US3682403A

US3682403A - Apparatus and method for doffing wound packages and donning empty cores

Info

Publication number: US3682403A
Application number: US33706A
Authority: US
Inventors: David M Willis
Original assignee: JONATHAN LOGAN Inc
Current assignee: JONATHAN LOGAN Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-01
Filing date: 1970-05-01
Publication date: 1972-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-08
Also published as: IL36738A; ES391108A1; BR7102633D0; FI53440C; NL157274B; ATA375771A; FR2094974A5; CH544718A; CH565105A5; CA947741A; SE370219B; AT344553B; DE2121426A1; GB1349806A; ES418356A1; SU618030A3; NL7105866A; FI53440B; JPS5128740B1; DE2121426B2

Abstract

Apparatus and method for doffing wound packages of strand materials and for donning empty cores for resumption of winding, while avoiding interruption of the movement of strand material to be wound, if desired. As applied to a textile yarn texturing machine, a core supporting arm is displaced from a winding position to a doffing position and a wound package is doffed from the arm. Yarn being textured is severed, to separate a doffed package therefrom, and an empty core is donned on the arm as the same returns to a winding position. During doffing and donning, a running end of the yarn being textured is taken up and is subsequently severed to form a free end to be wound about the donned empty core.

Description

[ 1 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOFFING WOUND PACKAGES AND DONNING EMPTY CORES [72] lnventor: David M. Willis, Spartanburg, SC.

[73] Assignee: Jonathan Logan Inc., New York,

22 Filed: May 1, 1970 211 App1.No.: 33,706

[52] US. Cl..;. ..242/18 A, 242/19 [51] Int. Cl. ..'....B65h 54/02 [58] Field of Search....242/l8 A, 18 PW, 18 R, 25 A, 242/19.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,031 9/1949 McDermott ..242/ 18 PW 2,706,089 4/1955 Griset, Jr. ..242/ 18 R 2,870,971 1/1959 Keith ..242/18 PW 3,092,340 6/1963 Furst ..242/35.5 R

3,429,514 2/ 1969 Pospisil et a1 ..242/ 18 A 3,476,328 11/1969 Shimai et al. ..242/35.5 R 3,507,453 4/ 1970 Scragg et al ..242/18 R 3,559,903 2/ 1971 McDermott et al. .242/18 PW 3,572,597 3/1971 Parker ..242/ 18 A Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT Apparatus and method for dofiing wound packages of strand materials and for donning empty cores for resumption of winding, while avoiding interruption of the movement of strand material to be wound, if desired. As applied to a textile yarn texturing machine, a core supporting arm is displaced from a winding position to a doffing position and a wound package is doffed from the arm. Yarn being textured is severed, to separate a doffed package therefrom, and an empty core is donned on the arm as the same returns to a winding position. During doffing and donning, a running end of the yarn being textured is taken up and is subsequently severed to form a free end to be wound about the donned empty core.

33 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures United States Patent Willis Aug. 8, 1972 PATENTED M19 8 i973 SHEET 3 [IF 6 bAvm M. Wmus INVENTORZ PATENTED 819?? 3,682,403

sum 5 BF 5 INVENTOR. bAVHb MAA/x LUS E BYMC/ fine 9 ATTORNEYS PATENTED 8 I972 SHEET 8 (IF 6 I NVE NTOR I bAWb Viv/mus ATTORNEYS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOFFING WOUND PACKAGES AND DONNING EMPTY CORES Higher production rates of textile strand handling machines and the increasingly high cost of labor are fast rendering economically impractical conventional manual doffing of wound packages of such strands and donning of empty cores for resumption of winding. Additionally, in certain operations such as yarn texturing wherein yarn is heated and manipulated in some manner (as by false twisting) in a continuous operation, the problem of doffing full packages of textured yarn from a texturing machine is further complicated by the fact that the flow of yarn through the machine usually must continue during the doffing operation. Otherwise, the yarn stopped in a processing zone at least takes on different textured properties and, in certain operations,

degrades or melts in the heating zone. Avoidance of stopping yarn in a processing zone by parting the yarn upstream of the zone is not a satisfactory solution, as rethreading of the machine is then required. Thus, a machine operator must somehow make accommodation for excess yarn being fed from the machine with no attendant winding. Naturally, in faster machines, this problem is compounded.

Package size uniformity is also desirable in many yarn winding operations. This is particularly so where the package being formed is to be dyed, since such size uniformity is critical to uniformity of shade throughout a dye lot. Such uniformity is most difficult to control or even obtain in the case of continuous feed machines which are doffed manually, such as texturing machines,

- since package winding cannot be stopped until the operator is read to doff each particular package.

