US3792818A

US3792818A - Thread reserve-forming devices

Info

Publication number: US3792818A
Application number: US00175609A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Bauer; P Illg; S Putsch
Original assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Oerlikon Barmag AG
Priority date: 1970-08-28
Filing date: 1971-08-27
Publication date: 1974-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-19
Also published as: BR7105656D0; GB1366544A; FR2106171A5; CH527760A; NL7111681A

Abstract

Thread reserve-forming devices adapted to provide automatically on a winding tube a thread reserve winding next to the main thread winding. The devices embody thread deflecting rods and pivotable, thread-restraining members to temporarily hold the thread for thread reserve formation at the beginning of the winding operation.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Bauer et al.

111 3,792,818 1 1 Feb. 19, 1974 1 THREAD RESERVE-FORMING DEVICES [75] Inventors: Karl Bauer, l-lohenweg; Peter lllg,

Remscheid; Siegfried Putsch, WuppertaLCronenberg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Barmag Banner Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschait, Wuppertal, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1971 21 Appl. 190.; 175,609

[30] W Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 28, 1970 Germany ..2042674 [52] US. Cl. 242/18 PW [51] Int. Cl B651! 54/02 [58] Field of Search 242/18 PW [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,065,921 11/1962 Fiirst ..iffjj...I'IIII'2Z2/18 PW 3,097,804 7/1963 Jackson 242/18 PW UX Vannemann 242/18 PW UX 3,275,252 9/1966 Bolger 242/18 PW 3,276,704 10/1966 Paris 242/18 PW 3,282,516 11/1966 Porter 242/18 PW UX 3,408,011 10/1968 Lenk et a1 242/18 PW 3,595,490 7/1971 Schnetzer 242/18 PW Primary Examiner.1ohn W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohnst0n, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff [5 7] ABSTRACT Thread reserve-forming devices adapted to provide automaticallyon a winding tube a thread reserve winding next to the main thread winding. Thedevices embody thread deflecting rods and pivotable, threadrestraining members to temporarily hold the thread for thread reserve formation at the beginning of the winding operation.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEB FEB I 91974 SHEET 1 [1F 4 INVENTORS: KARL BAUER PETER ILLG SIEGFRIED PUTSCH' BY yw rm aao o k M g/alga m J, MZ/

ATT'YS PAIENTEBFEB 1 91914 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTORS: KARL BAUER PETER ILLG Q SIEGFRIED PUTSCH ISY 4 wizz gflaa aafitjdyzdqgiuufi ATT'YS PATENTEBFEBIQIQH $792,818

SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENfORS: KARL BAUER" PETER ILLG SIEGFRIED PUTSCH AT TY'YS PAIENTEBFEB 9mm SHEET u 0F 4 INVENTORS: KARL BAUER PETER ILLG SIE'GFRIED PUTSCH BY .9 2" v I ATT'YS TH READ RESERVE-FORMING DEVICES INTRODUCTION The invention relates to devices for the formation of a thread reserve between a thread-catching groove and the winding zone on a winding carrier, e.g., a winding tube, used in a thread winding mechanism having a selfthreading traverse thread guide and possibly a groove roller arranged on its respective stroke reversal zones. The devices temporarily restrain the thread supplied through a thread guide positioned centrally of the winding zone length after the thread has been caught in a catching groove in the winding carrier, whereby thread movement into the traverse range for the winding package is delayed. The thread path is displaced temporarily from its primary winding path by a rod positioned in the zone of the catching groove to deflect the thread from its most direct course onto the winding tube. The rod is in front of and substantially parallel to the thread traverse guide. The devices also embody a restraining plate rotatable about a diagonally vertical axis in a swinging direction counter to a counterforce brought about by the inertia of the body toward a thread releasing position.

British Patent No. 1,124,893 describes a known thread reserve-forming device, in which a wheel having on its periphery ratchet-type teeth is borne rotatably about a vertical axis. The caught thread acts on the tooth outcropping in each case in the rest position in radial direction. During the threading into the catching groove of the winding carrier the thread is spaced from the tooth to be acted upon.

For the guiding of the caught thread to the tooth there are indicated two ways. In the first case the caught thread passes in its displacement from the threading into the winding position against a feed edge running obliquely to the axis of the winding carrier into position, over which the thread draws itself axially outward away from the winding zone, until it reaches a following radially running further guide edge, which feeds the thread to the radially directed tooth.

This course is unfavorable, because a multifilament yarn is spread apart on the oblique feed edge into a wide fan. For this reason a second possibility for the thread guidance to the tooth is shown, which provides that the thread in the threading into the catching groove is deflected over a bight-type recess preengaged in radial direction in the support of the gear wheel. After the catching, in consequence of the shifting-over into the winding position, the thread lays itself radially against the outcropping tooth. In order to make it possible to insert the thread in the radially open bight, the arrangement for the thread reserve formation is supported on an arm swingable in a plane which is radial to the winding carrier between a horizontal and a vertical position. This arm requires, besides the hand of the technician holding the suction pistol, a further hand to operate the device. Furthermore, the swinging arm increases in an unfavorable manner the space requirement in the direction transversely to the winding device.

The laying of the thread in the bight of the wheel holder serves in the known arrangement, however, also the purpose of obtaining a sufficiently great encircling angle in the threading into the catching groove. Among other things, the thread to be threaded is placed on a deflection rod arranged on a swinging arm and running parallel to the axis of the winding carrier, which rod is thereupon swung inward toward the traversing device. This arrangement, too, increases the space requirement in an unfavorable manner and requires an additional manual operation.

Underlying the invention is the problem of creating an arrangement for the forming of a thread reserve on a winding carrier which, with little space requirement, makes possible transversely to the axial direction of the winding device a large encircling angle in the threading of the thread and is simple in construction and in operation.

