US3690586A

US3690586A - Creel

Info

Publication number: US3690586A
Application number: US119526A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer E Bock
Original assignee: Textile Machinery Co Inc
Current assignee: Textile Machinery Co Inc
Priority date: 1971-03-01
Filing date: 1971-03-01
Publication date: 1972-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-12

Abstract

A creel for supporting a plurality of spools of filamentary matter comprising a plurality of spool holders extending generally horizontally to receive spools of filamentary matter thereon, the spool holders extending generally horizontally and disposed in an arcuate array about a focal take-off element. Multiple arcuate arrays are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to develop close packing of the arrays and provide a creel which effects a substantial saving of space while simultaneously exposing each of the spool holders for ready access for loading spools of filamentary matter thereon.

Description

United States Patent Bock 1 Sept. 12, 1972 CREEL [72] Inventor: Elmer E. Bock, Knoxville, Tenn. 52 gft' g ?lP gf fi s lf orne-rc, ven, am ueea [73] Assignee: Textile Machinery Company, Inc., y

Chattanooga, Tenn. 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1971 A creel for supporting a plurality of spools of filamen- 211 App] 19 52 tary matter comprising a plurality of spool holders extending generally horizontally to receive spools of filamentary matter thereon, the spool holders extending [52] US. Cl ..242/l3l generally horizontally and disposed in an arcuate array 2; 5h 49/02 Dozh 5 3 5/08 about a focal take-off element. Multiple arcuate arrays 1 o N are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to I develop close packing of the arrays and provide a creel which effects a substantial saving of space while [561 References cued simultaneously exposing each of the spool holders for UN STATES PATENTS rleady access for loading spools of filamentary matter t ereon. 2,429,798 10/1947 Bradnack et al ..242/ B1 3,452,947 7/1969 Thurman, ..242/131 13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 I 7 3.690.586

SHEET 1 or 7 INVENTOR. Elm er E. Bock ATTORNEYS.

PKTE'N'TEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET 2 (IF 7 ATTORNEYS.

PKTENTEDsEP 12 m2 SHEET 3 0F 7 T INVENTOR. J Elmer E. Bock W a I ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDsEP 12 I972 I 3.690.586

' sum u or 7 INVENTOR. Elmer E. Bock Il BY f g Arronu'sr.

PATENIEDsmz I972 3.690.586 sum 5 or 7 INVENTOR.

BY Elmer E. Back I Z %wf ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDSEP 12 Ian SHEET 5 [IF 7 INVENTOR. Elmer E. Bock BY Z Z I 6m r/Q;

Arromvsrs.

PATENTEDsEP 12 m2 3.690.586 sum 1 or 1 INVENTOR. Elmer E Bock ATTORNEYS.

be fed to the textile machine for fabrication of the product. The usual textile machine simultaneously utilizes several hundred yarns (frequently termed ends in the art). To assure continuous feeding of a yarn to the machine and avoid interruption of the manufacturing process, many facilities have creels with spools arranged in pairs so that as the yarn from one spool of the pair is expended, a second spool of the pair, the yarn of which has been tied tothe end of the yarn of the first spool, will be utilized. It is then possible to keep the creel loaded at all times by replacing the expended spool with one full spool and tying together the yarns of the two spools. It is desired, therefore, that the creel occupy a minimum of space and that its construction permit ready loading of the spools of' filamentary matter into the creel while yarns are being paid out from the creel to the machine.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a creel which occupies limited space while providing ready accessability to the creel for-loading of spools of filamentary matter therein. It is a further object of this invention to provide a creel which may be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled as a sturdy, stationary structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the Y accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan top view of one embodiment of a creel including various features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the creel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the creel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan top view of figuration;

FIG. 5 is a representation of the disclosed creel including a working platform;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan top view of afurther embodiment of a creel including various features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan top view of a still further embodiment of a creel including various features of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan top view of a still further embodiment of a creel including various features of the present invention.

The creel disclosed herein comprises one or more take-off elements and one or more upright standards supporting a plurality of spool holders at various vertical levels with the spool holders extending generally horizontally to receive spools of filamentary matter thereon. Each take-off element serves as the focus for an arcuate or semicircular array of spool holders thereabout, each spool holder of an array being oriented generally along a radius of the array so that one spool bracket confilaments paid out from the several spool holders in an array are directed to the focal take-off element. Further, multiple arcuate arrays are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to develop close packing of the arrays and thereby provide a creel which effects a substantial saving of space while simultaneously exposing each of the spool holders for ready access for loading of spools of yarn thereon. Multiple vertical levels of semicircular arrays of spool holders associated with each take-off element provide efiicient utilization of each unit of floor space occupied by the creel unit. 1

The preferred creel 8, depicted in top view in FIG. 1, comprises a structural framework 9 which is of generally rectangular configuration and includes a plurality of upright standards 10 disposed in equally spaced apart locations in two staggered rows running along the length of the creel and within the framework. Each upright standard 10 advantageously comprises a length of metal tubing or rod secured'in an upright position as by being welded to transverse

structural members

12 and 14 extending between longitudinal

structural members

16 and 18 at the top and bottom, respectively, of the creel. In addition to supporting the upright standards, the transverse and longitudinal structural elements impart rigidity to the creel.