With the aforementioned difficulties and deficiencies in mind, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish economically the doffing of wound packages and donning of empty cores automatically for resumption of winding while avoidinginterruption of the texturing of textile yarns. In accomplishing this object of the present invention, textured yarn moving from a processing means is severed during doffing of a wound package to separate a doffed package therefrom, and the yarn being textured is taken up during the interval of time required for doffing of the wound package and donning of an empty core. Thereafter, a free end of the yarn being textured is formed and winding thereof about a donned empty core is initiated.

A further object of this invention is the accomplishment of doffing wound packages and donning empty cores wherein successive severings of yarn result in a free length thereof being formed and this free length is taken up during the interval of time required for doffing of a wound package and donning of an empty core. By so severing and taking up a free length, interruption of the movement of yarn during doffing and donning is avoided.

Another object of this invention is the accomplishment of doffing wound packages and donning empty cores for resumption of winding wherein the resumption of winding includes the formation of a projecting tail on the new package.

Yet another object of this invention is the control of doffing and donning by spreading and closing movement of package core engaging arms incontrolled coordination with movement of other elements of a textile strand winding .means. In accomplishing this latter object, reliance is placed on the cooperation of cam and other control means in achieving desired coordination as disclosed hereinafter.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an elevation view of certain elements of a textile yarn texturing apparatus incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, taken generally as indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of certain elements of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 for accomplishing the doffing of wound packages and donning of empty cores;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view, in partial section, of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, in partial section, through the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view, in section, through a portion of a control means incorporated in the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, taken generally along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, taken generally along the line 10-10 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 l0, taken generally along the line 1 1-11 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 11, taken generally along the line 12-12 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a cam trackway; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic electrical diagram of control means for the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus and method of the present invention will be disclosed hereinafter with reference to a particular environment for application of this invention, namely a textile yarn texturing machine such as is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1, one station or location of which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The textile yarn texturing machine 10 is broadly illustrated as similar to apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,761,272 issued Sept. 4, 1956 and US. Pat. No. 3,237,392 issued Mar. 1, 1966, but it is recognized that textile yarn texturing machines of other types are known to persons skilled in the processing of synthetic textile yarns. Further, the present invention is known to have usefulness with textile strand handling machines other than synthetic textile yarn texturing machines, and is contemplated as being of general utility with any winding means for receiving and packaging strand materials, whether such materials be of a textile nature or otherwise.

As is known to persons skilled in the art of texturing synthetic textile yarn, the machine 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 typically includes a plurality of yarn processing locations or stations, spaced along the length of the machine and having elements thereof driven from a common drive means. At each yarn processing location along the machine 10, the machine is provided with means for mounting tailed together supply packages 11 of yarn to be processed and winding means generally indicated at 12 for receiving yarn moving through the machine 10 as disclosed more full hereinafter. Intermediate the supply packages 11 and the winding means 12, the yarn to be textured is threaded through processing means 14, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 b means of a block diagram. In the instance of the yarn texturing machine 10 such as is disclosed in the aforementioned United States patents, the functional elements incorporated into the processing means 14 (and herein not disclosed) include positively driven input rolls, a yarn heater, a false twist spindle, and the positively driven output rolls delivering textured yarn to the winding means 12. It is to be understood, however, that 'functional elements incorporated into a processing means 14 and the functions performed thereby may vary widely without interfering with the usefulness of the apparatus and method of the present invention.

In accordance with this invention, the winding means 12 normally takes up textured yarn Y moving thereto to wind a body of the yarn about a core 21 and thereby form a package generally indicated at P. In performing this winding operation, the winding means 12 functions as a parallel winding mechanism, in that core 21 is positioned with a longitudinal rotational axis thereof generally parallel to a package drive roll 22, also known as a face roll. Inasmuch as the core 21 is of generally right circular cylindrical configuration, the winding of the body 20 of yarn about the core, under the control of a traverse motion (not shown) as is conventional and well known, builds a generally right circular cylindrical package P. In supporting the core 21 for winding of yarn thereabout, the core is gripped between an opposing pair of pivoting arms 24, 25. As brought out more fully hereinafter, pivotal mounting of the arms 24, permits the center of rotation of the package P to move away from the package drive roll 22 in accommodation of an increasing diameter of the package P during winding. The arms 24 and 25 are mounted, for such movement among others as disclosed hereinafter, from a shaft 26. The shaft 26 may extend longitudinally of a machine 10 to serve a plurality of yarn processing locations therealong.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided in combination with the textile yarn and texturing machine 10, and with the winding means 12 incorporated therein, for doffing a wound package from the winding means and for donning an empty core thereonto. Further, means are provided for cooperating with the doffing and donning means b severing the yarn Y moving from the processing means 14 during doffing of a wound package to separate the doffed package therefrom and for subsequently initiating winding about a donned empty core of a resultant free end of the yarn Y.

