US2655782A - Change-over drive for spinning and twisting frames - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 R. w. CUTLER 2,655,782

CHANGE-OVER DRIVE FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING FRAMES Filed March 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l lit 0 M/ \m 4 u a 5 4 w w m 2 m w d V em g g 6 w), w z T J a n J \\\\\\\\Q 7 2 w E (r u 208 m m 'lY lllllll' R. W. CUTLER Oct. 20,

CHANGE-OVER DR'IHVE FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING FRAMES Filed March 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eta-4 R. W. CUTLER Oct. 20, 1953 CHANGE-OVER DRIVE FOR SPINNING .AND TWISTING FRAMES Filed.MaI:h-;4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tier/@1110? Wowrzey Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE CHAN GE-OVER DRIVE FOR SPINNING? AND TWISTINGFRAMES Roger W. Cutler, New York, NQY. Application March 4, 1950, Serial No. 147",664'

6 Claims; (01.57 105) Thisinvention relates to an improved drive for spinning and -twisting frame spindles in which there are customarily formed built-in pulleys' or whorls adapted to receive a driven belt or tape therearound.

In conventional spinning and-twisting frames the spindles are usually driven in sets of four by means of a series of tapes, each of which is guided about four spindles, as well as an intermediate drum or cylinder and associated tension pulleys. As driven bythese so-called -four spindle tapes at the present time, spinning and twisting spindles show a marked variationin spindle speed from spindle to spindle. This is due, in part,- to the variations in joint -of the 1% tapes; also to the fact that the drive gives greater speed on the first and fourth spindles than on the second and thirdspindles; also to the fact that-there is variation in jump of the sewed joint as it hits the spindle whorl; and also due to variation of the tape tension weights applied in each set of spindles all the way along the frame. These considerations, together with certain other limiting factors in connection with spinning and twisting processes, combine to place undesirable restrictions-on the amount and quality of yarn which maybe produced. a

The present invention is generally concerned with the problems indicated and aims to provide an improved drive mechanism for spinning and twisting frames and to devise a continuous belt type of drive which is suitable for use with standard forms of spindles as now employed in spinning and twisting frames. Another object of the invention is to devise a drive which eliminates several elements of conventional driving mechanisms, which is more efficient, and which makes possible increased yarn-output and improved yarn quality.-

These and other objects and novel features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention'selected forpur'poses of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which a Fig. l is an end elevational view, and-partial cross-section, of a textile machine of the class generally referred to as aspinning frame, and illustrates the drive mechanism of the invention combined therewith;

Fig; 2 is a'detail cross-sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another detail cross-sectional view taken on theline 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig; 4 is a plan cross-sectional view taken on the line l -40f Fig. 1-, more clearly illustrating the pulley and driving tape arrangement of the invention;

, Fig. 5--is a-diagrammatic planview illustrating two endless-driven belts with guide pulley arrangement'; i

Fig. 6 is another plan view fragmentarily illustrating a framewith two spaced-apart spindle railsandtape-guiding mechanism of the inventiorll l of a slightly modifiedfornlassociated therewit Fig. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view further illustrating thetape-guiding guide roll arrangement suggested in Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a verticalcross-sectional view of a spindle rail and guide-pulley arrangement similar to that shown'in Fig. 6; and

Figs. 9 and -10-are vertical cross-sectional views of spindlerails-showing-modified means of attaching guide pulleysto spindle rails.

In the-structure-shown in the drawings, one typical spinning-operation has been suggested. Numeral It generally denotes a spinning-frame on which is supported double rows of roving l2 and-14 from-which strands are fed to the drawing mechanisms l 6 and I8 and then to thebobbins 2t and--22 in the usual manner. Numerals 24 and-26 denote-spindle members for receiving the bobbins 20 and 22 and these spindles are mounted in the customary manner in spindle-rails 2B and 30, as shownin Fig. l. w

In accordance with the invention, Icombine a change-over drive mechanism for actuating, by means of a single driving memben all of the spindlesof the frame. The spindles 20 and 22 include two rows of such spindles extending throughout the length of the'frame l0 and arranged in sets of two along "each spindle rail of the machine, as may be more clearly'seen from an inspection of Fig. 4. Included in the' drive mechanism referred" to is a single endless'belt member'32 which may extend'from a driving pulley 34 to one side of the frame 'and'along the entire length of this member in contact with the spindles supported thereon; then laterally across the machine to engage" over a tension pul-- ley 36; then-along the oppos'it'esid'e of the frame in contactwith all of the spindles supported thereon, and then back to the driving pulley, as shown in Fig. 4. -The driving pulley 34 may be actuated by a vertically disposed motor drive shaft; or by any other suitable motor andpulley arrangement to be locatedat oneend of the frame It in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. The tension'pulley*36 "is preferably fixed to a slide member 38 which is mounted for reciprocating movement between channeled sides 50 and #52 secured to the frame it. The member 38 carries a cable 4 which passes down over a pulley 46 and has suspended at the lower extremity thereof a weight member 48. The structure described may conveniently be supported on angle irons 5i! and 52 rigidly secured to the frame Ill in any convenient manner.

