US3169716A

US3169716A - Drum-wrap and thread-break lockout for winding machines

Info

Publication number: US3169716A
Application number: US214789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Furst Stefan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-06-11
Filing date: 1962-07-26
Publication date: 1965-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-16
Also published as: GB923485A; DE1255544B; CH379987A

Description

Feb. 16, 1965 s. FURsT 3,169,716

DRUM-WRAP AND THREAD-BREAK LOCKOUT FOR, WINDING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l FlG.l

Feb. 16, 1965 s. FURST 3,169,716

DRUM-WRAP AND THREAD-BREAK LOCKOUT FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1962' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1965 s. FURST 3,169,716

DRUM-WRAP AND THREAD-BREAK LOCKOUT FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1962 4 sheets sheet 3 Feb. 16, 1965 s. FURST 3,169,716

DRUM-WRAP AND THREAD-BREAK LOCKOUT FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent C 3,169,716 DRUM- AND TfmEAD-BREAK LOCKOUT FOR ENG MAtZHlNES Stefan Fiirst, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany, assignor to Walter Reiners, Monehen-Gladbach, Germany Filed July 26, 1962, Ser. No. 214,789 Claims priority, application Germany, June 11, 1958,

R 23,474 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-36) My invention relates to a testing method and device for checking continuously the re-winding of yarn in automatic winding machines and more particularly to a methd and device for stopping a winding station upon occurrence of entanglement or wrapping of the yarn about the yarn guide drum.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendapplication Serial No. 819,092, filed June 9, 1959, now abandoned, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

In the manufacture of woven or knitted goods the yarn packages coming from the spinning machine in the form of cops are first re-wound onto take-up spools into larger packages for example in the shape of cross-wound coils, also called cheeses. During such re-winding, the yarn being pulled olf the cop over the cop tip passes along a yarn guide which reciprocates the yarn along the take up spool as the yarn is being wound on that spool. Particularly for high-speed re-winding operation, the yarn guide consists preferably of a rotating drum which has a guiding groove on its cylindrical drum surface. If the yarn, during winding operation, tears between the yarn cleaning comb or other stationary guide member from which it travels onto the guiding drum, then the loose yarn end may become wrapped about the rotating drum or its driving shaft. Such wraps are a source of trouble or danger because the slowly increasim wrap may rub against an adjacent machine part and this may be sufficient even to ignite the yarn. In automatic winding machines requiring an only slight or occasional amout of personal supervision, such wraps may also cause a considerable amount of damage to the machinery.

It is therefore an object of my invention to eliminate such deficiencies.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means for stopping the operation of an individual winding station of a winding machine immediately upon the occurrece of entanglement or wrap of the yarn around the yarn guide drum and to prevent continuation of the winding operation at that winding station until the wrap is removed.

Still another object of my invention is to prevent the occurrence of excessively large wraps or entanglements of yarn around parts. of a winding machine.

For this purpose, and in accordance with a feature of my invention, I provide a method and means for continuously checking the winding operation in a winding station having a rotating drive shaft or rotating yarn guide, the supervisory action of the checking device being directed to a given range or ranges adjacent to these rotating parts and being responsive to occurrence of a wrap or entanglement of the yarn around those parts, such as the drive shaft or rotating yarn guard, with the result of performing a controlling or signalling operation. The action released in response to occurrence of a wrap may serve only for signalling purposes to notify the operator of the need for his attention, or it may also serve to automatically initiate an operation such as a switching or control operation. This latter operation is preferably such that when the wrap-responsive sensing member becomes active it immediately causes stoppage of the winding station or severance of the yarn, for example in such 3,169,716 l atentecl Feb. 16, 1965 a manner that the yarn cleaner traversed by the travelling yarn is closed, such as by electric control means, with the result of causing the yarn to tear immediately. This has the effect of causing the yarn feeler of the machine to respond to absence of yarn in the customary manner, and to cause the winding station to stop.

