US3227395A

US3227395A - Yarn package adapter

Info

Publication number: US3227395A
Application number: US257168A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iii John Cocker
Original assignee: Cocker Machine and Foundry Co
Current assignee: Cocker Machine and Foundry Co
Priority date: 1963-02-08
Filing date: 1963-02-08
Publication date: 1966-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-04

Description

Jan. 4, 1966 J. COCKER Ill 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG]- INVENTOR.

Jan. 4, 1966 J. COCKER m 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1963 FIG: 5-

INVENTOR.

Jab/2 Cat/Fer M JaQJ 1966 J. COCKER m 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-.8- FIG-.9;

1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,227,395 YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER John Cocker III, Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Cooker Machine & Foundry Company, Gastonia, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Feb. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 257,168 16 Claims. (Cl. 242-1295) This invention relates to a holder for textile yarn packages Which is particularly advantageous because of its ability to accommodate itself to yarn packages of varying diameters andlengths. Holders of the type described herein are particularly adapted for use in creels wherein large numbers of yarn packages are supported in a spaced geometric relationship to one another, for providing a multiplicty of ends of yarn. 7

Conventional yarn holders for creels are cylindrical pieces of Wood or the like, centrally bored out, which can be slipped over rods of corresponding diameter and secured in place by means of a nut threaded onto the end of the rod. Such yarn holders are necessarily of a single diameter and of a fixed length and are not well adapted to hold yarn packages of different diameters or of significantly different lengths. Thus, it has been conventional in the art to provide yarn package holders in many different sizes and lengths, and to change these holders in order to accommodate different packages of corresponding sizes. This in turn has required the textile mills to maintain large inventories of yarn package holders, to provide storage space for those not in use, and to provide an index or referencing system for promptly locating the sizes required.

Itis an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages referred to above, by providing a yarn package holder which is adaptable to various yarn sizes. A further object is to provide anjadjustable or adaptable yarn package holder which can be adjusted without removing it from the creel. Other objects and advantages of this invention will further become apparenthereinafter.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is .a view in side elevation, showing the yarn package in section, illus trating a specific embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the yarn package adapter appearing in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged view of a stop means incorporated into the yarn package adapter, taken along the line indicated by the arrows IIIIII in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a viewin side elevation, partly in section, similar to FIG. 1, showing the yarn package adapter in an adjustedposition. i

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment of;the yarn package adapter of this invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the adapter appearing in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial view in side elevation of the adapter of FIGS. 5 and 6 in which the adapter accommodates a small diameter package.

FIGS. 8 through 13 are views in side elevation, with the yarn package appearing in section, showing other embodiments of the adapter of this invention.

Turning now to one specific form of the invention selected for illustration in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the number 10 designates a generally vertical support which is a fixed portion of the creel, to which an angle iron 11 is vertically adjustably affixed. The upper portion of the angle iron 11 carries an elongated rod 12, which supports the embodiment of the yarn package adapter comprehensively designated by the number 13.

The yarn package adapter 13 has a generally cylindrical body portion 14 having a longitudinal axis designated by the letter a. At one end, the adapter 13 has a cylindrical shoulder 15 of larger diameter than that of body portion 14, and a further and still larger cylindrical shoulder portion 16.

At its other end, the body portion 14 is provided with a flat, angularly arranged end face 17 havinga substantially centrally located indentation 20.

The number 21 designates a gentrally cylindrical extension portion which has an end face 22 which is immediately adjacent to the end face 17, and which is arranged at the same angle with respect to the axis a.

As will be observed, the body portion 14 and the extension portion 21 are provided with co-extensive bores, arranged at an acute angle to the axis a, through which the rod 12 extends. The rod 12 is provided with an intermediate threaded portion 25, which together with a nut 26, secures the body portion 14 to the rod. At its end, the rod 12 is provided with another threaded portion 27 which, together with a nut 30, secures the end portion 21 in position on the rod 12 and immediately adjacent to the body portion 14.

As is shown in particular detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 14 has an indentation accommodating a plunger 31 which is urged by a compression spring 32 toward the extension portion 21. The plunger 31 carries a ball 33 which is adapted to be received in a socket 34 carried by the extension portion 21. This structure pro.- vides a spring-urged stop means located and effective between the adjacent end faces of the body portion and the extension portion to establish and maintain a plurality of predetermined rotated positions of the extension portion relative to the body portion.

