US3072350A

US3072350A - Builder mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3072350A
Application number: US108890A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon C Anderson; Garfield B Ingraham
Original assignee: Saco Lowell Shops
Current assignee: Saco Lowell Shops
Priority date: 1961-05-09
Filing date: 1961-05-09
Publication date: 1963-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-08
Also published as: ES277187A1; CH406924A; DE1685972B1; GB1005012A; GB1005013A; DE1290856B

Description

1963 G. c. ANDERSON EIAL 3,07

BUILDER MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JfM Z M lllllllllllll IUIHI 1963 G. c. ANDERSON ETAL 3,

BUILDER MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1963 s. c. ANDERSON ETAL 3,072,350

BUILDER MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1961 3 Sheet s-Sheet 3 United States Patent Ofihce 7 3,072,350 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,0723% BUILDER MEQHANESM Gordon C. Anderson, Clemson, 5.C., and Garfield B. lngraham, Falmouth, Maine, assiguors to Seen-Lowell Shops, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed May 9, 1%1, Ser. No. ltlhfihi) 14 Claims. (Cl. 242-261) The present invention relates to improvements in a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movements for winding strand on a package, and more particularly to an improved builder motion for producing traversing movement of said braversing elements.

A builder motion suitable for use in a twister frame comprises normally a builder cam and follower means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to said traversing elements, a pick motion by means of which a stepped advance or dislocation of said reciprocatory movement of the traversing elements for building the pack-age is effected, a Windlass shaft disposed transversely of the machine, and tape connections therefrom extending lengthwise of the machine by means of which the traversing elements are supported, and a compensating takeup device which acts on the Windlass shaft to counterbalance the weight of the traversing elements transmitted to said shaft through said tape connections.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide for use in a twister frame an improved builder mechanism which is of simple, compact construction, and which will operate with a high degree of accuracy and efliciency.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improved pick motion having differential gears and a planetary control gear by means of which oscillatory and stepped advancing movements are imparted to the builder shaft and traversing elements supported thereby.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved torsion bair compensating tension device adapted for maintaining a constant tension upon a member movable over a limited range corresponding with a substantial range of distortion of said bar.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved compensating take-up mechanism for the builder motion which consists basically of a torsion rod of substantial length by means of which an even compensating takeup pressure is applied against the Windlass shaft and which is of sufficient strength to overbalance the weight of the traversing elements referred to, and which thus acts to maintain the entire builder system including the cam and follower elements in firm engagement with one another.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic means for resetting the builder mechanism at the end of the package winding operation when the packages are doifed from the twister frame and the elements of the builder mechanism including the traversing elements referred ,to are returned to the initial low starting position.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide means for releasing and automatically returning the difierential pick motion of the illustrated construction to its initial starting position.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the several features of the invention consist also in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained hereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat fragmentary View of the builder mechanism for a twister frame provided in accordance with the present invention looking from the inside toward the end of the machine and showing particularly the builder cam and follower mechanism, the pick motion, the Windlass shaft, and the compensating tension device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the Windlass shaft, the tapes connected thereto, and the winddown mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. '3 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of the pick motion taken on a line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view looking from the left of substantially the parts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on a line 55 of FIG. 3 to illustrate particularly the pawl and ratchet and shieldmechanism of the pick motion;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of FIG. 3 toshow particularly the overrunning clutch interposed between the pick motion and Windlass shaft; and FIG 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view on a small scale illustrating the manner in which ring rail and associated parts are supported from the Windlass shaft by means of tapes.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a twister frame which may be of ordinary description consisting of a long frame 20 including a rail 22 which provides mountings for a series of rapidly rotating spindles. Inasmuch as the spindles together with their driving mechanisms are well known and more specifically no part of the present invention, no particular illustration or description thereof is included herewith.

. support bars 28 on each of which are mounted a series of balloon control rings '30, and a pair of thread guide supporting rails 32 on each of which are mounted a series of thread guides 34. The ring rails 24 are supported at intervals along their length by means of tapes 36 which extend along the length of the machine and are provided at intervals with extension passing around idler pulleys 38. Each tape 36 is secured at the base end to a pulley 40 formed integral with a sleeve 41 which is fixed by means of a pin 42 to a Windlass shaft 44 which extends transversely across the end of the machine.

The thread guide supporting rails 32 are mounted on tapes 46 each of which extends along the length of the machine and is provided at intervals with extensions which pass around supporting rollers 48. The tapes are secured at their base ends to nullevs 59 formed on the sleeves 41 secured to the Windlass shaft 44.