It is further preferable, particularly in winding machines which are automated to a large extent, such as with automatic yarn-seekers and knotters, to have the yarnsensing member respond to the occurrence of a wrap or to the subsequent severing of the yarn, and to immediately cause stopping of the control or switching means which normally serve to reestablish the winding station to operative condition. In this manner the occurrence of a wrap not only results in stoppage of the winding station but also prevents the servicing operation of the yarn-seeking and knotting devices, normally occurring in the event of yarn breakage. Without such automatic prevention of the above-mentioned servicing operation, by response of the yarn-sensing member, the servicing devices, particularly in automaticwinding machines, under normal conditions would become activated to exchange a depleted yarn supply coil or to mend a broken yarn, so as to return the winding station to operative condition with the effect that the yarn-sensing device would repeatedly operate when a wrap occurred. However, since occurrence of the above* mentioned wraps are rare, it is preferable to abstain from providing any automatic device for the elimination of such wrap. Preferably, therefore, the continuous automatic surface upon which a wrap may possibly be formed. The

testing device is mounted so that it is actuated by the wrap when the latter slowly increases in thickness on the rotating yarn guide. For that reason, the testing device, as a rule, is located opposite the yarn guide in parallel relation to the guide axis. The device can then pass upon the drive of the rotating yarn guide or the drive shaft of the winding station for stopping the rotation; or the testing device, when responding, may cause the take-up spool, peripherally driven by the yarn-guiding drum when in normal operation, to be lifted off the drum, thus the winding performance.

According to another feature of my invention, the wrap-responsive sensing member may comprise a beam of light which is directed substantially parallel to the axisof the drive shaft or of the yarn-guiding drum and which.

impinges upon a photoelectric cell. The electric circuit of the photoelectric cell, upon occurrence of a wrap interfering with the beam of light, effects the desired control or stoppage of the winding station, for example by means of a relay, to arrest the winding station or in any other suitablemanner to initiate the termination of the winding operation. In yarn guides of the wing type, the beam of light may also be directed in slanted relation with respect to the shaft axis.

According to still another modification feature of my invention, the sensing member of the testing device releases or establishes a latch connection which causes the winding station to be controlled, preferably, brought to a standstill by means of a switching or control device operating with a stronger force or torque than the sensing device itself. The sensing member may also act upon the stop-control device with which the winding stations are usually equipped and which are controlled by operation of the conventional type of yarn guard, the latter stopping responsive shut-off device; and

being a feelermember'or the like that is normally biased into'engageme'nt with the taut yarn running onto the yarn -guidingdrum and deflecting in the event the yarn becomes absent due to breakage or depletion of the yarn supply coil.

According to still another feature of my invention,

the supervisory control in response to occurrence of wraps is effected by means of a force-measuring gauge located in the torque transmission device used for driving the winding station and is activated to cause stopor torque exceeds a given limit value. The performance of this device is predicated upon the fact that the occurrence'and increase of a wrap is accompanied by increasing friction with ,neighboring machine parts which require a corresponding increase in driving power for FIG. 1 is a front view of a yarn-winding device in an individual winding station of a yarn-coil winding ma chine, the device including a wrap-responsively controlled stop control mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a partial and partly sectional side view off a modified winding device with wrap-responsive control means.

'FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are lateral'views in three respectively dilferent conditions of a third embodiment of such a winding device equipped with a latch mechanism shown in FIG. 1, ajfceler roller/7 is mounted on the 'shaft 9 of the intermediate friction roller 3 and is located opposite the guiding drum 1, preferably in the middle of the drum as illustrated. A spring 8 normally biases the bearing. structure ha of shaft 9 toward the drum 1 to a position in which the intermediate frictiongear 3 engages and entrains the friction gear 2, while the roller' 7 remains slightly spaced from the drum 1.

. page of the windingstation when the transmitted force If due to breakage of the yarn Y along its path be tween the tensioner T or cleaner and the guiding drum 1, a wrap W occurs around drum 1, the wrap W presses against the feeler roller? and 'moves it awayfrom the for stopping the winding station in response to the occurrence of wraps. in FIG. 3A the yarn is broken, but no wrap has occurred; in FIG. 3B, a drum wrap has occurred but the'yarn is not broken; in FIG. 3C the tion.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a PilOtOBiC-,

trically controlled group of winding stations.

FIG. 5 'is a front view, partly sectioned, of another embodiment of a winding device provided with a torque- FIG. 6 is a supplemental diagram of cult ofFIG.4.

