US2950068A

US2950068A - Traversing mechanism for winding machine

Info

Publication number: US2950068A
Application number: US624393A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rutgers Ulrich Jan
Original assignee: American Enka Corp
Current assignee: Akzona Inc
Priority date: 1955-12-05
Filing date: 1956-11-26
Publication date: 1960-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-23
Also published as: NL97605C; BE552803A

Description

1960 u. J. RUTGERS 2,950,068

TRAVERSING MECHANISMFORWINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. fl/f/CA Jill [uzjaerfi ATTORNEY ata TRAVERSING MECdM FOR "WINDING MAClfiNE Ulrich Jan Rutgers, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to American Erika Corporation, Erika, N.., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 26, B56, Ser. No. 624,393

Claims priority, application Netherlands Dec. 5, 1955 '5 Claims. (Cl. 242- 33) thread may be evenly distributed along vthe surface thereof. In this type of apparatus the thread usually is supplied at an angle substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the spool, passing first through a stationary thread guide or roller, next through a guide which is reciprocated by a conventional traversing mechanism and then onto the take-up spool.

While the foregoing type of thread winding has been generally accepted commercially, it has the disadvantage of imparting a non-uniform tension to the thread during Winding. The reason for this is that at each end of the traverse stroke the reciprocating thread guide is displaced farther from the stationary guide than when the reciprocating guide is midway of the traverse stroke. Thus the thread is subjected to an increase in tension on at least two occasions during each complete cycle of the traversing mechanism, which not only deleteriously affects the end product of the thread but also produces an unevenly wound package which is diflicult to handle.

In order to overcome the disadvantage of known traversing mechanisms at least partially it has been proposed to mount the stationary thread guide at a greater distance than normal from the spool, to mount the traversing thread guide in conventional manner parallel to and spaced slightly from the surface of the spool and to provide, in addition, an auxiliary thread guiding system, movable in the longitudinal direction of the spool, intermediate the stationary and the traversing thread guides.

This auxiliary thread guiding system comprises a roller which is rotatably attached to an arm, the arm being arranged laterally of the stationary thread guide and having one end pivoted about a fixed point and the other end pivotally connected to the traversing rod on which the traversing thread guide is mounted. The roller is mounted on the arm exactly midway of the fixed pivot and the pivot which couples the arm to the traversing rod. The length of the arm is of such a dimension that the distance between the running-off point of the stationary thread guide and the running-on point of the roller is equal to the distance between the running-off point of the roller and the running-on point of the traversing thread guide. The traversing thread guide in this instance comprises a freely rotatable roller mounted on a cross arm of the traversing rod and a thread guide arm projecting from the rod and having a groove through which the thread passes.

While the foregoing guiding system has advantages over traversing mechanisms heretofore used and theoretically supplies thread to the take-up spool under uniform tension, there are disadvantages which apparently have atent Patented Aug. 23, 1960 prevented the same from achieving commerical success. For example, the aforementioned roller must be mounted exactly equidistant between the stationary pivot and the traverse rod pivot; otherwise the length of thread running between the stationary guide and the traversing roller will not remain constant during the traversal stroke with the result that the thread will undergo a change in tension. Furthermore, the portions of the thread running to and from the auxiliary roller must be laterally shifted in a plane exactly parallel with the direction of movement of the traversing rod or the thread will undergo a change in tension. These and other disadvantages have led to the development of the improved traversing system disclosed herein.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is to provide a winding machine not having the inhertent disadvantages of known machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved winding machine for winding a continuous thread into package form.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thread traversing mechanism for a winding machine which will distribute thread under uniform tension along the surface of the take-up spool. 1

Still another object of this invention is to provide a thread traversing mechanism for a winding machine which will maintain a constant length of thread travel between the stationary thread guide and the traversing thread guide at all times during the winding operation.

