US2889120A

US2889120A - Bobbin winding machine

Info

Publication number: US2889120A
Application number: US585470A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Fitzgerald
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1955-02-01
Filing date: 1955-02-01
Publication date: 1959-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-02

Description

June 2, 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1

6 Sheets-Sheet -1 Inventor Charles FFi'lzgeraZd B his 1 llll June 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y H H C iii" l,

entor Charles FE'Zzg Z 5 his 1 June 2, 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Egg- P I 15 3 5 53 J7 Inventor v Charles F fi'zzge/"a/a June 1959 cfF. FITZGERALD 2,89,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [09 I a f 11 0 L :0; 1 CI 1 1 4 -76 Z; @511: a: 1% :5 if 74 a 9,2 94 a M Inventor 75 70 116 Charles F Fitzgerald June 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Charles FFi'zzgen-o/d June 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 e Sheets-Sheet s fizz/en tar 2,889,120 Patented June 2, 1959 BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Charles F. Fitzgerald, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJL, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 1, 1955, Serial No. 585,470 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-23 The present invention relates to machines for winding a series of thread packages, such as sewing machine bobbins or self-sustaining cops, and primarily to improvements in machines which are designed for alternative operation upon packages of more than one length. As hereinafter described, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a bobbin winding machine similar to that identified in United States Letters Patent No. 2,343,935, granted March 14, 1944, upon an application of Paul W. Senfleben, No. 2,578,755, granted December 18, 1951, upon an application of R. O. Smithson and C. F. Fitzgerald, and No. 2,373,109, granted April 10, 1945, upon an application of the present inventor.

The machine of the Senfleben patent is provided with a rotatable winding spindle to which a plurality of bobbins are clamped in adjacent flange-to-flange relation. The machine is equipped with a spindle advancing mechanism arranged to cause the winding operation on the bobbins to be terminated when sufllcient thread is wound thereon and each succeeding bobbin to be advanced to winding position. Cutting means are also provided for severing the thread between adjacent bobbins during the winding operation so that when the bobbins are removed [from the spindle they may be disconnected readily.

To enable the Senfleben machine to advance an empty bobbin to winding position after the preceding bobbin is fully wound the advancing mechanism includes a pawl engaging a ratchet bar which causes the winding spindle to be moved in step-by-step relation a distance equal to that between corresponding parts of successive bobbins on the spindle. To enable winding bobbins of different sizes the ratchet bar is provided with two pairs of parallel rows of differently spaced notches, one pair of which is operative at a time and which is displaced angularly from the other pair by 90. One pair of notch rows is employed with a bobbin of one size to accommodate its length and the second pair of rows with a different size bobbin to accommodate its length. To render the machine adaptable for operation with either pair of notch rows the angular position of the ratchet bar is turned relatively to the pawl, so that one or another pair of rows is effective to cooperate with the pawl.

In order to sever the thread between a filled bobbin and one on which the winding operation is being started, there is adjustably mounted in the Senfleben machine a pair of alternatively operative knives spaced lengthwise of the spindle and from each other by one-half the dif ference in length between the bobbins of the different sizes on which the machine is intended to operate. While winding a series of bobbins of either length, one bobbin at a time is located in win-ding position, with the space between its flanges approximately in alinement with a thread guiding wax stripper from which the thread is drawn, the knives being adjustable vertically toward and from operative position so that the knife not in use is ineffective.

Patent No. 2,578,755 to Smithson et a1. illustrates an improved thread cutter or knife mechanism for the Senfleben machine having a single knife but operable only when bobbins of a single length are being wound. As a result of a more complicated construction the Smithson et a1. knife mechanism is not readily adaptable to use with two alternatively actuated knives as in the Senfleben machine.

One object of the present invention is to provide an automatic machine which is effective for winding a series of bobbins each of a different length, as in the machines of the Senfleben patent referred to, without the necessity of providing a separate alternatively operative knife for severing the thread between bobbins of dilferent lengths.

