US3113736A

US3113736A - Traverse device

Info

Publication number: US3113736A
Application number: US155641A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul D Emerson
Original assignee: Monsanto Chemicals Ltd
Current assignee: Monsanto Chemicals Ltd; Monsanto Chemical Co
Priority date: 1961-11-29
Filing date: 1961-11-29
Publication date: 1963-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-10
Also published as: FR1348571A; NL125794C; NL285937A; DE1253120B; CH402692A; DK103820C; GB998061A; BE625480A

Description

P. D. EMERSON TRAVERSE DEVICE Dec. 10, 1963 Filed Nov. 29. 1961 INVENTOR. PAUL D. EMERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,113,736 TRAVERE DEVICE Paul D. Emerson, Pensacola, Fla, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Monsanto Chemical Company, a orporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 155,641 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-2-43) This invention relates to Winding apparatus of the kind including traverse devices and of the type generally employed in the textile industry to wind filaments and yarns on bobbins, pirns, tubes, and the like to form yarn packages. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved traverse device having a multiple arrangement of angularly driven means adapted to provide smooth and unstressed engagement and disengagement as Well as rapid traversing of a moving yarn being Wound on a yarn takeup device at high winding speeds.

In the textile industry, and particularly in the spinning, winding, and reeling arts, there is a continual endeavor to provide high speed traverse devices possessing satisfactory performance characteristics. Various types of traverse devic s of pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical construction are in general use. One group of suggested mechanical traverse arrangements uses a pair of oppositely driven endless conveying means such as belts, straps, and chains having spaced pegs mounted thereon, for traversing yarn across the face of a bobbin. These known endless belt traverse devices operate by bringing the pegs into engagement with the yarn at ri ht angles to the direction of movement of the yarn. The rapid abrupt pick-up or" the yarn by the pegs traveling at high speeds transmits a vibratory wave or shock to the yarn which disadvantageousiy allects the uniformity of the winding of the packages.

it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved traverse device designed to operate at high speeds. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved traverse device employing a multiple arrangement of angularly driven means adapted to positively control the traversing action of a yarn moving to a take-up device with a minimum of stress being applied to the yarn to reverse its linear path. Another object is to provide an improved traverse device simple in construction, utilizing a pair of inclined transmission belts carrying spaced guide means which are adapted to smoothly engage with and to disengage from a yarn while the yarn and guide means are moving in substantially the same direction. A still further object is to provide a traverse device adapted to prevent ribboning of the yarn on a package.

According to the invention an improved traverse device of the type adapted to be interposed in the path of a yarn moving from a source of yarn supply to a take-up device is provided. The improved traverse device en bodying the invention comprises, in general, a pair of complementary endless belts arranged to be driven by power means. The endless belts are mounted side-byside in angular relation so that they are separated at a greater distance from each other at one end thereof than at the opposite end. A plurality of guide members are carried in spaced relation on each of the belts and are arranged in staggered relation therebetween.

The yarn is normally laced so that it moves from the source of yarn supply to the yarn take-up device in a path that extends between the pair of endless belts. The guide members are adapted to engage the yarn at the converging ends of the belts and to operatively displace the yarn in zig-zag manner so as to widen the lateral displacement of the yarn between the belts while the yarn travels to the diverging ends of the belts. The guide members are then each smoothly disengaged from the yarn for applying the yarn in reversible layers on a take-up bobbin.

Only small guide forces are applied to the yarn in its travel between the belts and the yarn is engaged and disengaged with a minimum of stress and interference. The yarn is under positive control before the yarn reaches the end or" a stroke across the bobbin. The exchange of control from one guide member on one belt to another on the opposite belt, at the point of yarn reversal, is accomplished without the usual sequence of engagementdisengagement of the guide members at the point of reversal on a bobbin, characteristic of prior devices. The yarn is traversed by a uniform motion in both directions without stress application. The reversal of the yarn at the end of a stroke is instantaneous thus minimizing the dwell factor.

By arranging the guide members at varying intervals on the belts, the yarn is Wound on the bobbins without socalled ribboning ellect.

in the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing the improved traverse device embodying the invention in elevation, with parts broken away for clarity reasons, and also schematically showing the improved traverse device associated with conventional high speed winding apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred mode or" operation of the improved traverse device.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view showing the construction of the hooked end of a guide finger 19.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing the construction of the hooked end of the guide finger illustrated in the preceding view.

Like components in each of the figures in the drawing are designated by like reference numerals.

deferring to the drawing (PEG. 1), the improved tmverse device 1 embodying the invention is shown in its operative position interposed between two-stage yarn drawing equipment and a take-up device. The yarn 2 is spun from a spinneret 3, moves through a convergence guide, and is thereafter wound around two sets of draw rolls 4 and separator rolls 5 before being delivered to traverse device 1 and a bobbin 6 of the take-up device. The yarn is drawn by operating draw rolls 4- at different peripheral rates of speed and at different speeds than the rate of extrusion of the filaments from \spinneret 3. Bobbin 6 is surface driven by a drum 7 rotated by power means 8 operatively connected to drum 7 by conventional drive means 9.

