US2873485A - Reversing coiler drive - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1959 H. H. LECKLER 2,

REVERSING COILER DRIVE Filed March 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY E/CHEK WATTS, EDGEET NA? MNENNY HTTOENEf-S Feb. 17, 1959 H. H. LECKLER 2,373,435

REVERSING COILER DRIVE Filed March 19, 1952 4 Sh eets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR N EICHEKWATTS EDGEET NZJW A/ENNY w 45 424W H Twelve- 6 1959 H. H. LEckLER REVERSING comm DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1952 a7 F/c 7 INVENTOR. H9122 H. LECKLE/E BY E/CHEK WA 771?, EDGEE N8 MNENNY A T 7-0 e/vEys 1959 H. H. LECKLER REVERSING COILER DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 19, 1952 REVERSING COILER'DRIVE Harry 'Leckler, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The layers if textile fiber strands in containers of .the type Warner-& 'Swasey C0., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio- Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,520 ll Claims. ((31. 19-159 This invention relates to the packaging of textile fibers and, more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for supporting and driving a sliver container while the container is being filled from a pin-drafter or the like.

, An ohjectof the invention is to form'uniform of fiber. in a container for-fiber strands.

An object, of the invention is to form inte l'ocke'd layers :in which the strands are disposed in coils about a center post. A

Another object of the invention is to prevent twisting and the like .whena pluralityof strands of textile fiber are packaged in a single container. t A further object of the invention is to provide means for coiling aplurality of strands of textile fiber in a single container.

A still further object of the invention is to package a plurality of strands of textile fiber in a. single container,

,iso that .the.strandsmay be removed simultaneously without twisting.

In processingtextile fibers, .it is common to package ,thestranded fibers, .e. -g. the slivers, at the pin drafter for transportingthe slivers to the machines or mills which I .performthe succeeding operations. v packaging thesliver involves the use of a so-called sliver One method of container which is provided-With a central post about which the silver is disposed in suitable fashion as, e. g. in coils disposed about the post and between the post andthe wall of the container. The method is Well scribes a coiler head suitable Ifor feedingsliv'er strands from a fiber processing apparatus such as' a pin-drafter into the sliver container.

In drafting synthetic fibers, it is common .tojproc'ess two; or more slivers simultaneously'becauseofth'e' relatively small diameter of the synthetic liberal However,

.it has been found that when two or more slivers are packaged: in a sliver container by means ,ofthe coiler head referred to above, the slivers, cannot be removed from the container without objectionable "twisting of the two slivers, one about the other. "The presentinvehtion is concerned with amethod of and apparatusforf packaging two slivers in a sliver container so that such twisting is obviated.

V In accordance with theinvention, the sliver containiars are mounted upon .turntables similar to those of thepatent referred to. above, but which are driven so that the sliver containers do.not undergo a complete revolution. The turntables are turned through a predetermined an: arid are thenreversed and driven in the opposite direction, while forming coils of sliver between the center post andthe wall. of the container. Each time the directiohof rotation is reversed, however, the position of"the'turntable is advanced somewhat from the position {of the previous reversal so that the initiation and termination of. the successive layers is advancedwith respect to the preceding layer. The apparatus: of the invention includesl suitable turntables for supporting the sliver conx .tainer s; .driveapparatusafor generating the necessary re- .versing. motion; and an, indexing clutch mechanism I .-Fig. 6 is a 'side elevation view of the drive 1 2 whereby the position of the turntable upon charige in directionof drive is shifted .for. successive reversals in lthetsarne direction. H

These andother objects, features and advantages of "the invention will be apparent from a, consideration of (the renewin .detailedsp'ecification and claims taken in orifiection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig.;1 is aside view of a pin-drafter and an -associated sliver container -and-coiler head with which the ,ptesent invention is adaptedto be utilized; 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the turntables and drive apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. of the drive apparatus taken alongthe lines 3-3 .of Fig. -2;

f Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view sirnilar to Fig. 3

and showing anyalternateposition of the. mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a View of a portion hi the reversing drive cam mechanism, showing the rnanner of engagement of a cam with the half-nut member;

apparatus taken .along thelines 6-6 in Fig. 3; h

Fig. 7 .is a. vertical sectionalviewtalren along-the lines -7-7. of Fig. 2 and showing the turntable and the support and driveapparatus therefor; 7

