US3384315A - Apparatus for driving filamentary material collectors - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS FOR DRIVING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COLLECTORS Filed June 21, 1965 May 21, 1968 F. ca. HEUMANN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FREflF/CA a Ha/MAA/A/ y 1968 F. G. HEUMANN 3,384,315

APPARATUS FOR DRIVING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COLLECTORS Filed June 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,384,315 APPARATUS FOR DRIVING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COLLECTORS Frederick G. Heumann, Anderson, S.C., assignor to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,625

3 Claims. (Cl. 242-46.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure embraces an adapter construction for use on a spindle of a bobbin winder or twister machine, the adapter comprising a member molded of resinous material having a slotted skirt portion providing deflectable sections which, when engaged with a bobbin, are stressed to provide a nonslipping drive for the bobbin.

This invention relates to an apparatus for driving collectors or bobbins for winding, processing or packaging filamentary materials and more particularly to a method of and means for establishing a drive for bobbins mounted on rotatable spindles of apparatus employed in processing, collecting or packaging filamentary materials such as strands or yarns.

It has been conventional practice in bobbin winders or twister machines to provide bobbins or collectors which are removably mounted on spindles driven at high speeds wherein a large number of spindles is mounted on a reciprocable bolster rail driven from a common drive arrangement. The bobbins or collectors are of generally cylindrical or tubular shape having comparatively thin walls, the bobbins being adapted to be telescoped onto driving spindles. Heretofore a conventional means for establishing a drive between a spindle and bobbin comprised circumferentially spaced plate springs on the spindle which frictionally engaged the inner wall of a bobbin to establish a drive for the bobbin.

The use of springs for establishing a drive between a bobbin and spindle does not effect positive centering of the bobbin on a spindle due to the resiliency of the springs. Furthermore, a resilient mounting may result in an outof-balance condition set up during packaging or twisting of strands or yarns setting up vibration, which is accentuated at high spindle speeds.

Adapters have been used in establishing drive connections between spindles and bobbins as adapters may be of sizes to mount bobbins of various sizes without change in the driving spindle construction. Adapters have been utilized having distensible rubber-like members to establish drive connections between spindles and bobbins. With adapters of this character, centrifugal forces are relied upon to distend the members for establishing a friction drive connection but the resiliency of the rubber medium may result in an out-of-balance condition and lack of positive centering of the bobbin with the axis of the drive spindle.

The present invention embraces an apparatus for establishing an effective drive through an adapter between a spindle and a bobbin or collector in which centrifugal forces have little effect on the drive connection for the bobbin so that a substantially nonslipping drive is assured at all speeds of the bobbin and drive spindle.

Another object of the invention resides in an adapter construction carried by and locked to a drive spindle or blade and configurated or shaped to establish a substantially nonslipping drive with a bobbin through friction or gripping engagement between the adapter construction and the bobbin.

Another object of the invention resides in an adapter ice molded of resinous material and shaped to provide distortable or defiectable regions or sections which, when engaged with a bobbin are stressed to provide a nonslipping drive for the bobbin.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus for packaging filamentary material on collectors or bobbins driven by rotatable spindles wherein adapter means carried by the spindles provide friction drive connections with the bobbins of a character substantially eliminating slippage between the collectors or bobbins and the adapters at all operating speeds.

Another object of the invention resides in adapters fashioned of nonmetallic material for disposition between a drive spindle and a bobbin which may be of various sizes to accommodate bobbins having different interior diameters.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a textile strand or yarn twisting or packaging apparatus with which the bobbin driving method and arrangement of the invention has particular utility;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a form of spindle mounting, adapter and bobbin drive arrangement of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view illustrating a form of adapter and locking means therefor shown in disassembled relation;

FIGURE 4- is a vertical sectional view of adapter and locking means shown in FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the adapter shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

While the method and bobbin drive arrangement of the invention are particularly adaptable for establishing an effective drive between a spindle and a bobbin of a strand or yarn packaging or twisting apparatus, it is to be understood that the drive method and arrangement of the invention may be employed for driving other forms of rotatable collectors for packaging or processing linear materials.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG- URE 1, there is illustrated a conventional type of twister or bobbin winding apparatus 10 for packaging or processing filamentary materials. The apparatus 16 is inclusive of a frame structure comprising spaced housings 12, one at each end of the apparatus, one of the housings being illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The housings 12 are connected by bolster rails 14, one of which is shown in FIGURE 1, and by a supply package mounting structure or creel 16 and by other conventional frame members (not shown).

