US2988299A

US2988299A - Apparatus for supplying yarns

Info

Publication number: US2988299A
Application number: US681822A
Authority: US
Inventors: Macdonald Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-09-03
Filing date: 1957-09-03
Publication date: 1961-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-13

Description

June 13, 1961 w. MACDONALD 2,988,299

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Filed Sept. 3, 1.957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E a INVENTOR WALTER MACDONALD BY M+777W4 ATTORNEYS June 13, 1961 w. MACDONALD 2,983,299

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Filed Sept. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WAL 7'51? MACDONALD BY M-HflzZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,988,299 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Walter Macdonald, 948 Taunton Ave., Seekonk, Mass. Filed Sept. 3, 1957, Ser. No. 681,822 Claims. (Cl. 242156.2)

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying yarns, and more particularly to creels, or the like, for delivering yarns from wound packages.

There are many textile machines which require supplies of individual yarn ends for their operations. As an example, reference is made to twisting machines of the type in which a plurality of strands are supplied from wound packages to a twisting device where they are combined and twisted together into a single yarn. Jacquard looms constitute another type of textile machine in which individual yarn ends are supplied from Wound packages. In these looms, the warp yarns which form the pattern of the fabric being woven must be supplied as individual ends rather than as a warp sheet, because the several yarns are utilized in the weaving process at different rates, depending upon the pattern being formed. Still other examples will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

In almost all of these textile machines, it is essential that the yarns be supplied under uniform predetermined tension. If this requirement is not met, the products produced by the machines may be so irregular as to be unsatisfactory. For example, the lay of the strands in a plied yarn is a function of the tension under which the individual strands are supplied to the twisting head. If one of the strands is supplied under appreciably less tension than the others, the final yarn will be composed of a core about which the slack strand is coiled. While such yarns might be desirable for some applications, it will be evident that for some other applications such yarns would be wholly unsuitable.

Similarly, in the weaving of loop pile and other decorative fabrics, the tensions under which the pile yarns are supplied to the loom are of utmost importance, because variations in tension result in variations in the heights of the pile loops. If the fabrics are to be uniform in appearance it is important that the apparatus for supplying the pile yarns to the loom be capable of close control.

In supplying yarns to these various types of textile machines, it is the practice in some instances to support the yarn packages on frames separable from the textile machines which actually operate upon the yarns. In other instances, however, the yarn packages are mounted directly on the machines themselves. The present invention is applicable, in at least some of its aspects, to both of these situations. Hence, the term creel, as used in this application, will be understood to refer to any type of equipment for holding packages of yarn and delivering the yarns from such packages, whether or not the frame upon which the various elements are mounted actually is separable from the textile machine being supplied.

At the present time, the form of creel most widely used in the textile industry is a very simple structure. It includes a frame of some kind, one or more sets of yarn guides at one end of the frame, and a laterally projecting pin for each of the yarn packages to be supported on the creel. The pin receives the yarn package itself in such a manner that the package may rotate about the axis of the pin as the yarn is withdrawn from the package. Since the internal diameter of the yarn package is greater than the diameter of the pin, it is necessary to insert bushings, or the like, between the pin and the core of the package to make the axis of rotation of the package coincident with the axis of the pin. In this form of creel, the yarn leading from each package is looped around a pairof guide pins and passed directly to one of the yarn guides at the end of the frame. Each yarn is tensioned by suspending one or more U-shaped, hairpin weights upon the portions of the yarn passing respectively to and from the second pin of the pair.

Such creels are subject to a number of disadvantages. One of these is that it is not possible to tension the yarns uniformly. The actual force delivered by the hairpin weights varies with the inclinations of the portions of the strand contacted by such weights, and the force required to rotate the package varies with the diameter of the package.

Moreover, the yarn is guided in such a. fashion that it frequently slips off the ends of the package because of what are known in the trade as cobwebs. Cobwebs result from the spiral disposition of the yarn on the package. At the ends of the package the spiral must be reversed during the winding process, leaving small increments of yarn disposed on the ends of the package rather than upon its circumference. When the unwinding yarn is led away from such a package in a radial direction, and when the point of departure of the yarn from the surface of the package reaches an end of the package, the short length of yarn extending across the end of the package is freed without additional rotation of the package. Therefore, it slips off the package so readily that substantially all tension is removed from the yarn at that moment. When this occurs, the hairpin weights fall rapidly and the yarn frequently is disengaged from the guide pin adjacent the package. Then, the hairpin weights fall to the floor and unwind excessive amounts of yarn from the package, so that the yarn must be again threaded up and the hairpin weights replaced in order to proceed with the textile operation being performed.

