US3080701A

US3080701A - Ring rail lowering mechanism for textile spinning frames

Info

Publication number: US3080701A
Application number: US110130A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry R Kennedy; Charles J Andersen
Original assignee: Southern Machinery Co
Current assignee: Southern Machinery Co
Priority date: 1961-05-15
Filing date: 1961-05-15
Publication date: 1963-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-03-12
Also published as: ES277335A1; DE1894249U; BE617596A; FR1325235A

Description

March 12, 1963 v H. R. KENNEDY :TAL 3,080,701

RING RAIL LOWERING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE SPINNING FRAMES Filed May l5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HARRY R. KENNEDY BYCHARLES J-ANDER5EN F WM- AilToRNEY TO 1.10 V. AC,

March 12, 1953 H. R. KENNEDY ETAL 3,080,701

RING RAIL LOWERING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE SPINNING FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1961 INVENTORS N -f o1 N HARRY R' KENNEDY CHARLES JANDERSEN PN JWN @n ATTORNEY tates This -invention relates broadly to improvements in textile spinning frames and more particularly to mechanism for lowering the spinning frame ring rail in a controlled manner and at a desired rate preparatory to doffing the filled bob-bins.

In order to facilitate the operation of lowering the ring rail of ra textile spinning frame for the purpose of dofling the full bobbins, it is desirable to lower the ring rail at a rate which will not break the spun yarns and yet wind a minimum number of yarn warps around the full bobbins. ln conventional present day spinning frames, the power to the spinning frame is manually cut ofwhen the bobbins `are full and the ring rail elevated. Next, the ring rail is depressed while power is being applied to the spinning frame. When the ring rail is depressed to its lowermost position, it is locked in place and the spinning frame is then ready to have the full bobbins removed for replacement by empty bobbins. With the above-described manual operation, it is possible to wind an excessive amount of yarn upon the bobbin, thereby creating waste and making the bob-bin diiiicult to use. The aforementioned manual operation of the machine is not only laborious but requires some degree of skill and considerable attention on the part of the operator, and it is necessary to resort to jogging operation of the spinning frame to lower the ring rail for doiiing.

The primary object of the invention is to overcome the above difficulties through the provision of simplified electromechanical means driven from the front draft roll of the spinning machine to automatically lower the ring rail to the doing position at the desirable rate and to automatically stop the operation of the spinning frame as required.

A further object is to provide automatic ring rail lowering means of the mentioned character embodying a compact electric clutch and pulley unit for connection with the lifter mechanism of the ring rail, and directly controlling the lowering of the ring rail at the desired rate, said unit adapted to be applied lto existing textile spinning frames or to be built into the same during manufacturing, if preferred.

A further object is to provide novel and simpliiied means associated with the electric clutch and take-up pulley unit to releasably lock the ring rail in the lowered or bobbin doliing position.

Another object is to provide limit switch means for regulating the operation of the electric clutch unit in the desired manner.

A further and more general object of the invention is to provide cloning mechanism of the mentioned character which will result in the production of more uniform bobbins, reduce the time necessary to reset the builder on the spinning frame for the necessary spinning cycle, reduce yarn breakage during lowering of the ring rail due to controlled lowering speed and reduce waste by precision setting of cutoff and ring rail lowering timing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a Patented Mar. l2, 1913.?.`

er ad@ spinning frame, partly diagrammatic, showing the ring rail lowering means of the invention applied thereto,

FGURE 2 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the ring rail lowering device, ring rail and Weight operated ring rail elevating means,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged central vertical section through the clutch and pulley unit, parts in elevation,

FlGURE 4 is a side elevation of the clutch and pulley unit with the cover plate removed taken at right angles to FlGURE 3 with parts in section,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective View, partly diagrammatic, of the ring rail, spindle rail, limit switches and associated elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral liti designates a conventional textile spinning frame as a whole, embodying the usual iixed horizontal spindle rail il supporting the spindles 12 which receive the bobbins 13. The ring rail ld is disposed above the spindle rail l1 in the usual manner and supported by the usual lifter rods 1S which are adapted to impart the necessary traversing motion to the ring rail, as to allow the same to move toward and away from the dofng position. The yarns 16 being fed to the bobbins i3 pass through conventional draft roll mechanism 17 on the spinning frame, including a front draft roll it?, from which the ringirail lowering means of the present invention is driven as will shortly be apparent. The textile spinning frame liti is conventional and need not be dealt with herein in great detail.

