US3668852A

US3668852A - Automatic splicing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3668852A
Application number: US34574A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vito A Fusco; Charles T Ogden; Walter F Illman
Original assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
Current assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-04
Filing date: 1970-05-04
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13

Abstract

An automatic splicing apparatus for splicing yarn by wrapping filament around the yarn, comprising a housing and a drive means mounted therein which rotates a filament wrapping wheel. The filament wrapping wheel has a filament supply mounted thereon and clamping and cutting means secured to the housing hold and cut the yarn being spliced. A filament holder means mounted to the housing retains an end of the filament during the slicing cycle and cuts the filament at the end of the cycle.

Description

United States Patent Fusco et al.

[ 51 June 13, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC SPLICING APPARATUS [72] inventors: Vito A. Fusco; Charles T. Ogden, both of Chicago, 111.; Walter F. Illman, Greensboro,N.C.

[73] Assignee: Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro,

[22] Filed: May 4,1970

[21] Appl. No.: 34,574

[52] U.S. Cl ..57/22 [5 l] .....B65h 69/06, B65h 69/00 [58] Field of Search ..57/22, 23, 142, 159

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,765,003 10/1956 Willis et al. ..57/22 X 1,523,878 1/1925 Kelly ..57/22 2,362,801 11/1944 Charnock ..57/22 2,846,838 8/1958 Wolfe ....57/22 X 2,971,319 2/1961 Spencer..... ....57/22 3,307,339 3/1967 Porter ....57/22 3,504,488 4/1970 lllman ..57/22 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 57 ABSTRACT An automatic splicing apparatus for splicing yarn by wrapping filament around the yarn, comprising a housing and a drive means mounted therein which rotates a filament wrapping wheel. The filament wrapping wheel has a filament supply mounted thereon and clamping and cutting means secured to the housing hold and cut the yarn being spliced. A filament holder means mounted to the housing retains an end of the filament during the slicing cycle and cuts the filament at the end of the cycle.

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' INVENTORS 7-0 ,4. Es c' 0 6 /0994 as ifOGaz/v ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC SPLICING APPARATUS The present invention generally relates to an improved apparatus for joining together textile yarns without knotting the same, and more particularly, to an automatic yarn splicing apparatus.

In the manufacturing of textiles there is a frequent need to splice together the ends of various yarns being processed. For example, if there is a break in the yarn being processed or if the supply package of yarn is exhausted and a succeeding supply package of yarn must be joined to the yarn of the first supply package, the two free ends of the yarns must be rejoined to provide continuity to the yarn. Sometimes, the processing must be stopped while the operation of joining the ends of yarn is completed and, hence, any such joining must be accomplished quickly and with a minimum of delay.

Previously, the joining of yarns was often accomplished by tying a knot in the free ends of the yarns to be spliced, the knot either being tied by hand or by use of some suitable mechanical equipment designed for the purpose. There are many occasions in the processing of yarns and the manufacture of textiles when a knot in the yarn is not desirable. For example, a knot is normally quite bulky in relation to the diameter of the yarn being tied, and, thus, with its bulk and its lack of ability to properly flex, the knot will make the yarn vulnerable to being trapped and/or broken as the yarn passes through small eyelets or apertures such as normal reed spacing in the weaving operation. Additionally, such knots can be objectionable in the finished textile produced as they provide imperfections in the surface of such fabric. Currently, these knots are hand pulled from the surface of the fabric when the fabric is a high quality material. The splicing of the ends of yarn together has been used in the manufacture of textiles primarily by utilizing splicing compounds, the splicing compounds being applied to overlapping free ends of the yarns and the yarn ends rolled together. This type of splicing has disadvantages in that the compound is quite tacky when applied and there is a time delay involved in waiting for the splicing compound to dry. Additionally, once the splicing compounds has dried, an undesirably hard joint surrounds the yarns, thus preventing this part of the yarn from folding in limp convolutions about other yarns during and/or after weaving. The hard dried splicing material quite often hangs up on small eyelets, reed dents or the like thus causing the yarn to break or the material to dye differently.

