US2482654A - Double-twist twisting device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1949.

J. K. COCHRAN ETAL DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING DEVICE Filed Feb; 7, 1948 IN V EN TORS I John K Cochran Jacob fisfer BY 9A MZ7 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1949 DOUBLE-TWIST TWISTING DEVICE John Kermit Cochran, Conyngham, and Jacob Piister, Hasleton, Pa., assignors to The Duplan Corporation, Hazleton,

Delaware Pa., a corporation of Application February 7, 1948, Serial No. 6,906

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus 10 handling, treating, and translating filamentary material, such as yarn, and more particularly to apparatus for spinning or twisting yarn, such as double-twist spinning machine assemblies.

In certain double-twist yarn spinning machines known to the art, a hollow rotating spindle supports the yarn package or bobbin and rotates within a non-rotating yarn package carrier inassociation with a storage or takeup disc in such manner that two turns of twist are inserted in the yarn for each revolution of the spindle. In operation, these machines accomplish their purpose by leading the yarn or other filamentary material from the yarn package through a guide and over the top of the yarn package, thence down through the center of the yarn package, out of the spindle shaft and to a rotating storage disc below the package, thence up and outside the yarn package through a yarn guide, and finally to a takeup spool or package. These machines effectively-impart the desired twist tov the yarn, but under abnormal conditions, as when accidents occur, the machines are subject to damage which is extremely costly to property and dangerous td the operator or passersby.

In the normal operation of double-twist spinning machines, the yarn package is relatively stationary and does not rotate with the spindle which rotates inside the package carrier. It is common pactice to provide a yarn package carrier or platform with ball bearings which engage the spinning spindle, and to prevent rotation of the platform or carrier by magnetism, gravity or other appropriate means to preclude undue rotation of the platform. A customary expedient to prevent the rotation of the package in normal operation is to tilt the spindle away from the vertical and to provide a weight in the base of the package platform, so that gravity tends to keep the package in the stationary or non-rotating position. In actual operation, however, it happens from time to time that the yarn package carrier accelerates and rotates with the spindle at a dangerously high speed. This occurs sometimes when the oil or grease in the ball bearings disappears or becomes fouled, or the parts become distorted, or for other reasons. As soon as the yarn package begins to rotate, and especially at high speeds, violent forces of unbalance are set into play and parts of the machine at times may be thrown away from and off the rapidly rotating assembly.

The present invention obviates the dificulties and disadvantages set forth above. This apparatus also avoids certain other prior dlfliculties which have been encountered when the filament .strand or yarn was broken. Previously, when the strand or yarn was broken, the apparatus continued to operate and the yarn became snarled.

, not rotate 1 i because of a weight 1 and bearings secured the i;

The present invention provides for automatic disengagement and stopping of the twisting spindle: as well as of the takeup spool, as soon as the yarn has become broken. The mechanism of the invention also operates when the'tension of the yarn is reduced below the amount required to hold the mechanism in operating position. The invention also provides for intentionally breaking the yarn, thereby relieving the tension and stopping the machine when the yarn package rotates rapidly enough to set effective centrifugal forces into play. r

The foregoing and further objects of the invention will be understood by reference to the drawing, in. which Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of yarn twisting and translating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top view of the movable yarn guide and associated locking element; s Figure 3 is a plan view of the tip of the yarn package carrier shaft with an intercepting ele ment in operating position and with the fiyer removed? v Figure 4 is a cross-section of the top portion of the yarn package carrier shaft and associated,

palts in the non-intercepting or normal position; Figure 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of Figure 3 similar to Figure 4, with the intercepting element in operative position.

Although it is to be understood that'this invention relates toand is applicable to various types of yarn treating a particular embodiment thereof is shown with respect to a, double-twist spinning machine. Referring to Figure 1, a spinning spindle assembly i, known in the art, comprises a spring-held bolster 2 in which is rotatably mounted a spindle. as is known in the art, 'on which is fitteda whorl 3 and a yarn storage or takeup disc 4, both of by suitable driving means such as a belt 5. The upper portion of the spindlewhich are driven assembly I supports a yarn package platform, (indicated by dotted lines) which normally due with the shaft of the spindle assembl therein. The weight, by force of gravitywhe spindle is in tilted position, prevents rotationcoffi and confines the movement, 1,: thereof to a restricted degree of oscillation. A

the package platform packagev 8 of yarn 9 rests on the platform 6, andis surmounted by a collar ii supporting a fiyc l2- which conveniently may be light strips oi stiff wire looped at the ends thereof. The fiyer, as is well known, may be surrounded to prevent tangling of the yarn when the appa-- ratus is started. The normally fixed package platform 6 also supports an intercepting element it, which, as shown in Figure 1, ,comprisesan upstanding coil spring surmounted by and supand translating apparatus,

by a ring or fjcage, w

assaoce by virtue of the weighted portion i4 being impelled away from package 3 and across the yarn close proximity to the yarn path of travel.