This problem is solved according to the invention by a rotatable body serving as thread-deflecting guide for the thread and deflecting it from its running path substantially parallel to the front of the traversing thread guide radially inward to the winding carrier. The guide consists of a rocker arm, preferably constructed as a planar plate, swingable about an axis inclined preferably with its upper end extending diagonally in the vertical direction away from the winding tube or carrier. It swings from a rest position wherein its thread guide edge is substantially parallel to the axis of the winding carrier. It is urged yieldably counter to the swinging direction imparted by the thread running over said edge against a fixed stop. When swung by the thread caught on the winding tube and displaced toward the winding zone, the end of the arm toward the winding zone swings toward the winding tube. At least this end of the rocker has at the end of the edge running parallel to the axis of the winding carrier in the rest position a lug projecting away from the winding tube A guide rod extends in front of and preferably somewhat beyond the end of the rocker arm which is toward the winding zone, in such a manner, that the thread running in over the thread guide is guided successively over the rod and the edge of the rocker arm remote from the winding zone. In the process the thread, at least during the threading into the catching groove, bears against the lug of the rocker arm. I

The invention takes advantage of the known circumstance that in the applying of the thread, especially by means of a suction pistol, the thread pull exerted is less than in the main winding. By using the swinging arm as thread guide in the applying of the thread, there are provided, as compared to the prior-known arrangement, considerable simplifications in the construction and in the operation. Thus, for the applying the thread onto the winding carrier and for the subsequent reserve formation, it is merely necessary to guide the thread around the guide rod and the rocker arm to the winding carrier. Here, with little space transversely of the winding device being needed, a large access angle to the winding carrier is available and assures the secure introduction of the thread into the catching groove.

The rocker arm is urged yieldingly in the rest position against a stop. The yieldable forceis so great that it is not overcome by the thread in the applying of the latter to the winding carrier or tube. Once the catching and the displacing of the thread into thewinding position occurs, the thread tension increases to such an extent that the yieldable holding force is overcome, and the rocker arm swings in thread release direction.

The axially parallel guide rod cooperating with the rocker arm can be adjusted in such a way that it absorbs a great portion of the deflection force caused by the deflection of the thread from the traverse side radially inward toward the winding carrier and unburdens the rocker arm by this portion. Thereby the yieldable holding force which presses the rocker arm toward the rest position against the fixed stop can be kept small. This makes it possible for the rocker arm to function during the applying of the thread to the winding carrier as thread guide which deflects the thread. By reason of the increased thread tension in the main winding position, the rocker arm is easily swung by the thread in its thread releasing direction of rotation.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has the center of gravity of the rocker arm arranged in such a way that the rocker arm is urged toward the rest position against the fixed stop counter to the thread swinging direction by a gravitational torque. Here, if the torque is used solely to hold the rocker arm against the stop, its force is chosen to be great enough not to be overcome by the thread during its threading on the winding carrier. In another advantageous feature of the invention the position of the center of gravity and the swing angle (predetermined by a stop) are attuned to one another in such a way that the rocker arm, after the swinging out by the thread caught and displaced toward the winding position, returns automatically into the rest position. This measure is suited for additionally saving space in that it is not necessary to reach manually into the zone of the rocker arm in order to swing it back into the starting position after'use.

A further advantageous feature of the invention consists inuse with the rocker arm of a magnet. The magnet is oriented in such a way that, in the rest position of the rocker arm, it exerts a holding action against the fixed stop on the arm counter to its thread swinging direction. The magnet can exercise the holding function alone both in the case of the inclined axes of rotation and also in the case of a vertical axis. It can, however, also be used together with other yieldable arm-holding means, e.g., with the gravitational torque means used on the inclined axis embodiments of the rocker arm.

According to a further embodiment, it is advantageous to position the magnet, i.e., a permanent magnet, in the rocker arm substantially parallel to its rocking axis and in the rest position of the rocker arm opposite a magnetizable stationary body, preferably formed by the support providing the rocking axis. It is swung out in thread swinging direction in such a way that the magnet exerts a holding torque urging the rocker arm against the fixed stop. Here there may be provided according to the invention the possibility of altering the force with which the rocker arm is urged against the fixed stop. The rocking axis of the rocker arm is arranged with one end on a holding arm extending parallel to the axis of the winding carrier or tube. The permanent magnet is received by a bore running parallel to the rocking axis in the rocker arm, and its spacing with respect to the holding arm is adjustable.

. The combinations according to the invention for the formation of a thread reserve are capable within a great range to make adaptations individually best suited in the most diverse conditions of use. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, the inclination of the swinging axis of the rocker arm can be adjusted in a plane radial to the winding carrier. Further, according to an especially advantageous feature of the invention the guide rod associated with the rocker arm can be adjusted in various parallel orientations. Such adjustment preferably takes place on a straight line which is inclined from the horizontal and in a direction toward and away from the winding carrier.

Through the shifting of the guide rod it is possible in a simple manner to balance and/or change the relation in which the deflecting force for the thread deflection from the front, traverse-guided side of the machine radially inward to the winding carrier or tube is absorbed, on the one hand, by the guide rod, and, on the other hand, by the rocker arm.

The combinations according to the invention may be provided with a thread applying aid. Thus one embodiment thereof consists in curving the axis-parallel edge of the rocker arm at its winding-carrier-remote end in the direction away from the winding zone with an arcuate form in such a way that a bight is formed into which the thread can be laid when shifting it over from the traversing mechanism into the threading position on the winding carrier. In a thread winding device in which a traverse thread guide, optionally having a groove roller at each reversal zone, provides two or more separate windings on a common winding carrier in turn provided with a corresponding number of thread catching grooves, it is advantageous according to the invention to allocate to each winding a device according to the invention for the thread reserve formation and to apply the threads simultaneously into the applying bights of the rocker arms by means of a common thread feed member guided substantially parallel to the traverse device on the front side of the winding machine.