Inventors Patent No. 2,373,109 discloses a traverse mechanism for winding one or more sizes of self-sustaining cops on the Senfleben machine. In changing from one size cop to another in inventors prior machine it is necessary to adjust manually the stroke of the thread traverse arm so that the cops will be of the proper length. This is accomplished in the patented machine by loosening one or more of three setscrews. After the adjust ments have been made and the traverse mechanism reclamped it is necessary to Wind a cop partially as a test for the stroke. Frequently, repeated adjustments are necessary before a satisfactory traverse stroke is obtained. These adjustments being determined by trial and error, not only require special skill and ability but are time consuming and often result in substantial. waste of thread.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bobbin winding machine having a thread traverse mechanism adjustable for more than one size bobbin or cop without the necessity of having to make time consuming and thread wasting adjustments by trial and error.

A third object is to provide a machine for winding bobbins of different lengths having a single knife for cutting thread between bobbins and an adjustable traverse for producing cops with a self-sustaining form of winding in which adjustments for both the cutter knife and traverse mechanism are capable of being effected readily and precisely without requiring the exercise of unusual skill or ability and the traverse mechanism and knife are set to aline their movements automatically with the winding position of a bobbin.

A further object is to provide, in a machine for winding bobbins of different lengths having a single knife movable into and out of operative position in a fixed plane, a bobbin advancing mechanism acting to bring one end of each length bobbin automatically to a position in the plane of the knife. A subsidiary purpose is to enable the use of a thread traverse mechanism in which the stroke of the thread traverse arm always starts in the plane of the knife and is adjustable to terminate with precision at points determined by the length of the bobbin to be wound.

Still another object is to combine the features of construction and modes of operation of the bobbin winding machines disclosed by the patents noted above, without in any way detracting from their advantages or restricting their adaptability for different types of thread or their effectiveness in other respects.

In the illustrated form of the machine embodying the invention there is provided a rotatable spindle arranged for supporting a series of bobbins or other thread package holders in end to end relation, a knife movable in a plane toward and away from the winding spindle to sever thread passing across adjacent flanges from one filled bobbin to the next succeeding bobbin being wound, in which machine there is also provided a mechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into the position of each filled one with one of their adjacent flanges in the plane of the knife, including a pawl and a relatively shiftable ratchet. The ratchet of this embodiment is constructed with multiple rows of notches so arranged that whenever the ratchet bar is turned the machine is rendered capable of winding a series of bobbins of another size. With the new position of the ratchet bar a flange on the leading end of a corresponding bobbin supported on the spindle is brought with precision into the plane of the knife. Such notch construction is contrasted with that of the Senfleben machine where the notches are spaced and the rows related to each other in such a way that neither flange of a bobbin or other holder of one size will at winding position lie in the same plane as that of another size, the respective flanges in the prior machine being located apart one-half the difference between the length of two differently sized bobbins or holders. With the ratchet bar of the present invention each bobbin or holder while being wound is positioned with one of its flanges in the same plane with the single thread severing knife regardless of the size of the bobbins. By these constructions the necessity of adjusting the position of the knife in preparation for a winding operation on a diiferent size of bobbin is avoided. Also these constructions enable the use of a thread traverse mechanism the adjustment of which is no longer a matter of trial and error, the movement of the single lever to either of two fixed positions accomplishing the only adjustment necessary. With the use of proper relative arrangement between the rows of notches, correct relationship is always provided for proper presentation jof the bobbins or holders to the traverse mechanism and to the knife regardless of which size bobbin or holder is being wound, effective cutting position with relationship to the flanges on the bobbins or holders being maintained at all times without other manual adjustment. Furthermore, by this construction which locates the leading end of both sizes of bobbins or holders in the same and the most elfective cutting position, the necessity for adjusting the length of stroke in the thread traverse mechanism at both limiting positions is eliminated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the traverse arm has a stroke terminating, for winding both sizes of bobbins or holders, in the same limiting plane with respect to its support, thereby leaving only the extent of traverse stroke for the respective bobbins or holders in one direction to be changed.