The creel structure 16 is equipped with a plurality of strand package supports or mandrels (not shown), each mandrel adapted to support a supply package 20 of textile strand, yarn or filamentary material 22 to be twisted, packaged or processed by the apparatus. A bolster rail 14 is arranged at each side of the apparatus, each rail supporting a plurality of spindle mounting units 24, one of which is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 2, each spindle mounting unit 24 comprises a relatively stationary shaft or blade 26 having a tenon portion 28 extending through a bushing 29, a flange or shoulder 30' on the blade abutting or engaging the upper surface of the bushing 29. The bushing a 29 has a tenon portion 31 extending into an opening in a horizontal portion of the bolster rail 14.

The tenon 28 is threaded to accommodate securing nuts 32, a washer 34 being disposed between one of the nuts and the bolster rail 14, this arrangement securely mounting the blade or shaft 26 on the bolster rail. The shaft or blade 26 accommodates a hollow or tubular spindle 36 provided at its lower end with a whorl 38 arranged to be engaged by a driving belt or tape 40 for rotating the spindle. The whorl 38 is recessed to accommodate an anti-friction or ball bearing construction 42 retained in the recess by a retainer 44.

The upper end of the spindle 36 is recessed to accommodate an anti-friction bearing construction such as a needle bearing 48, the end of the spindle provided with a cap 52. The spindles 36 are adapted to be driven simultaneously by the single drive belt 40 engaging the whorls 38. Idler rolls 58 are disposed adjacent the driving belt adjacent each whorl, the idler rolls being adjustable by conventional means (not shown) for moving the drive belt toward or away from each whorl to selectively establish or interrupt the drive to each spindle.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the driving belt 40 extends lengthwise of the apparatus and is engaged with a drive pulley 62 mounted upon a shaft 64 driven by an electrically energized motor 66 through power transmission mechanism or gearing of conventional construction contained within a housing 68 disposed at one end of the motor 66. The motor 66 is mounted upon a supplemental frame 70 disposed adjacent one end of the apparatus.

The apparatus includes conventional ring rails 72, one being illustrated in FIGURE 1, a second rail (not shown) being arranged at the opposite side of the apparatus. Each ring rail 72 is arranged to be reciprocated in a vertical direction by conventional means (not shown) driven H by the motor 66. Each ring rail is provided with circular openings 74 to accommodate the spindles and bobbins driven thereby, each circular opening being defined by a circular track 76 mounting a traveler or fiyer 78 which is freely rotatable on the track around the adjacent spindle and bobbin, the strand or yarn 22 being threaded through the flyer in a conventional manner.

The twister apparatus includes feed roll units 80, there being one feed roll unit for each strand or yarn, the feed roll units 80 being of conventional construction. The strand or yarn feeding rolls 82 of each unit are driven from a shaft 84 rotated by a belt 86 from power transmission mechanism of conventional construction enclosed within a housing 88 and driven by power transmission mechanism in the housing 68 through pulleys 89 and a belt 90. Each of the feed units 80 is constructed to automatically interrupt the feed of a strand or yarn 22 in the event of breakage.

Each of the spindles 36 is adapted to mount or support a collector or bobbin 94 upon which strand or yarn is wound. Most bobbins currently being used are fashioned of molded resinous material or plastic of rigid character and having comparatively thin walls. As shown in FIGURE 2, the lower end of the bobbin 94 may be formed with a circular flange 96 providing an abutment surface for filamentary material wound upon the bobbin. The conventional type of molded plastic bobbin is fashioned with an exterior surface 98 of circular cylindrical shape, the inner surface 99 provided with a slight taper throughout its length with the smaller diameter at the upper end.