For a thread winding device with a traverse guide and groove roller arranged one above the other and drive of the winding carrier by drive roller, in which the winding carrier is arranged between and beneath the adjacently arranged groove roller and drive roller, it is advantageous according to a further development of the invention, to have the thread-guide edge of the rocker arm in its rest position run continuously parallel to the axis of the winding carrier from the end of the rocker arm remote from the winding zone up to the arcuate curved edge of the lug and to provide on both sides of the winding carrier thread guide members over which the thread can run. In its initial placement, the thread is led from the traverse side of the winding zone underneath the winding carrier to the side away from the traverse side of the winding carrier. It moves automatically from the face or front side of the winding device onto the rocker arm and the guide rod toward the lug of the rocker arm and into the catching groove of the winding carrier. In the feeding of a new thread of the winding carrier, the suction pistol can remain in the zone of the face side of the winding device. Thereby an accessibility transversely to the axes of the winding device is unnecessary in initial feed of the thread with reserve formation.

THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the invention are found from several embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the drawings and further described in the following detailed description thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation of a winding device which is provided with a first embodiment of thread guiding devices for forming a thread reserve;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rocker arm used in FIG. I, which arm has a special thread applying bight;

FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2, in which the rocker arm is in the position to which it is swung out by the thread and from which position it swings back, by reason of the special position of its center of gravity in conjunction with an inclined arrangement of the rocking axis, into the rest position parallel to the axis of the winding carrier, the latter position being shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a unit for winding in another embodiment wherein the threadguiding edge of the rocking arm runs continuously parallel to the winding carrier up to the lug;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front elevation of the winding device of FIG. 4, partly in section;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary, perspective view of another embodiment of the rocker arm;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 5 in which there is shown the adjustment variations provided by the parallel shifting of the guide rod associated with the rocker arm;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing the rocker arm structure of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the embodiment for thread reserve formation associated with the winding carrier according to FIGS. 4 and 5, in combination with thread guide members through which the thread runs from the face side of the winding device automatically into the thread catching groove and to the lug of the rocker arm; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic front elevation of a group of winding devices arranged densely next to one another for the winding of especially threads supplied from spinning machines, in which there is evident the suitability of the devices of the invention for thread reserve formation in difficult spatial relations.

THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS The winding device represented in FIG. 1 shows an arrangement, one above the other, of a reverse-thread spindle 1 with the traverse guide 2 rectilinearly reciprocated in known manner by the spindle 1 and of the groove roller 3, which serves the purpose of achieving a uniform thread distribution at the ends of the winding zone by taking over the thread guiding function as the guide 2 reverses direction. Underneath the groove roller 3 there is a drive roller 4, against which the winding carrier or tube 6, which is mounted on a swinging lever 5, is pressed on the side away from the traverse side. As the winding becomes greater, the lever 5 with the winding carrier 6 swings out in the direction of the arrow 7.

The drive roller is driven in the direction of arrow 8 and rotates the winding carrier and thread winding thereon in the direction of the arrow 9. The thread 10 is fed in from above through the fixed thread guide 11 positioned above the reverse-thread spindle l centrally to the traverse range of the traverse guide 2 and runs in the path 12 drawn in in broken lines through the thread guide 2 and with partial encircling of the groove roller 3 to the run-on point 13 on the winding carrier 6. This point in the present case, because of the preceding partial encircling of the drive roller 4, corresponds with the contact line between drive roller and. winding carrier.

Before a new winding is commenced, the thread end must first be introduced into a catching groove 40 (FIGS. 4 and 8) of the winding carrier. After the catching of the thread there must thereupon be formed a thread reserve lying outside the winding zone of the winding proper and between the winding zone and the catching groove before the actual winding formation begins. The thread reserve, consisting as a rule of several spiral turns, serves essentially for the tying on of the end of the one winding to the beginning of the next winding. For the catching and for the thread reserve formation the thread according to the invention takes, from the thread guide 11, the path 14. There it is guided at a distance from the traverse front formed by the traverse guide 2 and the groove roller 3 and in axial direction obliquely outward to the end of the winding carrier 6 having therein the catching groove. It runs over the guide unit 15 for the thread reserve formation. Over the latter the thread runs radially inward between the groove roller 3 and the drive roller 4 across the winding carrier 6. The thread encircles the latter with a relatively great angle opposite to the turning direction of the winding carrier. The thread is sucked away by means of a suction pistol of known type (not represented) at its guiding end 16. In order to assure that the thread is not engaged by the groove roller 3 during the applying to the winding carrier, there may be provided a deflecting rod 17.

According to the invention, the unit 15 for the thread reserve formation is used during the thread applying and thread catching on the winding carrier 6 as thread guide for the deflecting of the thread from the course substantially parallel to the traverse front radially inward under the groove roller to the winding carrier. Thereby, with small space requirement transversely to the axes of the winding device, there is made possible a large encircling angle on the winding carrier in a wellaccessible position. It is well-known that that threading takes place all the more reliably in operation with greater encircling on the winding carrier during the applying of the thread. Greater encircling thereby increases the radial force which forces the thread into the catching groove 40.

The unit for the thread reserve formation interposed between the rollers 1 and 3 serving for the traverse, on the one hand, and the winding carrier 6 with drive roller 4, on the other hand, as is shown in FIG. 1, consists essentially of a rocker arm 18 extending in the rest position parallel to the axis of the winding carrier 6 and a guide rod 19. The guide rod extends parallel to the axis of the winding carrier 6. The rocker arm is pivotable about the axis 20, which is preferably inclined from the vertical. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, it lies in a plane radial to the winding carrier and inclined relative to the perpendicular direction away from the winding carrier. The reasons for the inclination of the axis from the vertical direction and for the rocker arm, preferably in the form of a planar plate, lying in a plane inclined relative to a horizontal plane essentially are that the thread running from the edge 21 of the rocker arm remote from the winding carrier does not contact with the edge of the rocker'arm facing the winding carrier, and by suitable mass distribution of the rocker arm, which will be gone into in the following for FIGS. 2 and 3 in more detail, that the rocker arm in its rest position has a gravitational counter-torque counteracting the torque brought about by the thread.