An additional means of splicing yarns which has developed over the recent years, utilizes a wrapping thread or filament for wrapping the two ends of yarn together. The prior apparatus which has been previously utilized for making this type of splice has been quite cumbersome and stationary thus limiting its adaptability of use in the textile plant orhaving the disadvantage of causing. the yarns to be spliced to have a migration or loss of twist at the splice.

The present invention provides an improved automatic splicing apparatus which is capable of use on yarns irregardless of whether the yarns are spun fromnatural fibers, synthetic fibers, animal fibers or mineral fibers, and can splice any yarn from fine count spun and worsted yarns up to very coarse carpet yarns. The resulting splice or joint initiated by the present invention is as strong or stronger than the strength of the yarns being joined, with the splice retaining the flexibility to a degree similar to the flexibility of the yarns being spliced so that the splice does not interfere with the fold around other yarns of the final woven fabric in which the yarn is used.

The use of the present inventionsaves time, labor costs and enables a high quality product to be manufactured in a shorter time than with machines now in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specifications in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the automatic splicer apparatus with the rack cylinder broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the automatic splicer apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of FIG. I taken along line 3 3;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 4 4;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the wrapping wheel assembly of the automatic splicer apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5 taken substantially along the line 6 6;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5 taken substantially along the line 7 7;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 8 8, showing the wrapping wheel drive means;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of FIG. 2 showing the auxiliary drive means;

' FIG. 10 is a sectional view of FIG. 4 showing the cam assembly drive means;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view taken from FIG. I along line 1 1' 11' showing the cam plate assembly;

FIG. 12 shows an end view of 'cam plate assembly shown in FIG. 11 in relation to the apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a plan view .of the automatic splicer apparatus with portions taken away for clarity;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 13 taken along line 14 14;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the upper cut finger assembly;

FIG. 16 is an end elevation of the upper cut finger assembly shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the lower cut finger assembly;

FIG. 18 is an end elevation of the lower cut finger assembly shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the clamp finger assembly;

FIG. 20 is an end elevation of the clamp finger assembly in FIG. 19;

FIG. 2Ia-h shows the sequential steps of the filament wrap during the splicing cycle;

FIG. 22 is a graph illustrating the cam sequence of the clamping finger assembly;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the filament holder assembly;

FIG. 24 is an end elevation of the blade assembly of the filament holder assembly shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the filament holder assembly mounted in the automatic splicer apparatus;

FIG. 26 is a perspective top view of the automatic splicer apparatus showing the filament holder assembly; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of'an electric circuit operating said automatic splicer apparatus.

The present automatic splicer invention is preferably designed to replace the knot tying mechanism in a machine similar to the ones which are shown by US. Pats, Nos. 3,077,311 and 3,061,216. A machine of this type travels on a way bed and services the winding stations of an autoconer machine which winds yarn onto large spools from smaller bobbins. The automatic splicer apparatus can however be used in machines of different construction. If the yarn breaks during the winding operation, the machine is signaled to stop at that station and tie the broken ends. If the bobbin has simply run out of yarn, the machine will automatically change bobbins, tie the yarn ends of the full bobbin to the spool's yarn, and signal the spool to resume the winding operation.

The automatic splicing device, as disclosed by FIGS. 1-4, is designed to fit in the area which is occupied by a knot tying mechanism in machines similar to the above mentioned machines. When signaled, the apparatus will splice the yarn ends together with a low temperature, water-soluble filament, which will be washed out after the yarn is woven into cloth, leaving the splice indiscemable in the material.

On the present automatic splicing machine, when a broken thread or yarn is detected, the traveling splicer head stops at that station, picks up the broken ends of the yarn or thread and places them in parallel relationship in the wrapping wheel assembly for splicing. The present invention is primarily concerned with splicing the yarn after it has been placed in the wrapping wheel assembly.

The splicing of the yarn or thread is controlled by a cam in the traveling splicer head. An actuator lever 600, having a contact pin 602, as is shown by FIG. 25, is positioned on the end of the shaft of this cam and rotates to operateelectrical switch SW1. This switch stops the drive motor 612 of the traveling splicer head and initiates the wrapping cycle.