It will be observed that the belt 32 by this relative driving and tension pulley arrangement is supported for movement along a single horizontal plane which passes through the whorl surfaces of all of the spindles on either side of the frame and therefore the belt is. not required to be twisted or turned upon itself at any point and, consequently, may be constructed in a-manner suitable for carrying the stresses attendant upon this type of movement I have found that in accordance with these requirements I may employ a relatively thinner and morefiexiblebelt' than'those belts or tapes customarily employed in the usual cylinder-guided tape drive mechanism. As an example of one suitable tape which maybe employed for this purpose, I find that a fabric type of belt having a width of approximately three-quarters of an inch and a thickness of, roughly, .030 inch is satisfactory and may be spliced at its end portions to provide only one jointed section.

Cooperating with this improved and novel type of driving belt and tensioning means, I employ a series of guide pulleys 5 located along one side of the frame it, and a second series of guide pulleys 56 arranged along the opposite side of the frame It), both of which series may be more clearly seen in Fig. 4. As noted in this figure, the guide pulleys are positioned inwardly of the spindles in a somewhat ofiset manner, with the result that the belt 32 is periodically guided inwardly of the frame away from succeeding sets of spindles. The traversing cycle thus changes the angle of approach to provide a relatively large peripheral area of contact of each spindle whorl with the belt, and it will be seen that the tape is guided along a reversely curved path which is subject to a relatively wide range of variation by changing the position of the guide pulleys. With the belt arrangement of the invention it will be seen that traversing action may be continuously carried out all the way along either side of the frame, as suggested in the drawings.

In one form of the invention the guide pulleys 54 and 56 may, for example, be supported upon movable rails 58 and 66 arranged in overlapping relation to the spindle rails 28 and 39 and received at opposite ends upon the angle irons 50. These movable rails 58 and 60 may be further adjustably secured for transverse movement by means of slots 52 and 64 through which extend adjustment bolts 56 and 68. It will be apparent that upon moving one or both of the rails inwardly of the machine and away from the respective adjacent spindle rail, there will be an increase in the angle along which the belt 32 leaves the whorl of one spindle and approaches the whorl of the next succeeding spindle. With the adjustment means described, the angle may be varied until an optimum angle of approach and departure of the tape may be arrived at and thereupon the movable rails 58 and 60 may be solidly secured in place.

If desired, the movable rails 58 and 60 may be modified in various ways to adjustably support the guide pulleys 54 and 55, and it may also be desired to form inner edges of the movable rails with projections 10, for instance, extending transversely inwardly of the spindle rails at points between the whorls. With this arrangement the guide pulleys may also be located in varying positions of transverse adjustment on the spindle rails.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide pulleys 5 5 and 55 are further arranged in specific driving relation with respect to the spindles such that, of each pair of spindles, the one first turned by any given portion of the belt 32in its approach will be located a distance away from-the lead-in guide pulley a distance less thanthe distance between the second spindle of the saidpair and the succeeding lead-out guide pulley. Thus, in Figs. 4 and 7 for example, the lead-in guide pulley 54a is located a distance away from the spindle whorl 28a slightly less than the distance between the next spindle whorl 26b of the'pair and the succeeding lead-out guide pulley 5 By means of this'arrangement I find I may compensate for varying loadconditions' on the single belt in starting and in operation which might have a tendency to cause the second of a pair of spindle whorls to rotate at a diminished speed. In ofi'settlng the lead-in guide pulley from a centered position between pairs, toward the spindle which shows diminished speed, it is pointed out that I increase the arc of contact denoted by arrow A in Fig. '7, of the belt 32 with spindle whorl 28a, as compared with the arc of contact denoted by arrow B, of belt 32 with spindle whorl 20?). A compensation in driving force is thus achieved in a positive and efficient manner. A I a In another embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 10, the same compensated arrangement of the guide pulleys with respect to succeeding pairs of spindles may also be provided for by individually securing each guide pulley directly to the spindle rail body. Referring more in detail to Fig. 6, for example, it will be observed that the guide pulley 54, as well as pulley 54a, are mounted directly upon the spindle rail 28 and being formed with a threaded stud portion and lock nut 82 for solidly securing the threaded stud at theunder side of the spindle rail 28, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 8. With this type of arrangement each individual pulley may be located at any desiredpoint in the spindle rail.