The balloon control rails 28 are similarlv supported by tapes 52 which extend alone the len th of the machine and are provided at intervals with extensions which pass around supporting rollers 54. Said tapes 52 are secured at their base ends to pullevs 56 fast on a sleeve 59 which is normallv secured to turn with the Windlass shaft by a locking device hereinafter to be described.

There is also connected with the Windlass shaft 44 a com ensatin tension assem lv which acts to rotate the Windlass shaft 44 in a direction co nter to the bias of the rin rail faves 36. and thread uide rail tapes 46. Said com ensating tension assembly comprises a chain 66 which is connected at its unner end to a pullev 62 formed on one of the Windlass shaft sleeves 41. The chain 6ft extends downwardly around a guide roller 64 and is connected at its lower end to a cam member 66 which is adjustably mounted on a pivot pin 67 between a pair of

arms

68, 70 formed on a bracket 71 which is rotatably supported in a bearing member 76 and is rigidly secured at one end to a torsion bar 72 to rotate therewith about the torsion bar axis. The torsion bar 72 is placed under a twisting or torsion strain which serves to exert a downward bias on the cam member 66 and chain 60 sufficient to slightly overbalance the bias of the

tapes

36 and 52. In accordance with the invention, a torsion bar is utilized of substantial length which may be roughly equal to the full length of the machine, for example, thirty or forty feet.

The cam contour of the cam member 66 is selected with relation to the characteristics of the torsion bar, the amount of the counter balance torque, and chain let off to provide a variable effect lever arm length which will compensate at all times for variations in the torque exerted by the torsion bar to maintain a constant counterbalance during movement of the thread guiding instrumentalities from the bottom to the top position, and during the corresponding untwisting movements of the torsion bar 72.

While it is possible as above pointed out to plot a cam to maintain a constant counterbalance with respect to any given set of conditions, it will be understood that any change of said conditions such as would be brought about, for example, by the installation of a new torque rod, will necessitate a new cam profile. This adjustment is made with the present construction by adjusting the angular position of the cam member 66 about its pivot 67, which is accomplished by changing the setting of a stop screw 80 an oscillatory and stepped advancing movement is im-, parted to the tapes and thread traversing elements actuated thereby includes a builder cam 82 which is mounted on a continuously rotating shaft 84, and a cooperating follower roll 86 carried on a cam follower lever 88 horizontally disposed beneath the cam 82. The follower lever 88 is pivoted at 90 to a fixed portion of the machine and at its free end is slotted to receive pivot pin 92 which is adjustable therein lengthwise at the lever 88. A link 94 and chain 96 connect the cam follower lever 88 with the input element of a differential pick mechanism by means of which the oscillatory movement of the builder cam and follower assembly, modified to produce in addition thereto a small stepped advance in the limits of said movements, are transmitted to the Windlass shaft 44, supporting tapes, and traversing elements for winding a package.

The differential pick mechanism of the present construction comprises an input differential gear 98 mounted on a sleeve member 100 which is in turn freely rotatable V on an inner sleeve 102 carried on a core shaft 104 of the pick assembly.

An output differential gear 106 carried on a sleeve member 108 freely rotatable on the core shaft 104 is mounted in parallel relation to the input differential gear 98. Both said gears are provided with internal gear teeth, the output gear 106 having one less tooth than the input gear 98. A planet gear 110 is arranged to mesh continuously with both said gears, being mounted to turn on a pivot 112 carried by an offset frame 114 attached to the inner sleeve 102 above referred to.

The position of the planet gear 110 with relation to the input differential gear 98 is controlled to impart an oscillatory movement to the output differential gear 106, and in addition thereto, a stepped advancing movement of the output differential gear 106 with relation to the input differential gear 98 for each oscillation of the input gear 98 through connections which include a ratchet wheel 116 secured to the inner sleeve 102 to turn as a unit with the planet gear supporting frame 114. A pair of

pawls

118, 120 mounted on a stationary pivot 122 are arranged when engaged with the ratchet wheel 116 to lock the ratchet wheel 116 and planet gear supporting frame against rotational movement with the input differential gear 98 so that the planet gear 118 is caused to rotate on its pivot to ad- 4 vance the output differential gear 106 With relation to the input differential gear 98.

