US3128060A

US3128060A - Yarn cake holder

Info

Publication number: US3128060A
Application number: US226578A
Authority: US
Inventors: Todd Grover Lee
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1962-09-27
Filing date: 1962-09-27
Publication date: 1964-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-07

Description

April 7, 1964 G. L. TODD YARN CAKE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheefl Filed Sept. 27, 1962 April 7, 1964 cs. 1.. TODD YARN CAKE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 United States Patent 3,128,060 YARN QAKE HOLDER Grover Lee Todd, Wilmington, DeL, assignor, by mesne assignments, to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,578 Claims. (Cl. 242-1101) This invention relates to yarn cake holders and particularly to a holder for use with an undried cake of yarn. More especially, the invention relates to a holder adapted to support a yarn cake while the yarn is being removed in an axial direction, that is, endwise of the cake.

In the manufacture of rayon, it is customary to collect the newly formed yarn while still wet in the form of what is known as a cake or cheese. The cake is in the shape of a slightly tapered thick walled hollow cylinder and the yarn is generally subjected to further processing while in this form. Thus, the cake is washed to remove residual acid from the yarn and frequently the yarn is dried while still in cake form. Since the cake has no core or other support, it is apt to be mashed out of shape during the various treatments. Before the yarn is sold, or at any rate before it is processed into fabric form, it is usually necessary to remove it from the cake and package it in some other form. For example, the yarn may be wound onto spools or onto a beam. Since the yarn is liable to become tangled during the unwinding from a malformed cake, special devices are generally employed for supporting the cake while the yarn is being removed therefrom and it is toward the improvement of such devices that the present invention is directed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved yarn cake holder capable of supporting a cake in such manner that the yarn can be removed therefrom without tangling.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cake holder so constructed and arranged that the yarn may expeditiously be removed axially or endwise of the cake without tangling.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved yarn cake holder adapted to accommodate cakes of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved yarn cake holder adapted to support a cake in a creel so that the tail of one cake may be tied to the yarn of another cake whereby when the yarn is removed from the first cake the supply will be continued from the other.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention as well as the details of construction will become apparent as the description of a preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

Referring now to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device with certain parts removed to show details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the device in a collapsed condition in full lines and in an expanded condition in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the means for expanding the holder into cake engaging condition; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the construction of one of the cake engaging elements of the device.

In its preferred form, the device comprises a hollow axial shaft 119, to the lower end of which is connected an arm 11 by means of which it may be mounted in a creel. A cake supporting annular flange 12 is secured to shaft 10 and articulated to said shaft are a plurality, four in the illustrated embodiment, of longitudinally extending cake engaging elements generally designated 13. As best shown in FIG. 4, elements '13 are each formed of a pair of tele- Patented Apr. 7., 1964 scoping

members

14 and 15.

Members

14 and 15 are preferably formed of sheet material and member 15 is provided with longitudinally extending flanges 16 and 17 which slidably embrace the edges of member 14. By sliding member 15 along the member 14 the over-all length of composite element 13 may be adjusted.

Elements 13 are articulated to shaft 10 in the following manner. A collar 18 is slidably mounted on shaft 10 and said collar is connected by wire links 19 to each of the four members 14. Each link 19 is pivotally connected at one end to an ear 20 of collar 18 and at the other end to a tab 21 secured to member 14. Also slidably mounted on shaft 10 are a pair of

collars

22 and 23 which are interconnected for unitary movement by a sleeve 24. C01- lar 22 is connected to members 14 of elements 13 by wire links 25 each of which is pivotally connected at one end to an ear 26 of the collar and at the other to a tab 27 secured to member 14. As shown in FIGS. '1 and 3,

links

19 and 25 associated with each cake engaging element cross one another. Collar 23 is connected to members 14 by wire links 28 each of which is pivotally connected at one end to an ear 29 of the collar and at the other end to a tab 30 secured to member 14. As shown in FIG. 1, links 28 are parallel to links 25 and are the same length as links 25 whereby the cake engaging elements are held parallel to shaft 11).

A spring 31 surrounding shaft 10 bears at one end against a sleeve 32 pinned or otherwise secured to the upper end of said shaft and at the other end bears against collar 18 to urge said collar downward away from sleeve 32. A spring 33 mounted around shaft 10 between flange 12 and collar 23 urges said collar upward and through the sleeve 24 also urges collar 22 upward toward collar 18. Because of the

crossing linkages

19 and 25, movement of

collars

18 and 22 toward one another causes the cake engaging elements to move radially outwardly from shaft 10. The links 28, being parallel to links 25, assure parallelism between the cake engaging elements and the shaft in all radial positions of said elements.