Before describing the illustrated embodiments. in greater detail, a description will be given of those feaintermediate drum is shown in its normal running posirum 1 in opposition to the force of spring 8, thus disengaging the intermediate, gear 3 from the friction disk 2 and stopping the winding operation, which can thereafter he continued only after the "wrap W is removed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the ,feeler'roller 7' is journalled on an angular lever 1t) pivoted at a to the 1 frame structure M and biased by a pull spring 11 to keep theroller 7 in engagement with the surface of the guid- 7 ing drum '1. An arm 12 of lever it? forms a latch for normally retaining another angular lever 14 which is pivoted at 14a and biased-counterclockwise by a pull spring 15. The upper arm of lever 14 is connected by a link 14!) with the shaft 341 of "the intermediatefriction Wheel 3'. For thispurposethe link ldbpasses through an opening in lever 14 and is under the effect of a helical compression spring 140 which tends to movethe link 1dr) upwardly. Normally, when the lever 14- 'is latched by arm 12 in the position 14', shown by a dot-and-dash line, the intermediate roller 3' is forced by spring 14c into frictional engagement with thedriving wheel 5 and thedriven wheel 2.' However, in the event of the occurrence ofa wrap'W; the roller '7 is forced downward by the wrap W so that the latch arm 12 of angular lever ill turns counterclockwise into the position illustrated in PEG. 2' and releases the'lever 14 which then passes, under action of spring 15, through and beyond the illustrated full-line position to a'lower limit position in which the intermediate roller 3 is disengaged from the

rollers

5 and 2, thus stopping the winding operation. A re-setting rod 16, manually actuable by means of a knob 16a,

permits returningthe angular lever 14 to'the normal posithe electric cirtures which all of the disclosedembodiments have in common. I v t I The yarn Y pulled off froma spinningcop (not shown) passes through a yarn tensioner T (PEG. 3) or.addi-:

tionally through'a comb-shaped cleaner (not shown) and thence upwardly along a'feeler or yarnyguard 24' onto a yarn-guiding drum 1 which is provided with a groove 1a (PIG. 1) that forms a loop closed upon, itself and extending about the drum periphery as well as in the longitudinal direction of the drum so that, during rota tion of the guiding drum 1, the oncoming yarn Y is reciprocated' along a take -up spool 4 thus being wound into a cross-wound package. The take-up spool 4 is pivotally mounted on a frame 4a (FIGS. 1, '3) which is pivoted at 411 to the frame structure M of the machine.

1 During operation, the take-up spool rests against the periphery of the yarn-guiding drum 1. The shaft lb of which is engageable with an intermediate friction wheel 3 (FIGS.'1, 2, 3). The latter gear is frictionally'engageable with a friction gear 5 mounted on a shaft 5a. which is drivento continuously rotate at uniform speed as long as the winding machine is in operative condition.

. Referring now to the embodiment of the invention drum 1 is driven'by means of a coaxial friction gear 2, j

tion 14 after the wrap W is removed from the guiding drum. I

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C respectively show in lateral view three respectively different positions of another embodiment of the inventiom in the condition of FIG. 3A, the situation is illustrated when no wrap winding has occurred on the yarn-guiding drum 1, but the yarn Y leading from the tensioner T to the take-up spool lis broken so that the yarnfeeler 24 has swung out into responded position. "A

fecler lever 17, pivoted a 1170!, extends to the vicinity of the periphery of drum 2 to check it for the presence of a wrap W (FIG. 35). hen engaged by. a wrap W, the lever 17 turns counterclockwise so that a hook 18 firmly joined with the lever 17 can enter into a catch 18a on acontrol arm 1) to lock the latter into the position illustrated in FIG. 3B. The arm '19 is pivotally joined at 1% with a lever 21 rotatable about a'fixed pivot shaft 22. an extended portion 19b of control arm 1% rests against the cam periphery of an eccentric cam Ztlfixedly mounted on a shaft 24M which, during normal operation of. the machine, is driven together with the drive shaft 5a to rotate continuously at constant speed. Theengagement'between arm portion 19b and eccentric 20 is main-' tained by a biasing spring 190. During normal operation the control arm 19 oscillates continuously about its pivot C) due to the motion of cam at point (FiG The downward force exerted by spring 19c produces a counterclockwise force moment on point 194: acting about shaft'ZZ and also about the instantaneous contact point between lever 19b and cam 2%. Thus, during normal operation, spring 15% keeps friction roller engage with

rollers

5 and 2. V a

In the condition illustrated in FIG 3A, the yarn feeler 24 has swung out into responded position and as a result the arm portion 25 of yarn feeler 24 is placed beneath the arm 19 and prevents downward motion of the latter. so that the roller 3 cannot establish a connection between the driving roller 5 and the driven roller 2. The roller 3 is shown in the condition of FIG. 3A as engaging the roller 2 but not en aging the roller 5.