The operation of the

pawls

118 and 120 is controlled by means of a shield 124 secured by means of a split clamp 126 to the supporting sleeve member for the input differential gear 98. The shield 124 is of substantial size causing the pawls 118, to be held in a raised inoperative position at all times during reciprocatory movement of the input differential gear except for a small portion of said movement at one end of the stroke when the pawls are permitted to engage the ratchet wheel 116. With this arrangement the planet gear normally moves bodily as a unit with the two input and output differential gears 98 and 106, operating as a locking device to oscillate said gears as a unit. When the ratchet wheel 116 and planet gear supporting frame 114 are held by said engagement of said

pawls

118, 120 therewith, the planet gear is rotated by the continued movement of the input differential gear 98 thus producing a small increment of advancing movement of the output differential gear 106 with relation to the input differential gear 98.

The pick mechanism above described is provided also with means for automatically resetting the pick mechanism upon completion of the winding operation as one step in conditioning the machine for the winding of new packages thereon. To this end the output differential gear 106 is connected by means of a one-way clutch to a driven member which is in turn connected with the windlass shaft assembly above described. The clutch referred to is of the cylinder and wedge type comprising a pair of clutch rolls 130 mounted in wedge-shaped recesses 132 in the inner face of the sleeve hub of a driven member 134 loosely mounted to turn on the sleeve hub 108 of the output differential gear 106. The clutch rolls 130 are brought into wedging engagement with the inner and outer sleeves by the draw-off bias exerted on the driven member 134- in the wind up or winding element raising direction by the take-up action of torsion bar 72 as hereinafter more fully pointed out. A chain is attached at one end to the periphery of the driven member 134 and at its other end to a pulley 142 which is formed on one of said sleeves 41 secured to the Windlass shaft 44 by means of a pin 42.

The arrangement of the pick mechanism, builder cam assembly, the Windlass shaft assembly, the compensating takeup mechanism and the several operating connections therebetween is such that the overbalancing bias imparted by the torsion bar 72 acts normally to keep the follower lever 88 and roll 86 in operative engagement with the builder cam 82, engages the

overrunning clutch

130, 132 above described, and at the same time maintains a torque strain on the elements of the differential mechanism which is normally effective to prevent rotating or Walking of the planet gear with relation to the input and output differential gears during the reciprocatory movements of the input differential gear 98.

A further element of the means for automatically resetting the pick mechanism comprises a coiled rewind torsion spring 144 which is wrapped around and extends along the periphery of the input and output differential gears 98 and 106 being secured at one end to a bracket 146 on the input differential gear 98 and at its other end to a bracket 150 on the driven member 134. The torsion spring 144 tends to rotate the driven member 134 in the opposite a direction from the bias exerted by the compensating torsion bar 72.

In the winding of a bank of packages on the machine the continued operation of the pick mechanism will cause the continuously oscillating output differential gear 106 and driven member 134 to be gradually moved ahead with relation to the continuously oscillating input differential gear 98 in the same direction, as and under the influence of the bias exerted by the compensating torsion bar 72. This relative movement of the driven member 134 and input differential gear 98 winds the reset torsion spring which as above noted is of less strength than the bias exerted by the compensating torsion bar 72.

At the end of the winding operation the machine is conditioned for the winding of a new set of spools. This operation includes the usual clotting of the loaded spools, and the winding down of the Windlass shaft assembly including the ring rails, the threaded guide supporting rails and the balloon control ring support bars preparatory for Winding the new spools. The operating connections for effecting this winding down operation of the Windlass shaft assembly include said sleeve member 59 normally connected to the Windlass shaft 44 and a large gear 156 formed on the sleeve member 59, which meshes with a small driving pinion 158 on a hand crank shaft 160 adapted to be operated by a hand crank 162. The sleeve member 59 is operatively connected to rotate the Windlass shaft by means of a cross pin 164 secured to a control rod 166 mounted for longitudinal movement in an axial bore in the Windlass shaft 44. The cross pin 164 extends outwardly through a slot 168 in the Windlass shaft 44 and at its outer end is normally engaged in a longitudinal slot 170 in the sleeve member 59 so that the sleeve member 59 and Windlass shaft 44 are locked to turn as a unit. A compression spring 175 surrounding the control rod 166 between shouldered portions of the control rod and its supporting bore holds the rod and cross pin 164 normally in locking position. Inward movement of the control rod causes the cross pin 164 to engage in an annular groove 172 in the sleeve member 59 so that the sleeve 59 is free to turn on the Windlass shaft 44.