These and other features of the invention relating to certain constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, together with the advantages obtained thereby, will be apparent from the following detailed specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a portion of the winding head in a bobbin winding machine embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in right side elevation of the winding head of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 with the thread cutter shown in inoperative position and the traverse mechanism adjusted for a large bobbin;

Pig. 3 is a detail view showing the positions of the rack bar notches and the bobbins relative to the cutting plane of a thread severing knife when small bobbins are being wound;

Fig. 3a is a detail view located for convenient comparison with Fig. 3 and showing the positions of the rack bar notches and bobbins relative to the cutting plane of the knife when large bobbins are being wound;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one of a series of bobbins being wound, showing the knife in its most desirable cutting relation to that bobbin;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the traverse mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail viewed in elevation along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5-, showing the manner of adjust ment for the traverse mechanism with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail viewed in elevation along line VIIVII of Fig. 5, showing a traverse arm driving cam and a cam follower with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the traverse mechanism adjusted to accommodate small sizes of bobbins;

Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 8 of the traverse mechanism adjusted to accommodate large sized bobbins; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9 taken under two operating adjustments.

As in the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Senfleben 2,343,935, the machine illustrated herein includes a frame 2 in the upper portion of which is mounted rotatably a winding spindle 4 carrying empty bobbins or cops to be wound supported on a headed mandrel 6. The mandrel is secured to the winding spindle for rotation therewith by means of a pin 8 cooperating with incomplete screw threads. The winding spindle and mandrel are rotated at a uniform rate by suitable drive means, not shown.

For the purpose of winding a series of similarly sized bobbins or self sustaining cops, the spindle 4, or at least a part thereof, is also mounted for axial movement so as to present the bobbins or cops successively to the winding position. The axial movement of the winding spindle and the mandrel carrying the bobbins is step by step or intermittent and under the control of a thread controller lit, a spindle advancing mechanism being provided, comprising a ratchet in the form of a bar 12 axially shiftable relatively to an escapement pawl 14 and a detent 15 connected to the thread controller, only the pawl being shown in Fig. 1. The thread controller engages the thread of a bobbin or cop in winding position, and as the depth of thread increases during the winding operation, the thread controller is moved outwardly of the machine away from the axis of the bobbin. The outward movement of the thread controller ultimately initiates the next axial movement of the winding spindle, this movement taking place after the completion of the winding operation on one bobbin or cop and serving to present the next empty bobbin to the winding position. The thread controller 10 and the pawl 14 and detent 15 are carried on a rotatable shaft 16 having a number of arms thereon. The thread controller is normally held inwardly of the machine by a strong spring 18 and is moved outwardly of the machine as a result of increasing size of the bobbin being wound.

The step-by-step or intermittent axial movement of the winding spindle is controlled by the pawl 14 and the detent l5, successively engaging one of two pairs of rows of notches at opposite sides of the ratchet bar 12., The ratchet bar is rotatable to a number of predetermined angular positions relatively to the pawl and detent selectively to bring one pair of notch rows at a time into line with the pawl and detent. To advance the winding spindie both the ratchet bar and the spindle are urged to the right, as seen in Fig. l, by means of a weight (not shown) secured to a chain 2'1) which passes around a pulley 22 and which is attached to a link 24 connecting a bushing 25' on the winding spindle to a hollow bar 26, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Senfleben. The

12 has a reduced portion 28 extending into the opening in the hollow bar 26. The hollow bar 26 carries a stud 3ft projecting axially from its end which fits into either of two recesses, shown in Fig. l at 31, in the ratchet bar 12, the recesses being located circumferentially 99 from each other, each corresponding to one pair of rows of notches. The stud 30, when positioned in a selected recess serves to secure the ratchet bar with the desired pair of rows of notches alined and cooperating with the pawl and detent. The entire ratchet bar including stud 30 is held yieldingly to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, by means of a spring 33 similar to that of the Senflehen machine. In order to change from one set of notches to the other it is necessary only to pull the ratchet bar to the right and to turn it 90 until the stud 30 enters the second recess.