,Figs. 8,9; 10 and 11 are .toprviews of the turntable .clutchmechanismshowing the relative disposition of the .components for severalfpositions of .theturntable; and

Figs; 12, 16 and .14 ,are schematic representations of the manner of disposition of sliverin the container .for the successive positions of the turntable.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown apin-drafter apparatus .10 for .textile fibers, the apparatus including a frame-1'1 and drafting rolls 12 and 13. .A sliver cont-t ainer 14 is supported and rotatedbya cpntainer turning apparatus 15 while sliver is .fed into the container by a .coilerhead 16. The turning apparatus 15 is driven in synchronism with the drafting rolls and the coiler head by means of .chain 17 or the like. The coiler head 16 .and the sliver container 14 may be of the general type disclosed in S; "Patent No. 2,630,243 issued -March 3, 1 953, to James R. Longstreet. 3

The turning apparatus 15 comprises a base 18 supporting two similar turntables1-9 and20 and including a housing lui for components of the reversing driveapparatus for the, turntables. .As shown particularly in Figs". 2, .dand (7, the motions generated by the reversing drive apparatus .aretransmitted to the turntables by a chain 22nconnected to arecip'rocating member 23 of the reversing drive apparatus and passing over idler wheels 24 and 25, a sprocket wheel 26 associated with the turntable 19 and a similar sprocket wheel associated with turntable 20. Motion of each sprocket wheelis cemmunicated to the turntables 19 and 20 by meansof clutch "mechanisms, such as the mechanism 27 associated with turntable 19, ina manner to bejsubsequently described. As' shown in particular in Figs. 2 and 7, the turntables 19and20 eachcomprise a flat plate-like member 28 hav- 32 formedin the base 1.8 for supporting thetnrntable 28. The groove 32 is, of course, appropriately formed to providea smooth bearing surface for the annular projection 31; U The member 28 is held at the center hyan annular member 33 which is secured to the member by a cap screw 34and apin .35. Theannular member33ispivoted on apin36 which isreceivedfin a suitable opening 37 in the base 18 and forms ,a shaft .on which the turntable turns. The sprocket 26 is .keyed to a coaxial member 38 by means or the piece 39 to transmit the movemeritgof the sprocket 26 to the memberf38; The entire clutch tions.

assembly and turntable therefor rotate about shaft pin 36 which has a head 40 which serves as a vertical constraint for the entire unit.

Proceeding now to the reversing drive apparatus, shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the reversing drive mechanism serves to transform the rotary motion of the wheel 41 which is driven by the chain 17, shown in Fig. 1, 'into reciprocating motion of the member 23. The drive apparatus comprises two shafts 42 and 43, the' shaft 42 carrying the sprocket 41 and a gear 44 which engages a similar gear 45 mounted on the shaft 43 so that the shafts are driven at equal speeds in opposite directions. Each shaft carries a screw thread along the length thereof, the pitch of thethreads being such that the opposite rotations of the two shafts produce axial forces in opposite direc- The screw threads are engaged by a half-nut member 46 which is mounted upon and slides along a shaft 47 disposed parallel to the shafts 42 and 43. The half-nut is suitably formed with arcuate thread- like projections 48 and 49 at either side thereof forengagement with the screw threads on the shafts 42 and 43. As shown in Fig. 6, the half-nut 46 is disposed with the projections 49 engaged in the screw threads 50 of shaft 43 while the projections 48 of the half-nut are visible. The engagement of the projections of the half-nut with the screw threads of either rotating shaft thus causes a translation of the halfnut 46 and the member 23 along the shaft 47.