Each upright standard 10 preferably receives at a given vertical level on the standard, three generally U- shaped brackets 20, 22, 24 positioned apart from each other around the standard 10 and referred to herein at times as a tripartite bracket group. One suitable type of bracket, as depicted in FIG. 1, comprises a continuous rod appropriately bent to define a generally U-shape wherein the

leg portions

26, 28 are integrally joined to the opposite ends of a base portion 30 which is bent centrally thereof as proper to accommodate the positioning of three such brackets about the circumference of the standard. In one embodiment of the bracket 20, for example, where the base portion 30 is about 19 inches long and the

leg portions

26, 28 are each about 8 inches long, the-base portion is bent to define an angle of about but this angle may be increased or decreased by several degrees, consistent with the means used to secure the bracket to its standard l0 and serve as the point of attachment between the bracket and standard. The

legs

26, 28 of the bracket 20 extend from the standard 10in a generally horizontal plane to receive a spool 32 of filamentary matter on each leg, the angle defined at the joinder 34 of each leg portion to the base portion of the bracket being chosen to align the leg portion toward a take-off element 36 as will be described further hereinafter. For the bracket dimensionsrecited in the above example, each leg portion forms an angle of about 100 with its respective portion of the base of the bracket. It will be recognized that this latter angle is also dependent upon the distance between the bracket and the respective take-off element in that each leg portion is bent such as will cause it to be directed toward such take-off element as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Preferably, each bracket 20 is fixedly secured to its respective standard 10 as by welding thereby insuring that the bracket remains in its preferred position at all times. This desired rigidity of the bracket is enhanced by joining the several brackets 20, 22, 24 located at a given vertical level around a standard 10 one to 3 a another at the

points

34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40 where their respective bases are joined to their respective leg portions as depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the several brackets at a given vertical level are secured to a sleeve 46 (see FIG. 4) which is fitted around the standard and secured in position by welding or by set screw means 48 to impart height adjustability to the brackets. Also depicted in FIG. 4 is an alternative bracket construction wherein the

base portion

84, 86, 88 of the three

brackets

78, 80, 82 are integrally formed.

In the preferred creel, the structural framework 9 also includes a plurality of take-off elements 36 for receiving yarns 50 from the spools 32 and directing them to a textile machine or the like (not shown). Each take-offelement 36 preferably includes one or

more eyeboards

52, 53,55 having openings through which individual yarns 50 are fed to be received in individual tubes 54 which lead to the textile machine. As will be discussed thereinafter, the yarns 50 are withdrawn from the spools 32 at difierent vertical levels for space economy-reasons. The preferred take-off element 36, therefore, comprises an elongated channel 56 secured in an upright position generally parallel to the Standards 10. One or both of the side margins 58,60 of the channel 56 support the

eyeboards

52, 53, and 55 which preferably extend from the top to the bottom of the upright channel. Openings at vertically spaced locations on the eyeboards serve to receive the yarns 50 and direct them into the tubes 54 as noted above thereby insuring that the several yarns do notbecome entangledone with another .when passing from their respective spools to the textile machine. The take-off elements 36 are disposed at the side margins of the creel 8 and intermediate adjacent

upright standards

10 and 13 of the row nearest that side of the creel where the

standards

10 and 13 are located. Because the rows of standards are staggered, a given take-off element 36 is also disposed opposite a standard 11 of that row furtherest therefrom. Takeoff elements 36 are provided on both sides of the creel and therefore there is a take-off element opposite each standard but on that side of the creel furtherest from the standard.