It will be observed that FIG. 1 shows a yarn package Y which is as long as the sum of the body portion plus the extension portion, but which has a bore with a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the body portion and of the extension portion.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the yarn package Y has a bore of larger diameter than that of yarn package Y, and that the yarn package cylinder 40 is engageable upon the enlarged shoulder 15. Further, it will be observed that the end portion 21 is shown in a rotated position as compared to the position shown in FIG. -1, and because of the fact that the extension portion is rotated about an axis which is arranged at an acute angle to the axis a, an edge portion 21a of the extension portion 21 extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the body portion 14, providing an effective diameter equal to the diameter of the shoulder portion 15, thus providing asupport for the package Y of such diameter.

It will be appreciated further that, having reference to the dot-dash lines appearing in FIG. 4, the yarn packake Y may be of greater length than the length shown solid lines, in which event the additional end portion 2112 v of the extension portion 21 also engages and supports the yarn package cylinder 40.

Although this end portion 2111 has been shown as specially shaped to provide a cylindrical surface to engage internally the cylindrical bore surface of yarn package cylinder 40, this end portion may be shaped in any desired manner, including an outward extension to co-operate with the larger shoulder 16 to accommodate an even larger package. Y r

It will be appreciated that it is unnecessary to remove the body portion or the extension portion from the creel when changing from one size package to another. In most cases it is sufficient simply to rotate the extension portion, which is automatically maintained in the desired position by the spring-urged stop members. On other occasions, if desired, the extension portion 21 may 3 simply be removed and replaced, utilizing the nut 30, and various sizes and shapes of the extension portion 21 may be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 7 of the drawings, another embodiment of this invention is shown in three views. In FIG. 5, the modified adapter 50 consists of a cone shaped body portion 51 having at its larger end two

cylindrical shoulders

52, 54 of progressively greater diameter and an expanding diameter extension 68 mounted at the smaller end. An elongated rod 56 extends through a bore 55 in the adapter 50 along its longitudinal axis and has a thread portion 57 with a nut 58 to hold the body portion in position. The rod 56 also extends through an extension 68 and a nut 59, mounted on a second threaded portion 59a, holds the extension against the bodyportion 51.

The extension 60, as also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises two L-

shaped arms

62, 64 which are outwardly spring biased to press against the surfaces of the bore of the yarn package cylinder 70. The vertical portions 620, 64a, of the extension arms, as shown in FIG. 6, have

elliptical holes

62b, 64b which allow the

arms

62, 64 to move vertically in relation to the centrally positioned rod 56. Screws 66 together with

small plates

67, 68, positioned on opposing sides of the two

arms

62, 64, guide the arms as they slide outward (FIG. 5) and inward (FIG. 7). A spring 68 presses against the top edge of arm 62, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and against the top edge of a groove 69 formed in the arm 64 thereby urging the arms outwardly.

When a yarn package Y having a cylinder 70 of relatively large diameter is placed on the adapter 50, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the package slides along the tapered surfaces of the conical body portion 51 to that point where the body portion fits tightly within the cylinder thereby supporting the yarn package at one end. The extension 60 then expands until the

arms

62, 64 are pressing against the inner surfaces of the cylinder thereby supporting the yarn package firmly at the other end. If the yarn package and cylinder are even larger, the cylinder can be fitted on one of the

shoulders

52, 54, and the extension 60 will expand correspondingly.

If the yarn package has a small inner diameter, as shown in FIG. 7, the package fits only a short distance up the conical body portion and the expanding legs hold the package firmly at the other end. By means of this embodiment of the adapter of this invention, an infinite number of package and cylinder sizes, within the limits of the extension action, can be accommodated without having to substitute a new adapter.

' Another embodiment of the adapter of this invention is shown in FIGURES 8 through 13. In all of these views, the adapter comprises a conical body portion 80 having two

cylindrical shoulders

82, 84 and an extension portion, designated 86 in FIG. 8, with a rod 85 positioned within co-extensive bores in both portions. The supporting rod is positioned at an acute angle to the axis 1) of both portions. The extension portion is held against the small end of the body portion 80 by a nut, not shown but similar to that of FIG. 1, and a spring urged stop means, as shown supra in FIG. 3, positions the extension portion in the desired position relative to the body portion 80. Throughout the description this embodiment of which three modifications are shown in FIGS. 8, and 12, the parts identified by numbers in FIG. 1, which are substantially duplicated in all modifications, are referred to by the same number.

. Considering FIGS. 8 and 9, which show the extension portion 86 having a conical shape of slightly larger diameter than the adjacent part of the body portion 80, when a medium diameter package X is placed on the adapter, the extension 86 is positioned relative to the rod 85 so that its effective outside diameter at point 850! is only large enough to grip the bore of the yarn package X. A package X, shown in dot-dash lines, having a smaller diameter is also accommodated on the conical body portion and by the extension at point b.

