US2752105A

US2752105A - Winding machine

Info

Publication number: US2752105A
Application number: US373465A
Authority: US
Inventors: John V Keith
Original assignee: Leesona Corp
Current assignee: Leesona Corp
Priority date: 1953-07-08
Filing date: 1953-07-08
Publication date: 1956-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-26
Also published as: CH327234A; DE1208665B; GB751166A

Description

June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1953 INVENTOR.

31' JOHN M KEITH mm "roam-v June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1953 u o u M 9 m 0 1 m 6 fl m 7 M 4 7 m I a II n M v: 4 8 III 2 3 7 n o 9 m u i N i 4 5 i Z 4 Si O 5 IN VEN TOR.

BY JOHN V KEITH ATTORHE Y J1me 1956 J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTUR.

BY JOHN M K56};

AT TORNE Y J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE June 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1953 INVEN TOR.

Fig 6 BY JOHN M. KEITH ATTORNEY June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 o a o fff Pl; 1 f 8/ IN V EN TOR.

BY JOHN V KEITH A TTORNE Y United States Patent WINDING MACHINE John V. Keith, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Universal Winding Co., Cranston, R. I., a corporation of Massachnsetts Application July 8, 1953, Serial No. 373,465

9 Claims. (Cl. 242-45 The present invention relates to winding machines and means for controlling the operation thereof, and more particularly relates to a winding machine and controls therefor for winding a strand of material made available at a substantially constant speed by a source of supply.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand materials, either textile or otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean the product of a winding machine whatever its form.

It quite frequently becomes necessary in the manufacture of textiles to wind a strand of yarn that is being continuously advanced at a substantially constant rate of speed. An example of such an operation is winding the output from a synthetic yarn spinning machine. In such a winding operation the yarn must be wound at the same speed that it is advanced by the spinning machine, or other source of yarn supply, inasmuch as failure to do so would result in breaking the yarn if the winder were to operate at a higher speed than the source of supply, or if the winder operates at a lower speed than said supply, cause a loop of slack and tangled yarn to form between said winder and said supply.

Many attempts have been made in the past to develop a winding machine capable of winding a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed. Two examples of such prior art devices are disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,509,250 issued May 30, 1950, to I. S. Roberts, and United States Patent No. 2,608,355 issued August 26, 1952, to C. C. Bell et al. Both the Roberts device and the Bell et al. device include mechanisms actuated by the tension in the strand of yarn being wound, to speed up and slow down the winding mechanism to cause it to keep pace with a continuously advancing strand of yarn. Both of these devices possess serious disadvantages that limit their use to comparatively heavy denier yarns and relatively low winding speeds inasmuch as the speed controlling mechanism in both structures require a large force to operate them and such a large force can only be applied by a heavy denier yarn. Furthermore, the reaction time of both the Roberts and Bell et al. control mechanisms is slow due to the inertia of the large masses necessary to control the winding speed thus limiting the use of these devices to applications where a slow winding speed is permissible.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a winding machine capable of winding a continuously advancing small denier strand of yarn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding under light tension a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding at high speed a small denier yarn that is continuously advancing at a constant rate of speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding under light tension and at high speed a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding under light tension a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed and having means whereby the tension in the yarn controls the speed at which it is wound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding a small denier strand of continuously advancing yarn and having means whereby the tension in the yarn controls the speed at which it is wound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine capable of winding a fine denier strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed having means whereby the tension in the yarn controls the speed at which it is wound and having means for varying the tension in the yarn from start to finish of the package being wound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine for winding a strand of yarn wherein tension in the strand being wound moves a core into or out of a reactor coil to control the speed at which the yarn is wound, and having means to compensate for the varying magnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine for winding a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed wherein tension in the strand being wound moves a core into or out of a reactor coil to control the speed at which the yarn is wound, having means to compensate for the varying magnetic attraction of said coil on said core, and having means for decreasing the tension necessary to move said core as the package being wound increases in diameter.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a winding machine incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional rear elevation showing the control mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing details of the mechanism for moving the magnetic core into and out of the reactor coil;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modified form of the tension control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing yet another modified form of tension control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view of the back of the control panel with certain elements omitted and illustrating a damping device incorporated in the control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the damping device;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the damping device; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows the winding mechanism designated generally as 10 mounted on a pedestal or base 12. The winding mechanism 10 is of the type known in the art as a precision winder wherein the number of rotations of spindle 14 to each reciprocation of yarn guide 16 is fixed from the start of the winding operation until the package being wound is completed. The Winding mechanism shown comprises a spindle 14 rotatably journaled in a casing 18. The yarn guide 16 is mounted for reciprocation on traverse frame 21 which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement on shaftZZ to permit said yarn guide 16 to move away from the spindle 14 as the yarn being Wound thereon increases in diameter. Y are guide 16 is connected to and reciprocated by a cam, not shown, located inside of casing '13. Spindle 14 is provided with an expansible and contractible package core holder 24- for releasably mounting package cores on said spindle. Operating handle '26 is provided for contracting package core holder 24 when it is desired to remove a full package from spindle 14 and replace it with an empty package core holder prior to commencing the winding of the new package. All of the above described structure is old and well known in the art and need not be described any further herein. Winding mechanism Jill is driven by an electric motor 28 mounted on bracket 29 secured to casing 18 and connected to the winding mechanism by any suitable means. Motor 28 is so wound that it has variable speed characteristics, that is to say, the speed of motor 28 increases or decreases as the electrical current supplied thereto is increased .or decreased.