The intermediate friction roller 3 is journalled in a bifurcated upper portion of a link 23 which is pivotally joined at 23:: with the lever 21. As long as the feeler lever 17 does not respond to presence of a wrap W on the drum 1, so that the hook 13 remains disengaged from the catch 13a of the control arm 19, the spring 19c, acting through control lever 19, lever 21 and link 23, maintains the intermediate friction roller 3 biased upwardly in engagement with the rollers 2 and 5 (FIG. 3C) so that winding motion is transmitted to the winding drum. A latch pawl 23b is provided, rotatable about a pivot point 23d fixed to the machine. The pawl 23b is biased by a spring 230 toward the pin 23a. As soon as the turning motion of lever arm 19 is blocked in the position of FIG. 3A, by lever 25 in the position of FIG. 3A or by lever 18 in the position of FIG. 3B, and when the pivot point of lever arm 19 has been displaced by motion of cam 20 from point 190' into the full line position 19a, the pin 23a is lowered, due to the blockwise rotation of arm 21, to such an extent that the nose at the lower end of pawl 2231) becomes positioned above and in front of the pin 23:: so that this pin is blocked thereby into the position of FIG. 3C and cannot again be lifted until the left end of arm 19 is freed from

lever

25 or 18. Consequently, the cam 20 will now rotate idly and will touch lever arm 19b only at the cams outermost radial surface, without causing a rocking back and forth of the lever 19 or of intermediate roller 3 When, due to the presence of a wrap W, the feeler 17 turns counterclockwise into the position shown in FIG. 3B, upon the next rotation of cam 20 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3C, the latch 18 enters into the catch 18:: of control arm 19 during the corresponding reciprocation of this control arm, and the lefthand end 18a of the control arm 19 thus forms a stationary fulcrum with the end of latch 18. As a result, the eccentric 20, during its rotation into the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3C, acting about the stationary fulcrum of the tip of lever 18 engaging catch 180 or about the tip of lever 25, causes the pivot point 19a to be lifted from its former position 19a with the effect of rotating lever 21 clockwise, thus lowering the link 23 and moving the intermediate friction roll 3 downward out of engagement with the driving wheel 2 and into its position shown in FIG. 3A until the latch 18 or the lever 25 forming the fulcrum is removed from the left end of lever 19.

The control arm 19 cooperates with the yarn guard 24 as shown in FIG. 3A in the following manner. In the event of yarn breakage, no yarn will be passing through the yarn guard, and the arm 24, biased by a spring or by a counterweight, turns clockwise about its pivot 24a from dotted line position 24' (FIG. 3B) to position 24, 25 (FIG. 3A) and places the stop arm 25 fixedly attached to 24, beneath .the control lever 19 to form a fulcrum as mentioned above. This limits the mobility of the lefthand end of the control arm 19 in the same manner as the above-mentioned hook 18 latching into catch 18a. Eccentric 20 now lifts the :control arm portion 19b to pivot the arm 19 about its stationary fulcrum at the lefthand end thereof where it engages arm 25, thus raising point 19:: from 19a and turning the lever 21 up clockwise about pivot 22, with the result of lifting the intermediate roller 3 off the friction wheel 5 to its position illustrated in FIG. 3A. The control arm 19 therefore serves for stopping the winding station not only in response to formation of a wrap W but also in response to absence of the yarn by the action of yarn guard 24.

FIG. 3A illustrates the condition of the machine when no winding wrap has occurred on the yarn-guiding drum 1, but the yarn Y leading to the take-up spool 4 is broken away from the path Y so that the yarn guard 24 has swung out into responded position. As a result, the part 25 becomes positioned beneath the left end of lever 19 and has prevented the downward motion of the latter, so that the roller 3 cannot establish a driving connection between the driving roller 5 and the driven roller 2. In this condition of FIG. 3A the roller 3 is shown as engaging the rolier 2 but not engaging the roller 5.