The rocker lever 18 has, further, a lug-22, against which the thread runs as it moves in a direction parallel to the axis of the winding carrier toward the winding zone during the threading of the thread in the catching groove of the winding carrier and which lug accordingly prevents the premature moving off of the thread along the guide rod 19 and the edge 21 into the winding zone or into the range of the traverse guide 2.

As is evident already from FIG. 1, the arrangement of the guide rod 19, which forms a fixed deflecting member for the thread, takes up, in the deflection of the thread (amounting in FIG. 1 to more than 90 from the direction essentially vertically parallel to the front of the traverse guide 2 and of the groove drum 3 into the direction essentially horizontally radially inward toward the winding carrier), a major part of the deflection forces with the smaller part falling to the edge 21 of the rocker arm 18. correspondingly, also only a minor part of the thread force caused by the geometry of the thread direction changes falls to the rocker arm. Thereby a small counterforce or a small countermement suffices to hold the rocker arm during the use of the same as thread guide in the rest position during the applying of the thread. This small force is easily overcome by the thread as soon as the thread is caught and is shifted into the winding position. Since then the winding tension is considerably greater as compared to the thread tension in the applying of the thread by means of the usual suction pistol, the thread brings about a rapid swinging out of the rocker arm from the rest position, in which process during the swinging movement itself the inertia of the rocker arm acts in a retarding sense. Furthermore, in the case of highperformance winding devices with winding speeds on the order of three to four thousand meters per minute and more, a very slight delay in the moving over of the thread from the catching groove into the winding zone suffices to obtain the required number of reserve turns.

In FIGS. 2and 3 there is represented in more detail the rocker arm itself, inclusive of its support. In FIG. 2 the rocker arm 18 is in its rest position, in which it extends essentially parallel to the axis of the winding carrier. The axle 20, which is mounted on a holding arm 23 which extends in the zone of the end of the winding carrier having the catching groove, is oriented in an inclined position corresponding to FIG. 1.

The center of gravity 24 of the rocker arm lies in the rest position of the rocker arm on the side of the axle toward the lug 22. Thereby there is brought about a gravitational torque which urges the rocker arm into rest position with the stop surface 25 against the fixed stop 26 on the holding arm. This torque suffices'under some circumstances tocompens ate for the torque exerted by the thread during its application to the winding carrier by contact in the zone of the lug 22, which torque tends to swing the rocker arm with its lug-side end toward the winding carrier.

As soon as the thread has been caught and shifted into the winding position, during the course of which it runs briefly from the edge 21 of the rocker arm on the path 39 to the drive roller (FIG. 1), the rocker arm, largely by reason of the greatly increased thread tension, is swung away in' thread release direction, into the position according to FIG. 3. In so doing its rear edge 27 strikes against another stop 28 fixed to the holding arm. As FIG. 3 shows, the center of gravity 24 even in the fully-swung-out position still lies on the winding zone-side of the rocker axis 20 in such a way that the rocker arm swings back automatically into the rest position according to FIG. 2. Furthermore, the torque can be augmented by a spring-back force between the rocker arm and the stop 28.

For the achievement of a position of the center of gravity 24, the rocker arm can be provided with holes inthe manner of the hole 29. In order to minimize frictional forces and to achieve an easy starting movement of the rocker arm, it is journalled by means of a ball bearing 30 on the axle 20. As FIGS. 2 and 3 make evident, the edge 21 which is remote from the winding carrier, runs in the rest position of the rocker arm in the zone of the rocking axis 20 parallel to the winding carrier. Toward the winding zone the edge turns in arcuate form to the lug 22. The are 31 preferably is a circular arc, since this is simple to manufacture. The radius of the circular arc, extending preferably over less than is expediently chosen of such a size that the thread in the swinging of the rocker arm brought about by it moves out axially to the winding zone on the arc 31.

The edge 21 is likewise turned at the end remote from the winding zone in arcuate form over an angle of more than 90 in such a way that the bight 32 is formed. This bight serves for the inserting of the thread in its introduction in the threading position. In particular in the case of the winding device according to FIG. 1 the thread taken up with the suction pistol (not represented) from the thread guide 1 1 is guided over the rod 19 and laid in the bight 32 and then swung from a substantially axially-parallel and horizontal course between the groove roller 3 and the drive roller 4 under the deflecting rod 17 into the position radial to the winding carrier 6. The thread, after partial encirclement of the winding carrier, is guided from the winding zone to the catching groove, into which it is then drawn automatically by reason of the radial force brought about by the encircling. The small space requirement associated with the arrangement for thread reserve formation according to the invention can advantageously be used in an arrangement of winding devices, for example, according to FIG. 9, where, in particular under a spinning machine (not represented) there are arranged a large number of winding devices so close together that the thread application to the new winding carrier and the thread reserve formation has to be made only from the accessible face or front side.

In order in the narrowest space to be able to wind simultaneously as many threads as possible from a spinning unit, it is possible by means of a traverse thread guide, each optionallyhaving the aforesaid groove roller, to wind two or more separate windings on a common winding carrier provided .with a correspondingnumber of catching grooves. Here there arise increased difiiculties through the requirement of the simultaneous threading of several threads on one winding carrier with thread reserve formation in each case. These difficulties are overcome according to the invention by allocating to each winding an arrangement of its own for the thread reserve formation of the construction according to the invention, in which the threads are inserted simultaneously into the applying bights of the rocker arms by means of a common thread feed member moved substantially parallel to the traverse front from the face side of the winding device.