Referring now to Fig. 9 wherein is shown in schematic wiring diagram form the electrical circuit for driving motor 28 and for controlling the amount of current supplied said motor. Motor 28 is connected across alternating current supply lines 3?) and 32. A normally closed single pole single throw switch 34, an adjustable resistor 36 and the load winding of a saturable reactor 38 are connected in series with motor 28 and said alternating current supply lines 30 and 32. The primary winding of a transformer 40 is connected across alternating current supply lines 3tland 32 and the secondary of said transformer 40 is connected by means of conductors 41 and 43 to the input of an electrical bridge 42. One arm or side of bridge 42 is formed by

resistors

44 and 46, and the other arm or side of the bridge is formed by resistor 48 and reactor coil 50. The output of the bridge 42 is connected by means of

conductors

52 and 54 to the input of a full wave rectifier 56. The output of rectifier 56 is connected by conductors 58 and 69 to the control winding of saturable reactor 38. The inductance of reactor coil 50 is adjustable by means of a core 62 of magnetic material which is adapted to be moved axially in and out of coil 59. Alternating current supply lines 36 and 32 are provided with a double pole single throw switch 64 which functions as a main line on-off switch for the circuit. For convenience in assembling the above described components in the apparatus motor 28 is connected into the circuit by means of a plug P and socket S and various other electrical components or groups of components are connected by means of multiple prong plug P1 and socket S1.

The above described circuit functions in the following manner to control the speed of the motor 28. When switch 64 is closed electrical power flows through resistor 36, the load winding of saturable reactor 38, normally closed switch 34, and motor 28 to cause said motor to start and to drive winding mechanism 10. At the same time electrical current flows through the primary winding of transformer 46 causing a control voltage to be generated in the secondary winding of said transformer. When the effective resistance of

resistors

44 and 46 are equal, and the effective resistance of resistor 48 and reactor coil 50 are equal no current will flow from the output terminals of the bridge. However, whenever this balance is upset by varying the impedance of reactor coil 50 by moving core 62 in or out of said coil a current will flow from bridge .42 to rectifier 56 and the amount of current which fiows will be proportional to the amount of 'un balanced present in the bridge. When bridge 42 is in an unbalance condition current flows therefrom through