Another means of individually securing the guide pulleys to the spindle rail is suggested in Figs. 9 and 10, in which a U-shaped clamping member 84 is secured by bolts 85 to the vertical edge portion of spindle rail 28 and a top section 88 of the clamp lies in overlapping relation to the spindle rail in position to receive the threaded end of the stud 88, as noted.

A similar type of clamping element 98 may also be secured by bolts 92 about the horizontal section of the spindle rail 28, as'suggested in Fig. 10, allowing the pulley 54 to'be mounted from the outside of the spindle rail instead of from its lower edge. Various other arrangements may also be resorted to for locating the traversing pulleys.

Also shown in Fig. 6 is another form of tensioning means which I may desire to employ in accordance with the invention and which includes a tensioning pulley 33 mounted on an arm 35 pivoted to an angle member 31 which is, in turn,;-solidly secured .to uprightmember 39. A

r'od 4I is anchored in the angle piece, 31 and attached at its opposite end to the arm-35, being normally forced outward by a compression spring 43 interposed between the angle element and a washer 45. A second tension spring 41 has one end anchored to the arm 35 and the otherend secured to a threaded bolt member 49 angularly received in the element 31 by means of an adjustable sleeve 5|. By adjusting the position of the arm 35 with respect to the angle element 31, a suitable tensioning can be obtained against the belt 32 for a varying range of operating conditions, and thus constitutes a desirable-element combined with the belt and pulley drive of the invention. a i

With the above described tape drive-arrangements, it will be apparent that various improve ments and advantages are present. For example, a single endless belt may be used to drive all 288 spindles of a frame in place of the conventionally employed 72 tapes or belts now required. This results in one-sixth of the total length of conventional tapes being sufficient for the changeover drivewof the invention, incomparison with the standard-drive and, consequently, there is approximately five-sixthsdess windage. These factors make it possible-to provide a very marked decrease in spindle speed variation from spindle to spindle. 1

It will be observed that if the guide pulleys were located with their peripheral edges in alignment-with the spindle whorls of adjacent spindles allalong one side ofthe frame, the-contact area might-be as small as 3%. However, this condition changes rapidly with-inwardtraverse of the belt, and if theguide pulleys are setback a maximum distance such-as has been suggested in the drawings fOl'fiXEtlIlDlE, itis readily possible to get-as much as 60.% contact of the belt with the spindle whorls. Another advantage of the guide pulley arrangement described results from the fact-that there may be employed, without un'due'pressure exertion against-each spindle, a relatively thin endless belt member which presents only one joint and which is characterized by extreme strength low stretch and great flexibility.

A highly important feature of the invention resides in the relatively thin belt construction since the thinner and more flexible the belt may be, the faster each spindle may be driven. The faster a spindle is driven, the more turns of twist per inch may be obtained, and the greater the tensile strength of the yarn obtained. I have found that I may offset spindle speed increase and convert it into increased yarn output, and still use less power, by removing one or two teeth of the twist gear mechanism for the frame. By doing this, the turns of twist may be brought down just above normal and there may be achieved a material yarn increase fora given operating period of time over a standard machine operation. As an example of this yarn increase in output, it has been found that a drive constructed in accordance with the invention may provide from 1.87% up to pounds of yarn increase in the same period of time consumed in a standard machine operation.

It is pointed out that this cannot be done with any other belt or tape arrangement of conventional spinning frame drives since although one may increase the size of the motor pulley to obtain, for example, a 5% yarn increase, the power consumption rises in such a case up to, roughly, 40%. In comparison with this power consumption figure there may be cited the fact that power consumptionwi'th the "endless belt'drive otth'e' invention decreases materially and, in one specific application there was realized a decrease in power consumption of approximately 21.25%;