In the situation illustrated in FIG. 313 a wrap W has occurred, but the yarn Y leading from the tensioner T to the take-up spool 4 has not been broken or interrupt ed. The yarn feeler arm 24 normally rests against the yarn at position 24' during the winding operation. However, the arm 18 in the condition of FIG. 3B has been turned counterclockwise out from its normal position of FIGS. 3A and 30 because a winding wrap W has been formed around the yarn-guiding drum 1. The latch nose of lever arm 18 therefor has passed beneath the upper nose of the lever arm 19 and caught into the latch 18:: so that now again the lever arm 19 is held in the position shown in FIG. 3B in a manner similar to that held by arm 25 in FIG. 3A. This prevents the roller 3 from establishing a connection between the driving roller 5 and the roller 2. Simultaneously, the lower nose on the left end of arm 19 is positioned in front of the arm 25 of the yarn guard 24 (see FIG. '33) so that the yarn guard 24 can no longer turn out into the responded position of FIG. 3A, even though the yarn tension along path Y' may decrease or slacken.

As is customary in winding machines of this type provided with a yarn-seeking and knotting device, the device which seeks, entrains the yarn ends and knots them together enters into action only when the yarn guard, such as 24, is located in responded position, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, because of yarn breakage or absence of yarn.

For a more detailed explanation and illustration of such seeking and knotting devices actuated by the response of a yarn feeler to absence of yarn, reference may be had to the following patents: Patent No. 2,685,414 of S. Fiirst, issued August 3, 1954; Patent No. 3,059,867 of S. Fiirst, issued October 23, 1962; Patent No. 3,070,320 of Reiners et al., issued December '25, 1962; Patent No. 3,067,962 of S. Ftirst, issued December 11, 1962; Patent No. 3,061,216 of S. Fiirst et al., issued October 30, 1962; Patent No. 3,023,974 of S. Fiirst, issued March 6, 1962; Patent No. 3,077,311 of S. Fiirst, issued February 12, 1963; and Patent No. 3,136,494 of S. Fiirst, issued June 9, 1964.

When the winding machine is stopped because the yarn wrap W has formed on the yarn-guiding drum 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the turning-out motion of the yarn guard 24 is prevented as above described. This prevents the yarn-seeking and knotting devices from entering into operation. Thus, according to another feature or" the present invention, the yarn feeler 24 which checks for presence of yarn along the yarn path and responds to absence of yarn so as to put the yarn-seeking and knotting device into operation for the purpose of correcting the yarn fault and again placing the winding station into operation, when such feeler 24 is blocked, then the yarn-seeking and knotting devices are prevented from entering into operation until the yarn Wrap has been eliminated from the yarn-guiding drum 1.

FIG. 3C shows the relative position of the members during normal operation when no yarn wrap is present on the yarn-guiding drum 1 and no yarn breakage has occurred. In this situation, the yarn guard 24 as well as the yarn guard 17 are in their normal operating positions. The spring biases the lever arm 19 downward, together with both ends of this lever arm located at the left and right of the pivot point 19a. Consequently, the pivot point 19:: which links arm 19 to lever 21 is also pulled down by the spring 19c into the position designated by 19a. As a result, the roller 3 engages the roller 2 and also the roller 5 so that a driving connection is established between roller 5 through the

rollers

3 and 2 to the yarn-guiding drum 1. By rotation of the cam disc 20, the lever 19 swings about the pivot'point 19a, between the solid and dotted-line positions of lever arm 19 designated in FIG. 3C. Under the eifect of cam 20, the lever 19 can be lifted at its left end toia point where either or both arm 25 and arm 18 can block the downward motion of the left end of double lever 19. This can only'occur when lever 19 is in the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 3C. When such a blocking action of the left end of lever 19 has occurred, either because of loosening of yarn Y or yarn breakage according to FIG; 3A or because of a yarn wrap W according to FIG. 313, then the left end of lever arm 19 becomes a fulcrum as above described for the movement of arm 19 by means of eccentric cam because this left end of arm 19 can no longer move downwardly. Such blocking action can occur only when the'eccentric cam 20 has reached the dotted-line position of FIG. 3C. When the cam 20 rotates'fully, the right end 19b of lever 19 is lifted, whereby the lever arm 19 no longer can pivot about the point 19a, but rather about the fulcrum formed by the abutting location between

levers

18 or 25, and lever 19, as is represented in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Thus, further rotation of cam 20, lifting lever arm 19 about such fuling current source attached to the terminals '43.