The slight amount of taper or draft is necessary in the molding operation of forming the bobbin to enable the removal of the molded bobbin from the dies. The invention provides a method of and adapter means for establishing an effective nonslipping drive connection between a spindle 36 and a bobbin 94.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, the spindle 36 is adapted to support or mount adapter means,

preferably in the form of two substantially identical adapter constructions or components 100 and 100.

The adapter constructions 100 and 100 are substantially identical except in a minor respect hereinafter explained and hence a description of the adapter unit 100 will sufiice as a description of both units employed for establishing a drive connection with the bobbin. Each of the adapter units is inclusive of a body 102 and a locking means 104, these components being particularly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The adapter body is molded of resinous material or plastic such as nylon (polyamide), Delrin (polyoxymethylene) or other suitable resinous material. If desired, a reinforcement such as glass fibers may be embodied in the molding resin in molding the adapter bodies 102.

As particularly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the adapter body 102 is fashioned with a central bore 106 of a dimension so as to be snugly, yet slidably, received on the tubular spindle 36. In the embodiment illustrated, the body 102 is preferably fashioned with an annular recess 108 providing an annular skirt or skirt portion 110. The skirt portion 110 is provided with a substantially cylindrical exterior surface 112 of a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the region of the bobbin to be engaged with the surface 112.

As previously pointed out, the interior surface 100 of the bobbin 94 is slightly tapered with the smaller diameter at the upper end of the bobbin, and the diameter of the surface 112 on the adapter body is slightly greater than the diameter of the interior of the bobbin 94. Thus, the diameter of the surface 112 of the upper adapter unit 100 is slightly less than that diameter of the surface 112 of the lowermost adapter unit 100 so that the surfaces 112 of both adapter units 100 and 100' are properly engaged with the inner surface of the bobbin 94.

The skirt portion 110 including the cylindrical portion 112 of each adapter body is provided with circumferentially spaced slots 114 arranged lengthwise of the axis of the adapter body, the slots defining sections, petals or petal-like portions 116 as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The sections or petals 116, provided by the slots 114, are adapted to be distorted, stressed or deflected inwardly when the bobbin 94 is telescoped over the adapter units and occupies the relative position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

As the diameter of the portion 112 of the skirt 110 is greater than the interior diameter of the bobbin, the bobbin distorts or deflects the petals 116 inwardly so that a substantial amount of friction is initially set up between the petals 116 and the bobbin 94 sufiicient to provide a nonslipping drive connection between the adapter and the bobbin at all speeds of rotation.

While the amount of friction for establishing the drive between the adapter means and the bobbin is comparatively high, it is not of such magnitude as to prevent slidable removal of a bobbin from the adapter means and the telescoping of an empty bobbin onto the adapter means.

It is found preferable to fashion the cylindrical skirt portion 112 of a diameter between about twenty thousandths of an inch and fifty thousandths of an inch greater than the diameter at the region of the bobbin 94 which is engaged with the petals or sections 116 provided by the skirt, with the diameter of surface 112 of the skirt portion of unit 100' slightly greater than that of the unit 100 because the interior diameter of the bobbin 94 at the lower end is greater than its diameter at the region of engagement with the adapter 100'.

One minor difference is provided between the adapter unit 100 and the adapter unit 100', the latter being engaged with the lower end of the bobbin. The body 102 of the adapter unit 100" is fashioned with a circular shoulder 120, as shown in FIGURE 2. The shoulder 120 is provided simply as a visual signal to inform the operator that the components equipped with shoulders are for assembly on the spindle 36 adjacent the whorls 38 engaged by the rotor of the bobbin 94.

Each of the adapters is inclusive of a locking means 104 for locking the adapter body to the spindle 36. The locking member or collar 104 is fashioned with a bore 122 preferably of the same diameter as the bore 106 in the adapter body 102.

The locking member 104 is fashioned with a cylindrical counterbore 124 which is generated about an axis offset from or eccentric to the axis of the bore 122. The eccentricity of the counterbore 124 is exaggerated in FIGURES 3 and 4 for purposes of illustration.