More particularly, in accomplishing the doffing of a wound package and donning of an empty core, the arms 24, 25 are displaced from a winding position to a doffing position while a wound package is doffed therefrom and while yarn moving through the machine 10 is severed. The arms 24, 25 are subsequently returned to the winding position while an empty core is donned thereonto and while a running end of the strand material moving through the machine is taken up so as to permit continued movement of yarn through the processing means 14 and thereby avoid interruption of such movement. It is the taking up of the running end of yarn, along with other operations disclosed more full herein, which facilitates overcoming the difficulties and deficiencies which heretofore have been encountered in the operation of winding means of this sort. While the operation herein disclosed will be particularly directed to an arrangement where two pivoting arms cooperate with a generally right circular cylindrical core, it is to be understood that the operations disclosed herein ma be accomplished with winding means of modified structure wherein alternative core configurations are employed or the manner of supporting a core is changed.

In accomplishing the doffing of a wound package from the winding 12, drive means are provided for oscillating the pivoting arms 24, 25 between a winding position (full line position in FIG. 2) wherein the package P is in circumferential engagement with the drive roll 22 to a doffing position (second dotted line position from the right in FIG. 4) wherein the package P is displaced from the drive roll 22. Such drive means, generally indicated at 28, is operatively connected with the shaft 26 to drive the shaft in continual oscillation back and forth over an appropriate arc of rotational movement such as approximately 160. The drive means 28 preferably incorporates an electrical motor 29 and an appropriate control mechanism for converting the normal rotational movement of the shaft of the motor 29 to an arcuate oscillation as described herein. Clutch means 31, preferably in the form of a solenoid 32 having a pin 34 and mounted from the shaft 26 is provided for selectively coupling the arms 24, 25 to the oscillating shaft 26. The solenoid 32 is mounted from the shaft 26 by means of a bracket arm 32A fixed to the solenoid 32 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) and a collar 32B fixed to the shaft 26 for movement therewith. Upon energization of the winding of the solenoid 32, the pin 34 is extended to enter into an opening 35 in a mounting housing 33 encircling the shaft 26, upon the shaft 26 next moving to a position wherein the opening 35 is in alignment with the extended pin 34 (FIG. 11). Upon such pin engagement, the housing 33 and the arms 24, 25 connected thereto by pivot pins for purposes described hereinafter are carried with the shaft 26 in its next oscillation, displacing the package P from the winding position to a position remote from the package drive roll 22.

With such displacement of the package P, yarn Y extending between the package P and the processing means 14 is positioned b guide means including a front moving guide arm 36, a rear stationary guide arm 38 and a rear moving guide arm 39. As positioned by these guide means, the yarn passes a first cutter means 40, operated in timed relation to movement of the package P to the doffing position for severing the yarn Y moving from the processing means 14 and thereby separating a doffed package from the running yarn being texturized. On severance of the yarn Y by the first cutter means 40, the immediately adjacent free end thereof is drawn into a strand material gathering means provided by a suction nozzle 41 adjacent the first cutter means 40. Inducement of a fluid flow into the suction nozzle 41 draws yarn Y from the processing means 14 at the rate yarn issues therefrom, thereby avoiding an necessity of interruption of the movement of yarn through the machine 10.

With continued oscillation of the arms 24, 25, the arms move to a fully retracted or reverse position and, on returning toward the winding position, are spread apart b cam means disclosed more full hereinafter, dropping the doffed package P onto a package collecting chute 42 for gravit movement to any desired package collecting location. As the arms 24, 25 return toward the winding position, the arms pass adjacent an empty core supply means generally indicated at 44,

move inwardly one toward another as disclosed more full hereinafter, and remove from the empty core supply means 44 a core 21 for winding of a next subsequent package. Following such donning of an empty core onto the arms 24, 25, the arms return to the winding position carrying the empty core 21 therewith.

In order to initiate winding of yarn Y about the empty core 21, and thereby to provide for resumption of winding, a free length of the yarn Y is severed by a second cutter means 45 positioned adjacent the suction nozzle 41. The free length of yarn resulting from this second severing is carried away through the suction nozzle 41, to be disposed of as waste or as is otherwise suitable to the particular process being practiced. A

resultant free end of the yarn is taken up by the empty core 21 as package winding is resumed.

Certain relationships among the guide means, cutting means and strand material gathering means briefly described above are of particular interest with regard to the present invention. First, it is to be noted that the guide means cooperate together in a particular manner for positioning the yarn Y and maintaining the position of the yarn during the cycle of doffing and donning. The front moving guide arm 36 has an extent, widthwise of the core 21 (FIG. 5), appropriate for picking up the yarn Y regardless of the momentary position thereof along the length of the package P, as influenced by the traverse motion (notshown) of the machine 10. Such movement of the front moving guide arm 36 is accomplished by pivotal mounting thereof at a pivot location 46, and under the influence of an operating solenoid 48 connected to the front moving guide arm 36. Further, the front moving guide arm 36 is provided with a crook position 49 which, with the arm 36 in the raised position (dotted lines in FIG. 5 Positions the yarn Y immediately at one end of the core 21, adjacent an arm 25. Such positioning of the yarn Y is of significance, as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter.