Another deficiency in creels of the type now in general use is that the several yarns frequently come into contact with each other with resulting abrasion thereof. This undesirable eifect is attributable to the fact that each yarn leaves its guide pin at a point which moves back and forth as the yarn is drawn from different portions of the surface of the yarn package. The yarn guides at the end of the creel, however, are fixed, with the result that each yarn moves back and forth in a fan-shaped pattern as it is being withdrawn from the creel. Since the rates of delivery of the several yarns in the creel seldom are uniform, it is inevitable that these fan-shaped paths will cross each other from time to time, and where a large number of yarn packages are supported in the creel, the space limitations make it impossible to prevent contact between the crossing yarns. Still another deficiency in creels of this type is that it is not possible to thread up the yarns prior to the time such yarns are to be tied-in with respect to the textile machine in which they are to be utilized. When hairpin weights are employed as the tension means for the yarns, it is essential that the ends of the yarns be positively held in some way. Otherwise, the ends will be drawn by the weight of the pins in a reverse direction from that intended, and it will be necessary to re-thread the creel. Hence, the present practice is to thread the creel at the time of the tying-in operation. This practice is a wasteful one in thatthe machine must be shut down while the creel is being threaded, the ends tied in, and the several hundred hairpin weights placed in proper position.

Some of these deficiencies have been recognized heretofore, and various proposals have been advanced for their correction. However, none of these proposals has come into general use in the textile industry. In some instances the proposed devices have not been effective under actual mill conditions, and in other instances, the proposed structures have been either too expensive or too complicated to use, to be sastisfactory.

It is a general object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for supplying yarns, which will be economical to manufacture, convenient to use, and efficient and durable in operation.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supplying yarns from wound packages at predetermined tensions which will be uniform in spite of variations in the rate of yarn delivery and the diameter of the yarn package.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supplying yarns from wound packages in which the tension of the yarn will not be affected by the existence of cobwebs or other ununiformities in the yarn packages.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a creel construction in which yarns may be delivered from a large number of packages without contacting each other at any time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a creel with yarn tensioning means such that the creel may be threaded up and the tensioning means adjusted prior to the time when it is desired to utilize the yarns in a textile machine. Attainment of this objective makes it possible to keep the textile machine in operation during the period of time required to thread up the creel and place the yarn tensioning means in operative condition. The foregoing and other objects are realized, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a creel having a plurality of yarn guide bars at one of its ends and having a plurality of yarn supplying and tensioning units thereon from which individual yarns may be led to guide openings in the yarn guide bars.

Each of the yarn supplying and tensioning units preferably includes a rotatable spindle for receiving a yarn package such as a cop, a bobbin, or a spool. Such spindle is freely rotatable, but is ordinarily restrained against uncontrolled rotation by means of a brake which includes a braking surface on the spindle and a brake arm biased into contact with such braking surface by means of a spring. The force of this spring may be adjusted as desired to provide a braking force which will conform to the requirements of the textile operation to be performed.

The yarn passing from the package moves over a curved wire guide to a group of rotatable guides, the axes of which are fixed with respect to the axis of the spindle. The curvature of the wire guide and the positions of the guides are factors of considerable importance. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, these factors are selected so that the thread path from any point on the surface of the yarn package to the last of the rotatable guides is of substantially constant length, and so that the yarn is withdrawn from the end portions of the package along paths which are inclined with respect to the length of the package in such a way as 'to glide the cobwebbed portions of the yarn back onto the periphery of the package.

After passing the last of the rotatable guides mentioned above, the yarn is looped 180 degrees around a rotatable guide carried by the brake arm of the unit and is then led over a wire guide from which the yarn may pass to the end of the creel. The yarn passes to and from its rotatable guide along parallel paths and cooperates with the guide in such a way that a force applied to the end of the yarn tends to release the brake. Therefore, the braking action upon the spindle is controlled by the yarn, 'and' the total tension on the feeding yarn is substantially independent of both the rate of feed and the diameter of the package.

