US3012327A

US3012327A - Method of producing rovings packages of uniform lengths

Info

Publication number: US3012327A
Application number: US651939A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Pim
Original assignee: Johns Manville Fiber Glass Inc
Current assignee: Johns Manville Fiber Glass Inc
Priority date: 1957-04-10
Filing date: 1957-04-10
Publication date: 1961-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-12

Description

R. A. PIM 3,012,327

METHOD OF PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNIFORM LENGTHS Dec. 12, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1957 a: 4! I 4i 4/ 4/ w n w a IN V EN TOR. WM d Q1): BY

7206146 Edi/a e A TTORNEYS R. A. PIM

Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,327

METHOD OF PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNIFORM LENGTHS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1957 3,iil2,327 Fatented Bee. 12, 1961 fire 3,012,327 It'iETHOD F PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNEFORM LENGTHS Richard A. Pim, Water-ville, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Johns-Manville Fiber Glass Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 651,939 Claims. (Cl. 33136) This invention relates to the production of roving packages of uniform length, and more particularly to a method for producing roving packages which are of uniform length within close limits.

A roving as defined in the glass fiber art comprises a plurality of untwisted continuous glass strands, each containing a multiplicity of continuous glass fibers, wherein the strands are arranged in parallel contacting relationship as a single large strand.

Prior methods of producing roving packages have included control of package length or yardage by either weight or diameter of the finished package. However, with the tolerances permitted in previous forming operations on the fiber, and the tolerances permitted in the winding of the roving packages, the yardage varied as much as 20 to 25% from one package to another.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to produce roving packages of uniform yardage within extremely close tolerances.

It is another object to provide a method for winding roving packages of uniform yardage employing a master control strand.

Another object is to provide a method for producing roving packages of uniform yardage employing as the master, a strand of precise length.

A further object is to provide a method for winding roving packages of uniform length within close tolerances wherein a master package containing a single strand previously wound to a precise length, is employed to control the roving package length within extremely narrow limits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for winding master packages of strand of precise length;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of apparatus for winding roving packages of uniform yardage within extremely clear tolerances; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit employed in the apparatus of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus is provided upon which the present method can be practiced for winding a single strand of desired roving'specification into a package of precise length. 'The apparatus includes a strand supply section 10, a strand measuring section 11 and a strand winding section 12. The strand supply section includes suitable support members 13 upon which a plurality of packages 14 of continuous glass fiber strand 15 are adapted to be positioned. Associated with each package 14 is a guide eye 16, positioned upon a suitable support element 17, secured to the package support memher 13.

The strand measuring section 11 includes a metering roll 18 which is adapted to be powered by connection to a suitable motor 19. The metering roll 18 is mounted on a long shaft 20 to which a counting device 21 is connected for determining the number of revolutions thereof. The counter 21 is adapted to be set to actuate an number of yards of the strand 15 as determined by revolution of the metering roll 18. The counter 21 contains a signal lamp 22, in circuit with the switch, which is adapted to be lighted upon actuation of the switch. The switch and lamp 22 are connected in a circuit through a pair of conductive lines 23. The counter 21 is also provided with a set handle 24. Positioned between the strand measuring section 11 and the strand winding section 12 are a plurality of knock off devices 25 having guide eyes 26 corresponding in number to the number of strands 15 to be wound.

The strand winding section 12 includes a power source, such as a motor 27, the shaft 28 of which is connected to a main power shaft 29. The main power shaft 29 is provided with a plurality of pulleys 3t}. Spaced in parallel relation with respect to the main power shaft 29 are a plurality of winding spindles 31. Each of the winding spindles includes a rotatable shaft member 32 provided at one end with a power receiving pulley 33 and upon which shaft is adapted to be mounted a suitable spool in the form of tube 34 for receiv ng strand 15 thereon. The pulleys 33 of the winding spindles 31 are operably connected by belts 35 to appropriate pulleys 30 on the power shaft 29 for receiving power therefrom and are thereby adapted to be rotated. It is to be noted that the winding spindles 31 correspond in number to the individual strands 15 adapted to be Wound from the strand supply section 14 Associated with each winding spindle 31 is a suitable traversing device 36 for moving the strand 15 in a to-and-fro manner across the peripheral surface of the winding tube 34 in forming a master package 37.

The strands 15 from the strand supply section 10 are passed through the guide eyes 16 and looped about the metering roll 18 and passed through the guide eyes 26 of their respective knock offs 25. Thence the strands 15 are directed through the traversing devices 36 to their respective winding spindles 31 where they are Wound into a plurality of master packages 37 of precisely the same length.

By referring to the electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 2, the operation of the machine can be better described. It will be seen that power is supplied to the circuit through a pair of

supply lines

38 and 39, through a main switch 46. Line 38 leads to one side of the motor 27 powering the winding spindles 3-1 and of the motor 19 driving the metering roll 18. The other supply line 39 leads to and through switches 41 of each of the knock off devices 25, connected in series, and thence to the other side of the motors just described. The circuit also includes a two-position switch 42, forming a part of the counting device 21. This two-way switch 42 is normally closed and thus in series with the knock-off switches 41. However, when the Winding operation has proceeded to a desired point as determined by the counting device 21 the two-position switch 4 2 is opened, thus stopping the winding operation. concomitantly with the changes in position of the two position switch 42 the signal lamp 22 forming a part of the counting device 21 is actuated thus signaling an operator that the winding operation is completed.