Carried by the thread controller is a thread cutter mechanism comprising a pivotal arm 32 carrying a single bladed thread cutting knife 34. The thread cutting mechanism is substantially the same as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,578,755 to Smithson et al.

The arm 32 is mounted on the thread controller and so arranged that it moves the knife 34 inwardly toward the winding shaft to sever the thread running between a bobbin currently being wound and a previously wound bobbin after a few turns of thread have been accumulated on the one being wound, as explained in the Smithson et al. patent. It has been found that the most satis factory place to cut the thread is immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the flange at the leading end of a bobbin or cop being Wound, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that either bobbins with integral flanges or cop holders provided with separable disks may be used alternatively, and the position at which the cutting takes place will be the same Whether bobbins or cop holders are used.

As hereinafter specified the terms bobbins and flanges are intended to include their equivalents, cop holders and separable disks. Also, the leading flange referred to is that portion of the bobbin shown on the right in Fig. 4 which engages or faces the flanges of filled bobbins on the winding spindle. The leading flange is designated by a and the trailing flange is the left'hand one designated as b.

The arm 32 carrying the cutting knife 34 rocks about a shaft 36 under the influence of a coil spring 38 and the action of the thread controller 10. Thus, the knife has a motion, toward and away from the winding shaft always in the same plane P, forming a right angle with the axis of the winding shaft.

As has been stated, a feature of this invention resides in mechanism whereby the forward or leading flange a of either alarge or small bobbin is always advanced automatically to bring it to such position that its inner surface lies in the same plane P with the thread cutting knife. When the smaller size bobbin is being wound the ratchet bar 12 moves from left to right as shown in Fig. 3 and the pawl 14 enters successive notches, indicated at 42, which are spaced from each other by a distance pre cisely equal to the length of the smaller bobbin. For example, when the ratchet bar is moved to a position whereby the pawl 14 may enter notch 44, the winding spindle and mandrel which carry the bobbins are moved so that the inner surface of flange a of the leading bobbin 43 is positioned precisely in the cutting plane P of the knife. Similarly, when the next successive bobbin 45 is to be wound, the thread controller permits the stepwise movement of the ratchet bar, and the pawl 14 enters notch 46 which causes the inner surface of flange a of the next bobbin 45 to be located in the same cutting plane P. In like manner the notch 48 in the ratchet bar is so positioned as to locate the inner surface of flange a of bobbin 47 in the same cutting plane.

In order to wind large bobbins the rack bar is pulled to the right to disengage pin 30 from the recess 31, and turned 90 where the pin 30 enters the second recess. This turning movement presents the second pair of notch rows to the pawl and detent corresponding to the larger bobbin. In this second pair of rows the notches are so positioned lengthwise on the bar relative to those of the first pair that when the pawl enters any one of the notches the inner surface of the leading flange a of a large bobbin will be presented to the same cutting plane P. As seen in Fig. 3a, when the pawl enters notch 50, the inner surface of the flange a on bobbin 51 is located at the cutting plane. correspondingly, when the pawl successively enters

notches

52 and 54 the inner surfaces of flanges a on bobbins 53 and 55 will be presented to the cutting plane. Thus, it will be seen that whether large or small bobbins are being wound only a single cutting knife need be employed in the machine, and no adjustment of the knife is necessary since the corresponding part, i.e., the inner surface of the leading flange of either size bobbin is located in proper relation to it. In other words, the notches of each pair of rows are spaced equally from the leading surfaces on the flanges of the corresponding bobbins so that the. distances D in both Figs. 3 and 3a are the same.

The adjustable thread traverse mechanism of the invention is arranged to direct the thread ibeing wound on a bobbin in a self-sustaining cross or point wind in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to the present inventor. While it is essential to wind selfsustaining cops with a cross or point wind the same is not absolutely necessary in winding a flanged bobbin since the flanges support the thread. However, the thread may be withdrawn more uniformly from a cross or point wound thread package than from a straight wound package so that more uniform stitching in the article being sewn will result, making it advantageous to wind flanged bobbins in this manner also.