Each shaft is provided with means for shifting the engagement of the half-nut from one shaft to another upon arrival of the half-nut at the end of the shaft. A cam member 51 is mounted at the far end of the shaft 42, as viewed in Fig. 3, looking from the end of the housing 21 near thesprocket 41, while a similar cam member 52 is mounted at the near and of shaft 43. Upon arrival of the half-nut 46 at the far end of the shaft 42, the cam member 51 engages and forces the half-nut to the right so that the projections 49 engage the screw threads 50 of the shaft 43. ,The half-nut 46 and the sliding member 23 thus travel toward the front end of the shaft until the cam 52 engages and forces the half-nut'member to the left so that the projections 48 engage the screw threads 53 of shaft 42, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The projections of the half-nutmember are maintained in engagement with the screw threads of the shafts by a guide member '54 which rides along either side of a piece 55 depending from the base 18 as the half-nut travels from one end of the shaft to the other. The pieces 54 and 55 are of such length and disposition that the piece 5'4 clears the piece 55 at the ends of the shaft. There is thus produced an alternate motion of the half-nut member 46 along the shafts 42 and 43 which is imparted to the chain 22 as a reciprocating motion by the sliding member 23.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, the reciprocating mo-- tion of the chain 22 is imparted to the sprocket 26 as an oscillating rotation thereof. This oscillating rotation of the sprocket 26 is imparted to the turntable 19 by means of the clutch 27 comprising the annular members 33 and 38, heretofore referred to. As shown in Fig. 8, the annular member 33 ha the upper portion thereof 'formed with openings 60 around the periphery thereof, thus forming a ratchet wheel designated by the numeral 61. Opposing ratchet elements or pawls 62 and 63 are pivotally mounted upon the outer annular piece or pawl wheel 38 by means such as pins 64 and 65. The ratchet elements are formed with projections 66 and 67 adapted to engage the openings 60 and are constrained to move into those openings by springs 68 and 69, respectively. Ratchet elements 62 and 63 have the projecting portions thereof formed so as to engage the openings 60 of the ratchet wheel 61 in opposition each to the other. Thus, if the element 62 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel, the element 63 may drive the ratchet wheel 61 only in a counterclockwise direction. 63' is disengaged, the element 62 may drive the ratchet 'wheel only in a clockwise direction.

Similarly, when the ratchet element In accordance with the invention, means are provided for disengaging the ratchet element 63 from the ratchet wheel at the end of each complete rotational oscillation of the sprocket wheel 26. The ratchet element 63 is pro vided with a pin 70 which is adapted to engage a fixed member 71 which is mounted upon the frame 18 and is provided with a cam-like surface 72 for engagement by the pin 70. Thus, as the element 63 is rotatedto a point adjacent the leading edge 73 of the surface 72, the pin 70 moves along the surface 72 thus disengaging the projection 67 from the opening 60 in which it is engaged.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, with the member 38 in the position of Fig. 8, the member 23 is in the leftmost position as shown in Fig. 2 and the ratchet wheel 61 and the turntable 19 are in a position corresponding to the letter A in Fig. 13. In this position, the pawl 62 drives the ratchet wheel 61 clockwise until the pin 7 0 engages the outer surface of the member 71 to disengage the projection 67 from the ratchet wheel 61, as shown in Fig. 9, this position of the member 38 corresponding to the position B shown in Fig. 13. The extent of rotationbeyond the point of initial engagement of the pin 70 with the outer surface 72 of the member 71 is determined by the number of openings 60 spaced circumferentially around the ratchet wheel 61. In the embodiment shown, twelve openings are equidisposed about the circumference of the ratchet wheel, so that each advance is through an angle of 30. The action of the ratchet element 63 and fixed element 71 may be denominated as an indexing action for convenience of description and reference.

As the annular clutch member 38 reaches the maximum extent of travel and starts to move in the opposite direction, the annular member 38 reverses its direction of travel thus disengaging ratchet element 62 from" the opening 60 in which it was engaged, as shown in Fig--10. As rotation of the annular member 38 continues-in tlie reverse direction, the motionof pin 70 along the "surface 72 of fixed member 71 allows the ratchet'element 63 to move inward under the influence of the spring 69 until, as is shown in Fig. 11, the projection 67 engages an opening in the ratchet wheel 61 which is spaced 30 from the opening in which the projection 67 had previously engaged. The projection 66 of ratchetelement-62 similarly engages an opening 60 diametrically opposed'to that of the opening engaged by projection'67 so that the opposing ratchet elements may transmit rotational forces from member 38 to ratchet wheel 61 in either direction of rotation. This process continues for alternate reversals of the direction of rotation of the annular clutch member 38, i. e., for the reversals at the end of the travel associated with the engagement of the pin 70 with fixed member 71. As a result, there is imparted to the ratchet element 61 and hence to the turntable 19 and the sliver container supported thereby, an advance in the position of the turntable with respect to the base 18 and, hence to the coiler head 16 with which the turntable is associated, of 30 for eachcomplete oscillation of the turntable. This amount of angular shift is, of course, arbitrary and may vary widely within the spirit of the invention. I

