US3299780A

US3299780A - Yarn texturing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3299780A
Application number: US313092A
Authority: US
Inventors: Homer W Goodner
Original assignee: Monsanto Co
Current assignee: Monsanto Co
Priority date: 1963-10-01
Filing date: 1963-10-01
Publication date: 1967-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-24

Description

1967 H. w. GOODNER YARN TEXTURING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1963 FlG.l.

CONTROL CIRCUIT AIR SUEPLY INVENTOR. HOMER w. GOODNER flfi 0' a ATTORNEY Jan. 24,

H. W. GOODN ER YARN TEXTURING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 =SOLENOID I28 n20 I22 l I24 i I26 I30 7 L J ll8 :E

INVENTOR.

HOMER W. GOODNER {I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,299,780 YARN TEXTURING APPARATUS Homer W. Goodner, Pensacola, Fla, assignor to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 313,092 6 Claims. (Cl. 91-35) The present invention relates to apparatus for crimping or texturin-g yarns intermittently along the length of the yarn. More particularly the invention relates to control circuits for such apparatus.

Textured yarns may be produced by passing yarn through the meshed region of a pair of driven meshed gears so that the yarn is deformed by the gear teeth, as disclosed, for example, in Bromley et al. Patent No. 3,024,516. Intermittently textured yarns, desirable for novelty effects, may be produced by alternately meshing and disengaging the gears. Such apparatus should preferably be adjustable in its operation in order to provide selective control over the relative lengths of textured and untextured portions of the yarn. At economic processing speeds, the cyclic repetition rate at which such apparatus would be required to operate would be excessive for ordinary relay switching circuits.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide yarn texturing apparatus adapted to intermittently texture yarn.

A further object to the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which permits intermittent text-uring of yarn at economic processing speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which permits variation in the meshed and disengaged periods of the texturing gears.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which opens and closes the texturing gears in numerous and different cyclic periods at high speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which is simple, reliable and economical.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic front elevation view of a preferred yarn text uring apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the texturin-g gear assembly of FIGURE 1 as viewed along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the control circuit in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, yarn 20 is withdrawn from a supply package 22 past conventional guides 24 and 26 by a pair of driven

feed rolls

28 and 30. Yarn 20 next is wrapped for one or more turns about a draw pin 32, which may be electrically heated, and then is fed to the texturing assembly 34. As will be more fully explained, texturing assembly 34 imparts latent crimps to the yarn. The textured yarn next passes through a conventional guide 36 to a yarn take-up mechanism 38. Take-up mechanism 38 may be of any desired type although a yarn twister take-up is preferred and illustrated.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, texturing assembly 34 is mounted on a sub-frame 40. A drive shaft 42 driven by motor 44 extends through sub-frame 40, and has rigidly mounted on its outer extremity a crimping gear 46. A conventional separator roll 48 is rotatably mounted on sub-frame 40 for cooperation with gear46, and has its axis slightly skewed with respect to the axis of gear 46. Yarn 20 is passed in several wraps around crimping gear 46 and separator roll 48, which serves to advance the yarn between successive wraps on gear 46.

A second crimping gear 50 is mounted for cooperation with gear 46 in order to crimp yarn 20 when

gears

46 and 50 are meshed. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, gear 50 is supported by a generally C-shaped mounting bracket 52, which in turn is pivotally mounted on sub-frame 40 'by a pivot pin 54. Gear 50 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 56 which is journalled for rotation in the arms of bracket 52. A spur gear 58 is rigidly attached to crimping gear 50, and is continually meshed with a mating spur gear 60 which is similarly rigidly attached to crimping gear 46. A reversible fluid motor 62, illustrated as a pneumatic cylinder, is pivotally mounted on a bracket 64 extended outwardly from sub-frame 40 and has its piston 66pivotally attached to the rear of bracket 52 .by a suitable linkage 68.

In the apparatus as thus described, shaft 42 is continually rotated by motor 44, thus continually rotating crimping gear 46 and its spur gear 60. When piston 66 is extended by cylinder 62 from the retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the extended position of FIGURE 1, bracket 52 together with crimping gear 50 is pivoted about pivot pin 54 until crimping gears 46 and 59 intermesh, crimping yarn 20. Since

spur gears

58 and 60 are continually in mesh even when crimping

gears

46 and 50 are disengaged as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the crimping .gears are constantly driven in synchronism with one another and will properly intermesh when piston 66 is extended.