The

tripartite bracket groups

62, 64, 66, for example, on three

adjacent standards

10, 11, 13, irrespective of their row, are grouped about a-take-off element 36 with each

leg

26, 28, of each bracket of a group 62 being directed generally toward the take-ofl element 36 thereby placing the

tripartite bracket groups

62, 64, 66 in a semicircular array about the take-ofl' element 36 when viewed from the top of the creel. By virtue of their 120 spacing about their respective standard, one bracket 20 of each combination of three brackets (or two brackets in certain end locations of a creel) at a given vertical level on a standard 10 cooperates with one bracket 20a, 20b, from each of two

other standards

11, 13, respectively, in defining the arcuate or semicircular array. The staggered rows of standards (with attached brackets) thus permits staggered back-to-back arranging of semicircular arrays, with a given standard and its several brackets at a given vertical level being a part of three adjacent semicircular arrays as may be seen in FIG. 1, thereby advantageously utilizing fully the available space within the creel framework and permitting the storage of more spools per unit area of creel at a given vertical level in the creel.

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it is seen that the several brackets 20, 20a, 20b of a given semicircular array need not all lie in the same horizontal plane, but rather, when the full spools of yarn are larger in diameter than can be accommodated by the spacing between adjacent bracket legs consistentwith the desired efficient utilization of space, the central bracket 20a of a given grouping (array) is displaced vertically a relatively short distance 'on its respective standard 11 to permit some overlapping of the spools and thereby more effectively utilizing the available space within the creel. Alternatively, the lateral spacing between the standards, hence the bracket spacing, is increased to accommodate the spools, but this latter arrangement results in wasted space within the creel, hence less effective utilization of the available space.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the preferred creel, each upright standard has brackets secured thereto at multiple vertical levels along the length thereof creating several semicircular arraysof spools per each given area of floor space occupied by the creel. The number of vertical levels which are obtainable depends primari ly upon the available, height in the building which houses the creel and the anticipated size of the full spools of yarn, it being necessary that adjacent spools not interfere with the feeding of yarn from each other.

Notably, each semicircular array of bracket legs opens outwardly toward the side margin of the creel thereby exposing the bracket legs for ready accessibility for loading new full spools of yarn thereon. Contrary to known prior art creels, in the illustrated creel, an operator is not required to move any part of the creel, such as swinging a leg outwardly to gain access to it, in order to remove an empty spool or insert a full spool. In loading the illustrated creel, the operator has ready access to all the spool positions at the several vertical levels from a position adjacent a focal take-off element. When loading spools to one-half of a semicircular array, the yarns of the remaining half of the array are neither disturbed by the operator nor are they a hindrance to his loading activities. The ease of loading without interference with yarns already in position is enhanced by positioning the central one 20a of the three brackets in a given array at a higher (or lower) vertical level than the flanking brackets 20, 20b of the array in that such raising (or lowering) of the central bracket moves it and its spools above the flanking brackets and their spools to give the operator lateral operating space in gaining access to the spools of the central bracket. There are no moving parts in the disclosed creel thereby facilitating the loading and unloading of spools therefrom and simultaneously enhancing the rigidity and useful life of the creel.

Individual relatively

smaller creels

68, 70, 72 are combined to provide a larger creel 74 having a greater overall capacity as illustrated in FIG. 5. Walkways 76 provided at appropriate vertical levels permit an operator to gain access to brackets located at vertical levels above that which can be reached from floor level and permit the creel to be extended to any reasonable height. By reason of their generally rectangular configuration, the individual creels are readily positioned in side-by-side relation thereby permitting a single walkway therebetween to serve adjacent creels and reduce the construction cost of the creel as well as conserve floor space.

In accordance with a further aspect of the illustrated I creel, the distance which the yarn travels from its spool to the eyeboard is .increased over related prior art creels. Across this distance the yarn is unsupported and as it is withdrawn from the spool it moves along a generally helical path' in a whip-like. looping motion. When the unsupported length of the yarn is too short, excessive tension is developed and yarn breakage is frequent. Excessively long unsupported yarn lengths often result in entanglement with adjacent yarns with accompanying yarn breakage and expensive down-time of the textile machine while the yarns are being rethreaded. In the present creel, the unsupported length of each yarn is greater than in related prior art creels thereby reducing the breakage of the yarn due to excessive tension during withdrawal, yet there is a saving of space of as muchas 40- percent over such related prior art creels.

By simultaneously expanding the distances between the upright standards in the two staggered rows of a creel, the illustrated creel is expandable to accommodate larger, more bulky spools of yarn or pulled in for receiving smaller diameter spools as dictated by a particular textile machine or woven product. Normally, this interstandard spacing is established at the time of installation of a creel and is not changed thereafter. The disclosed creel design, however, is amenable to any of several sizes of spools by merelyexpanding the dimensions of the creel and without altering the basic design thereof.