A latch member 34 is mounted on a pivot 35 internally of hollow shaft 10. Latch member 34 has an operating portion 36 extending beyond the end of the shaft and a latching nose 37 aligned with an opening 38 in the shaft. A spring 39 urges latch member 34 in the direction to cause latching nose 37 to protrude through the shaft open ing 38, as shown in FIG. 3. When cake engaging elements 13 are pressed toward shaft 10 against the action of

springs

31 and 33,

collars

18 and 22 are moved apart from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and When collar 22 reaches the FIG. 3 position latching nose 37 moves outward to overlie said collar and prevent

springs

31 and 33 from restoring the

collars

18 and 22 to the FIG. 1 position. When latch operating portion 36 is pressed toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3, latch member 34 is moved against the action of its spring 39 to thereby cause the nose 37 to release collar 22 and

permit collars

22 and 18 to be restored to the FIG. 1 position.

The two

members

14 and 15 of cake engaging elements 13 are curved transversely and are of such a width that the longitudinal edges of each element are substantially touching the longitudinal edges of adjacent elements when said elements are in their inner positions, as indicated in FIG. 2. Each member 15 is provided with a flange 40 extending radially outward therefrom and extending sideways beyond the longitudinal edges thereof. In FIG. 2 the cake engaging elements are shown in full lines in their inner positions and in dotted lines in their outer cake engaging positions and it will be observed that in both positions the flange 40 of each element laps the flanges of the two adjacent elements. As shown in full lines in FIG.

2, each flange 40 overlaps one adjacent flange and underlaps the other adjacent flange. The outer edges of flanges 40 are concentric with their respective members 15 and when elements 13, of which members 15 are a part, are in their inner, latched positions the overlapping flanges form a circle, as shown in FIG. 2. When elements 13 are expanded to cake engaging position, the outer edges of the flanges form a smoothly scalloped curve.

When a cake as indicated in dot and dash lines 41 in FIG. 1 is to be positioned on the holder, cake engaging elements 13 are moved to their inner, latched positions and said engaging elements are expanded lengthwise by sliding members 15 along the members 14 so that the holder is longer or higher than the cake. After the holder is inserted through the hollow core of the cake, latch 34 is operated to permit

springs

31 and 33 to expand the cake engaging elements into contact with the hollow interior of the cake. The interior of the cake is of less diameter than the fully expanded diameter of the holder so that engaging elements 13 are held firmly in engagement with the cake and are thereby able to hold the cake in shape. Members 15 are then pressed down until the flanges 40 are in light engagement with one end of the cake, the other end of the cake resting on flange 12. If desired, a tail 42 of the yarn in the core area of the cake may be led to the outside of the cake as shown in FIG. 1 so that it may be tied to the end of the yarn from the outside of another cake, as is usual with packages mounted in a creel.

The yarn is withdrawn from the cake by pulling it through a guide located axially of the cake. With this sort of withdrawal, the yarn forms a balloon as it unwinds from the cake but as the cake becomes exhausted there is a tendency for it to slough off the end of the cake rather than form the balloon and the flanges 40 prevent this sloughing off and the consequent tangling of the yarn. Some cakes are wound so that the yarn moves clockwise as it unwinds and some are formed so that the yarn moves counterclockwise. The

wire links

19, 25 and 28 are sufficiently flexible that some relative sidewise movement is permitted between the cake engaging elements and therefore with the elements in expanded condition the ends of the flanges 40 may be relatively underand overlapped to accommodate the different styles of winding. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, if the yarn moves counterclockwise during withdrawal, the flanges will be lapped as shown but if the yarn moves clockwise the ends of the flanges will be lapped opposite to the way they are shown in the drawing. In this manner, the end of the flange first contacted by the yarn balloon is outside the preceding flange so that there is no danger of the yarn being caught beneath any of the flanges. The opposite ends of cake engaging elements 13 are located close to the flange 12 so that the yarn does not get caught between said engaging elements and the flange 12.

Forming elements 13 of relatively longitudinally movable members not only makes it easier to position the cake on the device 'but more importantly allows the flanges 40 to be positioned very close to 'the end of the cake even though all cakes are not of identical height. In other words, the holder hereinabove described is usuable with a variety of different sizes of yarn cakes.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A yarn cake holder comprising an axial shaft, aplurality of longitudinally extending-cake engaging elements supported by' said shaft, said elements being movable radially of said shaft from inner positions to outer cake engaging positions, means urging said elements to their outer positions, a flange on the end of each of said elements, and said last mentioned flanges extending beyond the longitudinal edges of their respective-elements and lapping the flanges of adjacent elements when said elements are in both their inner positions and their outer cake engaging positions.

