US2720019A - Slub catcher - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1955 A. L. BURNET ET AL SLUB CATCHER Filed April 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

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g1 INVENTORS 33 firiiurl.flzzrnef Eznerir] h boafs BY 4 M? MM ATTORNEYS Oct. '11, 1955 'A. BURNET ETAL 2,720,019

SLUB CATCHER Filed April 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent SLUB CATCHER Arthur L. Burnet and Herbert J. Woods, Greensboro,

N. C., assignors to Burlington Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1953, Serial No. 348,681

6 Claims. (CI. 2864) This invention relates to textile apparatus, particularly to a slub catcher of improved design.

In the manufacture of yarn from fibers of any type, defects may be introduced by any or all of the processes involved. Such defects usually take the form of heavy places in the yarn, or slubs, which are objectionable in subsequent weaving processes and detract from the quality of finished cloth. Since it is virtually impossible to remove such defects from woven cloth, it is desirable to remove the slubs from single yarn, preferably before winding, and such is common practice in yarn manufacture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slub catcher of durable and simplified design, adapted to detect a slub in yarn passing therethrough and sever the yarn immediately before the slub, to prevent its passage into subsequent operations. Another object is to provide a slub catcher actuated solely by yarn movement. A related object is to provide a slub catcher assisted in its action by magnetic means, so that operation once actuated is eifected positively and quickly.

A further object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher of outstanding sensitivity, and a related object is to provide a slub catcher of finely adjustable sensitivity.

A further object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher utilizing as latch means an adjustably positioned and variable magnetic field. Still another object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher utilizing distinct and opposed magnetic fields as latch means. Further objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, mounted in a conventional slub catcher frame;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing details of the slub detecting and severing mechanism, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Figures 1 and 2 is shown a conventional slub catcher frame 10, comprising substantially parallel side members 11 and 12 which are upwardly curved at their left hand ends as shown and joined at their opposite ends by a transverse gate member 13. From side member 11 extends a resilient arm 14, hearing at its outer end an upper gate memer 15, which is substantially parallel to gate member 13 and adjustably spaced therefrom by an adjustment screw 16.

Between the side members is formed asupport 17 for a thread guide 18, and a socket 19 adapted for reception of a post 20. Adjacent gate member 13 a thread guide rod 21 is mounted in side member 11 and extends transversely across the frame. A mounting post 22 projects upwardly from arm 14 adjacent the upper gate member 15, and a heavy lug 23 extends downwardly from side member 11, the lug being bored at 24 for mounting on a conventional spooler or winding machine, not shown, in the well known manner.

The novel mechanism of this invention is adapted to be mounted inside post 22 and comprises, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, a generally U-shaped body 25 including a base leg 26, adapted to be detachably secured to post 22 as by bolt 27. A set screw 28 may be provided in post 22 to lock bolt 27 against vibration and the like.

An anvil 29, preferably chrome plated, extends outwardly from base leg 26, adjacent and substantially parallel to the lower gate member 13 of the frame. From the opposite end of base leg 26 extends a support arm 30, parallel to the anvil as shown. Immediately inside the support arm, base leg 26 is drilled at 31 for reception of a pivot pin 32, formed at its opposite end into a handle 33, and the outer end of support arm 30 is formed into a fork 34 extending inwardly toward the anvil, and adapted to receive and retain the outer end of the pivot pin.

A rigid blade 35 is pivotally mounted on pin 32 by means of bearing cars 36 extending outwardly therefrom. The outer edge of the blade, adjacent anvil 29, is formed into a cutting edge 37. A latch element 38 may extend from the blade, conveniently at an acute angle thereto as shown, in substantial parallelism to the bearing element 39 which extends laterally from support arm 30.

A magnet such as bar magnet 40 is partially enclosed by a collar 42, which is externally threaded. The magnet is adjustably positioned within the collar, conveniently by means of set screw 43 incorporated in the knurled collar flange 44. The magnet and collar are threadably engaged to the threaded opening 45 of bearing element 39, so that they may be adjustably positioned relative to the bearing, and a lock nut 46 is provided to fix the relative position of the collar when adjusted as desired.