conductors

52 and 54 through rectifier 56 where it is rectified and the rectified current flows from the output of said rectifier, by means of conductors 58 and 6t and through the control winding of saturable reactor 38. One of the Well known characteristics of a saturable reactor is that the flow of current through the load winding thereof can be varied by varying the flow of direct current through the control winding thereof. That is to say, the amount of current which can pass through the load winding of a saturable reactor increases, within the limits .of the reactor as the amount of current passing through the control winding is increased, and conversely the amount of current passing through the load Winding decreases as the current passing through the control winding decreases. It is also a characteristic of ,saturable core reactors that relatively large amounts of current'and relatively large changes in current flow, through the load winding thereof can be controlled by means of relatively small amounts it direct current passing through the control winding thereof. It will, therefore, be apparent that the speed of motor 28 can be controlled by moving core 62 into or out of reactor coil 5t). It will also be apparent that the comparatively large amount of current i ceded to drive motor 2 8 can be effectively controlled by a relatively small current flowing through reactor coil 9 and the control winding of saturable reactor 38. As a result the size of coil 50 and core 62 can be greatly reduced in size over those found necessary in prior art devices, and the small current flow through coil 56 exerts only a relatively light magnetic pull on said core. Inasmuch as core 62 is moved relative to coil S by the yarn being wound, in a manner to be explained in detail hereinafter, it will be clear that the present invention makes it possible to wind a continuously advancing strand of yarn under light tension. It will also be clear that the lightness of core 62 and the small magnetic pull thereon permits said core to respond quickly to slight changes in tension in the winding strand of yarn therefore making it possible to wind a continuously advancing strand of yarn at a higher speed than had heretofore been possible.

Adjustable resistor 36 is utilized to preset the maximum amount of current which can flow through motor 28 to thereby preset .the speed of said motor in the range of speed at which the winding mechanism must operate. The circuit of Fig. 9 is also provided With suitable safety devices, such as fuses and overload heaters; however, such safety devices are old and well known in the art and form no part of the present invention and, therefore, they have been omitted from the wiring diagram in the interests of simplicity.

Motor .28 has been disclosed hereinabove as being an alternating current motor, however, it will be understood that a direct current motor can be employed with the inclusion of a rectifier in the supply line between said motor and the load winding of the saturable reactor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 pedestal or base 12 is preferably fabricated from sheet'metal and forms a hollow cabinet or enclosure having an opening 66 formed in its front. A panel 68 serves as a closure for opening 66 and is removably held in position thereover by any convenient fastening means as, for example, screws 70. Panel 68 has many of the electrical components included in the circuit disclosed in Fig. 9 mounted thereon and it also carries the mechanism for moving core 62 axially of reactor coil 50. When viewed from its inner or back side, Fig. 2, panel 68 preferably has reactor coil 50 mounted adjacent its lower left hand corner by means of mounting bracket 72. The components comprising saturable reactor 38, full wave rectifier 56 and

resistors

44, 46 and 48 of bridge 42 and socket S may be located on panel 68 in any convenient manner. Transformer 40 and resistor 36 may be located in pedestal or base 12 in any convenient location and connected to the components on panel 68 by means of multiple prong plug P1 and socket S1 (not shown). In the event the Winding mechanism of the present invention is incorporated in a gang magma machine, or multiple head machine, wherein a plurality of similar winding units are mounted side by side one transformer 40 may be utilized to supply a control voltage for all of the winding units and one resistor 36 may be utilized to preset the maximum speed of all the motors in the gang as a unit. It will be obvious that some other method or device can be substituted for resistor 36 to determine the maximum voltage that can be impressed on motors 28 to preset their maximum speed. In such event a single transformer 40 and resistor 36 can be mounted in any convenient location, preferably at one end of the gang machine and connected by suitable conductors to socket S1 located adjacent each panel 68.