2. The cake holder set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said cake engaging elements is formed of a plurality of relatively longitudinally movable members, whereby the length of said elements may be adjusted.

3. A yarn cake holder comprising an axial shaft, a cake supporting flange secured near one end of said shaft, a plurality of longitudinally extending cake engaging elements supported by said shaft, said elements being movable radially of said shaft from inner positions to outer cake engaging positions, resilient means urging said elements to their outer positions, said elements being curved transversely, a first end of each of said elements being located close to said cake supporting flange, a flange on the other end of each of said elements, and said last mentioned flanges extending beyond the longitudinal edges of their respective elements and lapping the flanges of adjacent elements when said elements are in both their inner positions and their outer cake engaging positions.

4. The cake holder set forth in claim 3 wherein said cake engaging elements are formed of telescoping members whereby the length thereof may be adjusted.

5. A yarn cake holder comprising an axial shaft, a plurality of longitudinally extending cake engaging elements supported by said shaft, said elements being movable radially of said shaft from inner positions to outer cake engaging positions, resilient means urging said elements to their outer positions, said elements being curved transversely and being of a width such that the longitudinal edges of each element are substantially touching the longitudinal edges of the adjacent elements when said elements are in their said inner positions, a flange on the end of each of said elements, and said last mentioned flanges extending beyond the longitudinal edges of their respective elements and lapping the flanges of adjacent elements when said elements are in both their inner positions and their outer cake engaging positions.

' -6. The cake holder set forth in claim 5 wherein said cake engaging elements are formed of telescoping members, whereby the length thereof may be adjusted.

7. A yarn cake holder comprising an axial shaft, a cake supporting flange secured near one end of said shaft, a plurality of longitudinally-extending cake engaging elements supported by said shaft, said elements being movable radially of said shaft from inner positions to outer cake engaging positions, resilient means urging said elements to their outer positions, said elements being curved transversely and being of a width such that the longitudinal edges of eachelement are substantially touching the longitudinal edges of the adjacent elements when said elements are in their said inner positions, a first end of each of said elements being located close to said cake supporting flange, a flange on the other end of each of said elements, said last mentioned flanges extending beyond the longitudinal edges of their respective elements and lapping the flanges of adjacent elements when said elements are in both their inner positions and their outer cake engaging positions.

8. The cake holder set forth in claim 7 wherein said cake engaging elements are formed of telescoping members, whereby the length thereof may be adjusted.

9. A yarn cake holder comprising an axial shaft, a cake supporting flange secured near one end of said shaft, a plurality of cake engaging elements, means articulating said cake engaging elements to said shaft for simultaneous movement radially of said shaft from inner positions to outer cake engaging positions, resilient means urging said elements to their outer positions, latch means for holding said elements in their inner positions means for releasing said latch means, said elements being curved transversely and being of a width such that the longitudinal edges of each element are substantially touching the longitudinal edges of the-adjacent elements when said elements are in their said inner positions, a first end of each of said elements being located close to said cake supporting flange, a flange on the other end of each of said elements,

6 said last mentioned flanges extending beyond the longi- References Cited in the file of this patent tudinal edges of their respective elements and lapping UNITED STATES PATENTS the flanges of adjacent elements When said elements are 495 720 Birdsau A r 18 1893 in both their inner positions and their outer cake engaging 2 60O840 Bruegger i 1952 Pwtms- 5 2,971,721 Jones Feb. 14, 1961 10. The cake holder set forth in claim 9 wherein said cake engaging elements are formed of telescoping mem- FOREIGN PATENTS bers, whereby the length thereof may be adjusted. 453,110 Italy Nov. 17, 1949

Claims

1. A YARN CAKE HOLDER COMPRISING AN AXIAL SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CAKE ENGAGING ELEMENTS SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT, SAID ELEMENTS BEING MOVABLE RADIALLY OF SAID SHAFT FROM INNER POSITIONS TO OUTER CAKE ENGAGING POSITIONS, MEANS URGING SAID ELEMENTS TO THEIR OUTER POSITIONS, A FLANGE ON THE END OF EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS, AND SAID LAST MENTIONED FLANGES EXTENDING BEYOND THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ELEMENTS AND LAPPING THE FLANGES OF ADJACENT ELEMENTS WHEN SAID ELEMENTS ARE IN BOTH THEIR INNER POSITIONS AND THEIR OUTER CAKE ENGAGING POSITIONS.