The fixed shift in angular relationship between the sliver container and the coiler head causes a successive shift in the are along which the coils or helices are placed by the coiler head 16. The nature of this shift will be more clearly understood from a consideration of Figs. 12 1'3and 14'wherein the wall of the sliver container is represented in plan view at 75 and the central post of the containerat 76. The circular path, along which the-sliver strand would be fed by the coiler head if the sliver'container were not rotated, is shown by the coaxial circles 77. The rotation of the container about the axis determined by the shaft pin 36 causes a shifting of this path of feed from the initial starting line, designated asthe radial line A in Fig. 13 to produce a layer of successive overlapping coils of strands'in the formof skewed'helices container.

disposed circumferentially about the central post 76, As the rotation' of the'container continues', the layefis 'fdrined continuously about the central post 76 until" a pointg'designated by the radial line B in Fig. 13 is reached. The

"layer is thus formed by motion of the turnt'abl'e through an are having the extremities shownby the lines A and B and represents the limits of rotational oscillation of the turntable as deterrninedby themotion of the clutch 27. This rotation'may be through any arbitrary the ratchet element 63 fromthe ratchetwheel 61 and allowing the ratchet element -62 to drive the turntable and sliver container beyond the line A to a point represented by the radial line C in Fig. .14. At this point, thelcir cularpath of feed of the coiler drive extends 30 beyond the limits of the coiled lineshown at line A." Upon reversal of rotation, the sliver container and turntable' are driven back along the path previously traversed :Lllltll, by reason of the advanced position of the ratchet element 63, the container reaches a position denoted bytthe 'line D This process continues, .the arc throughwhich each layer of strands is disposed 'being shifted relativetothe container by an angle of 30 foreachoscillation of .the container, sothat the layers are continually superimposed :each upon the other in a stepwise fashion.

It will be seen that in accordance with this"rnethod, ;a very compact-and self-sustaining method of packag'ingvis achieved in that there will beno tendency .tcwardfseparation 'of the coil strands or of the respective layers;

Further, it will beseen that no difiiculty will be encountered in the removal of thetwo strands from the sliver This is so since the .alternate .directionsiof rotation of the sliver container causes a cancellationof the twist imparted to the respective strands, i. e. ,;im parts a false twist to the strands which facilitates theremoval of the separate strands without the entanglement thereof.

Theinventionhas been primarily described with refportlfor the turntablecomprising shaft means defining an ererrce to a particular type of :container andgenerallysin terms of "thcpackaging of a plurality of strandsiina :sing-le container. dbESiHOt thereby intend thatthe inventionshould,beconstruedin such limited fashion but rather thatitwbe con- 'strued broadly in respect toall essential components of It is to be understood, howeve'nthatapplicant the invention.

What is claimed is: r t Y 1 1. Apparatus .for turning a sliver containerlcolnprising a'support member, a turntablemounted for rotation on .said support member, reversing drive means for-said turntable including a sprocket associated with the turntable, two reverse-running screws adapted to be "driven from a source of power, a half-nut engageable'gwitheither screw for reciprocation in alternate directions, and a drive chain passing over the turntable sprocket andiconnected to the half-nut for turning the sprocketin alternate directions in accordance with the reciprocation of the halfnut and clutch means connected between saidsprocket and said turntable comprising a ratchet wheel andrat chet means engageable with the wheel and'operabletoedvance the movernentof the turntable relative to the support member.