As explained previously the inner surface of the forward or leading flange a or washer of either a large or a small bobbin is positioned precisely in the plane P of the cutting knife. This plane constitutes the for-ward limit to which the traverse arm must deliver thread on either size of bobbin. Therefore, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of a traverse mechanism where its stroke always terminates in one direction at the plane P when either size of bobbin is used, and which is adjustable in the other direction to change the length of the stroke to the space between that particular size of bobbin. In this way the traverse mechanism is constructed to fit the positions of the bobbins resulting from the use of the novel spindle advancing mechanism.

The traverse mechanism is constructed and mounted in the machine as follows: A plate 62is secured to the machine frame in any suitable manner, a bolt 63 being shown in Figs. 8 and 9 passing across a split in a circular clamp portion of the plate which is engaged with a circular part of the machine frame. The plate is slotted near its lower end at 64, Fig. 6, to provide a recess for slidably mounting a traverse arm supporting block 66 which has a projecting rib 68fitting into the slot. The block 66 is secured to the plate 62 by means of a clamp screw 70 passing through an elongated slot 72 (see Fig. 2), thereby making the block 66 adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the machine when screw 70 is loosened. Once this adjustment is made it need never the changed except for dismantling the machine. The block 66 is of right-angle configuration having avertically depending portion 75 and a horizontal portion 77. At the rear of the block 66 there is mounted in a similar manner on the plate 62 a cam follower guide plate 74, the purpose and function of which will be described later.

Mounted on the support block 66, in a manner hereinafter to be described, is a traverse arm or lever 76 having secured in its forward end a thread guide 78 formed with one eye for directing the thread onto the bobbin. At its rearward end the .traversearm carries a cam follower which is driven by a face cam 82 secured to a shaft 83 in the machine frame which shaft is rotated in a manner similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to the present inventor.

Means for mounting the traverse arm 76 on its sup: porting block 66 which enables its stroke to be adjusted so that it will always fit the position of a bobbin and the space between its flanges, willnow be described. For adjusting the stroke of the traverse arm there is piv otally mounted beneath the horizontal portion of the supporting block 66 a single fulcrum carrying lever 84. This lever is rotatably mounted beneath the block around a screw stud 86 passing through both the block and the lever and being held in place by means of a nut 88. At its left-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 6, the lever 84 carries a pivot post 90, which is the fulcrum for the traverse arm 76. This fulcrum is in the form of a bolt having a thin cylindrical portion 92 mounted directly in lever 84 and secured thereto by means of a nut 94 and a some what larger upstanding portion 96 terminating in a head 98. The upstandingportion 96 of the fulcrum passes upwardly through and out of a kidney-shaped slot 99 in the support block. Surrounding the upper portion 96 of the fulcrum post which extends through the slot 99 is a loosely journaled flat-sided collar 100 having a rectangular head 102 acting to prevent upward movement of the traverse arm. In the main body portion of the traverse arm '76 is an elongated slot 104 of sufficient width to fit the fiat sides of the collar 100. The collar thus provides bearing surfaces between the fulcrum post 90 and the sides of the slot 104 in the traverse arm.

As previously mentioned, at the rearward end of traverse arm 76 there is mounted the cam follower which comprises a roll 108 mounted on a stud 109, which passes through the traverse arm 76 and which is secured thereto by means of a nut 112, as best shown in Fig. 7. Directly below the roll 108 on the stud 109 is a second roll 110 of the same diameter. The cam follower guide plate 74, mentioned above, is of right angle configuration and has in its horizontal leg an elongated slot 114 wide enough to receive the roll 110. The walls of slot 114 serve as a guideway for roll 110, thereby limiting movement of the traverse arm and the roll 110 lengthwise of the arm toward or way from the fulcrum post 90 but permitting rotative movement of arm 7 6 around the fulcrum. The slot 114 is shaped, as shown in the drawings, to give the desired resulting movement to the thread guide 78. A tension spring 115 secured to the end of traverse arm 76 holds roll 108 against the face of cam 82.