The end of each adapter body 102 opposite the skirt portion 110 is fashioned with a cylindrical tenon 126 which is likewise generated about an axis offset from or eccentric to the axis of the bore 106 as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4. In assembling the adapter means and the locking means on a spindle 36, the adapter body 102 of the adapter unit 100' is first fitted onto the spindle adjacent the whorl 38. The locking member 104 is telescoped onto the spindle and the counterbore 124 engaged with the cylindrically-shaped eccentric tenon 126. The collar or locking member 104 is then rotated through a partial revolution relative to the body 102, and through the media of the eccentric tenon, the locking member and adapter body are Wedgingly locked onto the spindle 36.

The same assembly procedure is employed in assembling the upper adapter unit 100 onto a spindle which is locked in position by partial rotation of the collar or looking member 104. The locking collar need be rotated through only a small portion of a revolution to effect a locking or Wedging engagement of the collar and adapter body with the spindle.

Through this arrangement, the adapter units are securely locked to a spindle and, through the deflection of the petal-like portions 116 inwardly by the bobbin when the bobbin is assembled on the adapters a substantially nonslipping friction drive connection is attained between the adapter and the bobbin at all speeds of rotation simply through friction engagement of the petals 116 with the interior surface of the tubular bobbin 94. It is to be understood that other forms of locking means may be employed to secure the adapter bodies 102 onto spindles.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. An adapter for a rotatable bobbin for packaging filamentary material, said adapter being of molded resin and having a bore to be received on a drive spindle, said adapter having a surface eccentric to the axis of the bore therein, a locking member having a surface cooperating with the eccentric surface on the adapter for securing the adapter to the drive spindle, said adapter having an annular skirt, said annular skirt having circumferentially spaced slots defining segmental sections for engagement with a bobbin.

2. Apparatus for winding filamentary material upon a tubular bobbin including, in combination, a support, means mounted by the support journally mounting a rotatable member, said member adapted to receive a bobbin, an adapter comprising a body of resinous material formed with a lengthwise bore to be received on the rotatable member, said body having an annular skirt portion providing a peripheral surface area of slightly larger diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular bobbin, said skirt portion having circumferentially spaced slots providing sections engageable with the interior surface of the bobbin for establishing a friction driving connection with the bobbin, said body having a cylindrical surface eccentric to the bore therein, a locking member having a bore to be received on the rotatable member, said locking member having a cylindrical surface cooperable With the eccentric surface of the body whereby partial rotation of the locking member relative to the body locks the body and locking member on the rotatable member.

3. Apparatus for winding filamentary material upon a tubular bobbin including, in combination, a support, means mounted by the support journally mounting a rotatable spindle, said spindle adapted to receive a bobbin, a pair of adapters, each adapter comprising a body of resinous material formed with a lengthwise bore to be received on the spindle, each adapter having a circumferential skirt portion providing a peripheral surface area of slightly larger diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular bobbin, the skirt portion of each adapter having circumferentially spaced slots providing petals engageable with the interior surface of the bobbin for establishing a friction driving connection With the bobbin, each of said adapters having a cylindrical surface eccentric to the bore therein, a locking member for each adapter having a bore to be received on the spindle, each locking member having a cylindrical interior surface cooperable with the eccentric surface of the adjacent body whereby partial rotation of the locking member relative to the body locks the adapter body and locking member on the spindle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,396 4/1912 Cunniff 242-466 1,053,313 2/1913 Morton 24246.6 1,058,780 4/1913 Morton 24246.6 1,075,461 10/1913 Chapman 24246.6 1,779,099 10/ 1930 Magrath 24246.6 2,136,073 11/1938 Cooper 24246.6 X 2,704,638 3/ 1955 Eheim 24246.3 3,048,002 8/ 1962 Jost 242465 X 3,101,911 8/1963 Carroll et a] 24246.6 3,272,447 9/ 1966 Ewing et al. 24246.6 X 2,773,346 12/1956 Childs et a1 24246.2 X 3,300,153 1/1967 Fenn 24246.21

FOREIGN PATENTS 729,831 5/1932 France. 1,366,530 6 /1964 France.

606,555 7/ 1960 Italy.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

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