As further evidence-of the versatility of the change-over drive of the invention, it is pointed out that in some spinning operations where there is a 50 to 1 draft, certain limitations in speed are encountered." Thusthe spindle speed breakdownin 50" to" 1"drafting is understood to be reached at approximately 9800 R. P. M. at which point yarn tensile strength goes down abruptly and 'ends do wn goes up abruptly. With the belt tensioning and guide pulley arrangement of thei'r'iv'entidn, it is possible to secure a natural increase iii-spindle speed, increasing yarn tensile strng'tlfslightly,'holding power requirements approximately stationary, and avoiding change in ends down. i

some instances it maybe found desirable in -dealing with the over-all length of certain types -of -frames,- to'emp'loymore than one belt. Thus, for example, there may be used two endless belts 32-a-and- 3-2b,--- each arranged to encircle, roughly; one-half of the spindles in a given spinning frame. Where this-belt assembly is desired, I may utilize'a-double-faced pulley 36a as has been-illustratedat the central portion of- Fig; 5 and consisting ofthe conventional arrangement of one pulley member located above-another on a common vertical supporting shaft, in order to provide suitable tension on each of the belts at points intermediate the spindlerails, and still resorting to a movable track type of tension pul- 1ey means, such-ashas been described and illustrated in -Fig.- 4-of the drawings, or to a tensioning meanasuchas shownin Fig.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a spindledrive which corrects spindle speedwariation -with. -mari=;ed improvement in the quality and quantity of yarn output and also with outstanding savings in power "consumption, as well as economies derived from the elimination of cylinders, tape tensioning devices, and multiple driving tapes.

Although I have disclosed one specific arrangement for guiding an endless belt member by means of guide pulleys and combining therewith tensioning means of a specific nature, I may desire to resort to various other arrangements in accordance with the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a textile machine of the class described, the combination with two rows of spaced-apart sets of spindles and a pair of supporting rail means, of spindle driving mechanism comprising an endless belt arranged to move into contact with and drive the spindles, driving pulley means located between the rows of spindles, guide pulleys mounted between each set of spindles in offset relation thereto for guiding the belt along a reversely curved path of movement, movable rail elements adjustably secured between the rows of spindles for laterally moving the guide pulleys with respect to the spindles, and an adjustable tension mechanism interposed in the path of movement of the belt.

2. In a textile machine of the class described, the combination with two rows of spaced-apart spindles and a pair of supporting spindle rail members, of spindle driving mechanism comprising an endless belt arranged to move into contact with and drive the spindles, driving pulley means located between the spindle rails, guide pulleys 7 mounted between each set of spindles in offset relation thereto for guiding the belt along a re versely curved path of movement, a pair of movable guide pulley rails secured in overlapping relation on the spindle rails, and an adjustable tension mechanism interposed in the path of movement of the belt at points intermediate the movable guide pulley rails.

3. In a textile machine of the class described, the combination with two rows of spaced-apart sets of spindles and a pair of supporting rail members, of spindle driving mechanism comprising a plurality of endless belts arranged to move into contact with and drive the spindles, driving pulley means for the belts, guide pulleys mounted between each set of spindles in ofiset relation thereto for guiding the belts along a reversely curved path of movement, movable guide pulley supports adjustably secured adjacent to the spindle rail means for laterally shifting the guide pulleys with respect to the spindles, and tension mechanisms interposed in the path of movement of the belts.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, in which the tension mechanism includes a double-faced pulley which is adjustable in a direction longitudinally of the spindle rail means and along a line lying in a plane which passes through the endless belts at right angles to the axes of the said spindles.

5. In a textile machine of the class described, the combination with spaced-apart sets of spindles and supporting rail means, of spindle driving mechanism comprising an endless driven belt arranged to move into contact with and drive the spindles, guide pulley means mounted on the supporting rail means between sets of spindles for guiding the driven belt along a reversely curved path of movement, pulley holder means for the guide pulley means adjustable in the rail means to vary the peripheral area of contact of the belt with respective spindle whorls, and a tensi mechanism cooperating With the guide 8 pulley means to exert a substantially uniform tension at the areas of contact of the belts with the whorls, said belt being arranged to meet the spindle of one of the sets along the peripheral area which is greater than its area of contact with the second spindle of the said set.

6. In a textile machine of the class described, the combination with spaced-apart sets of spindles and supporting rail means, of spindle driving mechanism comprising an endless driven belt arranged to move into contact with and drive the spindles, guide pulley means mounted on the supporting rail means between sets of spindles for guiding the driven belt along a reversely curved path of movement, pulley holder means for the guide pulley means adjustable in the rail means to vary the peripheral area of contact of the belt with respective spindle whorls, and a tension mechanism cooperating with the guide pulley means to exert a substantially uniform tension at the areas of contact of the belts with the whorls, each pulley of the said guide pulley means being located between the sets of spindles in offset relation thereto and in a position so chosen as to be nearer to the first spindle contacted by the endless driven belt in any given set.

ROGER \V. CUTLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1856

Images