In the event of breakage of any one of the plurality of strands 15, it will be seen that the knock off device '25 associated therewith is effective to stop the entire operation. This permits the strand 15 to be spliced and the operation again set in motion and completed. It will thus be seen that a plurality of master packages 37 of identical length, each produced under precisely the same conditions of manufacture, will be formed.

A master package, prepared by the aforedescribed method, is then utilized in the apparatus of FIG. 3 for 3 producing a roving package of accurate length. As shown in FIG. 3 the apparatus includes a strand supply section 43 and a roving winding section 44. The strand supply section 43 includes a support comprising a pair of shelves 45 upon which are placed. a set of packages 14' of strand 15. The position of one of the packages 14 is occupied by a master package 37 of strand 46 prepared as previously described. The other master packages 37 are utilized with other sets of packages 14. At each strand package station, a guide unit 47 is provided to direct the strand 15 from the package 14 to the guide eye 48 of a knock ofi unit 49'. The strand 46 from the master package 37 is directed to a knock-oil .unit 50. The knock-oil?

units

49 and 50 are efiective to stop the winding operation in the event of strand breakage. This a precautionary measure to assure that the roving contains the specified number of strands. The roving winding section 44 includes a motor 51, provided with a rotatable shaft or mandrel 52, upon which a tube 53 is adapted to be mounted. The roving winding section 44 also includes a travcrser 54 provided with a guide eye 55. The separate strands including the master strand 46 are gathered by the guide eye 55 of the traverser unit 54 into a roving 56 and thence are directed onto the tube 53- of the winding mandrel 5-2 to form a roving package'57.

The electrical circuit for the apparatus of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a pair of

power supply lines

58 and 59 leading to a master switch 60. Line 58 continues from the master switch 60 to the motor 5 1. The other line 59 alsocontinues to the motor 5-1, being connected to the other side thereof through a plurality of

switches

61 and 62. The switches include a two-way 50 of the master strand 46 and is connected to

lines

58 and 59 through the two position switch 62.

The winding operation is effected by first positioning the

packages

14 and 37 upon the shelves 45 in their proper locations and threading the strands 15 through the guides 48 of their respective knock offs 49, thence through the guide eye 55 of the traverser 54. The main switch 60 of FIG. 4 is then closed and the operation is started. The strand 46 from the master package 37 determines when the operation is completed and when the end of such strand passes through its knock oif device 50, windingis stopped and the rovings package 57 is complete. Passage of the master strand 46 through the knock off 50 causes the two position switch 62forming a part thereof to be moved into circuit with the signal lamp 63 which is'thereby lighted to inform the operator visually of completion of the winding operation.

With regard to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the knock ofis 49 associated with the strands 15 may be q omitted if desired, since commercial specifications for rovings allow a variation of one to two strands. Thus without the knock ofiEs 49, the machine operator observes having observed the break. The knock ofi 50 associated with the master strand 46 is retained, of course, to provide the precise length of the rovings package as previously described by virtue of the precise length of the master strand.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a method for producing roving packages of closely controlled length within narrow tolerances limits. In accordance with the present method an error as low as 0.01% can be retained in roving packages of a'nominal length of 7000 yards. The present method provides a number of advantages including uniformity of product, that is uniformity of package lengths so that manufactu'rers who use roving packages produced by this method no longer need be concerned with the problem of varying yardage as heretofore encountered. The use of automatic controls provides means for attaining absolute uniformity of product. Such controlsalso enable one operator to tend a plurality of machines without danger of packages of non-uniform quality being produced.

It is to be understoodthat the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim: 7

1. The method of winding a roving package which in .cludes the steps of, providing a master strand of continuous andpredeterihined length, providing a plurality of continuous strands of undetermined but greater length than said master strand, associating said plural strands and said master strand into a roving, winding said roving into a package, andautomatically controlling the winding operation by the length of said master strand.

2. The method of winding a roving package which includes the steps of, providing a continuous strand of undetermined length, measuring said strand to a selected length to provide a master strand, providing a plurality of continuous strands of undetermined but greater length than said master strand, associating said strands with said master strand into a roving, winding said roving into a package, and controlling the winding operation by said master strand length. 7

3.'The method of winding roving packagesof highly uniform length including the steps of, providing a plurality of continuous strands of undetermined length, measuring each of said strands to a selected exact length into master strands by means of a common measuring device, providing a plurality of sets of continuous strands of undetermined but greater length than oneof said master strands, associating each of said sets of strands with one of said master strands into a roving, winding said rovings into separate pa'ckage's,-and controlling the winding operation by the lengths of said master strands.

4. The methodof winding a roving package which comprises: providing a master strand of continuous and predetermined length; providing a plurality of other strands; associating said plurality of other strands with said master strand to form a roving equal in length to said master strand; winding said roving into a package; and interrupting the winding operation-in response to a signal initiated by the approach of the master strand end.

5. The method of Winding a plurality of roving packages, which comprises: providing a source of strand; measuring a plurality'of lengths of said strand to form master strands of predetermined and equal lengths; subsequently associating a master strand with a plurality of strands ofindeterminate length to form a roving; winding said roving into a package; discontinuing the winding operation-in response to a signal initiated by the approach of the master strand end; duplicating the preceding three steps with each of the remaining master strands to form a plurality of packages, corresponding to the number of master strands formed, of substantially uniform length.

References Cited in the file of thispatent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,280 Chilton Jan. 3, 1899 1,631,405 Downing June 7, 1927 2,351,411 Doughty June 13, 1944 2,643,306 Hamilton June 23, 1953