The semicircular arraying of six spools of yarn provide the further advantage of having available one, two or five standby spools for each needle of the textile machine in that, in a given array, there are six adjacent spools which may be tied together to feed a given needle. This feature of the invention is particularly useful when supplying yarn to the so-called shag carpet machines where each needle stroke may consume as much as 5 or 6 inches of yarn and a single spool of yarn is very quickly depleted.

With reference to FIG. 6, the present creel contemplates the inclusion of more than six spools of yarn per arcuate array. As illustrated,

brackets

100, 102 and 104 secured at a first vertical level on

standards

106, 108 and 110, respectively, are combined with

brackets

112, 114 and 116 secured at a second vertical level on

standards

106, 108 and 110, respectively, to form an arcuate array of twelve yarn supports about a central take-off element 118.

Notably, in the creel illustrated in FIG. 6, the generally

U-shaped brackets

100, 100a and of the tripartite bracket grouping 120 at a given vertical level on a standard 106 are disposed at positions 120 apart around the standard in a like manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. The individual generally U-shaped brackets in FIG. 6, however, are bent in their respective base portions 112 at a point located about one-third of the distance of the length of the base portion 122 thereby dividing the base portion into two lengths, 124, 126, and about twice the length of the other. As illustrated, the shorter part of the bracket base portion 124 preferably is disposed nearest the standard 110 and the bracket is joined to the standard at the point 128 where the base portion is bent. This arrangement positions one end 130 of each bracket adjacent the longer length 132 of the base portion 134 of one of the other brackets 104 of the tripartite grouping thereby permitting the desired separation of the brackets of a tripartite grouping about a standard and providing for the combining of the brackets from multiple vertical levels about a given focal take-off element 118 and thereby increasing the total number of spool holders per each arcuate array.

A still further embodiment for mounting a plurality of

brackets

140, 142 and 144 in an arcuate or generally semicircular array 146 about a focal take-off element 148 is depicted in FIG. 7. In this latter Figure, an arcuate bar 150 is secured in a generally horizontal position at a selected vertical level preferably on a pair of upright standards 152 and 154. Alternatively, an arcuate bar or the like is substituted for the channel. In any event, the

several brackets

140, 142 and 144 are supported in their generally horizontal positions with their respective leg portions extending radially toward the focal take-off element 148. Further, several

arcuate channels

150, 156 and 158'are disposed in staggered back-to-back relation to develop close packing and efficient utilization of space to effect the desired saving of space and simultaneously providing ready access to the spool holders for loading of the creel.

A further embodiment of the disclosed creel is depicted in FIG. 8. As illustrated in this Figure, the spool holders 160 are secured in the desired arcuate array, with the individual spool holders being oriented along a radius of the array, by means of an arcuate channel 162 or similar arcuate mounting means and directed radially toward a focal take-off element 164 as described hereinbefore. In this illustrated embodiment, as well as the embodiment of FIG. 7, there is less stability of the spool holders in that they are provided with less support than in other illustrated embodiments. The embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, however, are suitable in many instances, particularly where the spools of yarn are of relatively low weight.

While several embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A creel for holding a plurality of spools of filamentary matter wound thereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from said spools comprising a plurality of take-off elements, a plurality of spool holders, and mounting means securing said spool holders in a plurality of generally arcuate arrays about said take-off elements, said spool holders extending generally horizontally from said mounting means and being disposed generally radially of said arcuate array, said plurality of arcuate arrays being disposed in generally staggered back-to-back relation with their respective take-off elements disposed outwardly of said creel thereby exposing said spool holders for ready access thereto for loading spools thereon.

2. A creel for holding a plurality of spools having filamentary matter wound thereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from said spools comprising a structural framework including a plurality of upright standards, a plurality of brackets for receiving said spools, each of said brackets comprising a generally U- shaped member secured to a standard in positions spaced about 120 apart around said standard at a given vertical level thereon, each of said brackets having its-base oriented toward said standard and having its leg portions extendingfrom said standard ina generally horizontal direction to present the leg portions of said bracket in position to receive said spools, said brackets on adjacent standards cooperating to define a generally semicircular array of bracket legs, each of said bracket legs of an array being directed generally along a radius of .said semicircular array, and a take-off element disposed inclose proximity to the focus of each of said semicircular arrays for receiving said filamentary matter from said spools of the respective array.

3. The creel of claim 2 wherein each of said semicircular arrays includes three brackets, eachsof which contributes two leg portions to the array for receiving a maximum of six spools of yarn per array.

4. The creel ofclaim 2 wherein each of said U- shaped brackets is fixedly secured to its respective standard in the approximate center of the base portion of said bracket.

5. The creel of claim 4 wherein said brackets are joined one to another at their respective joinders between their respective base portions and their respective leg portions.