As already mentioned earlier, the arrangementaccording to the invention makes possible, withlittle space requirement, a large encircling angle in the threading of the thread into the catching groove. This assures an especially secure and firm clamping of the thread into the catching groove. Thereby, again, faulty threadings are largely avoided. The avoidance of faulty threadings of the thread into the catching groove of the winding carrier means the avoidance of loss times, which are of substantial importance especially in the case of high-output winding devices. Also in view of the automation of the winding process, inclusive of the changing of a finished winding for a new winding carrier and the applying of the thread to the latter, the avoidance of faulty threadings acquires a considerable importance.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the invention is shown in conjunction with a winding device constructed differently as compared to FIG. 1. As before, there are present in arrangement, one over the other, a reverse-thread spindle 51 with traverse guide 52 and a groove roller 53. The drive roller 54, however, is arranged laterally behind the groove roller, while the winding carrier 56 is situated underneath and about half way between the drive roller and the groove roller. During the winding the axis of the winding carrier retains its position. The three rollers are arranged in a frame 34 raisable and lowerable with respect to the winding carrier according to arrow 33. Again, the thread 60 is fed from the zone above the reverse-thread spindle 51 and the groove roller 53 centrally to the winding zone. In normal winding, the thread runs in the path 62 over a deflecting rod 35, the traverse guide 52 and the groove roller 53 radially inward from above onto the winding carrier 56, which is driven in the direction of the arrow 59 at the contact place 63 by the drive roller 54 turning in the direction of the arrow 58.

The path of the thread in applying it to the winding carrier 56 is designated with 64. According to the invention the thread, using the unit 65 according to the invention for the thread reserve formation as a deflecting thread guide, runs first, at a distance from the traverse front formed by the traverse guide 52 and the groove roller 53 substantially perpendicularly downward into the zone underneath the groove roller and thereupon radially inward to the winding carrier 56 and across the under-side of the latter. In the process the leading end 66 is drawn off by a suction pistol (not represented).

The thread 64 to be threaded is guided in running direction successively over the guide rod 69 and the edge 71 of the rocker arm 68, which is swingable back and forth on the axis 70. The lug 72 prevents the premature axial moving off of the thread into the winding or traverse zone. A rod 36 is arranged as a safety measure to assure the spacing of the thread 64 from the traverse front.

In correspondence to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 the rocker arm 68 is in the rest position, in which it extends substantially parallel to the axis of the winding carrier 56. Opposite to the direction in which the thread running over its edge 71 and lug 72 tends to swing it, the arm is urged by a counter moment against a fixed stop (not represented in FIGS. 4 and 5). The countermoment can be brought about, in the case of inclined axis 70, as it is represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, in correspondence to the rocker arm in FIGS. 2 and 3, i.e., as a gravitational countermoment. Through suitable adjustment of center of gravity and swinging angle to one another, there is attained the advantage that the rocker arm, after operation by the thread, swings back automatically into the starting position.

In FIG. 4 a holding magnet 37 is mounted in the part of the rocker arm remote from the lug 72. A holding arm 73 of a magnetizable material lies opposite the magnet, e.g., a pot-shaped permanent magnet. The magnet swings in thread-swinging direction away from the illustrated orientation in the rest position of the rocker arm. A magnet return torque which urges the rocker arm opposite to the thread swinging direction, against a fixed stop corresponding to the fixed stop 26 in FIGS. 2 and 3, is present.

The holding magnet 37, alone or together with a weight countermoment, holds the rocker arm 68 in the rest position while the latter is used as a thread guide during the threading of the thread. After the threading of the thread into the catching groove of the winding carrier and the shifting over of the thread 64 from the course 138 into the course 139, the winding tension has built up to a point wherein the holding force of the magnet 37 is immediately overcome. The rocker arm turns with its lug end toward the winding carrier. As soon as the magnet is turned still further out of the range of the holding arm 73, its restoring force diminishes very rapidly to zero. During the turning of the rocker arm, essentially only the moment of inertia of the mass of the rocker arm counteracts against the thread tension forces.

Since, as was already stated above, especially in the case of high output winding devices even a very slight delay of the moving over of the thread from the threading position into the winding zone leads to a sufficient number of reserve turns between the catching groove and the winding zone, the mass of the rocker arm is to be kept more or less small according to the level of the winding speed. Otherwise the inert mass causes too great a retardation. Correspondingly, also the rocker arm according to FIGS. 2 and 3 expediently may utilize a holding magnet 37. FIGS. 2 and 3 served especially for the explanation of the mass distribution of the rocker arm in the manner that the rocker arm with inclined axis is capable always of swinging back automatically into the rest position. The special center of gravity position in conjunction with the rotation angle adapted to it, on the one hand, and the arrangement of the holding magnet, on the other hand, fulfill, especially in the case of low-mass rocker arms for highoutput winding devices, two separate functions. The holding magnet serves the purpose of holding the rocker arm securely in the rest position during the threading of the thread in the catching groove of the winding carrier, while the center of gravity position in conjunction with the inclined rocking axis serves primarily to allow the rocker arm, after operation by the thread shifting into the winding position, to swing back automatically into the rest position. Obviously the special position of the center of gravity helps to hold the rocker arm in the rest position.

From FIG. 5 it is to be perceived that, as was already indicated further above, under given conditions it is also otherwise expedient to incline the rocking axis in a plane radial to the winding carrier 56 and inclined away from this out of the vertical direction toward its upper end. The thread 64 then will run off from the contact edge 71 in the

paths

138 and 139 free of any further contact with the rocker arm.

Theoretically it is also possible to arrange the rocking axis of the rocker arm perpendicularly. In this case, es-

pecially for reasons of the only small amount of space available in many cases on winding devices there would have to be brought about otherwise the automatic restoring of the rocker arm into the rest position, for example by a buffer spring on the fixed stop which urges the rocker arm back after the swinging.