onto the mirror 36c and the prism set 370. Consequently, the photoelectric cell 33 is obscured at this time,

so that the circuit ofthe' cell jand hence-the relay 34c become active to stop the windingstation 1C. The pho- Qtocell 33 and relays 34a to d are connected at terminals? Stoppage of the winding station may be elfected by 7 having the relay 34c act upon an electromagnet or solecrum, causes the pivot point 19a to be lifted so that it reaches the position 19a. This has the effect of interrupting the driving connection between roller 5 through

rollers

3 and 2 to the drum 1. Since the cam 20 then continues rotating, a latch 23?) is provided to engage the end of lever 21 at 23a and thus prevent the action of spring 190 fromkeeping arm 1% in contact with the rotating cam 20 and pulling arm 1911 down again. The lever arm 21 is thus blocked by the latch pawl 23b in the position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, but not in theposition of FIG. 3C. Consequently, when latch 23b is engaged with lever 21, the point 19a cannot become lowered back intoits full-line position 19a as the cam 20 to or connected for rotation of yarn-guiding drums 1A,

1B, 1C, ID of the four illustrated winding stations. The rotating contact device 32a to d possesses a contact segment for each individual winding station, and during each full rotation of the shaft 1b and of the guiding drums makes contact only once with an appertaining brush contact 42a to d. The samecontact device 32a to d operates during the same interval of time to connect a photoelectric cell .33, common to a number of winding stations, into another electric circuit. other circuit includes respective relays, or solenoids 34a to d correlated to the respective winding stations and acting when energized to disengage the stop control device such as friction roller 3, thus stopping the respective winding drum 1A to 1D. Mirrors 35a to d and 36a to d as well as sets of prisms 37a to d are provided for I guiding the beam of light from light sources 31a to d respectively, so that it scans only the one guiding drum in which a light source 31 and relay .34 are simultaneouslycnergized, i.e. while the respective roller 3 is disengaged from the drum 1A to 1D. If a wrap W has formed, for example, on the guiding drum 1C, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the beam of light coming from source 31c, after deflection at mirror 35c, impinges upon the wrap W at W and thus prevents the beam from passing dnum 1 by means of which the stud is adustable.

noid which pulls member 23 (FIG. 3) downwardly to remove the abovementioned

intermediate roller

3, 3 or 3 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) from its driving engagement with

members

2, 5 of the winding station. This stoppage of the windingstation may also be effected in a knownmanner by lifting the take-up spool frame 4a, as is more fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 704,983, filed December 24, 1957, now abandoned, and assigned to the assigneeof the present invention. A further method of stoppage is by interrupting the electric circuit of the motor driving the winding station by disengagement of electrical contacts in the motor circuit. V

The embodiment of FIG. 4 may be applied to the type of automatic winding machine provided with a multiplicity of winding stations, such a is more fully disclosed and described in my Patent No. 3,077,311, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Another method of stoppage according to the invention is by the use of a force-measuring or torque-measuring device operatively connectedto the power transmission 5a or solenoid to disengage a roller 3 of a particular winding station. The force-measuring gauge thus controls the'winding station to terminate the winding operation when a predetermined force-limit or torque value is exceeded. FIG. 5 illustrates a device of this type having a slip clutch.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the driving power is transmitted to the driving gear 2 through a friction gear The gear 2 is firmly connected with a hollow shaft 51, for example by means of a screw bolt 52. Mounted on the left end of the hollow shaft 51 is a claw, clutch 53. The yarn-guiding drum 1 can slide on the hollow shaft 51, but it is entnained when the teeth of the clutch member 54 engage the interspaces of the clutch member 53. The clutch member is guided on rails 55 which are firmly. joined with the guiding drum 1. The clutch member 54 is under the force of a spring 56 which braces itself against a stud or abutment 57. The stud 57 is in threaded engagement with a recess of the guiding A control rod 58 passes through the hollow shaft 51 and is connected on its left side with a shoulder ring 59 and on the right side with a force-transmitting shoulder ring 60. A cap 61 firmly seated in clutch member 54 abuts against the shoulder ring 59. The ring 60 cooperates with a lever 62 which can actuate a pair of electric contacts 63, 64 and, by means of an angular extension 65 can act upon the friction gear 3 for the purpose of dis- 1 engaging it from the driving gear 2. The forked lever 123, on which wheel 3 is mounted, is pivoted at its remote end to the machine frame and is normally biased upwardly to urge friction gear 3 against friction gear 2.