It is to be noted that the rear guide arms 38, 39 cooperate together and with the front moving guide arm 36 in positioning the yarn Y in a desired manner. In particular, movement of the package P from the winding position toward the doffing position draws the yarn Y into engagement with the rear stationary guide arm 38 and, by the slant of such stationary guide arm,

tends to move the yarn toward the first cutter means 40. The rear moving guide arm 39 is mounted for movement about a pivot 50, under the impetus of a solenoid 51 (FIG. 6). Upon such movement, the yarn Y resting on the rear stationary guide arm 38 is captured by a crook portion 52 of the rear moving guide arm 39, and positively swept toward the same side of the winding means 12 as is occupied by the crook portion 49 of the front moving guide arm 36.

As so displaced by the guide means, the yarn Y extends above the suction nozzle 41 and is positioned for severing by the first cutter means 40. Preferably, the first cutter means 40 comprises a stationary blade 54 and a moving blade 55 operating with the stationary blade in a scissors-like fashion upon energization of an actuating solenoid 56. The second cutter means 45 similarily is provided with a stationary blade 58, a moving blade 59 and an actuating solenoid 60.

Sequencing of the steps of the method of this invention is desirably accomplished in response to the position of the pivotal arms 24, 25, through the provision of control cams and switching means as disclosed in FIGS. 6 12 and 14. In particular, the relative angular position of the arms 24, 25 is correlated to the diameter of the package P being wound, and thus may be employed to initiate a cycle of doffing and donning when the package P reaches such condition as to be considered fully wound. Advantage is taken of this possibility by the positioning of an electrical switch SW1 to be actuated by the arms 24, 25 upon movement thereof to a position correlated to a fully wound package having been formed. In order to ensure that a cycle of operation is initiated only when doffing and donning can properly occur, this switch SW1 is electrically interconnected with a switch SW2 operated by oscillation of the shaft 26. Upon closure of the arm position and shaft position switches SW1 and SW2, a pair of relays RLl and RL2 are engerized. A first relay RLl is maintained energized by a holding circuit established through a first cam operated switch SW3, while the second relay RL2 is maintained energized by holding circuit established through a second cam operated switch SW4.

Upon energization of the first relay RLI, a first contact set 61 thereof completes an electrical circuit which applies electrical energy to the winding of the solenoid 32, extending the pin 34 and coupling the arms 24, 25 to the oscillating shaft 26. Displacement of the arms 24, 25 is thus initiated.

As will be noted from the relative position of the empty core supply means 44 and the arms 24, 25, oscillation of the arms with a fully wound package P thereon would result in interference between the package P and the empty core supply means 44, were such interference permitted. In order to avoid this interference, the empty core supply means 44 includes a lower core chute 62 mounted for movement about a pivotal axis 64 under the control of an air cylinder 65 to which air is admitted as disclosed hereinafter. With pivotal movement of the lower core chute 62, such chute is moved upwardly out of the path of travel of a fully wound package P moving to the doffing position. With the return of the lower core chute 62 to a lowered position, the core 21 in the lowermost position therein is disposed in alignment with the position of the arms 24, 25 as the same return to the winding position, for engagement of the lowermost core 21 by the arms and donning thereonto.

Coordination of the raising and lowering of the lower core chute 62 with movement of the arms 24, 25 is accomplished by the closure of a contact set 76 of the second relay RL2. Such closure of the contact set 76 completes an electrical circuit energizing the winding of a solenoid air valve 78, controlling admission of compressed air to the air cylinder 65.

Control over the doffing of a fully wound package P from the arms 24, 25 and the donning of an empty core 21 thereonto is accomplished in part by means of cam plates 68, 69 disposed adjacent each of the arms 24, 25. Each of the cam plates 68, 69 has formed therein a pair of arcuate cam grooves 70, 71 (FIGS. 3 and 4). By means of a pin directing gate member 72, a pin 74 projecting from a block member (not visible) moveable radially relative to the shaft 26 within a corresponding groove 73A in each associated arm 24, 25 into the

cam grooves

70, 71 is directed to follow a first cam groove 70 during movement of the corresponding arm from the winding position toward the doffing position and to follow a second cam groove 71 on movement from a position remote from the package drive roll 22 toward the winding position. By means of a suitable spring 738, the block members from which the pins 64 project are biased toward the pivot axis defined by the shaft 26 and thus will move to the inner radial cam groove 71 on passing beyond the outer radial cam groove 70.