In FIG. 9, a larger diameter package Y rests upon and around the shoulder 82, and the rotated extension 86 at point 8512, supports the other end of the yarn package. The smaller diameter package Y, shown in dotdash lines, is supported by the body portion at one end and the extension at point 85b.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the extension 90 is conical in shape but can be described as inverted on the rod 35 so that the smaller end of the extension 90 is adjacent the small end 81 of the body portion 80. As such, the extension easily accommodates the long package X at point 90a while a somewhat smaller diameter and shorter package X is held by the almost horizontal top surface 9% of the extension. In FIG. 11, the extension 90 has been rotated degrees from that shown in FIG. 10, so that point 90b grips the package Y together with the conical surface of the body portion and point 90a grips a somewhat smaller package Y.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, the extension 92 has a compound shape which is a more extreme form than that shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 12, together with the conical body portion 80, the relatively large surfaces 92a of the extension is in contact with the surface of a medium size package X. In FIG. 13, a larger diameter package Y is held on the adapter by fitting around the shoulder 82 and supported by a surface 92b of the extension. A package Y, shown in dot-dash lines, of smaller diameter is held on the conical surface and on a point 920 of the extension.

In the shown modifications of this embodiment of the adapter of this invention, only a few of the potential combinations of effective gripping surfaces provided by the conical body portion and the multi-shaped extension portion are illustrated. It should be understood that the length and effective diameter of these parts can be varied so as to accommodate a large range of yarn packages.

Although this invention has been shown and described with reference to specific forms thereof, it will be appreciated that many variations and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, parts may be reversed, equivalents may be substituted, and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizes comprising in combination an elongated circular body portion having a plurality of concentric shoulder portions at one end, each of said portions forming a smooth annular supporting surface of constant diameter, the elongated axis of the body portion being coincident with the centers of the shoulder portions, and an extension portion independent of the body portion and attached to the body portion at the other end, said extension portion having an effective surface of variable diameter as measured from the elongated axis of the body portion.

2. The adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein a supporting rod extends through both the body portion and the extension portion allowing said portions to pivot thereon.

3. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the body and extension portions are substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the body and extension portions are substantially conical in shape.

5. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the extension portion is provided with spring biased extending arms whereby the effective diameter of said portion can vary.

6. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizes comprising in combination a head meman axis arranged at an acute angle to that of said body" portion.

7. The adapter as defined in claim 6 wherein the body and extension portions have a generally conical periphcry.

8. The adapter as defined in claim 7 wherein stop means is provided whereby the extension portion can be positioned relative to the body portion around the common axis.

9. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of ditferent sizes comprising in combination a generally conical body portion having at one end a plurality of concentric generally cylindrical shoulder portions, the elongate axis of the body portion coincident with the centers of the shoulder portions, an extension portion having a generally conical periphery coaxial with and larger in diameter than the adjacent conical part of the body portion, and means supporting said extension portion for turning movement about an axis arranged at an acute angle to that of said body portion.

10. The adapter as defined in claim 9 wherein the extension portion is mounted upon said supporting means so that the larger end of the extension portion is abutting the smaller end of the body portion.

11. The adapter as defined in claim 9 wherein the extension portion is mounted on the supporting means so that the smaller end of the extension portion is abutting the smaller end of the body portion.

12. The adapter as defined in claim 11 wherein is provided spring urged stop means located and eifective between said adjacent end faces of the body and extension portions so as to establish and maintain a plurality of predetermined rotated positions of said extension portion relative to said body portion.

13. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizes comprising in combination an elongated conical body portion and an extension portion abutting the body portion, said portions mounted on a supporting bolt extending through the elongated axis of both por- L-shaped arms mounted for sliding motion on the sup- L-shaped arms mounting for sliding motion on the supporting bolt, means for allowing the arms to slide in the same plane with one another whereby the effective diameter of the extension portion varies in relation to the size of the yarn package mounted on the adapter.

14. The adapter as defined in claim 12 wherein a plurality of concentric shoulder portions are mounted on the body portion at the end opposite that of the attached extension portion.

15. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizes comprising a head member having a plurality of concentric generally cylindrical shoulder portions, and an elongated generally cylindrical body portion having an elongated axis coincident with the centers of said shoulder portions, said body portion having a flat end face arranged at an acute angle to said axis, an extension portion having a generally cylindrical periphery coaxial'with and corresponding in diameter to said body portion, said extension portion having an angular end face arranged immediately adjacent to said end face of said body portion and arranged at substantially the same acute angle relative to said axis, means supporting said extension portion for turning movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said angular end face, and spring-urged stop means located and etfective between said adjacent end faces to establish and maintain a plurality of predetermined rotated positions of said extension portion relative to said body portion.

16. The adapter as defined in claim 15 wherein the extension portion has a periphery comprising cylindrical and conical shaped surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,631 11/1952 Bauer 242- 2,623,710 12/1952 Pearson 242130 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.