The wrapping is started by the rotation of the wrapping wheel assembly 100. The rotatable wrapping wheel assembly 100, comprises a drive body assembly 102 and an insert plate assembly 104, as is shown by FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The insert plate assembly 104 is held in place on the drive body assembly 102 by a retaining clip or spring 106, which allows the insert plate assembly to be easily removed from the drive body assembly by depressing the two tabs or ends 108 of the clip or spring 106. The insert plate assembly 104 comprises an insert plate 110 and a filament, thread or yarn cartridge assembly 112 mounted or secured thereon. The filament cartridge assembly 112 is held in place or secured to the insert plate 110 by a mount or bracket 116. The mount 116 is secured to the insert plate 110 by welding, screwing means, riveting, adhesives or other suitable means and preferably has a substantially L- shaped arm or support 114 extending therefrom which supports a bobbin or filament supply holder 120. If desired, the mount 116 can support a substantially U-shaped arm or post to support the bobbin or spool 120. The bobbin or spool 120 is preferably flanged at 119 and a outer case 118 which can be of plastic construction is snapped or slid over the end flanges. The bobbin 120 is preferably able to rotate on arm 114 or on a projection extending therefrom. It is of course obvious that the bobbin does not have to be covered but that the case 118 gives greater protection to the filament 122.

The wrapping filament thread or yarn 122 which is wound around bobbin or spool 120 is preferably made from a water soluble material such as sodium alginate, hydroxyethyl amylose, polyvinyl alcohol, and the like and is preferably around 0.002 inch in diameter. By making the wrapping filament thread or yarn 122 of a water soluble material, the splice made on the yarn ends may be dissolved out when the woven fabric or the like passes through a wet finishing operation. In other words, the wrapping filament 122 can readily be removed from the splice during any subsequent wet processing of the material woven from the yarn such as a desizing process or the like. The filament 122 which forms the splice S, shown in FIGS. 21a-h, is wound around the bobbin or spool 120 and is fed outward between the plastic case 118 and the bobbin or spool 120 or through a center hole in one of the flanges 119 of the bobbin. Regardless of the embodiment used, the filament preferably passes through an eyelet 124, preferably of pigtail construction and which may be secured to mount 116 or to the insert plate 110. The filament 122 is placed in contact with tension means 126 which is preferably adjustably mounted on the insert plate 110 by thread means. The tension on the filament is derived by tightening the tension means 126, compressing spring 128 which urges plate 127 against the filament, increasing the tension on filament 122, or by loosening the tension means and thus lessening the tension on filament 122. The tension means applies a uniform constant tension on the splicing filament, yarn or thread being carried by the bobbin or supply means as the splice is being made, irregardless of the amount of splicing filament, thread or yarn remaining on bobbin 120. If desired, the filament, thread or yarn of the bobbin can be adjustably tensioned on the bobbin by tension means which applies drag or friction to the bobbin thus resisting its tendency to rotate. Irregardless of the form of tension means applied to the filament, the filament 122 preferably passes through a filament guide 130 which guides the filament during the wrapping or splicing process. It should be noted that the wrapping filament 122 develops a high wrapping torque because of the rotation of the wrapping wheel assembly and even though the wrapping thread or filament may not possess high strength properties, the resulting splice or joint will be as strong or stronger than the strength of the yarns being joined. Additionally, the splice retains the flexibility to a degree similar to flexibility of the yarns or threads being spliced and, thus, the splice does not interfere with the fold around other yarns of the final woven fabric in which the yarn or thread is used. It should also be noted that if desired, the insert plate 110 can have optional weight balances 135 to provide a uniform rotational plane for the wrapping wheel assembly, if for any reason it is out of balance.

When the threads or yarn Y and Y, as shown in FIG. 21a-h are positioned parallel and coaxial with the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel assembly they do not twist about one another. When the filament or thread 122 orbits about Y and Y thus delivering the splicing filament 122 from its bobbin or spool 120, the torque of the splicing filament 122 is sufficiently great so that the filament is embedded into the bulky yarns Y and Y being spliced, and the splice S compacts the pair of yarns to a diameter resembling one of the component yarns Y or Y.