A wheel 74 is rotatably mounted above coil 50 with its periphery substantially tangent to the axis of said coil by being fixed to a shaft 76 which extends through and is rotatably journaled in panel 68. Core 62 is connected to wheel 74 by means of a flexible tape 78 secured at one of its ends to the periphery of wheel 74 and having its other end secured to one end of core 62 whereby rotation of said wheel will raise and lower said core thereby causing it to move into or out of the axial opening in coil 50. A compensator arm 80 is fixed adjacent one of its ends to the end of shaft 76 projecting from the face of panel 68 and carries a dancer roll 82 at its other end. Dancer roll 82 is adapted to engage a loop formed in the running strand of yarn Y between an idler roll 84 and yarn guide 16 so that an increase in tension in yarn Y will lift said dancer roll to rotate wheel 74 in a direction to lower core 62 into coil 50. Movement of core 62 into coil 50 increases the impedance of said coil and tends to bring the two arms of bridge 42 more nearly into balance thereby decreasing the flow of current through

conductors

52 and 54 and through the control winding of saturable reactor 38 thereby causing said saturable reactor to restrict the current flowing through its load winding and consequently causing motor 28 to slow down. Conversely a decrease in tension in strand Y permits dancer roll 82 to move downwardly permitting wheel 74 to rotate in a direction to lift core 62 out of coil 50 thereby throwing the two arms of bridge 42 out of balance to an increasingly greater degree as said roll descends resulting in more current flowing through

conductors

52 and 54 and the control winding of saturable reactor 38 whereby said saturable reactor permits more current to flow through its load winding to thereby speed up motor 28 and the winder.

As core 62 moves from a position wherein the major portion of its length is outside of coil 50 to a position wherein it is substantially centered in said coil the magnetic attraction on said core first increases, reaching a maximum when said core is half way in said coil, and then decreases to a minimum when the core is centered in the coil. To compensate for this variation in the magnetic attraction on core 62, which obviously is transmitted to wheel 74 and dancer roll 82 through flexible tape 78, spring means are provided. The compensating spring means, Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a helical tension spring 86 having one of its ends secured to a pin 88, located beneath shaft 76, and its other end secured to a pin 90 carried by the hub 91 of wheel 74. It will be seen, therefore, that as wheel 74 rotates from the position wherein core 62 is substantially removed from coil 50 to the position wherein said core is substantially centered in said coil, spring 86 will act on said wheel to oppose the magnetic attraction on core 62. It will be noted that the eflective moment arm through which spring 86 acts on wheel 74, i. e. the horizontal distance from pin 90 to a vertical line passing through the axis of shaft 76, will increase and then decrease as pin 90 moves from its lowermost position to its uppermost position. The tension of spring 86 and the radial distance of pin 90 from the axis of wheel 74 are such that the turning moments exerted on shaft 76 by the magnetic attraction on core 62 and by spring 86 are substantially equal at all times.

Resilient means in the form of spring 92 is provided to compensate for the weight of core 62 and to provide a force tending to draw said core out of coil 50. One end of spring 92 is secured to a length of flexible tape 94 which in turn is secured to the periphery of hub 91. The other end of spring 92 is secured to one end of arm 96 and the other end of said arm is fixedly attached to shaft 98 which is rotatably journaled in and extends through front wall of pedestal 12. A second arm 100 has one of its ends fixedly secured to the outer end of shaft 98 so that

arms

96 and 100 and shaft 98 act as a lever pivoting around shaft 98. It will be seen that pivotal movement of arm 96 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, will reduce the tension spring 92 exerts on wheel 74. That is to say, that swinging movement of arm 96 in a counterclockwise direction reduces the force tending to draw core 62 out of coil 50 with the result that less tension is then required in the strand of yarn Y to move said core into the coil, or to maintain it therein. Spring 92 preferably is of considerable length and the diameter of hub 91 is small with the result that movement of compensator arm to raise or lower core 62 extends or contracts said spring only a small percentage of its total movement and, therefore, does not change to an appreciable degree the force exerted by said spring on said compensator arm. A lever 102 is pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the face of casing 18 and is connected by means of link 104 to traverse frame 20. The free end of lever 102 carries a weight 106 that can be prepositioned thereon and which tends to rotate lever 102 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to thereby maintain yarn guide 16 in contact with the periphery of the package of yarn being wound on spindle 14. The free end of arm is connected to lever 102 by means of link 108 so that the swinging movement of traverse frame 20, resulting from the growth of the package of yarn being wound, will lift the free end of arm 100 to thereby lower arm 96 to thereby reduce the force exerted by spring 92 on wheel 74. The free end of arm 100 and the lowermost end of link 108 are provided with a plurality of