In normal operation, the whorl e is in driving A engagement with the belt 5, causing a shaft with-. in the spindle l to rotate together with the storage disc ii, in known manner. A strand of the yarn is taken oil the yarn package 8 and fed through the eye or loop at the end of the flyer l2, and into the tip of a hollow shaft which supports the package on the package platform. The end of the yarn then internally traverses the entire length of the bobbin or package through the center of the shaft thereof and is led out, in normal manner understood by those skilled in the art, on to the storage disc 4. When th ma chine is operating at normal speeds, the yarn 9 forms a "balloon" between the storag disc 4 and yarn guide H, the yarn at one point in the balloon being shown at l8, and is le through a fixed yarn guide I], and thence through a movable yarn guide l8. From the yarn guide iii, the

strand-9 is guided at l9, for example, by a loop of wire, on to a takeup spool or bobbin 2| and there collected. The spool or bobbin 2| is conveniently supported by angle arm 22. In this type of double-twist apparatus, the initial twist is inserted in the yarn between the supply package and the storage disc 4, due to the rotation of the spindle blade, and additional twist is inserted by the rotation between the storage disc 4 and the guide II. The twisted yarn collected on the takeup spool or bobbin 2i is then ready for further processing or for delivery to the customer upon dismounting the spool or bobbin from its support.

In the particular embodiment of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1, an upright frame member 3| carries a rigid slide 32, which may be suitably braced as at 33. A movable or slidable base 34 supports the spindle assembly I which extends through an opening in the top of the base to accommodate the bolster 2. The slide 32 is provided with an elongated slot (not shown) through which the spindle bolster extends and which permits longitudinal movement of the spindle assembly together with the base 44 along the slide but without disengagement therefrom. The base 34 comprises, as is known in the art, a flat top surface 35 and two side portions 38 integral therewith and adapted to track along the side faces of the slide 32. In order to prevent the base 34 from upwardly disengaging the slide 32, the lower edge of the side panels 36 are preferably understruck so that at least a'portlon of the interior of each of the four sides of the base 34 is in sliding en agement with each of the four exterior sides of the slide 32.

tact engagement with the belt 8. The shaft 4|.

is journaled near one endin a bracket 42 and near the other end'in the fixed slide 32. Atthe top of the shaft 4| a handle 43 is keyed to permit. manual rotation of the shaft, and adjacent thereto, also keyed to the shaft, is a locking disc 44 having a locking notch 45 in the periphery thereof.

The bracket 52 also supports a cross bracket at which is riveted thereto. The cross bracket 65 has an arm 5'! which supports the wire yarn guide i! by any suitable means, such as by a screw or bolt, and also carries a pivot shaft 59. A movable yarn guide support 49 rocks on the shaft 48 (see Figures 1 and 2) and is bifurcated to accommodate a pin 51 carrying the movable yarn guide I8. A spring 52 is connected between a point 53 on the guide support 49 and a point 54 .on the cross bracket 46. The action of the spring 52 tends to impel the yarn guide [8 upwardly against the tension of the yarn 9 when the machine is in operation; and when the yarn 9 is broken or disengaged from the yarn guide l8, the guide. support 49 is moved upwardly by the spring 52.

The opposite key and of the guide support 49 normally engages the notch 45 in the looking disc 44. When the yarn guide I8 is in the inoperative position, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the movement thereof disengages the opposite key end 50 of the support 49 from the locking disc 44 and permits the spring 38 to rotate the shaft 4| and hence arm 39 to a lower position, thereby lowering the base 34 along the slide 32. The sliding movement of the base 34 is caused'by gravity after release of the tension of .r the spring 38, and also by oscillation of the resiliently-mounted spindle assembly.

It is obvious that the details of construction of the movable yarn guide l9 and the supports therefor may be varied as desired. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the fixed yarn guide 11' may be mounted independently of the supports for the movable yarn guide, and instead of utilizing the spring 52, the pivot shaft 48' may be positioned close tothe guide [8 and distant from the key 58 so that the normal tension of the yarn 9' operates against gravity. With this arrangement, when the yarn is broken or otherwise disengaged, the force of gravity will operate against the lever arm 49' to withdraw the key portion 50' thereof from the notch 45'.

As the base 94 travels along the slide 32, which is what happens when the apparatus is in the inoperative position, as when the yarn 9 is broken, the whorl 3 is disengaged from the driving element 5. A fixed bumper or brake 8| is positioned in the path of longitudinal travel of the whorl 3 and operates frictionally to stop the spinning whorl'upon release of the base 94 from the normal operating position.

The takeup spool 2l ma be arranged in any convenient manner, but it is preferred to provide a frame 83 supporting a driving roll or wheel.

