US2750130A - Yarn tensioning device - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1956 E. J. HElzER ET AL 2,750,130

YARN TENSIONING DEVICE Filed OCT.. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TIURNEY June 12, 1956 E. J. HEIZER ET AL 2,750,130

YARN TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENToR. Edu/fdd Heizer BY Ea/zaazjdA .Wen [z ATTDM United States Patent YARN TENSIONING DEVICE Edward] Heizer, MountainLakes, -and-EdwardlA. Wentz, MontclairN...l., assignorsl to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. J., a corporation` of New Jersey Application October 4, 1952, Serial No. 313,1645

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-149) The present invention relates. to yarn tension compensating devices, and, more particularly, tov adevice for uniformly tensioning yarn, such. as tire cord', prior to impregnating, stretching and: dryingthe yarn.

Heretofore, itV hasV been proposed to tension yarn inpreparation for processing. the same in the aforementioned manner by a device generally comprising a' roll having aperipheral yarn receiving groove, a-pivotally mounted arm having a yarn guide lat one end, a snubbing roller rotatably mounted on the arm positioned to extend into the groove with the yarnv between the rollerl and the bottom of the groove, and resilient means for urging thearm in a direction to cause the roller tol extend into the groove and apply pressure on yar-n in the groove.

While this device tensioned the yarny inthe desiredmanner, it was found that the bearing for rotatably mounting thev snubbing roller wasTv subjectedv toconsider-- able. wear whereby the roller would` tend to drag and.

uniform tension which is not subject to the foregoing.

diculties and objections.

Another object is to provide such a device which does not. impair the yarn or cause frequent breakage. thereof.

Another object is to provide such a device which is readily` threaded.

A further object is to provide such a device which is simple in construction and is economical to manu-- facture and install.

A still further. object is to provide such a device which is practical and reliable in` operation and can withstand continuous usage for a long period of time.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment'about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein willl occur to one skilled in the art upon em-` ployment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are. accomplished'v by providing a yarn tensioning deviceV which generally comprises a roll having acylindrical surface; an arm having ayarn guider at one'end, means for pivotally mounting the-arm, a shoe mounted on the arm having an arcuate surface conforming substantially tothe surface of the roll, and resilient means for urging the arm in a. direction toA cause the shoe. to engage the roll, whereby yarn passing between theshoe andthe roll surfaces'is adapted to be tensioned.

Such pinching` impaired Patented; June 12, 1956v ICC A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the speciication, wherein:

Fig. l is a` fragmentary perspective view of a` yarn tensioning device in accordance with the invention, the lower portion thereof not being. shown.

Fig. 2. is a plan view of the device, with a portion of the top broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of one set of the yarn tensioning elements, illustrating thel operation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along theV line 4 4 on Fig. 3, illustrating a. shoe. positioned against the roll.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view` taken along the line 5--5' on Fig. 3, illustratingv a detail of the yarn tensioning elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a device for tensioning a plurality of ends of yarn, for example, fifty ends, it being understood that the features of the device shown may be embodied in other devices designed to tension a single end or any other desired number of ends of yarn.

The. device comprises'a base or supporting structure having a generallyv rectangular top or platform 10' and upright legs 11, 12, 13:l and 14 at the corners thereof (Fig. l). The legs 11 and 122 are channel-shaped and each has a slot. in the web at the upper endy thereof. A pin, shaft or axlev 16 extends horizontally through the side flanges of each of these legs adjacent the slot. for pivotally mountingy a frame about to be described.

The: frame comprises a pair of parallel side members 20, each of which is supported in one of the legs 111 or 12 by one of' the pins 16 for pivotal or rocking movement ina vertical plane, a horizontal shaft 21 mounted in bearings 22 secured to the side members, respectively,

adjacent their upper ends, a horizontal shaft 24 mountedl in bearings 25 secured to the side members, respectively, adjacent their lower ends, and* a horizontal bar or rodV 26 having its ends secured tothe side members; respectively, adjacent their upper endsand` having yarn guide ngers 27` thereon;

The upper shaft 21 has a roll 'itlmountedY thereon for rotation therewith and. has a pulleyl orf-sprocket 31 atone end thereof adaptedto be driven by suitable drive mechanism (notshown) to rotatethe shaft and the roll. The yarn is drawn over the roll 30, as indicated by the arrowsapplied thereto in Fig. 3, by mechanism not shown herein, and the roll 30 is caused torotate in the direction in which the yarn is drawn, but at a somewhat slower surface speed. than the lineal speed of` the yarn, whereby sliding friction between the roll and the yarn tensions thek latter.