When the driving torque is too great, the two

clutch members

53, 54 are too strongly loaded to remain in mutual engagement. The clutch member 54' moves against the spring 56 and then entrains a control rod 58 by means of the shoulder ring 59. The displacement of rod'58 is transmitted by shoulder ring 60 to the lever 62 which lifts the friction gear 3 off the gear 2. A latch 66 pivoted at 66' biased counterclockwise by a compression spring 67 then arrests the lever 62 in the drive-disconnecting position until the winding station can again be put into operation by hand or automatically after elimination of the disturbance. Simultaneously, the contact pair 63, 64 closes an electric circuit which issues a signal or calls upon human or mechanical assistance for eliminating the disturbance.

The openation of the device according to FIG. 6 cor- .responds essentially to that of FIG. 4. However, the

solenoid is shown in greater detail relative to its operation. When one of the relays 34 is energized, the core 134 transmits its motion through the lever arm 135 to a control rod 136 which, in turn, lifts the friction gear 3 off when a wrap is present, as is illustrated at the winding station C. As a result, the drive for Winding station C is disconnected. A motor 140 supplies driving power and acts through a shaft 141 and the driving gears 142 to drive the individual winding stations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon studying this disclosure, that my invention permits of a great variety of modifications and hence may be embodied in devices other than particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essential features of my invention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. In a winding machine having a rotating yarn guide and drive means for rotating said yarn guide, first sensing means laterally disposed adjacent to said yarn guide and responsive to the presence of a wrap of yarn around said yarn guide, second sensing means responsive to absence of yarn travelling to said yarn guide, said drive means including friction roller means engageable with said yarn guide for rotating the latter during normal operation, drive-disconnecting means comprising lever means operatively linked to said roller means for moving same into and out of engaging position with said yarn guide, biasing means connected to said lever means for urging the latter in a predetermined direction, and latch means operatively connected to at least said first of said sensing means and biased for locking said lever means and thereby said roller means out of said engaging position upon response of said first sensing means, so that as long as a Wrap of yarn exists around said yarn guide said roller means will remain out of said engaging position to stop the winding operation until said Wrap of yarn is eliminated.

2. A device for stopping the winding operation in a yarn-winding machine having a cylindrical rotating yarn guide upon occurrence of wrap on the latter, comprising drive means for rotating said yarn guide about its axis, said drive means including friction roller means engageable with said yarn guide for rotating the latter, drivedisconnecting means comprising lever means operatively linked to said roller means for moving same into and out of engaging position with said yarn guide, biasing means connected to said lever means for normally urging said roller means into said engaging position, sensing means laterally disposed adjacent to said yarn guide and having a portion thereof disposed in the vicinity of the surface of said cylindrical yarn guide for actuating said sensing means into a responded condition upon occurrence of a wrap of yarn around said yarn guide, and latch means operatively connected to said'sensing means and biased for locking said lever means and thereby said roller means out of said engaging position upon movement of said sensing means into said responded position, so that as long as a wrap of yarn exists around said yarn guide said roller means will remain out of said engaging position to stop the winding operation until said Wrap of yarn is eliminated.