holes

110 and 112 respectively to make it possible to preset the maximum amount of tension exerted by spring 92 and to preset the maximum amount of turning movement which traverse frame 20 can impart to the

arms

96 and 100.

The normally closed single pole single throw switch 34 is located on the inner surface of panel 68 adjacent shaft 76 and is positioned to have projecting finger 113 carried by its actuating arm 114 engaged by the spoke 116 of wheel 74 to open said switch in the event strand of yarn Y breaks to stop motor 28 and the operation of the winding mechanism.

The above described mechanism operates in the following manner. The strand of yarn Y being fed at a substantially constant speed passes over idler roll 84, under dancer roll 82 and up to yarn guide 16 and the package core carried by spindle 14 to form a loop of yarn which supports compensator arm 80. Winding of the strand of yarn Y by spindle 14 tends to shorten the loop of yarn supporting compensator arm 80 to lift said arm to rotate wheel 74 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, to lower core 62 into coil 50 thereby increasing the impedence of said coil and as a result reducing the amount of current flowing from bridge 42 through rectifier 56 and through the control winding of saturable reactor 38. As a result the amount of current passing through the load winding of said saturable reactor is reduced thereby causing motor 28 and spindle 14 to slow down. Compensator arm 80 will continue to rise until such time as spindle 14 is winding yarn Y at the same speed that it is being advanced. In the event spindle 14 winds yarn Y at a slower speed than it is being advanced, the loop will increase in size lowering compensator arm 80 to thereby draw core 62 out of coil 50 whereupon a larger current will flow from bridge 42 with the result that motor 28 and spindle 14 Will be speeded up until such time as said spindle is again winding the yarn at the same speed that it is being advanced. In the event strand of yarn Y breaks or is exhausted spring 92 will rotate wheel 74 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, until spoke 116 contacts finger 113 of switch 34 to open said switch and-stop the operation of motor 28.

Obviously, the tension which will be imparted to the yarn by the winding operation is controlled by the force compensator arm 80 and dancer roll 82 exert upon said yarn, and this force is a combination'of the weight of arm 80 and roll 82 and the force imposed thereon by spring 92. The force imposed by spring 92 can be adjusted to predetermine the tension which will be imparted to the winding yarn by raising or lowering arm 96 by using appropriate holes 112 to connect arm 100 to link 108.

As the package being wound increases in diameter traverse frame 20 is pivoted, by the growing package, around shaft 22. 'This pivoting movement causes said traverse frame 2 to lift links 104 and 108 which are connected to arm 1 410 to lift said arm and thereby lower arm 96. Lowering arm 96 reduces the tension in spring 92. It will, therefore, be seen that the tensionunder which strand of yarn Y is wound will gradually decrease from the start to finish of each package wound. The amount by which the tension in strand Y is reduced can be adjusted to a predetermined range by the selection of the appropriate hole 111"; in arm 100 to use to connect said arm to link 108.