It is to be noted that the second cam groove 71 is provided with a particularly configured cam surface therein (FIG. 13), for engagement by the pin 74 protruding thereinto from the associated arms 24, 25. In particular, the configuration of the cam surface is such as to displace the associated arms 24, 25 outwardly, spreading the two arms 24, 25 apart. Such spreading apart of the arms, as the same move from a full backstoke position in returning toward the winding position, accomplishes doffing of the fully wound package P. The spreading apart movement of the arms 24, 25 is accomplished by the mounting thereof for spreading movement about pivot axes 75.

Further, the ramp cam configuration provided in the second cam groove 71 is such that the arms 24, 25 move toward one another on passing the lower core chute to 62. Such movement of the arms 24, 25 toward one another causes the arms to enter into the open ends of the lowermost core 21 in the lower core chute 62, thereby donning an empty core onto the arms 24, 25.

Upon the arms 24, 25 reaching the full backstroke position, or at one-half of the oscillating movement thereof, the second cam operated switch SW4 is actuated. Such actuation of the second cam operated switch SW4 accomplishes two functions, the first being to interrupt the holding circuit otherwise maintaining energization of the second relay RL2 and the second being to complete a circuit which energizes the winding of a third relay RL3. By the deenergization of the gizes the winding of a fourth relay RL4. Through a first contact set of the fourth relay RL4, a circuit is completed which energizes solenoid 51, moving the rear moving guide arm 39 to positively position the yarn Y. A second contact set 811 of the fourth relay RL4 completes an electrical circuit to a time delay relay RLS. Upon expiration of a predetermined time period following energization of the time delay relay RLS, a contact set 82 of the time delay relay closes, energizing solenoid 56 of the first cutter means 40 and severing the yarn Y intermediate the doffed package P and processing means 14.

Upon return of the arms 24, 25 to the winding position, and donning of an empty core 21 thereonto, the yarn Y passing through the crook portion 49 of the front moving guide arm 36 and to the suction nozzle 41 is positioned adjacent one end of the empty core 21, substantially aligned with a narrow tapered groove provided between an end of the empty core 21 and the arm 25 supporting the same. Upon a change in conductive state of the arm switch SW2 as the empty core 21 is brought into operative engagement with the package drive roll 22, another relay RL6 is energized. Through an associated contact set 84, an electrical circuit is completed which energizes solenoid 60 of the second cutter means 45, severing from the yarn Y a free length which is taken up by the suction nozzle 41. A resulting free end of the yarn Y is gripped by the groove provided between the empty core 21 and the adjacent arm 25, for initiating winding of yarn about the donned empty core 21. It is to be noted that such positioning of the free end of yarn immediately adjacent one end of the core 21 provides an exposed tail of yarn,'permitting packages wound in accordance with this method to be tailed together for subsequent yarn processing operations, as is generally known in the textile industry.

At the same time that the solenoid 60 of the second cutter means 45 is being energized, the holding circuits to the first relay RLl and third relay RL3 is interrupted, disconnecting the clutch means 31 which had coupled the arms 24, 25 to the oscillating shaft 26 and returning the front moving guide arm 36 to the lowered position. The winding means 12 then resumes the winding of yarn moving through the machine 10.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means from said doffing position to said winding position,

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for successively doffing a wound package from said arm means and donning an empty core thereonto for resumption of winding,

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom and to form a running end of textured yarn,

means cooperating with said severing means for controlling the resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during the interval of time required for doffing, donning and return of said arm means to said winding position, and

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for initiating winding of textured yarn moving from the processing means about the donned empty core,

said displacing and returning means, said dofiing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said controlling means, and said winding initiating means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

2. in a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means from said doffing psotion to said winding position,

means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for successively doffmg a wound package from said arm means and donning an empty core thereonto for resumption of winding,

means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom and to form a running end of textured yarn,

means operable in timed coordination with said severing means for taking up the resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and

means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of textured yarn from the running end thereof upon return of said arm means to said winding position to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the donned empty core, said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said doffing and donning means comprises an empty core supply means for receiving and storing empty cores to be donned, said empty core supply means being disposed relative to the path of movement of said arm means in a position intermediate said winding position and said doffing position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for withdrawing said empty core supply means from the path of movement of a wound package about to be doffed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said package separating severing means comprises a first cutter operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said free length severing means comprises a second cutter operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for engaging the textured yarn and for positively positioning the engaged yarn in predetermined relationship with said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means.

8. In a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means to said winding position,

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for doffing a wound package from said arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto,

means cooperating with said displacing and returning 1 means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means in conjunction with displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom,

means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of textured yarn from the running end thereof upon donning of said empty core to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the empty core,

said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said displacing and returning means comprises an oscillating shaft rotating through a predetermined arc of revolution and clutch means for selectively coupling said arm means to said oscillating shaft.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said texturing machine has a plurality of yarn processing locations each including processing means and corresponding winding means, said oscillating shaft extends adjacent a plurality of said yarn passing locations, and a corresponding plurality of clutch means cooperate with said shaft for selectively coupling corresponding ones of a plurality of arm means to said oscillating shaft.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said doffing and donning means comprises cam means operable in coordination with said displacing and returning means for moving said arm means out of and into engagement with cores.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said taking up means comprises suction tube means disposed adjacent said package separating severing means for entrapping the running end of yarn.