3. A device for stopping the winding operation in a yarn-winding machine having a cylindrical rotating yarn guide upon occurrence of wrap on the latter, comprising drive means for rotating said yarn guide about its axis, said drive means including friction roller means engageable with said yarn guide for rotating the latter, drivedisconnecting means comprising lever means operatively linked to said roller means for movingsame into and out of engaging position with said yarn guide, first sensing means disposed adjacent to said yarn guide, feeler means fixedly attached to said first sensing means and having an end portion thereof disposed in the vicinity of the surface of said cylindrical yarn guide for actuating said first sensing means into a responded condition upon occurrence of a wrap of yarn around said yarn guide, second sensing means pivotally mounted and movable in response to absence of yarn travelling to said yarn guide, said first sensing means having first latch means engageable with one end of said lever means for providing a first fulcrum for pivoting of said lever means, second latch means fixedly attached to said second sensing means and engageable with said one end of said lever means for providing a second fulcrum for pivoting ofsaid lever means, said first and second latch means engaging said lever means end only upon said first and second sensing means moving in response to a yarn Wrap and absence of yarn, respectively and continuously rotating cam means for periodically moving said lever means into the range of said first and second latch means, whereby upon engagement of one of said latch means with said one end of said lever means said cam means pivots said lever means about one of said fulcrums to withdraw said friction roller means from its engaging position with said yarn guide to stop the latter, so that as long as a Wrap of yarn exists around said y-arn guide said roller means will remain out of said engaging position to stop the winding operation until said Wrap of yarn is eliminated.

4. In a winding machine having a rotating yarn guide and a drive means for rotating said yarn guide, and equipped with a yarn feeler responsive into responded condition upon loosening and absence of yarn travelling along a yarn path to said yarn guide, drive-disconnecting means comprising a device for stopping the winding operation upon occurrence of said loosening of yarn and for blocking said yarn feeler in its responded condition, said drive means including friction roller means normally engageable with said yarn guide for rotating the latter, lever means operatively linked to said roller means for moving same into and out of engaging position with said yarn guide, biasing means connected to said lever means for urging said roller means into said engaging position, said drive-disconnecting means being operatively connected to said yarn feeler for actuation thereby to place said drive means out of operative condition while said yarn feeler is in said responded condition.

5. In a Winding machine having a rotating yarn guide and drive means for rotating said yarn guide, a device for stopping the winding operation upon occurrence of a wrap of yarn around the yarn guide, comprising sensing means laterally disposed adjacent to said yarn guide and responsive to the presence of a Wrap of yarn around said yarn guide, said drive means including friction roller means engageable with said yarn guide for rotating the latter during normal winding operation, drive-disconnecting means comprising lever means operatively linked to said roller means for moving same into and out of engaging position with said yarn guide, biasing means connected to said lever means for urging said roller means into said engaging position, and latch means operatively connected to said sensing means and biased for locking said lever 'means and thereby said roller means out of said engaging position upon response of said sensing means, so that as long as a wrap of yarn exists around said yarn guide said roller means will remain out of said engaging position to stop the winding operation until said wrap of yarn is eliminated.

6. In a winding machine having a rotating yarn guide and drive means for rotating said yarn guide, first sensing means laterally disposed adjacent to said yarn guide and responsive to the presence of a wrap of yarn around said 'yarn guide-second sensing means responsive to absence o f yarn travelling to said yarn guide, said drive means including engaging means for rotating the yarn guide during normal operation, said engaging means being movabie 'into and out'of yarn guide rotating condition, drive predetermined direction, and latch means connected to at least said first of said sensing means and biased for locking said lever means and thereby said engaging means I out of said yarn guide rotating condition upon response or" said first sensing means, so that'as long as a wrap'of yarn exists around said yarn guide 'isaid engaging meansv will remain out of said yarn guide rotating condition so as to stop the Winding operation until said wrap is eliminated V v v n I References Cited in thefile of'this patent UNITED, STATES PATENTS V 'znoaoss, 'McKean June 25, 1935 2,338,914 {:Esser et a1. Jan. 11, 1944

Claims

1. IN A WINDING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATING YARN GUIDE AND DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID YARN GUIDE, FIRST SENSING MEANS LATERALLY DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID YARN GUIDE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF A WRAP OF YARN AROUND SAID YARN GUIDE, SECOND SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ABSENCE OF YARN TRAVELLING TO SAID YARN GUIDE, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING FRICTION ROLLER MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID YARN GUIDE FOR ROTATING THE LATTER DURING NORMAL OPERATION, DRIVE-DISCONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING LEVER MEANS OPERATIVELY LINKED TO SAID ROLLER MEAN FOR MOVING SAME INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGING POSITION WITH SAID YARN GUIDE, BIASING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER MEANS FOR URGING THE LATTER IN A PREDETERMINE DIRECTION, AND LATCH MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AT LEAST SAID FIRST OF SAID SENSING MEANS AND BIASED FOR LOCKING SAID LEVER