- providing a disengaging arm 85 rigidly secured position so that the whorl 3 is held in driven conto the base 34, and hence slidable therewith. The frame 83 conveniently supports the fixed yarn guide l9 and also pivotally (at 88) carries the angle arm 22 supporting the spool 2|. The opposite end 61 of the arm 22 is arranged in line with the disengaging arm 89, so that when the base 34 shifts to the inoperative position, the arm 88 travels diagonally downwardly to abut the arm end 87! and thereby to disengage the reel 2| from the drive wheel 84, as shown in dotted position in Figure 1.

aseaess The intercepting element or yarn interceptor l3, as shown in Figure 1 in solid lines, ignormally out of the path of travel of the balloon of yarn it. However, when the platform 6 begins to rotate, the interceptor [3, which is preferably weighted at the end, is thrown into the yarn path It and breaks the yarn to relieve the tension at the yarn guide l8, and hence to stop the motion. The interceptor may be otherwise constructed as shown in Fig. 7, by providt'ing a sharp-edged strip 13' of spring metal, such as spring steel, supporting the weight it, so that in the operating or intercepting position a cutting action is applied to the yarn balloon 16'. The interceptor I3 effectively and rapidly stops the machine whenever the yarn package begins to rotate at sufllcient speed to throw the interceptor into the path of the yarn. In the event of a condition arising which initiates rotation of the yarn package 8, the interceptor l3 on platform 6 tends to, travel at increasingly higher speeds. At these intermediate speeds, the interceptor, is travelling at a slower rate of rotation than the takeup disc I, and therefore traverses, and hence cuts or breaks, the yarn inits path.

It is obvious that other stopping arrangements for the apparatus may be employed, and that so long as it is the breakage of the yarn which sets the stop motion in operation, the interceptor 13 will function according .to the invention.

An alternative centrifugal intercepting element is shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5. The top of the yarn package or bobbin supporting shaft H (which is, in turn, a part of, or supported by, the platform 6 of Figure 1) is provided with a hollow projection 12 having a transverse acentric slot 13 and an intercepting pin 14 slidable in and out of the slot. The slot is long enough to accommodate a substantial portion of the length of the pin, as shown in Figure 4; and, as shown in Figure 5, the pin 14 is suiliciently long to engage the flier 15 when in the operative position. If desired, the pin may project slightly from the slot when in the retracted position. The flier II is supported by acollar 16 which fits over the projection 12. In normal operation, the package carrier does not rotate, and the flier is rotated relatively slowly by the yarn coming off the supply package, but when the package carrier begins to rotate, the pin 14 is centrifugally impelled out of the slot 13 and engages the flier II. The flier, as in the flier l2 shown in Figure 1, is provided at its end with a yarn guiding loop or pigtail (not shown), and when its normal rotation in relation to the yarn package is impeded, breakage of the yarn results and sets the stop motion apparatus into operation, as de-.

scribed. or in other manner as understood in the art.

In view of the many changes andmodiflcations that may be made without departing irom'the principles underlying the invention, reference should be made to the appendedclaims for an understanding of the scope of the protection atforded the invention.

What "is claimed is:

1. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a driven spindle assembly including a storage disc,

a yarn guide between which and said disc the yarn describes a yarn path, a normally stationary tated said interceptor being impelled by centrifugal force across the yarn path.

2. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a rotatable spindle assembly including a storage disc, a bobbin holder mounted on said spindle and normally non-rotating, a yarn bobbin on said holder, a yarn guide between which and said disc the yarn describes a yarn path, an interceptor supported by said bobbin holder and normally out of engagement with the yarn path, a movable a movable yarn guide, said guide being held in operating position by yarn tension and locking said base in operating position, said guide in the inoperative position releasing said base from operating position and permitting release motion of said base by gravity.

4. A yarn spinning apparatus comprising a movable support, a downwardly sloping slide for said support, a spindle mounted on said support, a bobbin holder mounted on said spindle, said holder being rotatable but non-rotating in the operative position, a driving element for said spindle, a movable yarn guide held in the operative position by yarn tension and holding said support in such position that the spindle is in engagement with said driving element, said guide when in the inoperative position releasing said support for motion by gravity along said slide.

yarn package carrier supported by said spindle assembly and an interceptor supported by said carrier, said interceptor being normally positioned out of the yarn path and when said platform is re- 5. A twisting device for yarn comprising a movable base, a twisting spindle mounted thereon, a driving membernormally in contact with said spindle, a movable yarn guide, and a normally stationary bobbin platform supported by said spindle, said guide being retained in the operating position by yarn tension and holding said spindle in contact with the driving member, said guide in the inoperative position releasing said base to separate the spindle from the driving element.

6. A twisting device for yarn comprising a movable base, a twisting spindle and a spool drivedisengaging element mounted thereon, a spindle driving member normally in contact with said spindle, a movable yarn guide, a normally stationary bobbin platform supported by said spindle, a driven takeup spool, and a spool drive normally in contact therewith, said guide being retained in the operative position by yarn tension and holding said spindle in contact with the driving member, said guide in the inoperative position releasing said base to disengage said driving members respectively from the spindle and from the reel.

JOHN KERMIT COCHRAN. JACOB PFISTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the tile of this patent:

' 01mm sra'rms mm'rs Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,482,654

JOHN KERMIT COOHRAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 31, for pactice read practice; column 3 line'66, for arm 36 September 20, 1949 readarm 3.9;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflioe.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

' Assistant Commissioner of Eaten;

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