A further latch element 47 may extend from the blade, desirably in opposed position with respect to latch element 38. A bearing element 48 extends laterally from support arm 3%, in opposite direction relative to the bearing elemen 39, and in substantial parallelism to latch element 47. The bearing element 48 supports a bar magnet 49, adjustably mounted in a manner corresponding exactly to that of bar magnet 40. That is, bar magnet 49 is partially enclosed by a collar 42, adjustably positioned therewithin by means of the set screw 43. The magnet and collar are threadably engaged to the threaded opening 45 of bearing element 48, and a lock nut 46 is provided to fix the relative position of the collar when adjusted.

A set screw 50 is provided in arm 30 to lock the inner end of pivot pin 32 within drilled opening 31, and a similar set screw 51 is incorporated in the outer end of arm 30 to limit the entry of pin 32 into the fork 34.

Operation of the device will now be described in detail. A length of yarn 52 may be drawn through guide 18, through a customary shock-absorbing tensioning device (not shown) mounted on post 20, and thence under guide rod 21, over anvil 29 and out between gate members 13 and 15 to a winder or similar device. As best illustrated in Figure 3, the edge 37 of blade 35 is normally maintained slightly spaced from anvil 29, so that the yarn may pass freely therebetween, although a heavy place or slub 53 in the yarn will unavoidably encounter and engage the blade edge. A slub 53, as will be readily understood, will tend to displace the blade and elfect pivotal swinging movement thereof about the axis of pivot pin 32, moving the blade before it until the blade comes into contact with the anvil, the final position of the slub and blade being illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3. In this position, the blade will cut or otherwise sever the yarn immediately prior to the slub.

The blade is maintained in normally spaced relationship relative to anvil 29, and pivoted movement of the blade is resisted by the field of magnet 40 acting on the blade latch 38. The magnet 40 normally holds the latch against the adjacent end of its collar 42, and it will be recognized that the magnet 40 exerts its greatest force upon the latch 38 in that position, that is, when the latch is at its closest permitted approach point relative to the magnet 40. Atthe same time, of course, the magnet 49 exerts force upon the latch 47, tending to move the blade into contact with the anvil. When the latch 38 is at its closest permitted approach position relative to magnet 40, however, the latch 47 is a relatively great distance with respect to the magnet 49, so that the magnet 49 exerts upon latch 47 a relatively weak force insufficient to overbalance the effect of magnet 40.

When a slub initially encounters the blade edge in normally spaced position as described in the foregoing and illustrated in Figure 3, the combined efiect of the magnets is to produce the greatest resistance to movement of the blade in the direction of the anvil. A slub of sufiicient size to initially displace the blade is thereafter subjected to diminishing resistance to blade movement, since as soon as the latch 38 is separated from its associated collar 42 the holding force of the field of magnet 40 rapidly decreases, while the attractive force of the field of magnet 49 concurrently increases with the approach of latch 47 thereto. As the blade is progressively displaced, not only does the resistance to blade movement decrease, but at an intermediate point the attractive force of magnet 49 on its latch element 47 overbalances the attractive force of magnet 40 on its latch 38, so that the magnet 49 thereafter assists and positively assures the remaining movement of the blade to final yarn severing position, in contact with the anvil 29. The magnet 49 not only assists in moving the blade to final yarn severing position, but also materially speeds up the blade movement, thereby effecting a positive and rapid closing of the blade on the anvil in the nature of a snap action. In this way, waste which might result from a slower closing of the blade is precluded. By these expedients is effected a slub catcher of outstanding sensitivity, in that every slub large enough to initially displace the blade will in every case cause Set screw 50 insures retention of the inner end of pivot pin 32 and fixes its position relative to the anvil. The outer end of the pivot pin is frictionally retained within fork 34, and set screw 51 furnishes a convenient adjustment to limit the entry of the pivot pin into the fork, whereby the pivot pin may be adjusted to effect exact parallelism between the knife edge and the anvil.