The operator using the hand crank 162 turns down the entire thread winding assembly including the Windlass shaft 44, the connecting straps, the ring rails, the thread guide rails and the balloon control ring support bars against the pressure of the compensating torsion bar 72. When the low point is reached, a spring pressed detent plunger 176 mounted in a recess 178 in the face of one of said sleeves 41 rides into a cooperating recess 184) formed in an adjacent fixed surface of themachine to lock said thread winding assembly in the low position. By depressing the control rod 166 and thus forcing pin 164 out of slot 170 into the annular recess 172, it is possible to rotate sleeve 59 relative to the locked Windlass shaft 44. This permits further lowering of the control rings relative to ring rails and thread guides to facilitate dofiing. The continued movement of the control rings and sleeve 59 is checked by means of a stop device which comprises a chain 186 connected at one end to a lug 183 on the sleeve 5h. The chain 186 passes downwardly through an aperture in the machine frame and is provided at its lower end with a stop element 1% which is adjustably secured to the chain to be brought upwardly against the underside of the frame by said continued movement of the sleeve 59. After dofiing, counter rotation of the sleeve 59 results in the pin 164 snapping back into the slot 170 under the influence of spring 175, consequently locking sleeve 59 in relation to sleeve 41 and the Windlass shaft 44. Said detent plunger 176 is subsequently moved to inoperative position when it is desired to start the new Winding operation by means of a manually operable release plunger 182 which is mounted in the recess 181i and is normally held in a retracted position by means of a coiled compression spring 184.

The operation of the means for automatically resetting the pick mechanism is as follows:

it will be understood that during the winding down operation, the Windlass shaft 44 is rotated in the reverse or clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4, thus relieving the pressure normally exerted by the torsion rod 72 upon ing down of the indlass shaft 44 until further movement of said driven member 134 is arrested by engagement of the stop bracket on the periphery of the driven member 134 with the cooperating stop bracket 146 on the input differential gear 98.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements comprising means constructed and arranged to produce a predetermined pattern of cyclical traversing movement of said traversing element, and a pick mechanism comprising a differential device connected between said oscillato'ry builder motion producing means and said traversing elements adapted for transmitting said pattern of movement and for advancing said pattern to wind said package, including a rotary input element, a connection from said cyclical traversing movement producing means for imparting rocking movement to said rotary input element, a rotary output element supported parallel to and adjacent said rotary input element, a rotary control element providing a differential connection between said rotary input and output elements for oscillating said output element with said input element and for each oscillation of said input element in one direction imparting a stepped advancing movement to said rotary output element with relation to said input element, connections including a clutching device between said rotary output element and said traversing elements, and means for controlling said clutch to maintain a solid connection between said rotary output element and said traversing means, and alternatively to permit a return movement of said traversing means relative to said rotary input element.

2. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, a builder mechanism for producing traversing movements of said traversing elements, a builder cam and follower means constructed and arranged to produce a predetermined pattern of cyclical traversing movement of said traversing elements, a pick mechanism which comprises a rotary input element, and a connection from said builder cam and follower means for continuously oscillating said rotary input element, a rotary output element, a control device connecting said output element to oscillate with said input element and for a stepped advancing movement with relation thereto, a one-way clutching device including a driven element, said device being connected between said output element and said traversing element, means for winding down said traversing elements, and means operable during said winding down for automatically turning said driven ele ment in the reverse direction.

7 3. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism including means to produce an oscillatory builder motion, a Windlass shaft and connections therefrom supporting said traversing elements for oscillatory movements with said shaft, a pick motion connected between said oscillatory motion producing means and said Windlass shaft comprising a rotary input element connected to be continuously oscil ated by said oscillatory builder mechanism, a rotary output element, a control device connecting said output element to oscillate with said input element and for a stepped advancing movement with relation thereto, input and output clutching elements having a one-way clutching engagement interposed between said rotary output element and said Windlass shaft providing a solid connection in response to a bias of said Windlass shaft in said step advance direction, biasing means normally biasing said Windlass shaft in said step direction, and a rewind device connected between said rotary input element and said output clutching element acting when rendered operative to rotate said output clutching element relative to said rotary input element in a reverse rewind direction.

4. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, and a builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements including a reciprocating motion producing means, and means for supporting and for transmitting said reciprocatory movements to said traversing elements the combination of a compensating tension device connected to substantiaily offset the weight of said traversing elements comprising a torsion bar of substantial length connected with said means for supporting and transmitting said reciprocatory movements to said traversing elements, an operating connection between said torsion bar and said Windlass shaft including a lever arm attached to said torsion bar having an effective length variable to offset variations in torque produced by predetermined amounts of twist of said torsion bar, and means for changing said length variations in accordance with the characteristics of a particular torsion bar.

5. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for Winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising a Windlass shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, tapes connecting said Windlass shaft with said traversing elements, builder cam and follower connections with said Windlass shaft for imparting oscillatory and stepped rotational movements to said Windlass shaft for building up said package, and a compensating tension device acting on said Windlass shaft against said tapes comprising a torsion bar of substantial length in the order of thirty or forty feet fixedly secured at one end to said twister frame, a linkage connection between the free end of said torsion bar and said Windlass shaft, and means attaching said linkage connection to said torsion bar providing a lever arm having an effective length variable to offset variations in torque produced by predetermined amounts of twist of said torsion bar.

6. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising a Windlass shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, tapes connecting said Windlass shaft with said traversing elements, builder cam and follower connections with said Windlass shaft for imparting oscillatory and stepped rotational movements to said Windlass shaft for building up said package, and a compensating tension device acting on said Windlass shaft against said tapes comprising a torsion bar of substantial length in the order of thirty or forty feet fixedly secured at one end to said twister frame, a cam shaped tension member offset from the free end of said torsion bar, and a flexible connector connected between said Windlass shaft and said tension member, said tension member having a cam shaped contour over which said flexible connector is laid to vary the effective length of the tension member in compensation for variations in torque provided by the twist of said torsion bar.

7. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising a Windlass shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, tapes connecting said Windlass shaft with said traversing elements, builder cam and follower connections with said Windlass shaft for imparting oscillatory and stepped rotational movements to said Windlass shaft for building up said package, and a compensating tension device acting on said Windlass shaft against said tapes comprising a torsion bar fixedly secured at one end to said twister frame, a cam shaped tension member offset from the free end of said torsion bar, a flexible connector connected between said Windlass shaft and said tension member, said tension member having a contour over which said flexible connector is laid cammed to provide a variable lever arm length in compensation for variations in torque corresponding to the twist imposed upon said torsion bar, a pivotal support offset from the axis of said torsion bar on which said tension member is mounted, and means for adjusting the angular relation of said tension member to said torsion bar.

8. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising differential means having a rotary input element, a rotary output element and a rotary control element for advancing said output element relatively to said input element, means for rocking said rotary input element, means for rotating said control element to advance said output element relatively to said input element during rocking movement thereof imposed by said input element, rotary traversing element operating means, a one way clutch means interposed between said rotary output element and said rotary traversing element operating means, biasing means having active and inoperative positions, said biasing means acting in the said active position to maintain a solid connection through said clutch means, means to render said biasing means in operative and thereby to release said clutch means and means effective upon release of said clutch means to reset said builder mechanism by rotating said rotary traversing element operating means through an angular displacement equal and opposite to the relative displacement of said input and output elements during advance thereof.

9. Builder mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means effective to reset said builder mechanism includes spring means interposed between said rotary traversing element operating means and said input means to be wound by advance of said output element relatively to said input element.

10. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising ditferential'means having a rotary input element, a rotary output element and a rotary control element for advancing said output element relatively to said input element, said control element being normally operative to rock said output element as a unit with said input element, means for rocking said rotary input element, means for rotating said control element to advance said output element relatively to said input element during rocking movement thereof imposed by said input ele ment, rotary traversing element operating means, clutch means interposed between said rotary output element and said rotary traversing element operating means, spring means interposed between said rotary traversing element operating means and said input means to be wound by advance of said output element relatively to said input element, tensioning means for said rotary traversing element operating means effective to apply a force thereto in opposition to and greater than the force applied thereto by said spring means, and means for selectively reducing said force applied by said tensioning means to a value less than that applied by said spring means effective to reset said builder mechanism upon release of said clutch means by permitting rotation of said rotary traversing element operating means by said spring means through an angular displacement equal and opposite to the relative displacement of said input and output elements during advance thereof.

11. Builder mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said clutch means is a single direction drive clutch locked upon advance of said output element relatively to said input element and released upon reduction of said force applied by said tensioning means.