13. In a textile yarn texturing machine having a plurality of yarn processing locations each including processing means for imparting textured efi'ects to synthetic textile yarn and corresponding winding means with arm means for supporting a corresponding core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of oscillating drive shaft means extending adjacent a plurality of said yarn processing locations,

a plurality of clutch means each selectively connectable with said drive shaft means, each one of said clutch means being operable for coupling a corresponding one of said arm means to said shaft means and for displacing said one arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said one arm means to said winding position,

means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for doffing a corresponding wound package from said one arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto,

means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for severing the corresponding one textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said one arm means from said winding position to separate the wound package therefrom,

means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of the one textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and

means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means severing a free length of the one textured yarn from the running end thereof upon return of said one arm means to said winding position to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the donned empty core,

said clutch means, said doffing and donning means,

said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each one of said doffing, and donning means comprises a corresponding empty core supply means for receiving and storing empty cores to be donned, said empty core supply means being disposed relative to the path of movement of said one arm means in a position intermediate said winding position and said doffing position.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for withdrawing said empty core supply means from the path of movement of a wound package about to be doffed.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said package separating severing means comprises a first cutter operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said free length severing means comprises a second cutter operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means.

18. [n a strand handling machine having means for continuously advancing strand material and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which strand material moving from the advancing means is wound to package the strand material, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means to said winding position, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for doffing a wound package from said arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto,

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing the strand material moving from the advancing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom,

means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of strand material moving from the advancing means during doffing and donning, and

means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of strand material from the running end thereof upon donning of said empty core to form a free end of strand material to be wound about the empty core,

said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said advancing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of strand material therefrom.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said displacing and returning means comprises an oscillating shaft rotating through a predetermined arc of revolution and clutch means for selectively coupling said arm means to said oscillating shaft.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said doffing and donning means comprises cam means operable in coordination with said displacing and returning means for moving said arm means out of and into engagement with cores.

21. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said taking up means comprises suction tube means disposed adjacent said package separating severing means for entrapping the running end of yarn.

22. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said package separating severing means comprises a first cutter operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said free length severing means comprises a second cutter operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means.

24. In a strand handling machine having a plurality of processing locations each including means for continuously advancing strand material and corresponding winding means with arm means for supporting a corresponding core about which strand material moving from the advancing means is wound to package the strand material, the combination therewith of oscillating drive shaft means extending adjacent a plurality of said processing locations, plurality of clutch means each selectively connectable with said drive shaft means, each one of said clutch means being operable for coupling a corresponding one of said arm means to said shaft means and for displacing said one arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said one arm means to said winding position, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for doffing a corresponding wound package from said one arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for severing the corresponding one strand moving from the advancing means upon displacement of said one arm means from said winding position to separate the wound package therefrom, means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of the one strand moving from the advancing means during doffing and donning, and

means operable in timed coordination with said one forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of:

continuously texturing synthetic textile yarn while winding the textured yarn about a core disposed in a winding position to form a wound package of the yarn being textured,

detecting when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such detection, displacing the wound package from the winding position,

severing the textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding posi tion to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a free end of the yarn being textured,

taking up the free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding, and

initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the step of severing the textured yarn to separate the wound package is preceded by guiding the yarn to pass adjacent a predetermined location and further wherein the step of taking up the yarn being textured comprises entrapping the severed free end at the predetermined location to which the yarn is guided.

27. A method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of severing the textured yarn being taken up in response to movement of the empty core to the winding position to form a second free end and separate a free length from the yarn being textured.

28. In a textile yarn texturing operation, a method of forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of:

determining when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such'determination, displacing the wound package from the winding position, severing the textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding position to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a first free end of the yarn being textured,

taking up the first free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding,

severing the textured yarn being taken up in response to movement of the empty core to the winding position to form a'second free end and separate a free length from the yarn being textured, and l initiating the formation of a new package by winding the second free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the step of initiating the formation of a new package includes winding the second free end of the yarn being textured about the donned core at a location adjacent an end portion of the core and thereafter winding a package body in spaced relation to the predetermined location of the second free end so as to form a projecting tail of the second free end of the yarn.