With continued reference to the drawings, the numeral 19 designates generally a clutch, take-up pulley and locking hub unit which is the heart of the invention for controlling the lowering of the ring rail 14. This unit i9 comprises a housing 2li of rectangular conguration having upper and lower chambers 2l and 22 separated by a horizontal wall 23. The housing 2t) is rigidly mounted as at 23' upon the end frame structure lid of the spinning machine itl, in upright position as shown in FIGURE l. The unit i9 is disposed near and below and somewhat forwardly of one end of the front draft roll 1S for driven engagement thereby through existing gearing 1S as indicated in the drawings.

The housing 2@ has a top wall 24 carrying an upstanding tubular boss 25 receiving ball bearings 26 having a spacer 27 therebetween. A rotary clutch shaft 28 is journaled within the ball bearings 26 and held against axial displacement by snap rings 29 or the like. The upper end of clutch shaft 28 carries a first miter gear 30 rigidly secured thereto and constantly meshing with a companionmiter gear 31, keyed to a short drive shaft 3l', driven by existing gearing 1S' in direct'proportion to and from the front draft roll 18 of the spinning machine.

An electric clutch 32 of a conventional type has its input rotary portion 33 rigidly secured at 34 to the shaft 28 to be turned thereby. The output rotary portion 35 of the electric clutch is likewise rigidly secured at 36 to a rotary pulley shaft 37, separate from the shaft 23, and having its end portions journaled for rotation in

ball bearings

38 and 39, mounted respectively in aligned openings in the intermediate wall 23 and a bottom wall 40 of the housing 2i). Snap rings l engage the shaft 37 on opposite sides of the lower ball bearing 39 to prevent endWise movement of the pulley shaft 37. When the electric clutch 32 is energized by means to be described, rotation of the shaft 2S is transmitted directly to the shaft 37, Whereas when the clutch is cle-energized, or inactive, the shaft 23 may rotate continuously without imparting rotation to the pulley shaft 37.

Rigidly secured to the pulley shaft 37 for rotation therewith is a lianged take-up pulley 42 having an upper hub portion 43. The pulley d2 is disposed near the bottom of the chamber 22 as shown, while the clutch 32 is in the upper chamber 21. The triple bearing support for the shafting of the unit 19 affords an extremely sturdy and durable construction.

The pulley 42 is rigidly connected to the shaft 37 for rotation therewith by a suitable pin 44, as indicated. A flexible wire cable 45 of predetermined length is wound upon the cylindrical face 46 of pulley 42, which cylindrical face is of such diameter that when the pulley is turned with the shaft 37, it and the cable Wound thereon will cause th-e ring rail 14 to be lowered at a rate which is most efficient for the particular type of yarn being spun. In this connection, pulleys of different diameters may be employed upon the shaft 37 to vary the rate of movement of the ring rail as found desirable for various makes of spinning frames.

One end of the cable 45 is firmly anchored by a set screw 47 within a radial opening 48 formed in the pulley to receive the cable end. Several convolutions of the cable are wound about the working face 46 of the pulley between the flanges 49 thereof, as shown in FIGURE 4. The opposite end of the cable 45 leads to and is connected with linkage means to be described for directly controlling the lowering of the ring rail 14.

Detent means is provided to releasably lock the shaft 37 and its pulley 42 against further rotation when the ring rail has reached its lowermost or bobbin dong position. Such means comprises a locking disc S4) having a radial notch 51 formed therein for interlocking engagement with a pin extension 52 of a radially shiftable plunger 53, slidably mounted within a sleeve 54, secured at 55 to the forward vertical side wall of the housing 20. The plunger 53 is urged inwardly radially by a compressible coil spring 56 disposed within the bore of sleeve 54 and surrounding the outer reduced stem 57 of the plunger 53, which stem carries a hand knob 58 to be used for retracting the plunger radially outwardly against the force of spring 56. The spring 56 urges the plunger 53 constantly inwardly and the pin extension 52 rides upon the circular periphery of the disc 56 and is adapted to enter the locking notch 51 whenever the same is turned into alignment with the plunger. The disc 50 has a hub portion 59 on its upper side rigidly secured to the shaft 37 to turn therewith, as by a set screw 69.

A relatively heavy clock-type coil spring 61 surrounds the hub portion 43 of pulley 42 and has one end anchored to the pulley at 62 and its opposite end anchored to the side wall of the casing 20 at 63. This spring 61 is tensioned prior to connecting the cable 45 to the pulley 42 so as to exert a constant pull or tension on the pulley and cable to prevent the cable from developing slack or becoming tangled during the operation of the unit 19.