Traverse device 1 comprises a framework having a pair of generally upright spaced beam members, lb and lit. Beams 1t) and 11 are positioned in side-by-side relation and are inclined so that they converge at their upper ends and diverge at their lower ends.

At each inner end of each beam, M and 11, there is a pulley 12 mounted within a respective bracket 13 secured to

beams

10 and 11.. The complementary pair of pulleys 12 located at the upper converging ends of the beams are spaced closer to each other than are the pair of complementary pulleys at the lower diverging ends of the beams. Each pulley 12 on a respective beam is positioned so that a vertical plane, extending perpendicularly to the axis of one of the pulleys and passing centrally through its face, also passes centrally through the face of the other pulley it; on the corresponding beam to permit proper mounting and alignment of a belt on corresponding pulleys 12. The pair of pulleys 12 at the lower end of beams it? and 11, as shown in the drawing, are each fixedly connected to a respective shaft 14. Shafts 14 extend inwardly of the belts and are interconnected by a universal or flexible joint 15 of common construction. One of the shafts 14 is operatively connected to a motor 16 by means of a belt 17.

Endless straps or belts 18 are laced about a corresponding pair of pulleys on each beam, it} and it. Belts 18 are positioned in spaced side-by-side relation and in a generally upright position with the upper ends of the belts converging and the lower ends diverging, as in the case of beams 1i) and 11.

Each of the belts 18 has a plurality of spaced guide fingers 19 mounted on the outer periphery thereof and fastened thereto by suitable fastening means, rivets or the like. The guide fingers 1 9 on one of the belts 18 are positioned in staggered relation to the guide fingers 159 on the opposite belt 118. Each of the guide fingers 19 projects into the space between the belts and each has an upturned or hooked free end 2b which normally engages the yarn.

A fixed pigtail guide 21 is secured at one end of an arm 22 fastened at its opposite end to one of the beams. Pigtail guide 21 is positioned above and between the upper ends of beams 1b and 11.

Pulleys 12, at the bottom or diverging ends of the beams, are spaced so that bobbin 6 may be positioned closely below and between the pulleys.

The bobbin 6 is shown in FIG. 1 positioned below and between the belts l8 primarily to permit illustration of the various components of the improved traverse device 1. lthough the device 1 is operable as shown in FIG. 1, the desired and preferred arrangement of bobbin 6 in relation to the belts 13 and guide fingers l9 thereon is shown in FIG. 2.

In the preferred arrangement, bobbin 6 is positioned between and forward of the belts 13 at the diverging ends thereof. The belts 18 are mounted on the pulleys 12 in a generally upright position so that the front sides of the belts 18, shown nearest to bobbin 6 in FlG. 2, are traveling in a downward course and tangentially to the peripheral surface of the yarn being wound on bobbin 6. The point at which each guide finger 19 begins to change direction of its downward travel is within a horizontal plane 23 extending through the axis of bobbin 6.

Normally, the yarn extends from the draw and separator rolls 4 and 5, respectively, to the pigtail guide 21. From guide 23, the yarn is forwarded to the nearest guide finger 19 on the front side of the belts 118, as viewed in the drawing, and is positioned within the hooked end 2'9 of the guide finger. The yarn is then laced in Zig-Zag pattern, alternately, from the uppermost guide finger 19 on one of the belts downwardly to the next succeeding guide finger 19 on the opposite belt, and so forth down to the lowermost guide finger 19 on the belts 13, the yarn being positioned in each case in the hooked ends of each guide finger. The angle of the yarn extending from one guide finger 19 on one belt to the other guide finger 19 on the opposite belt increases progressively as does the lateral displacement of the yarn while it moves downwardly from the upper to the lower end of the traverse device. From the lowermost guide finger 19 the yarn is wound onto bobbin 6.

In operation, (FIGS. 1 and 2), while yarn 2. is being spun from spinneret 3i and is being drawn by draw rolls 4, power means 8 operatively drives bobbin 6 via drum 7 for taking up the yarn, and motor 16 operatively drives the pair of complementary belts 18 in a counterclockwise direction. As each guide finger l9 reverses its upward travel from the back side of the belts at the converging or upper ends of belts 18 and begins its downward travel at the front side of the belts, as viewed in the drawing, each guide finger 19 adjacent its hooked end thereof smoothly engages yarn 2. The yarn is displaced or pulled laterally by each guide finger 19 as it travels to its lowermost position on the front side of the belts. Because of the staggered arrangement of the guide fingers on the belts and the angular arrangement of the belts, the guide fingers 19 cooperate therebetween to establish a. zigzag or tortuous course of travel of the yarn with a progressively widening lateral displacement as the yarn moves to bobbin 6.