In order to produce intermittently textured or crimped yarn, piston 66 of cylinder 62 is extended to produce the crimped portions and retracted to produce uncrimped portions. As indicated generally in FIGURE 1, this operation is produced by control circuit 70, which produces electrical signals on

conductors

72 and 74 for controlling compressed air fed to cylinder 62 from an air supply source 76.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 which shows control circuit 70 in detail, conductor 72 is connected to actuate a solenoid valve 78 when energized, while conductor 74 is similarly connected to actuate solenoid valve 80. Control circuit 70 includes a timer assembly 82 which periodically applies a direct current (DC) signal to energize conductor 84 with respect to a point of reference potential or ground. Conductor 84 is connected in parallel to the ungrounded terminals of the windings of a pair of

relays

86 and 88.

Relays

86 and 88 are therefore actuated whenever conductor 84 is energized by timer 82 and released when conductor 84 is dc-energized.

A charging-current limiting resistor 90 connects DC. power supply conductor 92 to one lower or normally closed contact 94 of relay 86. The remaining lower contact 96 is connected through a capacitor 98 to ground, so that when relay S6 is de-energized, capacitor 98 will be charged through resistor 90- from power supply conductor 92. Upper or normally

open contacts

100 and 102 of relay 86 are connected respectively to the ungrounded side of capacitor 98 and to conductor 72. Thus when relay 86 is actuated, the previously stored charge on capacitor 98 flows through

contacts

100 and 102 and through conductor 72 to actuate solenoid 78;

An RC circuit including resistor 104 and capacitor106 is connected across

contacts

94 and 96, to minimize arcing at these contacts during operation of relay 86. This affords greater reliability of operation and longer life to relay 86. A similar RC 'circuit including resistor 108 and capacitor 110 is connected across

contacts

100 and 102.

A charging-curring limiting resistor 112 connects power supply conductor 92 to one upper or normally open contact 114 on relay 88. The remaining normally open contact 116 is connected through a capacitor 118 to ground, so that when relay 88 is energized, capacitor 118 will be charged through resistor 112 from power supply conductor 92. The lower or normally closed

contacts

120 and 122 are connected respectively to the ungrounded side of capacitor 118 and to conductor 74. Thus when relay 88 is de-energized, the previously stored charge on capacitor 118 flows through contacts 120 and 1.22 and through conductor 74 to actuate solenoid 80.

The contacts of relay 88 are protected by RC circuits shunted across the contacts in the same manner as is done with relay 86. Thus a capacitor 124 and a resistor 126 constitute a first series RC circuit connected across

contacts

114 and 116, while a capacitor 128 and resistor 130 constitute an RC circuit connected across

contacts

120 and 122.

The actuation of

solenoid valves

78 and 80 are thus seen to be out of phase with one another, i.e. these valves are alternately actuated by control circuit 70. One of the solenoid valves is connected to control the air supplied to cylinder 62 so as to cause piston 66 to extend, while the other of the solenoid valves is connected to control the air supplied to cylinder 62 so as to cause piston 66 to retract.

It should be particularly noted that while timer assembly 82 has been illustrated for simplicity as a particular electromechanical mechanism, that other pulse generators may be devised which would produce appropriate control signals on conductor 84. In a successful reduction to practice, an Eagle Signal Company HL series timer was used to generate the necessary signals on conductor 84. This last-mentioned timer has a plurality-of switch contacts, each set of contacts being operated by an individual cam mechanism. The several sets of contacts were connected in parallel with each other and in series between conductors 92 and 84 in the circuit of FIGURE 3. This particular form of timer affords great flexibility in selection of the timing and duration of signals applied to conductor 84 by adjustment of the several cams. Similar flexibility may be imparted to the structure depicted 82 in FIGURE 3 by adjusting the circumferential duration and spacing of cams 132 which actuate the single illustrated pair of contacts 134.