2. Sliver coiling apparatus including a turntable; a

'support for the turntable comprising shaft means definmounted for reciprocation-along the lengths oftlieshafts, means for changing the engagement o'fthe ha'jlf-nutfrom one shaft to the other-at the end of the travel of the htilf-ntlt, a 7 SpT-Odket wheelmounted "=c0aXiallY with 'tthe shaft me'an's, and a c'ha in connected to: said half nu't and passing over the sprocket wheel to translate reciprocating motion of the half-nut into oscillating rotatory motion of' the sprocket, and clutch means coupling said sprocket and said turntable comprising a ratchet wheel,

-said"wheel including a succession of radially directed openings around the periphery thereofytwo opposing 10 pawIs-engageable inthe openings of 'said wheelpand rneans for' disengaging one 'of saidpawls from the openrings during a 'portion of the travel of the wheeluand means for disengaging one of said pawls for a portion lof' therotational travel of the' tu'rntable. r

3. .Sliver' coiling apparatus including a turnta'ble,-a 'has'erfor the turntable ihavingan r annular portion enga ed .with 'thetunder-side of said turntable, a shaft for the tum- ,table-yzreversing dr ive apparatus comprising two shafts carryingtoppositelydirected screw threads,- a half-nut en- -.gageable with eithershaft and mounted for recipro'ation *alongvthe lengths of the shafts, means for shifting the engagement lofthe half-nut from-oneshaf t to the other a'tathewend of the travel of the half-nut, a sprocket wheel mounted coaxially with the turntable shaft, and a chain connectedsto said half-nutand passing over the sprocket ,turningwthe sprocket wheel in accordance with the reciprocating .rnotion of the half-nut, and'clutch means coupling said sprocket wheel and said'turntable'comprising aratchet wheel securedto said turntable, said ratchet wheelyincluding assuccession of radially directed openings around the periphery'thereof, an annular rnernber'rnounted coaxi-allyrwith the turntable and for rotation with respect thereto; tsaid annular'member being connected to said sprocket wheel two. opposing elements mounted "on said annular member and :engageable -withopenin gsof the ratchet wheel, 'each 'element serving to turn the ratchet wheel wintone direction, and means for disengaging one of thewelements from "the openings during the extreme :portion ;of the drive of. the remaining element.

-4.Sliver;coiling apparatus includingaturntable, a supaxis of; rotation, reversing drive apparatus comprising two shafts carrying oppositely directed screw threads,"a half-nut engageable with either shaft and'rno'untedfor reciprocation along the len'gths of the shafts, means for changing the engagement of-the half-nut'frorn onefshaft .tothe other at the end of the travel of the half-nut, a

sprocket wheel mounted coaxially'with the shaft means, tandachain connected to said half-nut'and passing over the sprocket wheel to'translate reciprocating motionof the half-nut .into oscillating rotatory motion of the sprocket, and clutch means comprising a ratchet wheel secured-to said turntable, said ratchet wheel including a successionof radially directed openings aroundtheperiphery thereof, an annular member mounted coaxially with-the turntable and for rotation with respect thereto, two-oppositely directed pawls mounted on said annular member and engageablewith the openings in said ratchet --wheel, .and means for disengaging one of saidpawls'trom theopenings during a portion of the travel of the wheel comprising a cam element for moving the pawl radially r while permitting rotational motion of the annular member.

"5. Sliver assembling apparatus comprising, in'combi'riation, a turntable 'for holding a sliver container, a base and a'ashaft for turning the turntable about anaxisthrough :thecenter post of the container, an-indexing' clutcharrangement including a ratchet wheel connected :to the .turntable a pawl wheel having two opposed pawls engaged with the ratchet wheel and a fixed dog for disengaging one ofthe pawls near theend of movement in one direction whenthe pawl wheel is turned in alternate directions, means for turning the pawl wheel in alternate' directions, and a coiler head having an ofiset rotary 'feedrnechanisrnfor forming sliver in coils disposedbe- "tween the center postand wall of the container, whereby apluralityof slivers may coils with successive layers advanced eachv with respect U to the preceding layer.

be laid in layers of successive turntable, a pawl wheel having two opposed pawls engagedwith the ratchet wheel and a fixed, dog for disengaging one of the pawls near the end of movement in one direction when the pawl wheel is turned in alternate directions, means forturning the pawl wheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocket on the pawl wheel and a drive chain in engagement with the sprocket, an idler wheel and a drive mechanism including a unidirectional turning drive member and an oscillating member connected to the drive chain, and a coiler head having an offset rotary mechanism for forming sliverincoils disposed between the center post and wall of the container, whereby a plurality of slivers may be laid in layers of successive coils with successive layers advanced each with respect to the preceding layer.