12. In a twister frame having traversing elements mounted for vertical reciprocating movement for winding strand on a package, builder mechanism for producing traversing movement of said traversing elements, comprising differential means having a rotary input element, a rotary output element, and a rotary control element for advancing said output element relatively to said input element, means for rocking said rotary input element remote from said differential means including a pivotally mounted arm, cam means for rocking said arm and means connecting said arm and said input element, means for rotating said control element to advance said output element relatively to said input element during rocking movement thereof imposed by said input element, rotary traversing element operating means having means connecting said traversing element operating means to the traversing elements of said frame, single direction drive clutch means interposed between said rotary output element and said rotary traversing element operating means, prestressed spring means surrounding said output element, interposed between said rotary traversing element operating means and said input means to be wound by advance of said output element relatively to said input element, tensioning means for said rotary traversing element operating means etfective to apply a force thereto in opposition to and greater than the force applied thereto by said spring means to maintain said cam means in operative relation with said arm and to lock said clutch means and means for selectively reducing said force applied by said tensioning means to a value less than that applied by said spring means effective to release said clutch and reset said builder mechanism by permitting rotation of said rotary traversing element operating means by said spring means through 7 an angular displacement equal and opposite to the relative displacement of said input and output elements during advance thereof.

13. A compensating tension device adapted for maintaining a tension of substantially constant value against a movable member during a limited range of movement of said member, which comprises, a torsion bar of substantial length in the order of thirty or forty feet having one end thereof fixedly secured, 'a tension member mounted on the free end of said torsion bar, having a cam surface contoured in a plane transverse to the rotational axis of said torsion bar to provide a lever arm of variable length, and a flexible connector having one, end thereof wrapped around said contoured surface and having the other end thereof attached to said movable member, said cam contour being chosen to vary the effective lever arm length of said tension member inversely to variations in torque produced in said torsion bar by angular displacement thereof.

14. A compensating tension device adapted for maintaining a tension of substantially constant value against a movable member during a limited range of movement of said member, which comprises, a torsion bar having one end thereof fixedly secured, a tension member mounted on the free end of said torsion bar rotatably adjustable on an axis disposed lengthwise of the rotational axis of the torsion bar, said tension member having a cam surface contoured in a plane transverse to the rotational axis of said torsion bar to provide an effective lever arm of variable length, a flexible connector having one end thereof wrapped around said contoured cam surface and the other end thereof attached to said movable member, said cam contour being chosen to vary the effective lever arm length of said tension member inversely to the variations in torque produced in said torsion bar by angular displacement thereof, and means for adjusting the angular position of said tension member on its axis and thereby to adjust the range of effective lever arm length produced by said cam contour.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,982,487 Newton May 2, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 781,240 France Feb. 18, 1935 907,155 Germany Mar. 22, 1954

Claims

1. IN A TWISTER FRAME HAVING TRAVERSING ELEMENTS MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT FOR WINDING STRAND ON A PACKAGE, BUILDER MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING TRAVERSING MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAVERSING ELEMENTS COMPRISING MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO PRODUCE A PREDETERMINED PATTERN OF CYCLICAL TRAVERSING MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAVERSING ELEMENT, AND A PICK MECHANISM COMPRISING A DIFFERENTIAL DEVICE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID OSCILLATORY BUILDER MOTION PRODUCING MEANS AND SAID TRAVERSING ELEMENTS ADAPTED FOR TRANSMITTING SAID PATTERN OF MOVEMENT AND FOR ADVANCING SAID PATTERN TO WIND SAID PACKAGE, INCLUDING A ROTARY INPUT ELEMENT, A CONNECTION FROM SAID CYCLICAL TRAVERSING MOVEMENT PRODUCING MEANS FOR IMPARTING ROCKING MOVEMENT TO SAID ROTARY INPUT ELEMENT, A ROTARY OUTPUT ELEMENT SUPPORTED PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT SAID ROTARY INPUT ELEMENT, A ROTARY CONTROL ELEMENT PROVIDING A DIFFERENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ROTARY INPUT AND OUTPUT ELEMENTS FOR OSCILLATING SAID OUTPUT ELEMENT WITH SAID INPUT ELEMENT AND FOR EACH OSCILLATION OF SAID INPUT ELEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION IMPARTING A STEPPED ADVANCING MOVEMENT TO SAID ROTARY OUTPUT ELEMENT WITH RELATION TO SAID INPUT ELEMENT, CONNECTIONS INCLUDING A CLUTCHING DEVICE BETWEEN SAID ROTARY OUTPUT ELEMENT AND SAID TRAVERSING ELEMENTS, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID CLUTCH TO MAINTAIN A SOLID CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ROTARY OUTPUT ELEMENT AND SAID TRAVERSING MEANS, AND ALTERNATIVELY TO PERMIT A RETURN MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAVERSING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID ROTARY INPUT ELEMENT.