30. In a textile yarn texturing operation, wherein yarn is textured at a plurality of locations along a texturing machine, a method of forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound package from the texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of:

continuously texturing synthetic textile yarn at each of the plurality of locations while winding the textured yarn at each location about a corresponding core held in a corresponding winding position by a corresponding one of a plurality of package supporting arms to form wound packages of the yarns being textured,

oscillating a common drive shaft extending adjacent a plurality of said locations while determining when the size of a wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determination, selectively connecting the corresponding package supporting arm with the drive shaft and displacing the corresponding wound package from the corresponding winding position, severing the corresponding textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the corresponding winding position to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a free end of the yarn being textured,

taking up the free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the corresponding winding position for resumption of winding,

initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core, and

disconnecting the corresponding package supporting arm from the drive shaft.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the selective connection of one package supporting arm with said drive shaft proceeds independently of the connection of any other package supporting arm thereto.

32. in a strand handling operation, a method of forming strand material into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a strand handling machine without interrupting the strand handling operation comprising the steps of:

continuously advancing strand material while winding the strand about a core disposed in a winding position to form a wound package of the strand being advanced,

determining when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determinations, displacing the wound package from the winding position,

severing the strand in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding position to separate the wound package from the strand being advanced and to form a first free end of the strand being advanced,

taking up the first free end of the strand being advanced while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding,

severing the strand being taken up in response to movement of the empty core to the winding position to form a second free end and separate a free length from the strand being advanced, and

initiating the formation of a new package by winding the second free end of the strand being advanced about the donned empty core.

33. In a strand handling operation, wherein strand material is advanced at a plurality of locations along a strand handling machine, a method of forming strands into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from the machine without interrupting the strand handling operation comprising the steps of:

continuously advancing strands at each of the pluralit of locations while winding the strand at each loca lOl'l about a corresponding core held in a corresponding winding position by a corresponding one of a plurality of package supporting arms to form wound packages of the strands being advanced,

oscillating a common drive shaft extending adjacent a plurality of said locations while determining when the size of a wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determination, selectively connecting the corresponding package supporting arm with the drive shaft and displacing the corresponding wound package from the corresponding winding position,

severing the corresponding strand in response to movement of the wound package away from the corresponding winding position to separate the wound package from the strand being advanced and to form a free end of the strand being advanced,

taking up the free end of the strand being advanced while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the corresponding winding position for resumption of winding,

initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the strand being advanced about the donned empty core, and

disconnecting the corresponding package supporting arm from the drive shaft,

Claims

1. In a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displaciNg said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means from said doffing position to said winding position, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for successively doffing a wound package from said arm means and donning an empty core thereonto for resumption of winding, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom and to form a running end of textured yarn, means cooperating with said severing means for controlling the resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during the interval of time required for doffing, donning and return of said arm means to said winding position, and means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for initiating winding of textured yarn moving from the processing means about the donned empty core, said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said controlling means, and said winding initiating means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

2. In a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means from said doffing psotion to said winding position, means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for successively doffing a wound package from said arm means and donning an empty core thereonto for resumption of winding, means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom and to form a running end of textured yarn, means operable in timed coordination with said severing means for taking up the resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and means operable in timed coordination with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of textured yarn from the running end thereof upon return of said arm means to said winding position to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the donned empty core, said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

8. In a textile yarn texturing machine having processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means to said winding position, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for doffing a wound package from said arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing the textured yarn moving from the processing means in conjunction with displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom, means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of textured yarn from the running end thereof upon donning of said empty core to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the empty core, said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

13. In a textile yarn texturing machine having a plurality of yarn processing locations each including processing means for imparting textured effects to synthetic textile yarn and corresponding winding means with arm means for supporting a corresponding core about which textured yarn moving from the processing means is wound to package the textured yarn, the combination therewith of oscillating drive shaft means extending adjacent a plurality of said yarn processing locations, a plurality of clutch means each selectively connectable with said drive shaft means, each one of said clutch means being operable for coupling a corresponding one of said arm means to said shaft means and for displacing said one arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said one arm means to said winding position, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for doffing a corresponding wound package from said one arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for severing the corresponding one textured yarn moving from the processing means upon displacement of said one arm means from said winding position to separate the wound package therefrom, means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of the one textured yarn moving from the processing means during doffing and donning, and means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means severing a free length of the one textured yarn from the running end thereof upon return of said one arm means to said winding position to form a free end of textured yarn to be wound about the donned empty core, said clutch means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said processing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of yarn therefrom.

18. In a strand handling machine having means for continuously advancing strand material and winding means with arm means for supporting a core about which strand material moving from the advancing means is wound to package the strand material, the combination therewith of means for displacing said arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said arm means to said winding position, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for doffing a wound package from said arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto, means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing the strand material moving from the advancing means upon displacement of said arm means from said winding position to separate a wound package therefrom, means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of strand material moving from the advancing means during doffing and donning, and means cooperating with said displacing and returning means for severing a free length of strand material from the running end thereof upon donning of said empty core to form a free end of strand material to be wound about the empty core, said displacing and returning means, said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said advancing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of strand material therefrom.