The free end of the cable 45 which leads from the casing 20 through an opening 64 in a removable cover plate 65 for the casing, is suitably secured at 66 to the top of a quadrant 67, adjustably secured at 67 to a bell crank 68', and which bell crank constitutes a standard element of the spinning frame. Bell crank is pivotally supported for vertical swinging movement at 68 upon an existing shaft 69', FIGURE 5, of the machine. The bell crank 68 carries on its horizontal arm a lifting roller 69 engaging a bottom cam 70 of the vertically shiftable lifter rod 15, the latter having guided engagement through opening means 71 in the spindle rail 11. The upper end of the lifter rod 15 is connected to the ring rail 14 in a conventional manner and carries the same. The roller 69 thus directly bears the weight of the ring rail 14, imparted thereto through the lifter rod 15 and cam 70. It is to be understood that other lifter rods 15 are provided in spaced relation along each side of the spinning frame to complete the support and guidance of the vertically shiftable ring rails. In the present drawings, for purposes of simplification, only the front side of the spinning frame has been illustrated and only one pair of lifter rods `15 and associated elements are shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. This construction is conventional and well-known to those skilled in the art. As shown in these figures, adjacent lifter rods and their lifting bell cranks 68 and 70 are linked together by horizontal connecting rods 71' connected to the respective bell cranks, as shown. Weight levers 72' carrying weights 73 are carried by the rock shafts which support the lifting bell cranks 68 and 70'. The weights 73 counterbalance the weight of the ring rail 14 and lifter rods 15 and normally bias the ring rail towards the elevated position shown indotted lines in FIGURE 1 and shown diagrammaticallyl in FIGURE 2. This construction is all conventional and need not be dealt with in further detail. As shown ini FIGURES 2 and 5, the cable 45 which is a single cable leading from the single unit 19 is connected with only one quadrant 67 at the top of one lifting bell crank as illustrated.

As shown in the drawings, a limit switch 72 for limiting the upward travel of the ring rail 14 is suitably mounted upon the top of casing 20 or in any other preferred manner close to the adjacent end of the ring rail 14, and with its actuator 73 in the path of travel of the end portion of the ring rail 14.

A second switch 80, preferably a roller-actuated micro-switch or the like, is xedly secured at 81 to the forward side wall of casing 20. The switch has an upright plunger 82 carrying an actuating roller 83, spring-loaded upwardly to bear against locking pin eX- tension 52 and to ride over a shoulder 84 on plunger 53 when such plunger moves inwardly under influence of spring 56, as when the pin extension 52 enters the locking notch 51. The switch 80 is a normally closed switch, whereas the switch 72 is normally open and is a time delay switch which will remain closed for a minimum of one minute, while the ring rail 14 is being lowered, and then reopens automatically. When the shoulder S4 engages roller 83, the switch 80 will open to deenergize electric clutch 32 at the moment when the pin extension 52 and the disc 50 lock the ring rail 14 in the lowermost or dofng position, as will be further described. The switch 8i) is closed when the roller 83 is on the pin extension 52 and while closed maintains the clutch 32 energized or active.

With reference to diagrammatic FIGURE 2, a plug 85 is provided for connection with a source of ll() volt alternating current. This plug is connected by a wire 86 with a suitable rectier 87, and from the rectifier another wire 88 leads to and is connectedv with one terminal 89 of the clutch 32. From the other terminal 90 of the clutch 32 a wire 91 leads to and is connected with one terminal of the upper limit switch 72. A wire 92 leads from the other terminal of switch 72 and is connected in series with one terminal 93 of switch 80. The other terminal of switch 80 is connected with a wire 94 leading back through the rectifier 87 to the plug 85, thus completing the circuit through the electric clutch and the two

switches

72 and 80 connected in series therewith.