From the spatial representation according to FIG. 4 there are to be seen additionally details of the winding device and arrangement for the thread reserve formation according to FIG. 5. On the winding carrier 56 the catching groove is designated with 40. The winding zone is indicated by the

broken lines

41 and 42. When the thread, after the catching, is shifted over from the course 138 into the winding course 139 and the higher winding tension is built up, the rocker arm 68 with the end having the lug 72 is swung toward the winding carrier 56. In the process the thread 64, by reason of its tendency to adjust itself centrally to the winding

zone

41, 42 directly below the guide 61, moves axially to the winding zone. As soon as the thread has overcome the lug 72, it moves along the guide rod 69 immediately into the zone of the traverse guide 52 and the groove roller 53, where the thread is automatically threaded.

The rocker arm 68 has, with respect to the rocker arm 18 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the difference that the straight edge 7 runs from the remote from the winding zone up to the curve 81 parallel throughout to the axis of the winding carrier 56 in the rest position of the rocker arm. This provides an advantageous further feature for the thread reserve formation which makes it possible in constricted space conditions to apply the thread from the accessible side face 43 of the winding device. Further details in this connection are to be further explained below.

From FIG. 4 it can be perceived that, in the threading of the

thread

64, 138 into the catching groove 40 of the winding carrier 56, the unit for the thread reserve formation serves as thread guide. It deflects the thread from the substantially vertical course at a distance from the traverse guide 52 and the groove roller 53 underneath the groove roller and radially inward toward the winding carrier 56 located behind the traverse front. It is further clearly evident that the space requirement transversely to the axes of the winding device is small and that the thread deflection takes place both at the rocker arm 68 and also at the guide rod 69. In this sys tem only a part of the deflecting force, because of the thread course and thread tension providing forces directed radially inward and obliquely toward the middle of the winding zone, is absorbed by the rocker arm. The

holding moment of the magnet 37 for holding the rocker arm in the rest position against the thread swinging direction can be relatively small, making it possible to overcome the holding moment almost immediately by the thread in its

course

64, 139, as soon as the higher winding tension is built up.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the holding arm 73 has a slit 44 in the pin 45 of the holding arm accessible from the face side 43. The inclination of the rocker arm 68 and its rocking axis 70 is adjustable by turning pin 45, e.g., with a screwdriver. The guide rod 69 is adjustable parallel to itself in the direction of

arrows

46 and 47. These possibilities of adjustment are a direct result of the structure of unit 65 and its mode of use for thread reserve formation. These adjusting possibilities inherent in the unit permit in advantageous manner the optimal adaptation in each case of use over a wide range of diverse conditions.

In FIG. 6, the adjustment possibilities of the guide rod 69 are explained further. As is directly evident, through the parallel shifting of the guide rod- 69, the deflection angle of the thread 64 on the edge 71 of the rocker arm 68 is altered. This also alters the force which the thread exerts on the rocker arm in swinging direction. With reference as well to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 it may be seen that the rocker arm is acted upon by the thread in the swinging direction through friction forces in axial and radial direction. Depending on adjustment of the guide rod 69, the components vary. Optimum conditions can be set in the thread reserve unit for the most diverse deniers and for the most diverse thread material. Thus, in the case of very low deniers it can under some circumstances be advantageous to set back the guide rod as far as the position 48 in such a way that the oncoming thread 83 does not undergo any deflection at all on the rod and the entire deflection, accordingly, takes place on the rocker arm. A relatively great force in swinging direction is applied when the thread so-engages the rocker arm. With shifting of the guide rod from the position 48 toward the position 69 and then 49 to provide

thread path

64 or 84, the deflection angle at the rocker arm decreases, in which process the deflection on the guide rod increases correspondingly. The thread force acting on the rocker arm becomes less and less. Since the direction of this force in FIG. 6 moves counterclockwise, the force component in the swinging plane running perpendicular to the rocking axis becomes continuously smaller. Thus, the thread force engaging on the rocker arm in swinging direction declines on shifting of the guide rod from position 48 to

positions

69 and 49 in double respect, so that the parallel shifting of the rod is extremely effective. The shifting of the guide rod in the direction from the position 48 toward the

positions

69 and 49 can under some circumstances be recommended for increasing deniers.

The use of the invention in conjunction with a winding device according to FIGS. 4 and 5 makes it possible for another additional advantage to become perceptible from FIG. 6. If the deflection of the thread, especially per the

thread course

84, 138, is at first very slight during the threading into the catching groove of the winding carrier 56 and thereby also the torque exerted on the rocker arm, then by the shifting over of the thread from the course 138 into the course 139 there occurs a relatively considerable increase of the deflection angle at the rocker arm. Aside from the greater winding tension, therefore, in the arrangement for the thread reserve formation, the shifting over of the thread from the threading course into the winding course after the catching brings about a considerable increase of the swinging force exerted on the rocker arm, which causes the rocker arm to swing out immediately.

From FIG. 6 it is evident that it is expedient to shift the guide rod 69 on a path running in a direction radially outward and obliquely downward, because this path, especially in comparison to a horizontal path with equal displacements, yields a greater change of the deflection angle at the rocker arm.

Finally there is shown further in FIG. 6 the thread course 85. This course is used in a further development of the invention corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 8. The

thread course is used for the applying of the thread from the side face 43 (FIG. 4) of the winding device and shows that also with this side face applying technique, in which the thread is first guided at a distance underneath the winding carrier 56, the lug 72 of the rocker arm prevents the premature moving off of the thread into the zone of the traverse guide 52.

FIG. 7 shows the rocker arm 68 with its guide rod 69 in correspondence to FIG. 4 on a larger scale. The universal adjustability of the unit for the thread reserve formation is readily appreciated.