24. In a strand handling machine having a plurality of processing locations each including means for continuously advancing strand material and corresponding winding means with arm means for supporting a corresponding core about which strand material moving from the advancing means is wound to package the strand material, the combination therewith of oscillating drive shaft means extending adjacent a plurality of said processing locations, a plurality of clutch means each selectively connectable with said drive shaft means, each one of said clutch means being operable for coupling a corresponding one of said arm means to said shaft means and for displacing said one arm means from a winding position to a doffing position and for returning said one arm means to said winding position, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for doffing a corresponding wound package from said one arm means and for donning an empty core thereonto, means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means for severing the corresponding one strand moving from the advancing means upon displacement of said one arm means from said winding position to separate the wound package therefrom, means cooperating with said severing means for taking up a resultant running end of the one strand moving from the advancing means during doffing and donning, and means operable in timed coordination with said one clutch means fore severing a free length of the one strand from the running end thereof upon return of said one arm means to said winding position to form a free end of strand material to be wound about the donned empty core, said clutch means; said doffing and donning means, said package separating severing means, said taking up means, and said free length severing means all functioning while operation of said advancing means continues so as to avoid interruption of the movement of strand material therefrom.

25. In a textile yarn texturing operation, a method of forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of: continuously texturing synthetic textile yarn while winding the textured yarn about a core disposed in a winding position to form a wound package of the yarn being textured, detecting when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such detection, displacing the wound package from the winding position, severing the textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding position to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a free end of the yarn being textured, taking up the free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding, and initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core.

28. In a textile yarn texturing operation, a method of forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of: continuously texturing synthetic textile yarn while winding the textured yarn about a core disposed in a winding position to form a wound package of the yarn being textured, determining when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determination, displacing the wound package from the winding position, severing the textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding position to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a first free end of the yarn being textured, taking up the first free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding, severing the textured yarn being taken up in response to movement of the empty core to the winding position to form a second free end and separate a free length from the yarn being textured, and 1 initiating the formation of a new package by winding the second free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core.

30. In a textile yarn texturing operation, wherein yarn is textured at a plurality of locations along a texturing machine, a method of forming textured yarn into wound packages and doffing the wound package from the texturing machine without interrupting the yarn texturing operation comprising the steps of: continuously texturing synthetic textile yarn at each of the plurality of locations while winding the textured yarn at each location about a corresponding core held in a corresponding winding position by a corresponding one of a plurality of package supporting arms to form wound packages of the yarns being textured, oscillating a common drive shaft extending adjacent a plurality of said locations while determining when the size of a wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determination, selectively connecting the corresponding package supporting arm with the drive shaft and displacing the corresponding wound package from the corresponding winding position, severing the corresponding textured yarn in response to movement of the wound package away from the corresponding winding position to separate the wound package from the yarn being textured and to form a free end of the yarn being textured, taking up the free end of the yarn being textured while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the corresponding winding position for resumption of winding, initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the yarn being textured about the donned empty core, and disconnecting the corresponding package supporting arm from the drive shaft.

32. In a strand handling operation, a method of forming strand material into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from a strand handling machine without interrupting the strand handling operation comprising the steps of: continuously advancing strand material while winding the strand about a core disposed in a winding position to form a wound package Of the strand being advanced, determining when the size of the wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determinations, displacing the wound package from the winding position, severing the strand in response to movement of the wound package away from the winding position to separate the wound package from the strand being advanced and to form a first free end of the strand being advanced, taking up the first free end of the strand being advanced while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the the empty core into the winding position for resumption of winding, severing the strand being taken up in response to movement of the empty core to the winding position to form a second free end and separate a free length from the strand being advanced, and initiating the formation of a new package by winding the second free end of the strand being advanced about the donned empty core.

33. In a strand handling operation, wherein strand material is advanced at a plurality of locations along a strand handling machine, a method of forming strands into wound packages and doffing the wound packages from the machine without interrupting the strand handling operation comprising the steps of: continuously advancing strands at each of the plurality of locations while winding the strand at each location about a corresponding core held in a corresponding winding position by a corresponding one of a plurality of package supporting arms to form wound packages of the strands being advanced, oscillating a common drive shaft extending adjacent a plurality of said locations while determining when the size of a wound package reaches a predetermined size and, in response to such determination, selectively connecting the corresponding package supporting arm with the drive shaft and displacing the corresponding wound package from the corresponding winding position, severing the corresponding strand in response to movement of the wound package away from the corresponding winding position to separate the wound package from the strand being advanced and to form a free end of the strand being advanced, taking up the free end of the strand being advanced while doffing the wound package, donning an empty core and moving the empty core into the corresponding winding position for resumption of winding, initiating the formation of a new package by winding a free end of the strand being advanced about the donned empty core, and disconnecting the corresponding package supporting arm from the drive shaft.