating the same. I

The traverse bars H0 and I20 are mounted I25 at either end suitably supported by brackets I26. Pins II! are provided on each of these bars for leading the threads therethrough.

While the brushes serve to spread and dry to some extent the coating which is applied to the thread a heating chamber is desirable and in this connection I have provided a heating arrangement designated generally I30 (see Figs. 2 and This heating arrangement consists of a dish-like inverted casing I3I having a closed top with side and end flanges I32. A framework I33 serves to mount this casing in position over the top of the brushes and is provided witha bar I34 which will engage the web-like form of threads extending through the machine and serve to press them downwardly so that they will engage the brushes 32, 32', 32". One of these bars is positioned between adjacent brushes. Within this casing I3I I provide some suitable heating means which I have here shown as extend into the slot of a,

entire casing I30 may be lifted by means of a I -handle I31 which extends along the casing lengthwise thereof and affords an easy means to lift the casing if it is desired to enter the interior of this coating machine for threading the same up. A suitable counterweight may be provided for the lifting of the casing.

In order to confine the heated air which may be picked up by the brushes I have encased each of the brushes in a sheet metal casing designated I40, I, and I40" and provided an exhaust I4I, I4I', I4I" from. the several chambers, so that the brushes may drive the heated air downwardly pulling it into and through the spaces between the web of threads which is formed. In

,order to assist exhausting of the pipe, I have provided a fan I42 which will suck out the common pipe I43 to which each of these chambers I40, I40, and I40" is connected to provide greater efflciency in drying the threads.

Where synthetic fibers are operated upon it may be desirable to chill these fibers immediately that they have emerged from the heating and stretching operations preventing them from recovering or returning to their state prior to stretching. This chilling may be provided by means of a set of pipes I45 (see Fig. 15) which are colder than roomtemperature and which are housed in a compartment I40 having a hinged cover I41 and through which the web of threads are led. A. suitable seal I48 is provided for passage of the threads into and from the compartment I40.

The arrangement is such that for threading up a broken end an operator will use an electrical control to throw the slow speed motor into operationand pull a thread from the supply creel and drop it onto the web of threads which is entering the machine. The thread will feed through onto the top of the lower feed roll where it may be picked up'by the operator and then carried manually up over the top roll and over the brushes, the operator lifting the heating unit .to some extent in order to provide access, the

may be easily picked up by the operator and carried to the take-up creel and there caused to wind onto the take-up bobbin from which it was severed. After which the operator may push the button in order to. start the machine up again at high speed to continue the sizing operation at a rapid rate. 4

In Fig. 16 I have illustrated a wiring diagram from the line to the two motors 6|, and includin the heating means I35. The switch I50 may be manipulated to cause operation of either the slow motor GI or the fast motor 65 while the switch I5I for stopping and starting the motors is arranged ahead of the heating means I35 so that when energy is turned off to the motors the heating means is also turned oi! so that the threads when not moving cannot be subjected to excessive heat.

as infra red lamps,

- brushes contacting the threads ,as they pass brushes positioned-t engage the threads to distribute the size thereon, a heating chamber for drying said size on the threads positioned directly over said brushes and comprising top, side and end walls with an open bottom over the threads,

means for feeding the threads through the chamber, means in the chamber to generate heat, a casing about said brushes opened at one end adiacent the path of the threads and having an opening in a wall opposite the opened end, said brushes drawing the heat downwardly through the threads and out through said opening to dry the threads.

2. In a I thread finishing apparatus, thread guides at each end'portion of the apparatus for guiding the threads in spaced relation through the apparatus, a drying unit comprising a chamber, means for feeding the threads through the chamber, a series of rotary brushes contacting the threads as they pass through the chamber to distribute the size thereon, a casing about said brushes opened adjacent the path of the threads and having an opening in a wall thereof through which air may discharge, and heating means positioned directly above the brushes and cooperating therewith to dry the treated threads, said brushes drawing the heat through the threads and out of said opening.

3. In a thread finishing apparatus, a drying unit comprising a chamber, means for feeding the threads through the chamber, a series of rotary brushes contacting the threads as they pass through the chamber, a casing about each 01' said brushes 01.. generally trough shape opened adjacent the path of the threads and having an opening in the bottom, and heating means on the other side of the thread from said brushes and open bottom cooperating with the brushes to dry the treated threads, said brushes drawing the heat through the threads and out through said opening.

4. In a thread finishing apparatus, a drying unit comprising a chamber, means for feeding the through the chamber, a casing about each of said brushes of generally trough shape opened adiacent the path of the threads and having an open-'1 ins in the bottom, and heatingmeanson the other side of the thread from said brushes and open bottom cooperating with the brushes to dry the treated threads, said brushes drawing the heat through the threads and out through said opening, and exhausting means op'era'tively connected to said swings to draw the heat from the heatingmeans across the thread.

5. In a thread finishing apparatus, a drying unit 1 comprising a chamber, means for feeding the threads throush the chamber, a series of rotary brushes contacting the threads as they pass through the chamber to distribute the size thereon, a casing about said brushes opened adjacent the path of the threads and having an opening in a wall thereof through which air may discharge, and heating means positioned directly above the brushes and cooperating therewith to dry the treated threads, said brushes drawing the heat through the threads and out of said opening.

ALBERT E. WINSLOW.

nsrsnnsoss crash The following references are oi record in the file oi this hetent:

threads through the chamber, a series of rotary UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,378,721 Rohdiek May 17, 1921 1,692,498 Gate's Nov. 20, 1928 1,764,777 Broughton June 17, 1930 1,801,065 Ashworth Apr. 14, 1931 1,868,617 Tompkins July 26, 1932 1,981,197 Roberts Nov. 20, 1934 2,059,066 Van Wyk Oct. 27, 1936 2,145,495 Paxton Jan. 31, 1939 2,224,665 Bradshaw et al Dec. 10, 1940 2,225,505 Ofl'en Dec. 17, 1940 2,306,607 Horton Dec. 29, 1942 2,318,533 Selvig. May 4, 1943 2,376,368 Lingie May 22, 1945' 2,420,399

New May 13, 1947

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