The operation of the invention on the spinning frame 10 for regulating the lowering of the ring rail 14 to the dofling position is as follows:

With the spinning frame in full operation for spinning the yarn and filling the bobbins 13, the ring rail 14 will be elevated to a position well above the lowermost doiling position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. The front draft roll 18 is revolving continuously, as is the shaft 31 connected with the front draft roll through the gearing 1S. The clutch shaft 28 is also revolving due to the continuous meshed engagement of the

gears

30 and 31. The switch 72 is open because the ring rail 14 has not yet reached the uppermost extent of its travel and the clutch 32 is de-energized or inactive, and no rotation is imparted to the shaft 37 and pulley 42 during the normal operation of the spinning frame for winding the yarn upon the bobbins, under control of the conventional builder motion, not shown. As is well known,

sheep/o1 Id o3 during the build-ing of the bobbins, the ring rail 14 reciprocates vertically through relatively short strokes and each stroke of the ring rail commences at a slightly higher elevation relative to the bobbins than the last preceding stroke to provide the well-known filling wind on the bobbins. During this gradual rising of the ring 'rail 14, the same does not influence the limit switch 72,

and this switch is not actuated until the bobbins are completely filled and the ring rail has reached the top of its travel under inr'lnence of the builder motion. Furtherrnore, during the normal short stroke oscillation of the ring rail 14, the pulley 42, disc Si) and cable 45 will `oscillate back and forth through a correspondingly short kextension 52 to automatically lock the ring rail in the lowered position and stop the operation of the spinning frame. During the lowering of the ring rail continuously and in a controlled manner by means of the invention, the disc Si) will be turned continuously for one full revolution or suiciently to bring the notch 51 into alignment with the locking pin extension 52.

When the bobbins are full, the ring rail 14 is at the uppermost position shown dotted in FIGURE 1 and also shown in FIGURE 2, and the ring rail now engages the actuator 73 of normally open switch 72 and immediately closes this switch to complete the circuit through the terminals of the electric clutch 32, the switch titl now being closed which is normal for this switch. The electric clutch 32 is now energized and continuing rotation of the shaft 23 through the energized clutch imparts identical rotation to the shaft 37, pulley ft2 and locking disc Si?. Rotation of the pulley 42 now winds up the cable 45 in a controlled manner and causes the bell cranks 68 and 7G to swing counterclockwie upon their pivots or supporting shafts against the action of the weights 73', and this effects the lowering of the lifter rods 15 and ring rail i4 at precisely the desired rate of speed, which rate is predetermined by the chosen diameter of the pulley working face 46.

'By the time that the time delay switch 72 reopens automatically after about one minute, the ring rail 14 is at its lowermost or doiiing position, and the reopening of switch 72 de-energizes the clutch 32 and no further rotation is imparted to the pulley shaft 37, even though the shaft 28 continues to rotate while the spinning frame is in operation. At this instant7 the locking notch 51 of disc h is aligned with and receives the locking pin extension S2 of plunger 53 and the ring rail 14 is positively locked in the lowered or .doffng position. The shoulder 84 of plunger 53 actua-.tes the normally closed switch St) to open the same as the pin extension 52 enters the locking notch S1. At this time, both of the

switches

72 and 80 are open and the clutch 32 remains cle-energized.

The full bobbins are now removed from the spindles 12 and are replaced by new bobbins, and the builder mechanism is repositioned in the usual manner for the next cycle of opena-tion of the spinning frame. When this is done, the operator merely pulls the plunger 53 outwardly, thereby disengaging the pin extension 52 from notch Sil and releasing the locking disc 5t). 'Ille switch Sil returns to its normally closed position as the roller S3 rides onto the pin extension 52. However, the switch 72 is now open and the electric clutch 32 is still de-energized. The ring rail 14 will now begin to rise automatically under influence of the weights 73 toward its lowermost operating position somewhere above the doing position to again put the yarn on the bobbins. The electric clutch 32 remains de-energized during the next ycomplete spinning cycle and until the ring rail again fully rises and engages switch actuator 73 to close switch 72 and reenergize the clutch 32 to again being the controlled lowering of the ring -rail 14 toward the dofling position.

While the ring rail 14 is rising and the lifting bell cranks 68 and 79 are turning clockwise on their pivots, the cable 45 is maintained under proper tension by the spring 61 as previously mentioned so that the cable will not tangle, etc.