The holding arm 73, running parallel to the axis of the winding carrier, for the rocker arm 68 is received by means of a cylindrical pin 87 in the bore 88 of the support arm 86 of the frame 34 (FIG. 4). The holding arm can be turned for the adjustment of the inclination of the rocking axis 70 of the rocker lever by a tool inserted into the slit 44 of its face 45. In the adjusted position, it may be held by the setscrew 89.

The guide rod 69 is slidably received by a bore 91 with its rectangularly right angle-bent end 90 oriented in the direction of the shifting path 46, 47 (FIG. The bore-inserted end 92 can be shifted in the direction of the

arrows

46 and 47 in FIG. 5 with simultaneous corresponding parallel shifting of the guide rod 69. By means of the setscrew 93 the guide rod 69 can be tightened in the adjusted position. The offset 94 makes it possible to shift the guide rod 69 inward past the front side 95 of the support arm 86.

The potshaped holding magnet 37 is slidably received in the bore 96, which is parallel to the axis 70, in the rocker arm 68. The field of the magnet 37 is oriented toward the mounting bar 97 for the axle 70. In the rest position of the rocker arm the magnet lies in spaced relation below the under surface of the bar 97. The magnetic holding force urges the rocker arm counter to the thread swinging direction with its stop surface 75 against the stop pin 76 mounted on the bar 97. Since the magnetic attraction changes exponentially with the distance, a short shifting path yields an appreciable change of the holding force exerted by the magnet on the rocker arm. By means of the setscrew 98 which is threaded in the edge 71 of the rocker arm, the magnet can be adjusted toward or away from the bar 97.

With this embodiment for the thread reserve formation, there are three different possibilities of adjustment. Furthermore it is possible to change the rocker arm for another of different mass. Altogether the embodiment offers the possibility of optimal adjustment over a very great range of use.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a thread feed member 99 which makes it possible to apply the thread in the threading in the zone of the side face 43 (FIG. 4) of the winding device. The thread 101 applied at the bend 100 moves automatically in path 102 over the feed member 99'onto the guide rod 69 and the edge 71 of the rocker arm 68 and thence onward to the lug 72. The edge 71, the curve 81 and the lug tip, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, preferably are rounded.

The feed of the thread from the side face of the winding device is shown in more detail in FIG. 8, in which certain parts of the winding device according to FIGS. 4 and 5 are omitted for the sake of better illustration.

Engaged ahead of the rocker arm 68 and the guide rod 69 on both sides of the winding carrier 56 are the

thread feed members

99 and 103. The latter are attached in a manner not represented in detail with substantially axially parallel alignment to the frame 34 (FIG. 4) on the front and rear in the zone of the face 43. For the threading, the thread 101 taken up by the suction pistol 104 is laid in the bend 100 (FIG. 7) of the feed bar 99 and then, with swinging of the thread into the radial direction 105, it is drawn under and up the stirrup 106 until the suction pistol 104 occupies approximately the position shown in the drawing. The thread now draws itself axially inward, in which process it passes from the rod 99 onto the guide rod 69 and the

edges

71 and 81 of the rocker arm and on these onward against the lug 72. Simultaneously the thread moves automatically axially inward on the oppositely situated guide member 103 along the stirrup 106, remaining spaced from the underside of the winding carrier 56. The thread then moves upward along the vertical stirrup 107. Here it rides on the underside of the winding carrier 56 still axially spaced from the thread catching groove 40. Now the thread moves automatically over the horizontal stirrup 108 against the stop 109, which lies in the same radial plane as does the catching groove 40, and forces its way into the catching groove. The remaining process has already been described above.

FIG. 9 makes it possible to see especially clearly the space-saving features of the embodiments herein. There is shown a plural row arrangement of a group of winding devices corresponding to that of FIGS. 4 and 5. From each spinning shaft of relatively small cross section there are delivered at high velocity, for example, four threads, each one of which is wound by four respective winding devices 110. With spacing adapted to the horizontal cross section of the spinning shaft in question, the four winding devices, which have a compact construction, are arranged in two columns of two, each next to one another. The lateral spacing from one another is so small that there is no accessibility transversely to the axes of the winding device. On the contrary, the space between two devices is even additionally constricted by the fact that the thread 111 for the lower winding device is conducted downward in front of the traverse side of the winding device situated above it. The arrangement according to the invention makes possible the threading and the reserve formation under these difficult conditions of use by applying the thread in the zone of the freely accessible face side of the winding device at the

thread feed members

99 and 103 and having it move automatically from there to the unit for the reserve formation and into the catching groove.