At the right-hand end of the fulcrum carrying lever 84, as viewed in Fig. 6, is a downward extending hub portion 116 having formed therein two

holes

118 and 120 spaced a predetermined distance apart. Mounted in the right-hand side of the horizontal portion of the supporting block, designated by 77, is a spring biased plunger 122 slidable vertically in the block and having a tip 124 operable to enter either of the two

holes

118 or 120 in the hub portion of the fulcrum carrying lever 84.

To adjust the traverse mechanism the plunger 122 is raised and the fulcrum carrying lever 84 is rotated until the detent tip enters one of the holes in the hub 116 identified with the size of bobbin to be wound. The plunger fixedly locates in a predetermined position the traverse arm fulcrum post 90 at one end of the kidneyshaped slot 99 in'the support block 66, since the fulcrum post 90 is free to move lengthwise along the slot 104 relative to the traverse arm 76 changing its effective length. However, since the roll 110 is confined by slot 114 from movement forwardly and rearwardly, the movement of the arm relative to the fulcrum post 90 gives the desired length of stroke of thread guide 73 and the proper limiting positions of its movement. No further adjustment is necessary since the different positions of the fulcrum post 90 are predetermined by the fixed spacing of

holes

118 and 120. The spatial relationship of the

holes

118 and 120 will best be seen by reference to the diagrammatic showing in Fig. which represents the alinement of the apparatus of Figs. 8 and 9. When a large bobbin is being wound the plunger tip 124 is located in hole 118 thereby positioning the fulcrum 90 at the point marked 90L. The axis of the cam follower roll moves back and forth within slot 114 in a path from point 103F to point 108R. This back-and-forth roll movement causes the stroke of the traverse arm to terminate at the flanged end of a bobbin and is adjustable to terminate at the other flanged end of any selected length of bobbin being wound. When the cam follower is at point 108F the thread guide 73 is at point 78F which lies in the knife plane P and when the cam follower is at point 108R the thread guide 73 is at the point 78R. Thus, the traverse stroke on a large bobbin is between the points 78F and 78R. When it is desired to change to a small bobbin, plunger tip 12.: is moved to hole 120 wherein the fulcrum carrying lever 34- is rotated around its pivot 86. This locates the fulcrum at point 908. Hole 120 is spaced a distance from hole 118 such that point 905 lies on the line 108E'78F which lies in the center line of the traverse arm when it is in its forward position. Since the movement of the cam follower roll never goes beyond point 108F the forward traverse stroke will always terminate at the same point, i.e., the point 78F in plane P as long as fulcrum is located at a point on this line. But when the cam follower moves to point 108R the rearward traverse stroke is shortened, terminating at point 7 3R adjacent the rear flange of the small bobbin. Thus, it will be seen that the forward feeding stroke of thread guide 7% always terminates in a position at point 78F with respect to its support block 66 regardless of bobbin size or in which hole the plunger is placed, and the rearward stroke terminates in a position at point 78R or point 78R depending on whether the plunger is placed in hole 118 to wind a large bobbin or hole to wind a small one.

It will be understood that, although the illustrative machine is adapted to wind bobbins of two lengths, it is possible to wind a number greater than two without departing from the spirit of this invention. The only changes necessary, in the machine herein illustrated, are the provision of an additional pair of rows of notches in the ratchet bar 12 for each different length bobbin desired to be wound and the provision of additional positioning holes similar to

holes

118 and 120 for the additional size. The additional rows of notches necessarily must be spaced from each other by an angle less than 90.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for winding bobbins of different sizes having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins of the same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at an angle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing across the flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, and mechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into the place of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftable ratchet constructed and arranged to bring automatically into the exact plane of the knife the flange of one bobbin at a time for bobbins of a number of different lengths when supported in a series on the winding spindle.

2. A machine for winding bobbins of diflerent sizes having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins of the same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at an angle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing across the flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, and mechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into the place of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftable ratchet constructed with a number of rows of notches having spacings in each row corresponding to the length of a particular size of bobbin and arranged with relation to one another to bring with precision into the plane of the knife a bobbin corresponding in length to the spacing of the notches in a particular row.