The roll 30 has` a substantially smooth cylindrical surface-about which theV ends ofA yarns pass, and'consequentl'y can" be produced at a. lower cost than a roll having peripheral. grooves therein.

Yarn tensioning'means cooperatingwith the roll 30i include aplurality of'armtunits` or assemblies'34 corresponding in number to the. numberV of ends passed" about the roll. These arms are pivotally mounted and? arranged side by side onta rod 3S which is supported' by a series of brackets.v 36 secured' to the top 1'0',4 the rod 3S being parallel toV the roll supporting shaft 21.

As illustrated moreparticularly in Figs; 3 to' 5, the arm'f units-34 each comprise apair: of' armA members'37'andV 38 pivotally mounted on-a bushing 40:'having aside flange 4l and. a retaining. ring 43 secured thereto for connecting;KV

each setofarmmembersas aum't and the bushinghaving the rod 35 extending therethrough;

The; arm. members 37. extend. upwardly a` substantial distance above the roll 30 to provide a desired mechanical advantage, and the upper portions thereof are curved to extend over the roll and each have a yarn guide 42 at the free end thereof. A stop, such as pin 44, is provided on each of the arm members 37 between the upper end and the pivot rod 35.

The arm members 38 are shorter than the arm members 37, and each has its upper end 45 formed and arranged to engage the pin 44 of the longer arm member 37 associated therewith under the influence of resilienty means such as a spring 46 connected to the lower ends of each set of arm members 37 and 38. Each of the arm members 38 has a shoe 47 pivotally mounted thereon intermediate the upper end thereon and the pivot rod 35 by means of a stud 48. The shoe 47 is in vertical alignment with the guide 42 of its arm unit.

The arms units 34 are each urged in a direction to cause the shoes 47 to engage and apply pressure on the ends of yarn passing over the surface 32 by a spring 49 having one end connected to the lower end of the arm member 37 and having its other end connected to the side of the top opposite the roll 30. Preferably, the springs 49 each are arranged to adjust the tension thereof by a threaded sleeve 50 having the spring attached thereto and a bolt or screw 51 anchored on the supporting structure and extending into the sleeve, whereby threading of the sleeve 50 on the bolt 51 results in adjustment of the effective tension of the spring. In this manner, the tension springs are adjustable individually to cause each arm unit 34 through its shoe 47 to apply the same tensioning force on the ends of yarn.

In order to limit the pressure which can be applied by the shoes 47 on the yarn, the springs 46 are somewhat weaker than the springs 49 and are thereby adapted to yield and permit pivotal movement of the arm members 37 and 38 with respect to each other when the tension applying force of the springs 49 becomes excessive. In this manner, the shoes 47 are prevented from applying an excessive snubbing force which might impair the yarn.

The shoes 47 are constructed of high carbon steel, such as tool steel, which is adapted to be hardened throughout; and are in the form of platelike elements having an arcuate surface 52 of considerable width conforming substantially to the contour of the surface 32 of the roll, that is, the surfaces 32 and 52 have about the same radius. The shoes surfaces 52 are polished smooth, and have rounded end and side edges which prevent the yarn from being impaired when drawn between the roll surface and the shoe surfaces, as described hereinafter. For the purpose about to be made apparent, the shoes have a toe section 53 (Fig. 3) adjacent the lower end of the arcuate surface, and a passageway 54, through which the yarn is guided, extends upwardly through this toe section with its upper end terminating at the surfaces 52 adjacent its lower end. Pivotal movement of the shoes 47 is limited by providing the same with a thickened section 57 (Fig. 4) adjacent the surface 52 adapted to engage the edge of the arm member 38 facing the roll 30.