In the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 tension in spring 92 reacts through

arms

96 and 100 and links 103 and 164 to apply a rota-tive force to traverse frame 20 tending to rotate said traverse frame in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This rotative force tends to move yarn guide 16 away from the periphery of the package of yarn being wound and in some instances makes it difiicult to control the pressure of said guide against the winding package. The mechanisms disclosed in Figs. 4 and are modifications of the linkage, disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, for reducing the tension of spring 92, and are so constructed that none, or only a very small percentage, of the tension in spring 92 is transmitted to traverse frame 29. In the modification disclosed in Fig. 4 link 108, similar to link 108 and moved vertically in the same manher, is connected by means of threaded stud 118 to cam disk 1241. Cam disk 120 is rotatably mounted on pedestal or base 12 by means of a stud 122 fixed thereon. A shaft 124 is rotatably tjournaled in and extends through pedestal or base 12' adjacent cam disk 120. Arm 96', similar to arm -96, is fixedly secured to the inner end of shaft 124 for rotation thereby. A segment of a circle 126 is fixedly secured to the outer end of shaft 124 whereby rotation of said segment will rotate said shaft and move arm 26. An arm 128 is freely mounted on shaft 124 intermediate its ends and has one of its ends overlying segment 126 and has a cam follower 130 on its other end in engagement with cam'disk 120. The end of arm 128 overlying segment 126 is adjustably secured to said segment by means of a bolt 132 passing through said arm and an arcuate slot 134 in saidsegrnent. The periphery of cam disk 120 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces 135, 136, 137, 13.8 and 139 each having a different rise from the others. A plurality of threaded holes 140 each adapted to threadedly receive stud 118 are'formed in cam disc 1211 to selectively position .any desired one of the surfaces 135 through 139 in operative relation to cam follower 130. V

T e l nkag isclo d in Pig- 4 ope a e in e oll ing manner. As traverse frame is pivoted by the r w h f the Pack g be ng ou n 1 is i Lifting link .108" rotates cam disk 120 in a clockwise direction causing cam follower 1 30 to move from the high point of its associated camsurface towards the low point thereof. Such movement of cam 120 causes cam follower 134 to rise permitting arm 128 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Rotation of arm 128 rotates segment 126, in-

asmuch as these two elements are securedptogetherby bolt 132, which in turn rotates shaft 12410 lower arm 96 thus reducing the tension in spring '92. The initial tension in spring 1 2 can be preset to any desired value, within the limits of the apparatus, by adjusting the angular relationship of arms '96 and 128 by means of the. adjustable connection between said arm 128 and segment 126. The different cam surfaces 135 through 139 on cam disk are employed selectively to predetermine the range of tension reduction imparted to spring 92 by the movement of traverse frame 20. The positional relationship of stud 122, shaft 124 and cam follower are such that the vertical thrust imparted to said cam follower by the tension in spring 92 is substantially a radial thrust upon cam disk 12 with the result thatvery little, if any, of said upward force is transmitted through said cam disk to link 1'32'5 and traverse frame 20.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 5 link 108", similar to link 1% and moved vertically in the same manner, is connected by means of threaded stud 142 to cam plate 144. Cam plate 144 is rotatably mounted on pedestal or base 12" by means of a stud 146 fixed thereon. A shaft 148 is rotatably journaled in and extends through pedestal or base 12" adjacent and above cam plate 144. Arm 96", similar to arm 96, is fixedly secured to the inner end of shaft 148for rotation thereby. A segment of a circle 15% is fixedly secured to the outer .end of shaft 148 whereby rotation of said segment will rotate said shaft and move arm 96". An arm 152 is freely mounted on shaft 148 intermediate its ends and has one of its ends overlying segment and has a cam follower 154 on its other end in engagement with cam surface 156 of cam plate 144. The end of arm 152 overlying segment 150 is adjustably secured thereto by means of a bolt 158 passing through said arm and arcuate slot 160 in saidsegment.