In passing from the final guide member of its yarn supplying 'and tension unit, each yarn always proceeds from a fixed point. Thus, the'path of each yar'n to a yarn guide bar at the end of the 'creel is fixed. This characteristic cf the present invention makes it possible to arrange a large number of yarns in the creel in such a manner that their paths never cross or contact each other. In the preferred embodiment, for example, the paths of the yarns are such that the yarns of one group are disposed in a fan-shaped pattern in one plane, whilethe paths of yarns in the other groups are disposed in other planes.

These paths may be established prior to the time when it is desired to tie-in the several yarns in a textile operation, because the tensioning means imposes no force upon a yarn associated therewith until the end of the yarn is pulled. When the yarn is at rest, the entire force of the tensioning spring is applied to the brake arm rather than to the yarn. Thus, it is possible to pre-set the tensioning means on the creel, and by using a suitable knot-tying device, a new set of yarns can be brought into operative relation with respect to a textile machine in a few minutes, as compared with the period of several hours customarily required for a change-over operation.

A better understanding of the invention and its many advantages will be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a yarn supplying and tensioning unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the opposite side of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and showing the spindle of the unit in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the paths taken by a plurality of yarns in one plane as they pass from units of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 to a yarn guide bar at the end of a creel; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portable creel embodying the principles of the invention, and in which a central portion of the creel has been broken away.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the illustrated yarn supplying and tensioning unit 1 includes a base plate or support 2 of suitable material. base plate 2 is not essential in all cases, but it forms a convenient means for grouping the several elements of a yarn supplying and tensioning unit together prior to the attachment of such elements to a creel frame. As illustrated, the base plate 2 is provided with two holes 4 therein, through which screws, bolts, or the like, may be passed to connect the base plate 2 to the frame of a creel.

Fixed rigidly to the base 2 and extending laterally therefrom is an elongated metal pin 6 which receives a spindle 8 thereon for rotation. The spindle 8 may be of molded nylon, or it may be of any other suitable construction that will permit it to rotate freely with respect to the pin 6. It is held in position on the pin 6 by means of a snap ring or washer 10 on the outer end of the pin 6 and is arranged to hear at its inner end against a bushing element 12 integral with or rigidly connected to the base plate 2.

The body of the spindle 8 includes a plurality of tapered laterally projecting fins 14 for engaging the inner surface of a yarn package 16 removab-ly positioned upon the spindle 8. The fins 14 assure that the spindle 8 will rotate with the yarn package 16 at all times.

The package 16 may be of any of the types commonly used in the textile industry. As illustrated, it is a simple cardboard tube having a mass of yarn wound thereon in a spiral pattern conforming to the traverse of the winding mechanism. This type of package is economical to produce and is used extensively in many types of textile operations. It will be understood also that the spindle 8 can be made to various shapes and sizes to accommodate different packages, such as tubes, cones, etc.

The end of the spindle '8 closest to the base plate 2 is enlarged to provide a braking surface 18 extendingc'ir- Ctlmferentially of the spindle. braking surface 18 cooperates with a brake arm 20 mounted for pivotal movement upon a pin 22 fixed rigidly to the base plate 2 of the unit. The arm 20 is confined to swinging movements in a plane substantially parallel to the base plate 2 by means of a bearing member 24 rigid with the base plate 2 and a head 26 on the pin 22.

The brake arm 20 normally is held in contact with the braking surface 18 on the spindle 8 by means of a coil spring 28 extending between a pin 30 on the outer end of the arm 20 and one of a series of fingers 32 suitably fixed in position with respect to the base plate 2. The fingers 32 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention are projections on the edge of a bracket 34. This bracket 34 angular in horizontal cross section, as will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2. The face thereof extending parallel to the base plate 2 is provided with a slot 36 through which a screw 38 may extend into the base plate 2. This construction permits the entire bracket 34 to be shifted along the base plate 2, when desired, to vary the distances between the fingers 32 and the end of the brake arm 20. The bracket 34 is held inrproper alignment during such adjustments by means of a guide 40 fixed to or integral with the base plate 2.