The locking pin extension 52 does not re-enter the notch Si until the ring rail again reaches the dotiing position, and in this connection it must be understood that the eX- tent of linear movement of the cable 45 is relatively small to effect the desired lowering of the ring rail, and the pulley 42 carrying the disc 50 turns through only one complete revolution, so that the notch 51 ldoes not repeatedly pass the pin extension 52 during the cycle of operation.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and 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 the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what'is claimed is:

l. In a spinning frame, a ring rail to move toward and from a bobbin dofting position, mechanism connected with and carrying the ring rail and urging the same normally tow-ard an elevated posi-tion above said doing position, draft roll means, a drive shaft connected with and driven by said draft roll means continuously during the operation of the spinning frame, a ring rail lowering unit secured to the spinning frame near one end of the ring rail, said lunit comprising a clutch shaft, gearing operatively interkthereon and extending from said unit and secured to said mechanism to actuate the mechanism in .a manner causing controlled lowering of the ring rail to said doiring vposition upon rotation of the pulley to wind up the ilexible element when the clutch is energized, a .disc secured to the pulley shaft to turn therewith and having a periphery provided with a locking notch, a spring loaded plunger engaging the periphery of the disc and adapted to enter said notch to lock the pulley when the ring rail is in said doiiing position, said plunger being retractable from said notch, a normally open switch having an actuator arranged in the path of movement of the ring rail and engaged by the ring rail when the latter is fully elevated and connected in series with the clutch and energizing the clutch when closed by contact with the ring rail, and a normally closed switch carried by said unit near said plunger and engageable therewith and opened by the plunger when the plunger enters said locking notch and connected in series with the normally open switch and said clutch and closed by retraction of the plunger from the locking notch, whereby closing of the normally open switch by said ring rail and the resulting energizing of the clutch causes lowering of the ring rail to the dofng position and locking of the ring rail in such position until retraction of said plunger.

2. In a spinning frame, a ring rail, means including a weight operated bell crank and quadrant connected with the ring rail for elevati-ng the same, draft roll mean-s, a shaft connected with and driven by the draft roll means, a clutch shaft geared -to said shaft and driven continuously thereby, an electric clutch including clutch sections which turn in unison while the clutch is energized, one clutch section secured to the clutch shaft to turn therewith, a pulley shaft secured t-o the other clutch section to turn therewith when the clutch is energized but remaining stationary when the clutch is de-energized, a pulley secured to the pulley shaft, a flexible element secured to the pulley and windable thereon and secured to said quadrant to swing the quadrant and bell crank in a direction lowering the ring rail when the cable is wound upon said pulley, means to lock said pulley against further rotation when the ring rail is fully lowered to the dotiing position, and time delay switch means in the path of movement of the ring rail and actuated thereby when the ring rail is elevated to energize the clutch.

3. Mechanism for lowering the ring rail of a spinning machine at a predetermined rate and in a controlled manner comprising a housing secured to one end of the spinning frame near one end ofthe ring rail, an electric clutch disposed within said housing and including rst and second clutch sections which rotate in unison when the clutch is energized, a clutch shaft journaled uponthe housing and secured to one clutch section to rotate the same, gearing connected with and driving the clutch shaft continuously and driven by draft roll means of the spinning frame, a pulley shaft journaled upon the housing and secured to the other clutch section to turn therewith when the clutch is energized, a pulley secured to the pulley shaft within the housing, resilient means interconnecting the pulley and housing to restrain rotation of the pulley in one direction, rotary locking means carried by the pulley shaft to turn therewith for positively locking the pulley shaft against rotation relative to the housing when the pulley shaft is in one operative position, means to release the rotary locking means, a cable connected with said pulley and wound thereon and extending from said housing and connected with the ring rail elevating means of the spinning frame in a manner to cause lowering of the ring rail when the pulley and pulley shaft are turned in one direction, and time delay switch means connected in circuit with the electrical clutch and arranged in the path of travel of the ring rail and engaged and actuated thereby to energize the clutch when the ring rail is elevated so that the clutch may then effect the lowering of the ring rail.

4. The invention as defined by claim 3, and separate switch means within said housing and connected in circuit with the time delay switch means and electrical clutch and being normally closed and adapted to be open by engagement with said means to release the rotary locking means.

5. A ring rail lowering device for a spinning frame having a ring rail shiftable toward and from a bobbin dofng position and movable linkage means tending to elevate the ring rail and rotary draft roll means, said device comprising an electric clutch connected with and driven by said draft roll means, pulley means connected with and driven by the clutch when the clutch is energized and having positive locking means which is activated when the pulley means is in one operative position, a flexible element connected with the pulley means and windable thereon and connected with said movable linkage means to operate the same in a direction causing lowering of the ring rail to said dong position, and electrical means connected in circuit with said clutch and operated by movement of the ring rail to an elevated position for energizing the clutch to thereby etfect automatic lowering of the ring rail in a controlled manner and at a predetermined rate and locking of the ring rail releasably in said dofling position.