The drive body assembly 102 which holds the insert plate assembly 104, can be an integrally cast or machined unit which is suitably constructed to receive the insert plate of the insert plate assembly 104 and the retaining ring or clip 106. However, the drive body assembly can be constructed in sections if this is desirable. If desired, gear teeth portions of the assembly 102 can be removably secured to the drive body assembly for easy replacement because of wear or breakage. The drive body assembly 102 preferably has an aperture or hollow arcuate section 133 to accommodate yarn Y and Y coaxial with the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel assembly 100, an outer grooved rim 132 and a plurality of gear teeth 134 or gear teeth segments which cooperate with the drive means.

The wrapping wheel assembly 100 preferably has a pieshaped segment 137 removed from the insert plate 110 and drive body assembly 102, in addition aperture 133 to insert the yarn Y and Y for splicing. Because of this open segment in the drive body assembly 102 and consequent lack of gear teeth it is necessary to have two driving pinion gears 200 and 202 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14 to rotate it. The driving pinion gears are mounted on roller bearing means 205 which rotate around pinion shafts 203. The pinion shafts 203 extend through and are supported by the upper wrapping wheel support cover 145 and the lower wrapping wheel support cover 147. The driving pinion gears 200 and 202 are spaced sufficiently far apart so that at least one of the pinion gears will always engage the rotating gear teeth 134 on the drive body assembly 102 regardless of its position. The driving pinion gears are preferably constructed to have an extension or keeper 207 which slidably moves in a groove 109 on the outer surface of the outer rim 132. The action of the drive pinion gear extension or keeper 207 in channel or groove 109 keeps the wrapping wheel assembly smoothly rotating and the gear teeth of the wrapping wheel assembly 100 and

pinion gear

200 and 202 aligned and uniformly engaging each other.

Side rollers

136 and 138, as shown by FIG. 13, and end

rollers

140 and 142, as shown by FIG. 1, keep the wrapping wheel assembly 100 smoothly rotating on an even axis and in connection with driving pinion gears 200 and 202. The

rollers

136, 138, 140 and 142 are rotatably mounted on shafts which are supported by upper wrapping wheel support cover 145 and lower wrapping wheel support cover 147.

Rollers

136, 138, and 142 rotate around shafts 135 on bearing means 139. When the wrapping wheel assembly is rotating, its periphery can be contacted at six places, namely by pinion gears 200 and 202 and

rollers

136, 138, 140 and 142. The open or substantially pieshaped segment 137, which is removed from the wrapping wheel assembly, preferably comprises an approximately 50 segment of the wrapping wheel assembly, while the pinion gears 200 and 202 are preferably placed 60 apart. It is apparent, of course, that the pinion gears can be placed in any position, so long as they operate to turn the wrapping wheel assembly. The gear tooth segment of the wrapping wheel preferably contains 54 teeth and is cut from a 68-tooth gear. Since the wheel driving gear 204 has the same number of teeth as :the wrapping wheel would have if it were a solid gear, the wheel driving gear 204 always maintains an exact angular relationship to the wrapping wheel assembly 100.

The wrapping wheel assembly is rotated by the gear drive means shown by FIGS. 8, 9, and 1 1.

A motor, not shown, operating from a suitable power source turnsor rotates the main drive shaft 206 which is mounted in a plurality of ball bearing means 208 and 210, as shown by FIG. '8. Ball bearing means 208 is positioned in the drive shaft housing 212 and is kept in position in housing 212 by clip means 214 which surrounds drive shaft 206. Ball bearing means 210 is positioned in housing 212 by abutting against a drive gear 218 which is secured at the end of the drive shaft 206. The