In accordance with the present invention applicant inter poses a floating linkage or auxiliary guide mechanism between the stationary thread guide and the traversing thread guide. This linkage consists of two rigid arms, one of which is pivotally mounted to a stationary longitudinal beam and the other of which is pivotally mounted to the traversing rod, with the free ends of the arms being pivotally mounted one to the other. At each pivot point of the system the thread contacting surface of an auxiliary thread guide or eyelet is mounted so as to be coaxial therewith. By providing arms having a total length greater than the distance between the stationary thread guide and the traversing guide when the latter is at the end of a stroke, as shown in the preferred embodiment, the linkage always remains in a broken or unstraightened condition and there is sufiicient linkage to accommodate the space between the stationary and traversing guides at any position. Inasmuch as the overall length of the two rigid arms remains constant, the path of thread travel defined thereby likewise never changes, which results in winding of thread under uniform conditions of tension. By this arrangement the stationary thread guide consists of an eyelet having 'a thread contacting surface mounted coaxially with the stationary pivot point of said linkage and the conventional thread guiding roller,whereas the traversing guide consists of an eyelet having a thread contacting surface mounted coaxially with the reciprocable pivot point of said linkage and the usual projecting thread guide which is provided with a thread contacting groove.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description studied in connection with the drawing, wherein:

The figure is a perspective view of a conventional winding machine embodying one illustration of applicants novel traversing mechanism and omitting certain drive means and apparatus not essential to an understanding of the present disclosure.

A preferred embodiment of a traversing mechanism.

vided a plurality of spaced drive rollers 11 coaxially mounted on a main drive shaft 12 which is driven by any suitable means (not shown). Each of the drive rollers 11 contacts and provides a surface drive for one of the plurality of take up spools 13, it being understood that for each of the spools there is provided a drive roller. Further discussion will be limited to a single winding station since each additional station is substantially a duplicate of the first.

The take-up spool 13 is clamped by conventional means (not shown) on shaft 14, which shaft is rotatably supported, in cantilever fashion, in bearing 15 of spool supporting lever 16. The lever 16 is pivotally mounted on fulcrum 17 and is biased by spring 18 in a direction to resiliently urge the spool 13 into frictional contact with drive roller 11, whereby the latter, when driven, will impart rotation to the former. An extension 20 of lever 16 serves as a handle whereby the spool may be swung outwardly away from drive roller 11 for dofiing purposes. The spool, of course, moves about fulcrum 17 against the action of spring 18 as the winding of thread thereon proceeds. The fulcrum 17 and spool 13 extend in a direction parallel with but spaced from the axis of shaft 12 in order that uniform surface contact will be established between the spool and roller in all positions of fill of the wound package.

Above but closely adjacent to the main drive shaft 12, and parallel therewith, there is provided a traversing rod 21. This traversing rod is slidably mounted in bearings (not shown) and is reciprocated longitudinally by any suitable means (also not shown). A plurality of bars 22, one for each respective winding station discussed supra, are clamped about and therefore reciprocate with the traversing rod 21. Each of these bars projects outwardly and downwardly from the traversing rod and tenninates in a struck up portion defining a thread guiding groove 23 which is positioned so as to overlie the takeup spool 13. It can be seen that as the bar 22 reciprocates longitudinally, thread passing through the groove 23 will be shifted laterally and distributed-uniformly over the surface of the spool. In order to facilitate passage of thread through the groove 23, a guiding eyelet 24 is positioned in alignment therewith and secured to the bar 22 by means 'of stem 25 and suitable retaining means, such as a threaded connection. and the groove 23 in bar 22 constitute and will frequently be referred to hereinafter as the traversing thread guide.

Mounted in spaced relationship above and also parallel with main shaft 12 is a longitudinal beam 26 which serves as a support for structure to be presently described. For each of the winding stations a stub shaft 27 extends outwardly of beam 26 and rotatably supports a thread guide roller 28. Also projecting outwardly from the beam at each winding station is a cross arm 29. The stub shaft 27 and cross arm 29 may be secured to the beam by any appropriate means such as, for example, thread connections and/or welding, respectively, and the cross arm may provide additional support for the stub shaft, as shown in the drawing.