It will be seen that after the bracket 34 has been fixed with respect to the base plate 2, the tension of the spring may be readily changed to any one of four predetermined values, simply by shifting the end of the spring 28 from one of the fingers 32 to another. This principle may be extended to whatever extent seems desirable in a particular application by increasing the number of fingers 32 on the bracket 34. It should be noted that the spring 28 may be detached easily from both the pin 30 and the finger 32. Therefore, if the adjustments just described should prove inadequate for some particular application, the replacement of the spring 28 with a spring of different size would be a very simple operation.

The unit 1 also includes an elongated wire 42 fixed rigidly at its ends to the base plate 2 and extending laterally therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the spindle 8. The wire 42 is shaped to provide an elongated, smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface 44 and two spring loops 46 on the side thereof opposite the curved surface 44. The loops 46 receive and hold mounting plugs 48 which carry pins 50 projecting laterally from the side thereof opposite the spindle 8.

Circumferentially grooved yarn guides 52 and 54 are rotatably mounted upon these pins 50. A third, circumferentially grooved yarn guide 56 is rotatably mount ed upon the pin 30 projecting from the outer end of the brake arm 20, and it is preferred that this guide 56 be positioned in the same plane as the

guides

52 and 54.

The unit 1 also includes a straight wire 58 fixed at one of its ends to the base plate 2 and extending laterally therefrom adjacent that portion of the wire 42 containing the loops 46. The inner end portion of the wire 58 serves as a guide for the yarn passing from the rotatable guide 56 and, as will be apparent as the description proceeds, the outer end portion of the wire 58 may serve as a support for other yarns in the creel.

The relationships between the several parts just described can be understood most readily by considering the path of a yarn 60 passing from the package 16 to the final wire guide 58. The yarn 60 passes from the package 16 around the curved surface 44 of the wire 42, around a portion of the circumference of the rotatable guide 52, around a portion of the circumference of the rotatable guide 54, around a portion of the circumference of the rotatable guide 56, and then over the wire guide 58. After the yarn 60 passes over the wire guide 58, it is led away from the unit 1 in a direction approximately parallel to the base plate 2, and, therefore, this portion of the yarn 60 is not visible in FIG. 1. If the yarn path were illustrated FIG. 3, this portion would appear as a straight line extending to the right from the upper edge of the wire 58 in a direction approximately parallel to the upper edge of the base plate 2.

. It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the rotatable guide 52 is disposed intermediate the ends of the yarn package 16 and approximately at the center of curvature of the curved yarn-guiding surface 44 of the wire 42. Therefore, as the yarn 60 is. withdrawn from the package 16, it moves back and forth along the curved surface 44 in accordance with the changes in the point of depasture of the yarn 60 from the periphery of the package 16 which result from the spiral or helical disposition of the yarn on the package. In the illustrated yarn path, the yarn leaves an end portion of the package 16 and passes over an adjacent end portion 61 of the surface 44. At other times, however, the yarn 60 will lead from a central portion of the yarn package 16 over a central portion 62 of the curved surface 44, and will lead from the opposite end portion of the package 16 over the opposite end portion 63 of the curved surface 44.

Two characteristics of the curved, yarn-guiding surface 44 are of particular interest. One is that the

end portions

61 and 63 of this surface 44 over which the yarn 60 moves in passing fiom the end portions of the package 16 to the rotatable guide 52, are located intermediate the ends of the package 16. Consequently, the path taken by the yarn 60 in passing from the package 16 to the curved surface 44 of the wire 42 is such that, as the unwinding yarn approaches the end of the package 16, it is being pulled away from the package 16 in a direction having an axial component as well as a radial component. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, for example, it will be seen that the portion of the yarn 60 between the package 16 and the curved surface 44 of the wire 42 extends to the left of this view. As will be apparent, this arrangement automatically eliminates cobwebs, becausethe direction of removal of the yarn from the package 16 draws the yarn back onto the periphery of the package. Hence, these portions unwind in a manner similar to those portions of the yarn disposed on the circumference of the package 16.

The significance of this result will be evident when it is recalled that, in other creel constructions, cobwebs cause a great deal of difficulty. As explained above, the type of creels most widely used prior to the present invention have no means or provisions for disentangling cobwebs and the cobwebbed portions of the yarn are permitted to slip off the ends of the package, so that the effectiveness of the yarn-tensioning means is interrupted and the yarn often becomes so entangled that it is necessary to rethread the creel and reset the hairpin tensions. The present invention entirely overcomes this difficulty.