While the choice of specific circuit components would vary according to the specific application, the following table of exemplary .values is given-for use with the Eagle Signal Company HL series timer assembly:

Resistor 90 ohms 200 Resistor 104 do 27 Resistor 108 do 120 Resistor 112 do 200 Resistor 126 do 27 Resistor 130 do 120 Capacitor 98 f microfarads 40 Capacitor 106 do .05 Capacitor 110 d-o .004 Capacitor 118 do 40 Capacitor 124 do .05 Capacitor 128 do .004

Relays 86 and 88 were C. P. Clare Company mercurywetted contact relays, type HGS 5014. Solenoid windings of

solenoids

78 and 80 had 575 ohms impedance, while power supply conduct-or 92 was approximately 120 volts positive with respect to ground.

It should be understood that a single relay may replace the specifically disclosed two

relays

86 and 88 if desired.

It may be seen from the above description and the accompa-nying drawings that the control circuits according to the present invention are particularly adapted for control of apparatus for intermittently texturing yarn. Adjustment of the several cams 132 in duration or timing permits variation in the meshed and disengaged periods of the texturing gears. Since there are a plurality of cams, the texturing gears are opened and closed in nurner ous different cyclic periods at high speeds. Charging of capacitor 98 while capacitor 118 is actuating a solenoid, and vice versa, particularly adapts the control circuit for high speed control, which permits economical yarn processing speeds. The apparatus is simple, reliable and economical both in construction costs and in operation.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may bernade in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A control circuit for alternately actuating first and second mechanisms, comprising in combination:

(a) first and second capacitors,

(b) and control means for repetitively and alternately during successive time periods:

(1) charging said first capacitor while discharging said second capacitor through said second mechanism,

(2) and charging said second capacitor while discharging said first capacitor through said first mechanism,

(c) said control means including means for independently selecting the duration and timing of said successive time periods.

2. An apparatus wherein a reversible fluid motor is alternately actuated in a first direction and in the opposite direction, a timing circuit for controlling actuation of said motor, comprising in combination:

(a) a first solenoid valve energizable to actuate said motor in said first direction,

(b) a second solenoid valve energizable to actuate said motor in said opposite direction,

(c) first and second capacitors,

(d) and control means for repetitively and alternately during successive time periods:

(1) charging said first capacitor while discharging said second capacitor through said second solenoid,

(2) and charging said second capacitor while discharging said first capacitor through said first solenoid.

3. The circuit defined in claim 2, wherein said control means includes means for independently selecting the duration and timing of said successive time periods.

4. An apparatus wherein a reversible fluid motor is alternately actuated in a first direction and in the opposite direction, a timing circuit for controlling actuation of said motor, comprising in combination:

(a) relay means having a plurality of sets of normally open and normally closed contacts,

(b) first and second capacitors,

(c) first and second solenoid valves,

(d) a direct current supply conductor,

(e) a first set of said normally closed contacts connecting said first capacitor in series with a first resist-or to said direct current supply conductor,

(f) a first set of said normally opened contacts connecting said first capacitor to said first solenoid,

(g) a second set of normally opened contacts connecting said second capacitor in series with a second resistor to said direct current supply conductor,

(h) a second set of normally closed contacts connecting said second capacitor to said second solenoid,

(i) and a timer mechanism for repetitively and alternately energizing and de-energizing said relay means during successive time periods.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said timer mechanism includes means for selectively varying the timing and duration of said successive time periods.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 further comprising a series circuit including resistance and capacitance connected across each said set of contacts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Peters et al.

Edwards 3201 Schoenfeld 320-1 Smith 320-1 Irwin et a1. 28-1

Claims

1. A CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR ALTERNATELY ACTUATING FIRST AND SECOND MECHANISMS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) FIRST AND SECOND CAPACITORS, (B) AND CONTROL MEANS FOR REPETITIVELY AND ALTERNATELY DURING SUCCESSIVE TIME PERIODS: (1) CHARGING SAID FIRST CAPACITOR WHILE DISCHARGING SAID SECOND CAPACITOR THROUGH SAID SECOND MECHANISM, (2) AND CHARGING SAID SECOND CAPACITOR WHILE DISCHARGING SAID FIRST CAPACITOR THROUGH SAID FIRST MECHANISM, (C) SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR INDEPENENTLY SELECTING THE DURATION AND TIMING OF SAID SUCCESSIVE TIME PERIODS.