The outer end of cross arm 29 functions as a stationary pivot for the linkage which constitutes the auxiliary thread guide of the present invention and which is identified generally by reference numeral 30. Mounted coaxially with the aforesaid pivot point is a thread guide or eyelet 31 which is supported on the end of stem 32 and which, together with the guide roller 28, forms the stationary guide herein under discussion. Upper arm 33 of applicants novel link-age is pivotally supported by the end of cross arm 29, as stated hereinabove, and lower arm 34 of this linkage is pivotally supported by bar 22 of the traversing thread guide unit. The free ends of

inflexible arms

33 and 34 are pivotally secured one to the other by a pin 35, the outer end of which is shaped to form a third or auxiliary thread eyelet 36. In accordance with this invention, each pivot point of the linkage 30 is coaxialwith the thread guiding or contact- The eyelet 24 ing surface of a respective thread eyelet or guide. For purposes ofconvenience, extensions of the thread eyelets may constitute the pivots. Also, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the length of

arms

33 and 34 has been chosen so as always to exceed the distance between the stationary guide structure and the traversing guide, in any position of the latter. Thus the linkage, which resembles a toggle, always remains in a broken condition, although this is not essential to successful practice of the present invention.

In the operation of applicants device, the group of threads 37 to be wound into individual package form is fed at a uniform speed from a supply source (not shown) by feed rolers 38 which are driven at a uniform velocity by conventional means (also not shown). Each thread 39 emerging flom the feed rollers is directed over a respective guide roller 28, through a relatively stationary guide eyelet 31, auxiliary guide eyelet 36, the traversing thread guide, which comprises eyelet 24 and groove 23, and onto the take-up spool 13.

As the traversing rod 21 reciprocates along the longitudinal axis thereof, the entire linkage 30 oscillates about the outer end of cross arm 29. As pointed out supra, since the overall length of

arms

33 and 34 is constant, and since the pivot points of the arms are coaxial with the thread contacting surfaces of respective thread guides, then the length of thread contained within the guide structure remains constant, resulting in an improved traversal mechanism which distributes the thread over the surface of the take-up spool under uniform tension at all times. This not only produces. a very attractive thread package but also a thread having a much better quality than that heretofore available. When the spool 13 is completely filled, handle 20 may be manipulated in order to expedite dofling in the usual manner.

The above described traversal mechanism may be used in conjunction with any type winding machine which receives threads continuously from a supply source, such as a slasher or a continuous spinning machine wherein a plurality of threads are spun, united to form a series of parallel threads moving at a slight mutual distance in a plane having a rectilinear cross section and thereafter led through a number of aftertreating baths and finally dried.

. While the foregoing description has been generally limited to thread guiding eyelets it is apparent that guiding rollers may be used in some or all of the guiding positions. Moreover, while the preferred embodiment utilizes only two

arms

33 and 34 as component parts of the linkage 30 it is equally evident that a greater number could be used if desired. As an alternative of this, it is also possible to provide a single coil spring attached at one end to the stationary thread guide .and at the opposite end to the traversing thread guide with the thread passing longitudinally through the center thereof. This spring should be of a length in relaxed condition at least equal to the maximum distance between the stationary and traversing guides whereupon the path of thread travel will remain constant at all times. Additionally, a flat spring member or plate having thread guiding eyelets or rollers mounted thereon could be used to accomplish the present invention.

With respect to the overall length of applicants auxiliary guide linkage 30, it is pointed out that the same need not necessarily exceed the maximum distance between the stationary and traversing guides although it is obvious that this length must always at least equal this distance, since it is propsed that the

arms

33 and 34 be constructed from non-elastic material. In other words, the

toggle

33, 34 could straighten in the extreme portions of the traversing stroke, if desired. In order to simplify fabrication of applicants mechanism, however, it is preferred that the total length of the linkage 30 always exceed the maximum distance between the stationary and traversing guides.