6. A ring rail lowering device according to claim 5, wherein said electrical means comprises a iirst normally open time delay switch mounted in the path of movement of the ring rail and closed by the ring rail when the latter reaches its elevated position and connected in series with the terminals of the electric clutch, and a second normally closed switch connected in series with the first switch and with said clutch and disposed near said pulley means and positive locking means and engaged by the latter and opened when the positive locking means is activated to lock the pulley means.

7. A ring rail lowering device for spinning frames comprising rotary electric power transmission means, means drivingly connecting the transmission means to a constantly rotating part of the spinning frame, rotary pulley means connected with the transmission means to be driven thereby when the transmission means is energized and active and remaining at rest when the transmission means is de-energized and inactive, a exible element connected with the pulley means and windable thereon and adapted for attachment to ring rail elevating means on the spinning frame for causing reverse movement thereof to lower the ring rail, latch means associated with the pulley means to lock the same against rotation when the ring rail is fully lowered, and electrical circuit means including a time delay switch in the path of travel of the ring rail and a second switch engageable with said latch means, said switches being in series with the terminals of the electric transmission means for energizing and de-energizing the same according to a desired cycle of operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,263 Rowe Apr. l0, 1945 2,503,099 Culbreath Apr. 4, 1950 2,798,356 Christiansson July 9, 1957

Claims

1. IN A SPINNING FRAME, A RING RAIL TO MOVE TOWARD AND FROM A BOBBIN DOFFING POSITION, MECHANISM CONNECTED WITH AND CARRYING THE RING RAIL AND URGING THE SAME NORMALLY TOWARD AN ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE SAID DOFFING POSITION, DRAFT ROLL MEANS, A DRIVE SHAFT CONNECTED WITH AND DRIVEN BY SAID DRAFT ROLL MEANS CONTINUOUSLY DURING THE OPERATION OF THE SPINNING FRAME, A RING RAIL LOWERING UNIT SECURED TO THE SPINNING FRAME NEAR ONE END OF THE RING RAIL, SAID UNIT COMPRISING A CLUTCH SHAFT, GEARING OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND CLUTCH SHAFT FOR IMPARTING CONTINUOUS ROTATION TO THE LATTER, AN ELECTRIC CLUTCH CONNECTED WITH AND DRIVE BY THE CLUTCH SHAFT, A PULLEY SHAFT CONNECTED WITH THE CLUTCH TO BE TURNED THEREBY IN UNISON WITH THE CLUTCH SHAFT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENERGIZED, A PULLEY SECURED TO THE PULLEY SHAFT TO TURN THEREWITH, A FLEXIBLE ELEMENT CONNECTED WITH SAID PULLEY AND WINDABLE THEREON AND EXTENDING FROM SAID UNIT AND SECURED TO SAID MECHANISM TO ACTUATE THE MECHANISM IN A MANNER CAUSING CONTROLLED LOWERING OF THE RING RAIL TO SAID DOFFING POSITION UPON ROTATION OF THE PULLEY TO WIND UP THE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENERGIZED, A DISC SECURED TO THE PULLEY SHAFT TO TURN THEREWITH AND HAVING A PERIPHERY PROVIDED WITH A LOCKING NOTCH, A SPRING LOADED PLUNGER ENGAGING THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISC AND ADAPTED TO ENTER SAID NOTCH TO LOCK THE PULLEY WHEN THE RING RAIL IS IN SAID DOFFING POSITION, SAID PLUNGER BEING RETRACTABLE FROM SAID NOTCH, A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH HAVING AN ACTUATOR ARRANGED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE RING RAIL AND ENGAGED BY THE RING RAIL WHEN THE LATTER IS FULLY ELEVATED AND CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH THE CLUTCH AND ENERGIZING THE CLUTCH WHEN CLOSED BY CONTACT WITH THE RING RAIL, AND A NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCH CARRIED BY SAID UNIT NEAR SAID PLUNGER AND ENGAGEABLE THEREWITH AND OPENED BY THE PLUNGER WHEN THE PLUNGER ENTERS SAID LOCKING NOTCH AND CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH THE NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH AND SAID CLUTCH AND CLOSED BY RETRACTION OF THE PLUNGER FROM THE LOCKING NOTCH, WHEREBY CLOSING OF THE NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH BY SAID RING RAIL AND THE RESULTING ENERGIZING OF THE CLUTCH CAUSES LOWERING OF THE RING RAIL TO THE DOFFING POSITION AND LOCKING OF THE RING RAIL IN SUCH POSITION UNTIL RETRACTION OF SAID PLUNGER.