drive shaft 206 has an auxiliary gear 216 mounted thereon which may be secured to the drive shaft by pin means 217. However, any other suitable means of securing auxiliary gear 216 to the drive shaft 206 can be used. Gear 218 is mounted on the end of shaft 206 and secured thereto by key means 219 so that the drive gear 218 rotates with shaft 206 and intermeshes with output gear 220, driving output gear 220. Output gear 220 is preferably secured to a varied diameter staged output shaft 222 bykey means 224. It should be noted that while the key means mentioned are preferred, any other suitable securing means can be used. Output shaft 222 is mounted in roller bearing means 226 and 228 which are positioned against the output shaft housing 230 by ,abuting against a wall formed by the increased diameter stages of output shaft 222 and respective clip means 232 and 234. Gears 218 and 220 are preferably miter gears and as mentioned are secured to their respective shafts by suitable means such as keys 219 and 224. The key means preferably fit in a slot in the shaft. The output shaft 222 which is turned by-the cooperation of gears 218 and 220 rotates a wheel drive gear 204 which is secured to output shaft 222 by key means 236. As shown by FIGS. 13 and 14, the wheel drive gear 204 drives pinion drive gears 200 and 202 which in turn rotate the wrapping wheel assembly 100. The wheel drive gear 204 has pin means 238 projecting therefrom which is secured to the wheel drive gear. and rotates as the wheel drive gear 204 rotates. A positioning pinion gear 240 is mounted above the drive gear andis mounted on output shaft 222 by roller bearing means 242 and 244, which contact the outer surface of the output shaft. Positioned inside the positioning pinion gear 240 is a roller clutch 246 which is constructed to contactthe outer surface of output shaft 222 in only one direction. When the teeth of rack 404 engage the teeth of the pinion gear 240, because the rack is carried forward by piston 402, the roller clutch 246 engages the outer surface of the output shaft 222 thus turning the wheel drive gear 204. When the rack 404' is carried in the opposite direction by the retraction of piston 402 which is activated by cylinder 400, the roller clutch 246 disengages from the outer surface of output shaft 222 allowing the positioning pinion gear to rotate on its roller bearing means. Auxiliary drive means which are run off the wrapping wheel drive means, drive cams which control the fluid or air cylinders which activate the cutting and clamping means and the cam which causes these cutting and clamping means to oscillate up and down during the filament wrapping segment of the splicing cycle.

As shown by FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, an auxiliary drive gear 216, mounted on the drive shaft 206 by pin or other suitable means 217, engages and turns asecond auxiliary drive gear 248 which is suitably secured to a worm shaft 250. The worm shaft 250 is mounted in roller bearing means 253 and 254 which are suitably positionedin housing 212. The rotating of worm shaft 250 turns a worm 252 which is secured to the worm shaft 250. As shown by FIGS. 8a and 10 the rotation of worm 252 turns a worm gear 256, which engages worm 252, the worm gear 256 being secured by key means 257 to a shaft 258. The shaft 258 is mounted in roller bearing means 260 and 262 which are suitably positioned in housing 212 by means of

spacers

264 and 266. Spacer 264 substantially surrounds shaft 258 between roller bearing means 260 and worm gear 256 while spacer 266 substantially surrounds shaft 258 between roller bearing means 262 and worm gear 256. A cam drive gear 268 is mounted at one end of shaft 258 and secured by key means 270 and is preferably located outside of the housing 212. It is noted that cam drive gear 268 can be located within housing 212. The cam drive gear 268 is kept in place on the shaft 258 by key means 270 which preferably fits into a slot on the shaft and a spring clip 272 which surrounds the outer surface of the shaft. As shown by FIGS. 9 and 11, the rotation of cam drive gear 268 drives cam gear 274 which is mounted to a cam drive shaft 276 and secured by key means 278. A cam plate assembly 275 is secured to cam gear 274 by pin means 290. Cam drive shaft 276 is mounted in roller bearing means 280 and 282 which are positioned against the housing 212 by a spacer 284. The cam plate assembly 275, as shown by FIGS. 11 and 12, comprises a cam hub 286 which surrounds a portion of shaft 276 and flanges outward as shown by 288. The cam hub 286 is secured by pin means 290 to cam gear 274. The cam hub flange 288 serves as a spacer for cam plate 291. Cam plate 291, cam plate 292 and cam plate 293 are mounted on cam hub 286 and are kept from rotating on the cam hub by pin means 290 which extends through an aperture in each cam plate.