It is obvious that the present invention can be used equally effectively with a single or a plurality of winding stations. With respect to the latter, it has been found unnecessary to provide all winding stations with the auxiliary guide disclosed herein. In machines which wind a number of threads into package or spool form and wherein all the threads are supplied from one end, such as shown in the drawing, application of this invention to the winding stations situated nearest to the supply source has been found to sufiice. The inherent elasticity in the threads extending between the feed rollers and remote stationary guide units is sufiicient to compensate for any variations in tension produced by conventional traversing mechanisms.

In order to limit the number of auxiliary guide linkages requiredin a multiple-station winding machine, it is also possible that the linkage 30 be mounted only at the first and last of these stations and that a third or connecting arm extend parallel with the traversing rod 21 and be pivotally attached at one end to the pin 35 of the first linkage 30 .and at the opposite end to the pin 35 of the last linkage 30. Auxiliary guide eyelets or rollers may then be mounted at suitable positions along the length of this third arm, which positions should correspond to respective intermediate winding stations.

It is understood that the foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of this invention except to the extent defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for winding a continuous thread into package form comprising a take-up spool, a traversing thread guide mounted for movement adjacent to and along the surface of said spool, a stationary thread guide for guiding thread from a supply source to said traversing thread guide, and an auxiliary thread guiding mechanism for maintaining the length of thread extending between the traversing and stationary thread guides constant throughout the traverse stroke, said mechanism including a linkage pivotally attached at one end to said traversing thread guide for movement therewith and pivotally attached at the other end to said stationary thread guide, said pivotal connections being coaxial with thread contacting surfaces of said traversing and stationary thread guides, respectively.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage comprises an upper arm and a lower arm, the adjoining ends of which are pivotally connected, and a thread guide having a thread contacting surface mounted coaxial with the pivotal connection between adjoining ends of said upper and lower arm.

3. A machine for winding a plurality of continuous threads into individual pack-age form comprising a plurality of take-up spools axially aligned in spaced relationship, a plurality of traversing thread guides each of which is mounted for movement adjacent to and along the surface of a respective take-up spool, a plurality of aligned stationary thread guides each of which guides a thread from a supply source to one of said traversing thread guides, and a plurality of auxiliary thread guiding mechanisms, one for each of said traversing guides, for maintaining the length of thread extending between respective traversing and stationary thread guides constant throughout the traverse stroke, each of said mechanisms including a linkage pivotally attached at one end to said traversing thread guide for movement therewith and pivotally attached at the end to said stationary thread guide, said pivotal connections being coaxial with thread contacting surfaces of said traversing and stationary thread guides, respectively.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said linkages comprises an upper arm and a lower arm, the adjoining ends of which are pivotally connected and a thread guide having a thread contacting surface mounted coaxial with the pivotal connection between the upper and lower arms of each of said linkages.

5. A machine for winding a plurality of continuous threads into individual package form comprising a plurality of take-up spools axially aligned in spaced relationship, a plurality of traversing thread guides each of which is mounted for movement adjacent to and along the surface of a respective take-up spool, a plurality of aligned stationary thread guides each of which guides a thread from a supply source to one of said traversing thread guides, at least two auxiliary mechanisms each of which comprises an upper arm pivotally supported coaxially with a thread contacting surface on one of said stationary thread guides and a lower arm pivotally supported coaxially with a thread contacting surface on one of said traversing thread guides and the adjoining ends of which are pivotally connected, and means having a thread contacting surface extending coaxially from and supported by each pivotal connection between said arms for guiding the threads in a constant length of travel between said stationary and said traversing guides, respe ctively.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 901,884 Germany v Jan. 18, 1954