7. Sliver packaging apparatus comprising a base having an arcuate recess about the periphery thereof, a turntable for supporting a sliver container having an annular projection received in the recess, a shaft supported on the base and a ratchet wheel journalled on the shaft and pinned to the turntable and having a projecting lower hub member, a pawl wheel journalled on the hub of the ratchet wheel and two opposed pawls on the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel, a pin on an outer extremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted on the base and adapted to be engaged by the pin for ;d1sengag1ng the pawl'from the. ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel is turned to an extreme position to advance with respect to the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel starts in the opposite direction, and means for turning the pawl wheel in alternate directions whereby a sliver con tainer is turned in alternate directions about the center thereof with the change'from one direction to the alternate direction occurring at successively displaced positions with respect to the base and at alternate changes of direction of the turntable.

8. S l1ver packaging apparatus comprising a base havting an arcuate recess about the periphery thereof, a turn- ,table for supporting a sliver container having an annular projection received in the recess, a shaft supported on the base, a ratchet Wheel journalled on the shaft and pinned to the turntable and having a projecting lower hub .rnernber, a pawl wheel journalled on the hub of the ,ratchet wheel and two opposed pawls on the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel, and a pin on an outer extremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted on the base and adapted to be engaged by the pin for disengagng the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel s turned to an extreme position to advance the pawl wheel with respect to the ratchet wheel when the pawl nwhcel starts in the opposite direction, and means for turning the pawl wheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocketflon the pawl wheel, an idler wheel and a drive chain around the idler wheel and the sprocket, and a reversing drive means having a drive wheel adapted to be driven uniformly in one direction, a pair of oppositely rotating threaded shafts driven by said drive wheel,

a reciprocating member connected to the drive chain and means to engage portions of said reciprocating member alternately with said shafts and thereby reverse the dircction of motion of said reciprocating member.

- Sliver packaging apparatus comprising a base having an open center portion and an arcuate recess about the periphery thereof, a turntable for supporting a sliver fcontainer having an annular projection received in the recess, a shaftsuppoited on the base in the open center 7 portion and a ratchet wheel journalled on the shaft and pinned to the turntable andhaving a projecting lower hub member extending between the turntable and the base, a pawl wheel journalled on the hub of the ratchet wheel and two opposed pawls on the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel, and a pin on an outer extremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted on the base and adapted to be engaged by the pin for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel is turned to an extreme position to advance the pawl wheel with respect to the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel starts in the opposite direction, and means for turning the pawl wheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocket on the pawl wheel, an idler wheel and a drive chain around the idler wheel and the sprocket, and'a reversing drive means comprising two threaded shafts, a sliding half-nut connected to the drive chain, and means for shifting the half-nut from one shaft to another at the ends of the shafts. I

10. A sliver coiling apparatus including a turntable, a base for the turntable, a shaft for the turntable fixed to the base, an annular drive member on the shaft, indexing clutch means connected between the drive member and the turntable comprising a ratchet wheel on the shaft fixed to the turntable, a plurality of pawls on the drive member andengaging the wheel, at least one of the pawls being directed in one direction and at least one in the opposite direction, and means for disengaging the pawls directed in the one direction during at least a portion of the drive by the pawls directed in the opposite direction, reversing drive apparatus comprising two shafts carrying oppositely directed screw threads and a half-nut member mounted for reciprocation adjacent to said shafts, means for engaging said half-nut member alternately with said shaft threads and a drive chain connected to said half-nut member and to said annular drive member for turning the drive member in alternate directions in accordance with the reciprocatingrnotion of the half-nut member.

11. Apparatus for turning a sliver container, comprising a turntable, a support for said turntable, said turntable being mounted upon the support for rotation with respect thereto, drive means for oscillating the turntable in opposite directions of rotation, a driving connection between said drive means and said turntable comprising a clutch having means for shifting the limits of oscillation circumferentially, said drive means including a sprocket connected to the clutch means, a chain meshing the sprocket, a reciprocating member secured to said chain, a pair of shafts adapted to be rotated by a source of motive power, oppositely directed screw threads on said shafts, said reciprocating member being adapted to engage the threads on either shaft for reciprocation along the length thereof, and means for shifting the member from engagement with the threads of one shaft to engagement with the threads on the other shaft, whereby the reciprocation of the said member turns the turntable in successive overlapping arcs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images