Cam plates

291 and 292 are separated from each other by spacer means 294 and camplates 292 and 293 are separated from each other by spacer means'295. A spring clip 296 around hub 286 holds cam plate 293 against spacer means 295, and another clip 273 holds hub 286 in position on shaft 276. On the other end of shaft 276 and preferably outside housing 212 isan oscillating cam 297 which is secured to shaft 276 by key means 298. The oscillating cam is constructed to contact cam follower 277, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 4. The

oscillating cam 297 is held in place on the shaft by spring clip means 299 which surrounds shaft 276. The oscillating cam 297 operates to cause the cutting and clamping means to oscillate up and down during the splicing cycle. FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the cam plate assembly operating the timing switches.

It should be noted that in the auxiliary gearing spur gears can be substituted having 1 A ratio and a worm set of a 40-1 ratio having a nominal reduction of 50-1. These change gears can be mounted on the outside of the gear box. Additionally, two 27-toothed gears can be used which provide a l-l external ratio or a 50-1 total. Another set, one a 24-toothed gear and one a 30-toothed gear can provide an external ratio of l.25 l or 0.8 1. By using these ratios it is easily shown that the overall ratio with the auxiliary gears can go from 40-1 to 62 A 1. Therefore, 40, 50, or 62 V; wraps of filament for the splice are available depending on the gear ratio chosen.

Positioned relative to the wrapping wheel assembly are clamping and cutting fingers as shown by FIGS. 21a-h.

In the splicing apparatus these respective fingers or assemblies clamp the ends of the threads or yarn that are parallelly and axially positioned in the wrapping head assembly, and cut off the ends of each thread or yarn during the splicing cycle at a certain time which is controlled by cam plate assembly 275. The cut thread or yarn ends are then sucked up or disposed of by suitable thread disposal means. The action of the fingers or cutting and clamping assemblies is shown by FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 14 shows the position of the

clamp finger assemblies

300 and 302, one above the wrapping wheel assembly 100 and the other below the wrapping wheel assembly. Clamp finger assembly 300 holds the threads or yarn to be spliced in cooperation with the upper cut finger assembly 304 and clamp finger assembly 302 holds the threads or yarn to be spliced in cooperation with lower cut finger assembly 306. The four gripping or clamping

cylinders

310, 340, 341 and 370 operate the start of the wrapping cycle. The cutting

cylinders

312 and 372 operate later in the cycle at a precise time according to the position of the thread and set number of wraps of filament 122. These functions are controlled by the cam plate assembly 275 which is rotated in relation to the number of turns of the wrapping wheel.

Claims

1. An automatic splicing apparatus for wrapping filament around yarn comprising a housing, drive means mounted in said housing, said drive means operating a filament wrapping wheel, said filament wrapping wheel having a filament supply mounted thereon, clamping and cutting means secured to said housing to hold and cut said yarn being wrapped, a filament holder means mounted to said housing, said filament holder means retaining an end of said filament during a wrapping cycle and said filament holder means having means for cutting said filament at the end of said cycle, and tensioning means carried by said filament wrapping wheel for maintaining a tension on filament being drawn from said supply.

2. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes an auxiliary drive means having cam means to provide for vertical oscillation of said clamping and cutting means.

3. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary drive means comprises a drive shaft, said drive shaft being mounted in a plurality of roller bearing means, said roller bearing means being secured to a housing, means to rotate said drive shaft, a worm secured to said auxiliary drive shaft, said worm engaging a worm gear to rotate said worm gear, said worm gear being secured to a shaft, said shaft being mounted in a plurality of roller bearing means positioned in said housing, a drive gear secured to said shaft, said drive gear cooperating with a cam plate assembly to turn said cam plate assembly.

4. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cam plate assembly comprises a cam gear secured to a cam shaft, a cam huB mounted on said shaft, a plurality of cam plates mounted on said cam hub, said cam plates being separated by a plurality of cam spacers, and means to secure said plurality of cam plates and cam hub to said cam gear.

5. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cam shaft has separate cam means secured thereto.

6. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping and cutting means to hold and cut said yarn being wrapped comprises a plurality of cut finger assemblies and a plurality of clamp finger assemblies.

7. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrapping wheel assembly comprises a drive body assembly having an insert plate assembly removably mounted thereto, said insert plate assembly having a filament supply means mounted thereon.

8. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said drive body assembly is substantially C-shaped and the outer surface of the drive body assembly has gear means.

9. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said gear means are removable gear sections.

10. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said insert plate assembly has a substantially pie-shaped section removed.

11. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filament supply means comprises a mount secured to said insert plate assembly, said mount having a support arm extending therefrom, a bobbin mounted on said support arm, and adjustable tension means to provide tension on a filament coming from the bobbin.

12. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said bobbin has a protective casing mounted thereon.

13. An automatic splicing apparatus for wrapping yarn with filament comprising a housing, drive means mounted in said housing, said drive means being positioned to rotate a wrapping wheel assembly, said wrapping wheel assembly having a filament supply mounted thereto, a filament holder assembly mounted in said housing, said filament holder assembly being provided with means to retain the filament under tension during a splicing cycle and means to cut the filament at the end of the splicing cycle, means to hold and cut said yarn being wrapped with filament, and means to automatically operate said wrapping wheel assembly, filament holder assembly and holding and cutting means during a splicing cycle.

14. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said drive means comprises a drive shaft, means to turn said drive shaft, a gear secured to said drive shaft, said gear engaging a second gear when said drive shaft is rotated, said second gear being secured to an output shaft, said output shaft having a drive wheel gear secured thereon, said drive wheel gear engaging a plurality of pinion gears, said plurality of pinion gears engaging and driving said wrapping wheel assembly.

15. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said first gear and said second gear are miter gears.

16. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said gear means comprises a positioning pinion gear mounted on an output shaft, said positioning pinion gear having roller clutch means allowing said pinion gear to rotate freely around said output shaft in one direction and to engage and turn said output shaft in the other direction causing a wheel drive gear secured to said output shaft to rotate.

17. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said wheel drive gear has a protruding pin positioned to strike a latch when said wheel drive gear is rotated by said positioning pinion gear, said latch closing switch means indicating the wrapping wheel assembly is positioned correctly.

18. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said gears are secured to said drive shaft and output shaft by key means.

19. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said wheel drive gear has a pin projEcting therefrom.

20. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said drive means has a wrapping wheel assembly positioning means, said wrapping wheel assembly positioning means positioning said wrapping wheel assembly in substantially the same position at the start of each splicing cycle.

21. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said wrapping wheel assembly positioning means comprises a fluid cylinder secured to said housing, a piston slidably mounted in said fluid cylinder, a toothed rack carried by said piston, said toothed rack engaging gear means to turn said wrapping wheel assembly to a predetermined position.

22. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means to hold and cut said yarn being wrapped with filament comprises a plurality of cut finger assemblies and a plurality of clamp finger assemblies.

23. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said cut finger assemblies comprises a plurality of fluid cylinders, each of said fluid cylinders having a piston slidably mounted therein, linkage secured to each said piston, said linkage connecting each of said pistons to cutting and clamping means.

24. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein one of said pistons activates a clamping means and another of said pistons activates a cutting means.

25. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein at least one of said finger assemblies is an upper cut finger assembly, said upper cut finger assembly comprising a plurality of fluid cylinders, each of said fluid cylinders having a piston slidably mounted therein, one of said pistons being secured to link arm, the other of said pistons being connected to a shaft by a plurality of links, said shaft extending through one of said plurality of links, said link arm and a stationary thread holder secured to a housing, said shaft being able to be rotated by the action of the other of said pistons moving said plurality of links to turn a blade secured to said shaft and bordering said stationary thread holder.

26. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein at least one of said cut finger assemblies is a lower cut finger assembly, said lower cut finger assembly comprising a plurality of fluid cylinders, each of said fluid cylinders having a piston slidably mounted therein, one of said pistons being secured to a link arm having an aperture therethrough, the other of said pistons being connected to a plurality of links, one of said links having an aperture therethrough, a shaft extending through said link aperture, said link arm aperture and a stationary thread holder secured to a housing, said shaft being able to be rotated by the action of the other of said pistons moving said plurality of links to turn a blade secured thereto and bordering said stationary thread holder.

27. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said clamp finger assemblies cooperates with a cut finger assembly to hold yarn to be spliced, each of said clamp finger assemblies comprising a fluid cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said fluid cylinder, and linkage secured to said piston, the other end of said linkage being secured to clamp means.

28. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said clamp means comprises a stationary thread holder having an aperture therethrough, said stationary thread holder being secured to a clamp finger housing, a link arm having at least one aperture therein, a shaft inserted through one of said link arm apertures and said stationary thread holder aperture, said shaft having a clamp plate secured thereto, means to prevent said shaft from rotating inside said link arm and spring means surrounding a portion of said shaft and contacting said link arm.

29. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein said means to prevent said shaft from rotating inside said link arm is a pin inSerted into said link arm aperture and a coaxially aligned shaft aperture.

30. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said filament holder assembly comprises a stationary inner shaft, a rotatably outer shaft surrounding said inner shaft, spring means secured to said outer shaft to urge said outer shaft into a set position, cam means mounted on said outer shaft, said cam means acting in cooperation with a cam plate to rotate said outer shaft and cutting means mounted on said outer shaft.

31. An automatic splicing apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein said cutting means comprises a stationary scissor blade secured to said inner shaft, a stationary clamp mounted on said outer shaft, said stationary clamp being secured to said stationary scissor blade and a movable scissor blade mounted on said outer shaft and positioned between said stationary clamp and said stationary scissor blade.

32. An automatic thread splicing apparatus for wrapping filament around yarn comprising a housing, drive means mounted in said housing, said drive means being positioned to rotate a wrapping wheel assembly, said wrapping wheel assembly having a filament supply mounted thereto, a filament holder means secured to said housing, said filament holder means retaining said filament during a splicing cycle and cutting said filament at the end of the splicing cycle, a plurality of cut finger assemblies and clamp finger assemblies mounted on said housing to hold and cut said yarn being wrapped; and circuit means for controlling said cut finger assemblies and clamp finger assemblies during a splicing cycle.

33. An apparatus a claimed in claim 32 wherein said yarn includes a first piece having a first severed end and a second non-severed end and a second piece having a first severed end and a second non-severed end, wherein said clamp finger assemblies include a first assembly for holding said first piece adjacent said second end and a second assembly for holding said second piece adjacent said second end, wherein said cut finger assemblies include a first assembly for holding said first piece adjacent its severed end and adjacent the non-severed end of said second piece and for cutting the severed end of said first piece and a second assembly for holding said second piece adjacent its severed end and adjacent the non-severed end of said first piece and for cutting the severed end of said second piece, a source of fluid above atmospheric pressure and control means operatively associated with said circuit means for controlling the application of fluid pressure from said source to said first and second assemblies, whereby wherein said first and second assemblies of said clamp finger assemblies and said first and second assemblies of said cut finger assemblies operate to hold and to cut respectively when connected to said a source of fluid at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and wherein said circuit means includes means for applying said source to said assemblies.

34. An apparatus as in claim 33 wherein said circuit means includes a first relay which, when activated connects said source to said first and second assemblies of said clamp finger assemblies and to said first and second assemblies of said cut finger assemblies to hold said first and second pieces, a second relay which, when activated, connects said source to said first assembly of said cut finger assemblies for cutting the non-severed end of said first piece and a third relay which, when activated, connects said source to said second assembly of said cut finger assemblies for cutting the non-severed end of said second piece.

35. An automatic splicing apparatus for wrapping filament around yarn ends held in an overlapping relationship comprising: wrapping means for wrapping filament around said yarn ends so as to form a filament wrap around the yarn ends which extends for a distance along the overlapped ends to retain the yarn ends together, clamping means for receiving and holding said yaRn ends in an overlapping relationship during the wrapping, filament supply means mounted in an enclosed housing on said wrapping means for supplying filament, adjustable tension means positioned adjacent said filament supply means for applying a uniform tension on the filament during the wrapping, drive means operatively associated with said wrapping means for rotating said filament supply means around said overlapped yarn ends so that filament is drawn from said filament supply means through said tension means thereby producing a tensioned splice, yarn cutting means operatively associated with said wrapping means for cutting said yarn ends back so that the cut ends can be overwrapped with said filament, and filament cutting means for cutting said filament after the wrapping has been completed so that the portion of filament used in producing the splice is separated from said filament supply means.