The other characteristic of the curved yarn-guiding surface 44 which should be noted particularly is that its central portion 62 is spaced substantially farther away from the axis of the package 16 than are its

end portions

61 and 63. This minimizes those variations in the length of the yarn path from the package 16 to the rotatable guide 54 which might otherwise result from the traverse of the yarn from end to end of the package 16 as it is being withdrawn. Hence, the traverse of the yarn produces no variations in yarn tension.

Another portion of the yarn path which warrants special attention is that which extends between the guide 54 and the guide 58. It will be noted that in this portion, the yarn passes in two substantially parallel but oppositely directed courses. Each of these courses is substantially parallel to the plane in which the brake arm 20 moves as it swings about its pivot 22. This relationship is important because, changes in the position of the guide 56 carried by the brake arm 20, do not afiect the loading of the yarn 60 passing around the guide 56. Throughout the entire range of brake arm movements normally to be anticipated in the operation of the unit 1, the courses of the yarn 60 leading to and from the guide 56 are in alignment with the direction in which the force of the spring 28 is applied to the brake arm 20.

The significance of this relationship can perhaps be best understood by contrasting the results produced with those customarily produced by the hairpin weights now extensively used in creels. The force applied by such weights is always directed downwardly, but the yarn is not always horizontal. Its inclination varies in accordance with the rate of feed, as well as other factors. Consequently, the effective force applied to the yarn by the weights varies approximately in accordance with the angle of inclination of the yarn.

When a force is applied to the end of the yarn 60, the load of the spring 28 is shifted, at least partially, from the bearing surface 18 of the spindle to the yarn 60. In practice, this takes place quite rapidly, but it may be helpful to visualize the situation as one in which the tension in the yarn is built up gradually. Initially, the force applied by the yarn to the guide 56 will not be suficient to balance the force of the spring 28, and the braking action between the brake arm 20 and the bearing surface 18 on the spindle 8 will be sufficient to maintain the spindle 8 and the pack-age 16 stationary. As the tension builds up, however, the braking force on the spindle 8 will gradually diminish. Eventually, a point will be reached at which the yarn tension will exceed the frictional resistance of the brake. At this point, the package 16 will rotate to let off the yarn 60. When no more yarn is required by the textile machine, the brake arm 20 will again be applied to the braking surface 18 under the force of the spring 28.

Although it will be evident that the yarn supplying and tensioning unit 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 might be used to advantage in any environment in which it is desired to supply yarns from Wound packages at uniform tensions, it is especially advantageous when used in cooperation With similar units in a creel or the like, where a plurality of yarns are supplied to a textile machine. FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view which suggests one of the advantages to be obtained in utilizing the unit of FIG. 1 in a creel. For purposes of orientation, this view may be considered a plan view of the creel. However, this is not essential, because the apparatus of this invention can be operated at various inclinations with respect to the vertical without altering its performance in any way.

In FIG. 5, the creel frame has been designated generally by the numeral 64. At its forward end, it carries a horizontally extending guide bar 65 having holes therein at intervals along its length for the reception of yarns '66 passing from the creel to some textile machine. Also illustrated in FIG. 5 are two groups of yarn tensioning and supplying units 1 and 1', each of which conforms generally in construction to the unit 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. The only difference between the units 1 and 1' is that the units 1 are assembled for right hand mounting and the units 1 are assembled for left hand mounting.