As shown in Fig. 3, the yarn passes under the roll 30, upwardly through the shoe passageway 54 and between the roll surface and shoe surface 52, and then over a yarn guide 42, whereby a desired output tension is put into the yarn. Should the output tension exceed its desired predetermined value, the upper portion of the arm member 37 is moved slightly lockwise, as viewed, about its pivot rod 35 in opposition to the spring 49, and carries with it the arm member 38 by reason of the stop pin 44 to move the shoe 47 slightly away from the roll 30 to lessen the snubbing effect thereof on the yarn, whereby the output tension is adjusted to its desired predetermined value.

Excessive movement of the arm units 34 in such a' clockwise direction is prevented by a rod or bar 55 supported between the brackets 36, parallel to and below the rod 35, which is adapted to be engaged by the lower ends suddenly become of a high value, for example, due to snagging at its source of supply, the arm member 37 for such strand is moved in a clockwise direction until its arm member 38 engages the bar 55, whereby the shoe 47 of the latter arm member is moved away from the roll 30 a considerable distance. Should the end be subjected to a tension causing it to break, the spring 49 will rock the arm in a counterclockwise direction and the shoe 47 will re-engage the roll surface with at least a section of the yarn end therebetween. Damage to the yarn is prevented when this occurs, in spite of the rapid return of the arm member 38 under the influence of its spring 49, by reason of the pivoted mounting of the arm members 37 and 38 and the spring 46 connecting the lower ends of these arm members. For example, when the shoe engages the yarn, movement of the arm member 38 stops and the inertia force of the arm member 37 tending to rock it in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) is opposed by the force of the spring 46 which thus functions as shock absorbing means.

l As previously mentioned, the springs 46 have another advantageous function in that they prevent excessive pressure on the yarn by the shoes 47 should the springs 49 be overloaded. Should such a condition exist, the springs 46 will yield and the arm members 37 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the arm members 38 (as viewed) by the springs 49, whereby the pressure applied to the yarn by the shoes will be limited b the weaker springs 46. v

In order to facilitate threading the yarn through the passageways 54 of the shoes, the frame supporting the roll shaft 21 is arranged to be rocked about its pivot pins 16 in a direction to move the roll 30 away from'th'eshoes'47 of the arm units. In threading the machine, the ends'of yarn need only be passed through the passageway and need not be placed against the shoe surfaces 52 because, upon operation of the machine, the ends are tensioned and are pulled between the roll and the shoesurfaces. The rounded edges of the shoe surfaces prevent thc yarn from being impaired when so drawn into position.

The arm units are prevented from following the roll 30 by a rod or bar 56 supported between the brackets 36, parallel to the rod 55 but at the opposite side of the lower ends of the arm units, which is adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of the arm members 37 (Fig. 3).

Suitable mechanism for so rocking the frame may comprise a pair of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 59 (only one of which is shown) each having one end pivotally connected at 60 adjacent the legs 13 and 14, respectively, a piston in each cylinder (not shown), and a piston rod 6l extending outwardly of each piston and having its free end journalled to the shaft 24 of the frame at 62. The pistons in the cylinders are adapted to be moved simultaneously (in either direction) to move the roll outwardly or to return the same, under the control of a suitable valve 6 4', operated by a handle 65. The valve is operatively connected to a pressure medium supply line 66 and to the cylinders in any conventional manner.

From the foregoing description, it will be scen that the present invention provides a simple and practical yarn tensioning device adapted for putting a substantial tension of a uniform value in a single end or a plurality of ends of yarn. readily adjusted, are constructed and arranged to prevent impairment of the yarn, and are readily threaded. The device is rugged in construction and can withstand such rough usage to which it may normally be subjected without replacement or repair of parts.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the Spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be under- The yarn tensioning elements arel 5 stood that al1 matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a yarn tensioning device, a roll having a cylindrical surface adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, an arm having a yarn guide at one end, means for pivotally mounting said arm, said axis of said roll lbeing in a plane spaced from and parallel to the axisy of said mounting means, a shoe pivotally mounted on said arm having an arcuate recess provided with a surface conforming substantially to the contour of the surface of said roll and in registry therewith and having a toe section formed with a yarn guiding aperture extending through said toe section from one end of said shoe and References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 589,222 Pratt Aug. 31, 1897 745,123 Tuseth Nov. 24, 1903 2,242,053 Chapman May 13, 1941 2,570,617 Wentz Oct. 9, 1951

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