As traverse frame 20 is pivoted by the growth of the package being wound link 103 is lifted. Lifting link 103" rotates cam plate 144 in a clockwise direction mov ing cam surface 156 under cam follower 154 to permit arm 152 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Rotation of arm 152 rotates segment 150 which in turn rotates shaft 148 to lower arm 26" thus reducing the tension in spring 92. The initial tension in spring 92 can be preset to any desired value, within the limits of the apparatus, by adjusting the angular relationship of arms 9.6" and arm 152 by means of the adjustable connection between said arm 152 and segment 150. The range through which the tension of spring .22 is reduced can "be preset by the selection of the appropriate radially spaced threaded hole 162 provided in cam plate 144 for that purpose. The positional relationship of stud 146, shaft 148 and cam follower 1 54 are such that the thrust from said cam follower 1'54 upon cam surface 156 is substantially radial with the result that very little, if any, of said thrust is transmitted through said cam plate to link 108 and traverse frame 20.

In certain instances in the operation of the present invention as, for example, when winding at high speed, it is desirable to damp the oscillation of compensator arm 80. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a preferred damping mechanism and Fig. .6 illustrates the manner in which it is incorporated in the organization illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and described above. When the damping mechanism is employed the electrical components described above and the v manner in which they are interconi lected remains identical as do the mechanical components for n i n in th ma n ti P1 1 i h core, and for imparting a u nin 19 t9 th somp setq ar m q a te m e tens o t e and of a n Y. Therefore, in the interest of simplicity all of these elements have been omitted from I Fig. .6.

h mpin mechan t k s t fo m o an id pulley 164 mounted for rotation onstub shaft 166 f xed to and projecting inwardly from panel 6 8. Shaft 166 is located above wheel 74 in such a location that the periphery of pulley 164 is tangent to the axis of reactor coil 56. Flexible tape 78' having one of its ends secured to core 62' and its other end secured to the periphery of wheel 74' passes over idler pulley 164 so that movement of said tape to raise and lower said core tends to rotate said pulley. One side of pulley 164 is provided with a hub 168 inte rally formed thereon and provided about its periphery with ratchet teeth 170. An arm 172 is secured to stub shaft 166 adjacent hub 168 by means of set screw 174. A dog 176 is pivotally carried by arm 172 in position to engage ratchet teeth 17%. It will be seen that pulley 164 can rotate freely in one direction, i. e. counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 and clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 and will be held against extended rotation in the opposite direction by dog 176 and ratchet teeth 170. It will be noted, however, that pulley 164 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 and a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, through an are equal to the pitch of ratchet teeth 170.

Idler pulley 164 functions to damp the oscillation of compensator arm 80' in the following manner. When winding spindle 14 winds the strand of yarn Y slower than it is being supplied to the winding mechanism compensator arm 80' is lowered to thereby move core 62 out of coil 50 to increase the speed of motor 28. During such movement of compensator arm 80' and core 62 idler pulley 164 is free to rotate and therefore imparts little, if any, resistance to the downward movement of said compensator arm. When winding spindle 14 winds the strand of yarn Y faster than it is being supplied to the winding mechanism said yarn lifts compensator arm 80' to lower core 62' into coil 50' and to thereby slow motor 28. During such movement of compensator arm 80' and core 62' idler pulley 164 is held against rotation by dog 176, after said dog engages one of the ratchet teeth 170, with the result that flexible tape 78 must slide over the surface of pulley 164 and the friction of said tape on said pulley imparts a retarding force on the upward movement tcompensator arm 80. Any desired retarding or damping force can be imposed on compensator arm 8% by the appropriate selection of materials for pulley 164 and flexible tape 78', the width of said pulley and tape, the diameter of said pulley, and the amount of wrap which said tape takes around said pulley to thereby control the amount of friction between said pulley and said tape.

The pitch of ratchet teeth 17% is sufficiently large so that the normal oscillation of compensator arm St) due to the reciprocation of yarn guide 16 can take place without pulley 164 exerting any damping efiect thereon. That is to say, the pitch of teeth 170 is great enough so that said normal oscillation does not cause them to engage dog 176.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to move in response to changes in tension therein for moving said core into and out of said coil, damping means cooperating with said yarn engaging means to damp the movement thereof in one direction, and compensating 19 means for applying a force to said yarn engaging means substantially equal and opposite to the force exerted thereon by the magnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

2. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for drivin" said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, means appiying a force opposing movement of said yarn engaging means in said one direction for moving it in the opposite direction when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than said predetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to said core whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarn tension moves said core into or out of said coil, damping means cooperating with said yarn engaging means to damp the movement thereof in one direction, and means for decreasing said force as the package being wound increases in diameter.

3. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, means applying a force opposing movement of said yarn engaging means in said one direction for moving in it the opposite direction when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than said predetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to said core whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarn tension moves said core into or out of said coil, and compensating means for applying a force to said yarn engaging means substantially equal and opposite to the force exerted thereon by the magnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

4. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to move in response to changes in tension therein, flexible means connecting said core and said yarn engaging means whereby movement of said yarn engaging means in response to changes in tension in said strand of yarn being wound moves said core into or out of said coil, an idler pulley in engagement with said flexible means, and means preventing rotation of said pulley in one direction whereby said flexible means is forced to slide over the periphery thereof to thereby damp the movement of said yarn engaging member in one direction.

5. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle including 1 1 a 'pivotally mounted traverse frame, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor 'to thereby control its speed, a pivotally mounted compensator arm adapted to be engaged by the strand of yarn being wound and movable thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a wheel connected to said arm and rotatable therewith, resilient means cooperating with said wheel for urging said compensator arm in a direction opposite said one direction, flexible means connecting said core to said wheel whereby movement of said compensator arm in response to changes in tension in said strand of yarn causes said core to move into or out of said coil, means for compensating for the magnetic attraction exerted on said core by said coil, and means cooperating with said traverse frame and said resilient means for reducing the force applied on said compensator arm by said resilient means as the package being wound increases in diameter.

6. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle including a pivotally mounted traverse frame, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a linkage connected to said traverse frame and movable therewith, resilient means connected to said linkage and cooperating with said yarn engaging means to apply a force opposing movement thereof in said one direction for moving it in the opposite direction when the tension in said strand is less then said predetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to said core whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarn tension moves said core into or out of said coil, said linkage operating to reduce the force applied .by said resilient means as said traverse frame moves as the package being wound increases in diameter.

7. -In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle including a pivotallymounted traverse frame, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of'yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a linkage including a cam connected to said traverse frame and movable therewith, resilient means connected to said linkage and cooperating with said yarn engaging means to apply a force opposing movement thereof in said one direction for moving it in the opposite direction when the tension in said strand is less than said predetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to said core whereby its movement in response to increases or decreasesin yarn tension moves said core into or out of said coil, said linkage operating to reduce the force applied by said resilient means as said traverse frame moves as the paclo age being Wound increases in diameter.

8. In a winding machine having a rotatable Winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the co mbination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged .by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to move in response to changes in tension therein, flexible means connecting said core and said yarn engaging means whereby movement of said yarn engaging means in response to changes in tension in said strand of yarn being wound moves said core into and out of said coil, an idler pulley in engagement with said flexible means, means preventing rotation of said pulley in one direction whereby said flexible means is forced to slide over the periphery thereof to thereby damp the movement of said yarn engaging member in one direction, and compensating means for applying a force to said yarn engaging means substantially equal and opposite to the force exerted thereon by the magnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

9. In a winding machine having a rotatable Winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor having variable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through said motor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, means applying a force opposing movement of said yarn engaging means in said one direction for moving it in the opposite direction when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than said pradeterrnined value, flexible means connecting said core and said yarn engaging means whereby movement of said yarn engaging means in response to increases or decreases in yarn tension moves said core into or out of said coil, and means for decreasing said force as the package being wound increases in diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,032,176 Kovalsky Feb. 25, 1936 2,116,586 Stoller May 10, 1938 2,140,555 Satterlee Dec. 20, 1938 2,146,869 White Feb. 14, 1939 2,509,250 Roberts May 30, 1950 2,608,355 Bell et a1. Aug. 26, 1952