6. The creel of claim 2 wherein each bracket grouping comprises three brackets and only one bracket of each tripartite group of brackets around a standard cooperates with only one bracket of each of two other tripartite groups of brackets on two adjacent standards to define a semicircular array comprising three brackets.

7. The creel of claim 6 including a plurality of semicircular arrays disposed in staggered back-to-back relationship with alternate arrays opening outwardly toward opposite sides of said creel.

8. The creel of claim 2 including a plurality of tripartite bracket groups disposed atdifferent vertical levels along each standard thereby developing a plurality of vertically spaced semicircular arrays per each given unit of horizontal area occupied by said creel.

9. In a creel for storing spools of yarn for feeding to a textile machine, the improvement comprising a bracket for receiving a pair of spools of yarn, said bracketcomprising a generally U-shaped elongated member having a central base portion and a leg portion integrally formedwith each of the ends of said base portion, said base portion being bent to define an angle of about 130, and wherein each of said leg portions extends from its respective end of said base portion to define an angle of about between said leg portion and its respective end of said base portion.

10. The improved creel of claim 9 including a plurality of upright standards, each of which receives at a given vertical level thereon a plurality of said brackets at positions spaced about apart around said standard, the central base portion of each of said brackets facing said standard and the leg portions of said brackets extending from said standard in a generally horizontal direction.

11. The improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions of each of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given vertical level are joined one to other.

12. e improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions of each of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given vertical level are integrally formed one to another.

13. The improved creel of claim 10 wherein said bracket includes a central sleeve to which is fixedly securedthe base portion of each of said plurality of brackets, said sleeve being adapted to encircle one of said standards and secure said attached brackets at a given vertical levelon said standard.

Claims

1. A creel for holding a plurality of spools of filamentary matter wound thereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from said spools comprising a plurality of take-off elements, a plurality of spool holders, and mounting means securing said spool holders in a plurality of generally arcuate arrays about said take-off elements, said spool holders extending generally horizontally from said mounting means and being disposed generally radially of said arcuate array, said plurality of arcuate arrays being disposed in generally staggered back-toback relation with their respective take-off elements disposed outwardly of said creel thereby exposing said spool holders for ready access thereto for loading spools thereon.

2. A creel for holding a plurality of spools having filamentary matter wound thereon in position for pay out of said filamentary matter from said spools comprising a structural framework including a plurality of upright standards, a plurality of brackets for receiving said spools, each of said brackets comprising a generally U-shaped member secured to a standard in positions spaced about 120* apart around said standard at a given vertical level thereon, each of said brackets having its base oriented toward said standard and having its leg portions extending from said standard in a generally horizontal direction to present the leg portions of said bracket in position to receive said spools, said brackets on adjacent standards cooperating to define a generally semicircular array of bracket legs, each of said bracket legs of an array being directed generally along a radius of said semicircular array, and a take-off element disposed in close proximity to the focus of each of said semicircular arrays for receiving said filamentary matter from said spools of the respective array.

3. The creel of claim 2 wherein each of said semicircular arrays includes three brackets, each of which contributes two leg portions to the array for receiving a maximum of six spools of yarn per array.

4. The creel of claim 2 wherein each of said U-shaped brackets is fixedly secured to its respective standard in the approximate center of the base portion of said bracket.

8. The creel of claim 2 including a plurality of tripartite bracket groups disposed at different vertical levels along each standard thereby developing a plurality of vertically spaced semicircular arrays per each given unit of horizontal area occupied by said creel.

9. In a creel for storing spools of yarn for feeding to a textile machine, the improvement comprising a bracket for receiving a pair of spoOls of yarn, said bracket comprising a generally U-shaped elongated member having a central base portion and a leg portion integrally formed with each of the ends of said base portion, said base portion being bent to define an angle of about 130*, and wherein each of said leg portions extends from its respective end of said base portion to define an angle of about 100* between said leg portion and its respective end of said base portion.

10. The improved creel of claim 9 including a plurality of upright standards, each of which receives at a given vertical level thereon a plurality of said brackets at positions spaced about 120* apart around said standard, the central base portion of each of said brackets facing said standard and the leg portions of said brackets extending from said standard in a generally horizontal direction.

11. The improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions of each of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given vertical level are joined one to another.

12. The improved creel of claim 9 wherein the adjacent base portions of each of said brackets spaced around said standard at a given vertical level are integrally formed one to another.

13. The improved creel of claim 10 wherein said bracket includes a central sleeve to which is fixedly secured the base portion of each of said plurality of brackets, said sleeve being adapted to encircle one of said standards and secure said attached brackets at a given vertical level on said standard.