3. A machine for winding bobbins of different sizes having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins of the same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at an angle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing across the flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, and mechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin in to the place of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftable ratchet constructed with a number of rows of notches having spacings in each row corresponding to the length of a particular size of bobbin and arranged with relation to one another to bring with precision into the plane of the knife a bobbin corresponding in length to the spacing of the notches in a particular row, the distance between the plane of the knife and the pawl being the same as that between a notch of either row which engages the pawl and one flange of a bobbin which corresponds in length with spacings between successive notches in that row.

4. A machine for Winding flanged bobbins of difierent lengths having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a plurality of bobbins in end-to-end relation, a thread controller acting between the flanges of one bobbin at a time to cause the winding operation on each bobbin to be terminated and the winding operation on the succeeding bobbin to be started, a knife movable in a plane normal to the winding spindle to sever thread passing from a wound bobbin to the succeeding bobbin being wound, and advancing mechanism actuated by the thread controller for locating successively the inner surface of one flange of each bobbin of one length within the plane of the knife and including means for successively locating the corresponding flange of each bobbin of a different length within the said plane.

5. A machine for winding flanged bobbins of different lengths having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a plurality of bobbins in flange to flange relation, a thread controller acting between the flanges on one bobbin at a time to cause the winding operation on each bobbin to be terminated and the winding operation on the succeeding bobbin to be started, a knife adjacent to the thread controller movable toward and away from the winding spindle in a plane normal to said spindle to sever thread passing over the trailing flange of a filled bobbin and the leading flange of the next succeeding bobbin being wound, and advancing mechanism for moving the spindle and bobbins relative to the thread controller including an escapement pawl actuated by said thread controller cooperating with an axially shiftable ratchet bar having a plurality of rows of spaced notches rotatable to a number of predetermined positions to bring one pair of notched rows at a time into line with the pawl, the spaces between notches in any given row being the same and equal to the length of a selected bobbin, the spaces between notches in diflerent rows being equal to the length of diflerent bobbins, the rows of notches being so positioned lengthwise on the ratchet bar relative to each other that the inner surface of the leading flange of every bobbin of each size is positioned in the plane of the knife.

6. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, a traverse arm on said support having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of two predetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixed relationship with the support, and means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle for elfecting relative movement between the support and the spindle to successive relative positions in each of which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

7. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of two predetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane, and spindle advancing means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle for moving the spindle to a position in. which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

8. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of two predetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane, and spindle advancing means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle including a pawl and relatively shiftable ratchet bar having two relatively oriented sets of notches for moving the spindle to a position in which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

9. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, a traverse arm and a fulcrum member on said support, upon which the arm is pivoted, movable to either of two predetermined positions each providing a length of traverse arm stroke corresponding with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixed relationship with the support, and means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle for eflecting relative movement between the support and the spindle to successive relative positions in each of which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

10. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, a traverse arm and a pivoted fulcrum lever on said support, upon which the arm is pivoted, movable to either of two predetermined positions each defined by an opening for receiving a spring loaded plunger and each providing a length of traverse arm stroke corresponding with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixed relationship with the support, and means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle for effecting relative movement between the support'and the spindle to successive relative positions in each of which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincideswith the said limiting plane.

11. A niachinefor winding thread on either or" two alternative series of flanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the other series consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination, a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of two predetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane normal to the spindle, a knife mounted for movement in said plane, spindle advancing means selectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle for moving the spindle to a position in which the inner surface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being Wound coincides with the said limiting plane, and means for moving the knife toward the spindle to sever thread between a previously wound bobbin and the one being wound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,032 French et a1 Oct. 11, 1881 2,088,421 Kohlhagen July 27, 1937 2,343,935 Senfieben Mar. 14, 1944 2,373,109 Fitzgerald Apr. 10, 1945 2,578,755 Smithson et a1 Dec. 18, 1951 2,670,147 Joyce Feb. 24, 1954