As each guide finger E9 on a respective belt reaches its lowest point of its straight-lute downward travel (the point of tangency in FIG. 2), the corresponding belt on which it is mounted revolves around pulley 12 and carries the guide finger away from the path of the yarn. The point at which the guide finger is disengaged from the yarn defines the end of a stroke of the yarn traversed across the bobbin. As one guide finger on one belt is disengaged from the yarn, the next succeeding or second guide finger on the opposite belt serves to apply a tension on the yarn and to guide the yarn uniformly across the face of bobbin while traveling to its lowest position on its belt. When the second guide finger is disengaged from the yarn, the yarn is traversed in the opposite direction in the same manner by the next succeeding or third guide finger on the opposite belt traveling in a downward direction. Thus, the yarn is rapidly traversed back and forth across bobbin 6 whereby a uniformly wound package is formed thereon.

FIG. 3 shows one form of construction of the hooked end portion of each guide finger 1%. The surfaces are smooth to permit the yarn to slide off the guide fingers when they begin to disengage from the yarn. Preferably, the hooked end 2%} on each guide finger is bent so as to form an acute angle in relation to the body of the guide finger.

The guide fingers 1% may be spaced equally apart on each belt with each guide finger on one belt being centrally positioned between a pair of guide fingers 19 on the other belt. However, if the layers of yarn being wound on the bobbin 6 begin to fall one on top of the other in superimposed manner such that so-called ribboning of the yarn should occur, then the guide fingers on the belts may be repositioned to slightly vary the distance between successive guide fingers. By repositioning the guide fingers on the belts, the traverse strokes are off-set, and the yarn is not wound on the bobbin in the same repetitive stroke. Thus, each successive layer of yarn is wound on the bobbin in a different path from the previous layer and ribboning is controlled. Ribboning" results in yarn packages being non-uniformly wound and is therefore an undesirable feature that is disadvantageous in further yarn processing.

The improved traverse device provides uniform displacement of the yarn in opposite directions with an instantaneous reversal of the yarn at the end of each stroke. The entire operation is smooth, unstressed, and uninterrupted. In application, device ll permits high speed operation and produces uniformly wound yarn packages devoid of so-called bulges which form in a package which 18 not uniformly wound.

Although the present embodiment of the invention has been described wherein the traverse device is arranged 1n a generally upright position, it will be understood that the traverse device need not necessarily be operated in the manner described and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Yarn Winding and traversing apparatus comprising in combination: L

(a) a source of yarn supply;

(b) a pair of endless conveyor means rotatably supported in spaced relation with the rotational axes thereof in the same plane and in intersecting angular relation so that the conveyor means are closest together at one point and farthest apart at another polnt;

(0) means for synchronously driving said conveyor means in the same direction;

(0!) an elongated bobbin on which yarn is normally wound in a plurality of overlapping layers and positioned closely adjacent the point of farthest separation of said conveyor means;

(2) means for driving said elongated bobbin; and

(f) a plurality of spaced guide members on each of said conveyor means projecting into the space therebetween, the guide members on one conveyor means arranged in staggered relation to guide members on the other conveyor means, whereby said yarn moving from the source thereof is carried by said guide members in a progressively Widening zig-zag path between the point of closest separation of said conveyor means and the point of farthest separation of said conveyor means where the yarn leaves said guide members alternately from one conveyor means and then the other and traverses across the bobbin as the yarn is being wound therearound.

2. Yarn winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pair of conveyor means are a pair of belts.

3. Yarn winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said guide members are equi-spaced on each of the conveyor means.

4. Yarn Winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said guide members are positioned in unequal distances on the pair of conveyor means to prevent ribboning of the yarn being wound on the bobbin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. YARN WINDING AND TRAVERSING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A SOURCE OF YARN SUPPLY; (B) A PAIR OF ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SPACED RELATION WITH THE ROTATIONAL AXES THEREOF IN THE SAME PLANE AND IN INTERSECTING ANGULAR RELATION SO THAT THE CONVEYOR MEANS ARE CLOSEST TOGETHER AT ONE POINT AND FARTHEST APART AT ANOTHER POINT; (C) MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY DRIVING SAID CONVEYOR MEANS IN THE SAME DIRECTION; (D) AN ELONGATED BOBBIN ON WHICH YARN IS NORMALLY WOUND IN A PLURALITY OF OVERLAPPING LAYERS AND POSITIONED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE POINT OF FARTHEST SEPARATION OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS; (E) MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID ELONGATED BOBBIN; AND