When the devicejoperates to sever a yarn at a slubbed place, an operator may remove the slubbed yarn end and return the blade to normal latched position, as shown in solid lines in Figure 3. The severed yarn end will normally be held within the slub catcher by a tensioning device on post 20. Slub removed, the yarn may be again threaded between the blade and anvil and connected to the winder or other mechanism utilized to draw the thread. It will be readily understood from the foregoing that in order to adapt the device for heavier yarn or reduce its sensitivity to slubs, the collar 42 of magnet 40 may be screwed out through element 39 and then looked in new position to provide a greater normal spacing between blade edge and anvil. Conversely, to adjust the device for thinner yarn or increase its slub sensitivity, thecollar 42 would be moved inwardly relative to bearing 39. To more finely adjust for slub sensitivity, the position of the magnets 40 and 49 within their collars 42 may be altered. Approach of the magnet 40 to the stop end of its collar 42 will decrease sensitivity, and the sensitivity of the device may be increased by increasing the distance between the end of magnet 40 and the associated collar end. Also, approach of magnet 49 to the stop end of its collar will correspondingly increase the sensitivity of the device, whereas retreat of magnet 49 from the stop end of its collar will decrease sensitivity. The dual adjustments make possible an extremely fine overall adjustment of sensitivity, in spite of the wide range of sensitivities inherent in the device.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects severing of the yarn, and will not pass through the device due to further resistance encountered in displacing the blade to final yarn severing position. Similarly, the performance of the new device has been found to be exceedingly uniform in passing or rejecting slubs of varying size and texture.

The sensitivity of the device may also be finely adjusted over a wide range. The magnets, it will be understood, do not normally extend to the ends of their collars 42, but are slightly withdrawn therewithin. Thus, the collars 42 act as stops limiting the approach of the latches to the magnets, and also limiting the magnetic force which each magnet may exert on the associated latch. For this purpose, the collars are constructed preferably of nonmagnetic material, such as brass or plastic. By varying the position of each magnet within its collar, using a set screw 43 to fix the desired relative position, the latching effect of each magnet may be finely adjusted. Also, the collars themselves may be threadably adjusted within the hearing elements 39 and 48, and secured at desired position by lock nuts 46, so that the stop positions of the latches and the blade may be finely adjusted. In this manner, by adjusting the collar or magnet 49, the normal spacing between the blade edge and the anvil may be varied in accordance with the type of yarn being run, the size of slub to be rejected, or other factors. Similarly, by adjust ment of the collar of magnet 49 within bearing element 48, the approach position of the knife edge to the anvil may be adjusted. This expedient has been found to greatly prolong the life of the knife edge. It will be obvious that the magnets and their collars may be operatively associated with the blade otherwise than in the specific manner illustrated.

hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of individual features of the invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, said blade including latch portions, magnetic means disposed adjacent one latch portion to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, and distinct magnetic means disposed adjacent another latch portion of said blade to impel the cutting edge of said blade into contact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative to the first-named magnetic means.

2. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a pivot pin mounted adjacent said anvil, adjustable means for maintaining said pivot pin in parallelism relative to said anvil, a blade pivotally mounted on said pin so that its cutting edge may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, magnetic means efiective to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, and distinct magnetic means to impel the cutting edge of said blade into contact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative to the first-named magnetic means.

3. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a blade mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, said blade including a latch portion, magnetic means disposed adjacent said latch portion to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, and adjustable means to vary the magnetic force of said magnetic means on said latch portion.

4. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a blade mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, said blade including latch portions, magnetic means disposed adjacent one latch portion to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, distinct magnetic means disposed adjacent another latch portion of said blade to impel the cutting edge of said blade into contact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative to the first-named magnetic means, and adjustable means to vary the magnetic effect of each of said magnetic means on the latch portion adjacent thereto.

5. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, a latch member extending outwardly from said blade, a magnet disposed adjacent said latch member to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, a collar enclosing the end of said magnet adjacent said latch member to limit the approach of said latch member to said magnet, means for adjustably positioning said magnet within said collar, and means for adjustably positioning said collar, whereby the normal spacing between the cutting edge of said blade and said anvil may be varied.

6. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn is drawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, opposed latch members extending outwardly from said blade, a first magnet disposed adjacent one of said latch members to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, a second magnet disposed adjacent the other of said latch members to impel the cutting edge of said blade into contact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative to said first magnet, a collar enclosing the end of each magnet adjacent the corresponding latch member to limit the approach of the latch member to the magnet, means for adjusting each magnet within the associated collar, and means for adjustably positioning each of said collars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,137 Parker Nov. 20, 1906 2,115,532 McKean Apr. 26, 1938 2,289,980 Marcellus July 14, 1942 2,327,840 Brown Aug. 24, 1943

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