The units of the two groups are disposed upon opposite sides of the creel frame 64. The units 1 of one group cooperate with one side of the guide bar 65 and the units 1 of the other group cooperate with the other side of the guide bar 65. The several units are attached to the creel frame 64 with their guide wires 58 disposed in the same horizontal plane as the guide bar 65 at the front end of the creel. Hence, as illustrated, the yarns 66 from a group of the units 1 or 1 leave their respective units at points disposed on a line perpendicular to the guide bar 65, and they are all disposed in the same plane. Contact between the yarns of each group is prevented by leading the yarn from the unit closest to the guide bar 65 through the innermost hole therein, by leading the yarn from the second unit of the group through the sec and hole in the guide bar 65, etc. This arrangement res ults ina fan-shaped pattern in which each yarn moves 7 through a fixed path, and in which the paths of the sev- 8 eral yarns are spaced from each other at all times. Since the yarns never come into contact with each other, the present invention eliminates the yarn-to-yarn abrasion which has been characteristic of prior creels.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 4, attention is invited to the fact that the straight guide wire 58 of the unit 1 is elongated and is disposed above the other elements of the unit 1. Since only the inner end portion of this wire 58 is contacted by the yarn from the package 16 carried by the unit 1, a substantial portion of its length is available to serve as a support for other yarns. This is advantageous in connection with the fan-shaped thread pattern shown in FIG. 5, because the yarn from each of the units 1 or 1', except those unitsimmediately adjacent to the guide bar 65, must pass over units. The wires 58 support these yarns so that they will not snag and become entangled with the packages beneath them.

The fan-shaped pattern shown in FIG. 5 may be repeated again and again in difierent horizontal planes, so that the entire creel may supply a very large number of yarn ends. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The creel frame 64 shown in FIG. 6 includes, a base 68 made up from a plurality of pieces of metal welded or otherwise secured together. Extending along the central axis of the base 68 are two fixed members 70 suitably spaced apart for the reception of the lower ends of a number of vertical channel members 72. Each of the channel members is welded or otherwise secured to the members 70 in such a manner as to make the frame 64 a rigid structure. A cap bar 74 is connected to the upper ends of the several vertical channel members 72.

As illustrated, the creel in FIG. 6 is portable, in that the base 68 is provided with casters or wheels 76 and 78. It is preferred that the Wheels 78 be mounted for swivelling movements to enhance the maneuverability of the creel.

Each of the vertical channel members 72, except the end one shown at the right of FIG. 6, carries a vertical series of yarn supplying and tensioning units 1 and 1, of the type illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1 to 4, on each of its lateral faces. The scale of FIG. 6 is such that it is not possible to illustrate the individual units completely, but enough of the structure of each of the illustrated units has been shown so that, by referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the reader will readily understand the disposition of the units.

Moreover, it will be noted that only a few of the units 1 and 1' have been illustrated in FIG. 6. In practice, each of the vertical channels 72 may carry a complete series of the units on each of its lateral faces. The number of units in such a series would conform to the number of horizontally extending guide bars 65 attached to the endmost channel member 72 of the frame 64. It will be understood, therefore, that the complete creel would present a plurality of vertically spaced thread patterns similar to that suggested in FIG. 5.

Although a specific embodiment of the inventionhas been described in detail, various modifications and variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Moreover, it will be evident that it is not always essensential that all of the novel features of the invention be utilized together. It is intended, therefore, that the foregoing description be considered as exemplary only, and that the scope of the invention be ascertained from the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages, comprising rotatable spindle means for supporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surface disposed thereon, a rigid brake arm mounted "for swinging movement into and out of contact with said braking surface and being normally biased into contact with such braking surface, a yarn guide carried by said brake arm, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from said package along a path such that said 'yarn is delivered to said yarn guide, carried by said brake armin approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under the influence of the bias applied to said brake arm and is delivered from said guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, 'when said yarn is tensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is applied to said yarn guide in a direction tending to cause said brake arm to move against its bias and reduce the braking force exerted thereby ,upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

2. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages, comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base for supporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surface disposed between said package and said base, a rigid brake arm pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said braking surface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging it into contact with said braking surface, a yarn guide mounted on said brake arm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from said package along a path such that said yarn is delivered to said yarn guide in approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under the influence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, when said yarn is lensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is applied to saidyarn guide in such a direction as to balance, at least partially, the force exerted by said spring upon said brake arm and thereby to reduce the braking force exerted by said brake arm upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

3. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages, comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base for supporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surface disposed between said package and said base, a brake arm pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said braking surface, a group of spring-holding elements adjustably fixed to said base with the several elements being disposedat different distancesfrom the path of said brake arm, a spring connected to said brake arm and connected also to a selected one ofsaid spring-holding elements for providing a regulatable bias urging said brake arm into contact with saidbraking surface, ayarn guide mounted on said brake arm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from said package along a path such that said yarn is delivered to said yarn guide in approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under the influence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, when said yarn is tensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is applied to said yarn guide in such a direction as to balance, at least partially, the force exerted by said spring upon said brake arm and thereby to reduce the braking force exerted by said brake arm upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

4. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages, comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base for supporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surface disposed between said package and said base, a rigid brake arm pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said braking surface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging it into contact with said braking surface, a rotatable yarn guide mounted on said brake arm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from said package along a path having an elongated U-shaped portion in which said yarn is delivered to said yarn guide in approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves-under the influence of said spring, is passed approximately around said yarn guide, and is delivered from said yarn guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, when said yarn is tensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is applied to said yarn guide in such a direction as to balance, at least partially, the force exerted by said spring upon said brake arm and thereby to reduce the braking force exerted by said brake arm upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

5. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number of generally helical layers, comprising a base, a spindle rotatably mounted on said base for supporting the yarn package and having a peripheral braking surface disposed between said package and said base, a rigid brake arm pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said braking surface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging it into contact with said braking surface, a yarn guide carried by said brake arm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from the package along a path such that the yarn is drawn from the end portions of the package in directions having both radial and axial components and such-that said yarn is delivered to said yarn guide in approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under the influence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction.

6. Apparatus for controlling the delivery Olf yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is wound in the form of a large number of generally helical layers, comprising means for mounting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarn guide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package 'and having an elongated, smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a second yarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent a point in said plane approximately at the center of curvature of said yarn-guiding surface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery of the package over said surface, said yarn-guiding surface including a central portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to said second yarn guide, said end portions of said surface being disposed intermediate the ends of said package, whereby the yarn is withdrawn from each end of the package in a direction having both radial and axial components.

7. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is wound in the form of a large number of generally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle for supporting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spindle, a first guide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated, smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a second yarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent a point in said plane approximately at the center of curvature of said yarn-guiding surface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery of the package over said surface, said yarn-guiding surface including a central portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to said second yarn guide, said end portions of said surface being disposed intermediate the end portions of said package, whereby the yarn is withdrawn from each end 11 of the package in a direction having both radial and axial components.

8. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number of generally helical layers, comprising means for mounting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarn guide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated, smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a second yarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent a point in said plane approximately at the center of curvature of said yarn-guiding surface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery of the package over said surface, said curved yarn-guiding surface including a central portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to said second yarn guide, said central portion of said surface being spaced substantially farther than said end portions of said surface from the line formed by the intersection of said plane with a plane perpendicular thereto and containing the axis of the package, whereby variations in the length of the yarn path from the periphery of the package to said second yarn guide, as the yarn moves back and forth along said curved surface in accordance with changes in the point of departure of the yarn from the package, are minimized.

9. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number of generally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle for supporting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spindle, a wire guide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated, smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a rotatable yarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent said plane with its axis approximately perpendicular to said plane at a point close to the center of curvature of said yarn-guiding surface, said curved yarnguiding surface including a central portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to said rotatable yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to said rotatable yarn guide, said central portion of said surface being spaced sub-- stantially farther than said end portions of said surface from the line formed by the intersection of said plane with a plane perpendicular thereto and containing the axis of the package, and said end portions of said surface being disposed intermediate the ends of said package.

10. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generally cylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number of generally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle for mounting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarn guide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated, smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, a second yarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery of the package over said surface, said curved yarn-guiding surface including a central portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to said second yarn guide, the lengths of the yarn paths from the end portions of the package over said surface to said second yarn guide being substantially equal to the length of the yarn path from the central portion of the package over said surface to said second yarn guide, said spindle having a braking surface thereon, a rigid brake arm movable into and out of engagement with said braking surface, a spring urging said brake arm into engagement with said braking surface for retarding rotation of said package, and a yarn guide carried by said brake arm for guiding said yarn so that the tension in the yarn opposes the force of said spring to reduce the braking force on the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,410 Colman June 5, 1917 1,483,563 Wells Feb. 12, 1924 1,547,596 Longvall July 28, 1925 1,589,435 Scott June 22, 1926 2,542,097 Shaffer et a1 Feb. 20, 1951 2,768,797 Herbert et a1. Oct. 30, 1956