The arrangement according to the invention is suited to provide for fully automatic threading of the thread on the new winding carrier with thread reserve formatlon.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from-the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention. As shown in FIG. 5a mechanical stop means can be provided in order to keep the rocker arm steadily in his state of rest. In this special example the stop means are consisting of a locking lever 140, which is pivotally mounted round an axis 142 on the rocker arm 141. The axis 142 is vertically mounted to the axis 143 of the rocker arm. The locking lever has a portion 144, which engages in a certain position of the locking lever with the arm 145, on which the rocker arm is pivotally mounted and which thereby prevents the pivoting of the rocker arm. This position is obtained by the locking lever as a result of gravitational force. As soon as the thread 138 is caught by the catching groove and is running in the direction 139, in the main parallel to the surface of the rocker arm, as shown in H6. 5, the locking lever is pushed upwards by the thread. Thereby the rotating motion of the rocker arm is set free.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A device for formation of a thread reserve: between a thread catching groove in a winding carrier and the zone on said carrier for the winding itself which comprises a self-threading reciprocable traversing device adapted 'to reciprocate the thread running therethrough to distribute it on said winding carrier as the latter rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation to form the winding, and a thread deflecting assembly in the vicinity of said thread catching groove positioned to temporarily deflect the thread path out of the range of said self-threading traversing device, said assembly embodying a pivotable rocker arm having a threadcontacting edge parallel to the horizontal axis of rotation of said winding carrier when said rocker arm is in rest position, a lug on said arm projecting away from said carrier at the end of said rocker arm remote from said groove, means pivotally mounting said arm for free pivotal movement about an axis of rotation positioned in a plane which is radial to the horizontal axis of rotation of said carrier, said axis of rotation of said arm being oriented in said plane either vertically or vertically diagonally upwardly and outwardly, away from said carrier, stop means to stop said rocker arm in said rest position, and yieldable, countermoment means urging said freely pivotable rocker arm toward said rest position, against said stop means and also pivotally returning said arm to said rest position upon pivotal movement of said rocker arm by said thread followed by moving of the thread off the rocker arm, said pivotal movement by said thread occuring when running thread inserted in said catching groove and caught therein runs in a deflected path over said edge of said rocker arm and moves therealong toward said lug until the force of said thread causes said rocker arm to pivot with swinging of its lug-bearing end toward said winding carrier, the thread path being so deflected out of the range of said traversing device until the inertia of said arm and said yieldable means is overcome by the torque applied by the force of said thread against said edge as it moves toward said lug and then off said rocker arm when the latter is pivoted by said torque.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, and a guide rod extending longitudinally parallel to the axis of said winding carrier outwardly of said edge and in position relative to the thread path to deflect the thread successively first across said rod and then across said edge.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said yieldable means is provided by the location of the center of gravity of said rocker arm relative to the pivot axis thereof to provide a gravitational torque in a direction counter to the torque direction applied by said thread. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, and additional stop means positioned to arrest the swinging movement of said rocker arm with the center of gravity thereof positioned relative to said pivot axis of said rocker arm to return the rocker arm by gravitational torque to said rest position after the thread has moved off said rocker arm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, said yieldable means including a magnet exerting a small force yieldably holding said rocker arm in said rest position.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, said magnet being a permanent magnet mounted in said rocker arm with its magnetic field axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker arm, and a fixed, magnetizable, metal surface positioned opposite said magnet when said rocker arm is in rest position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, said magnet being mounted in a bore in said rocker arm, said bore being parallel to the axis of rotation of said rocker arm, and means for adjustably positioning the magnet in said bore for varying the distance between said magnet and said metal surface.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, said surface being a surface on an arm of a frame member, and said arm extending parallel to the axis of said winding carrier.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, and means supporting said rocker arm at varied inclinations in said radial plane of its axis of rotation.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, said lastmentioned means being pivotable means and moving said axis of rotation of said rocker arm in said plane radial to the winding carrier.

11. A device as claimed in claim 2, means mounting said guide rod for adjustable movement thereof with said guide rod remaining substantially longitudinally parallel to'said axis of said winding carrier.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, said lastmentioned means moving said rod in a plane inclined relative to the horizontal in a direction toward or away from said winding carrier.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, and means forming a thread guiding bight on the end of said rocker arm remote from said lug, said bight providing a thread positioning guide used in threading said thread on said winding carrier.

14. A device as claimed in claim 2, said traversing device embodying a grooved roller adapted to take over and guide the traversing movement of the thread at the stroke reversal zones, said drive roller being behind said grooved roller, and said winding carrier being beneath and between said rollers, and thread feed guide members having guide bars parallel to the axis of said winding carrier and including means for guiding the thread in a path initially spaced from said rocker arm and its guide rod to a position below said winding carrier and then upwardly into said thread catching groove in the winding carrier and substantially simultaneously with the catching of said thread in said groove changing the thread path to one over said edge of said rocker arm and its associated guide rod as the thread tension increases upon beginning of the winding thereof on said carrier. 7 r 15. A device as claimed in claim 1, said stop means including a locking lever with an engaging portion on it in order to engage with said rocker arm and to stop it in said rest position, means pivotally mounting said locking lever near to said rocker arm in such a way, that said lever is kept in engagement with said rocker arm by said yieldable means and that it is brought out of engagement with said rocker arm by the force of said thread, as it is caught in said catching groove.

16. A combination comprising a plurality of devices as claimed in claim 13, and a common thread feed guide member extending parallel to the traversing members of said devices for applying respective threads simultaneously against respective bights in respective rocker arms of said devices.

Claims

1. A device for formation of a thread reserve between a thread catching groove in a winding carrier and the zone on said carrier for the winding itself which comprises a self-threading reciprocable traversing device adapted to reciprocate the thread running therethrough to distribute it on said winding carrier as the latter rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation to form the winding, and a thread deflecting assembly in the vicinity of said thread catching groove positioned to temporarily deflect the thread path out of the range of said self-threading traversing device, said assembly embodying a pivotable rocker arm having a thread-contacting edge parallel to the horizontal axis of rotation of said winding carrier when said rocker arm is in rest position, a lug on said arm projecting away from said carrier at the end of said rocker arm remote from said groove, means pivoTally mounting said arm for free pivotal movement about an axis of rotation positioned in a plane which is radial to the horizontal axis of rotation of said carrier, said axis of rotation of said arm being oriented in said plane either vertically or vertically diagonally upwardly and outwardly, away from said carrier, stop means to stop said rocker arm in said rest position, and yieldable, countermoment means urging said freely pivotable rocker arm toward said rest position, against said stop means and also pivotally returning said arm to said rest position upon pivotal movement of said rocker arm by said thread followed by moving of the thread off the rocker arm, said pivotal movement by said thread occuring when running thread inserted in said catching groove and caught therein runs in a deflected path over said edge of said rocker arm and moves therealong toward said lug until the force of said thread causes said rocker arm to pivot with swinging of its lug-bearing end toward said winding carrier, the thread path being so deflected out of the range of said traversing device until the inertia of said arm and said yieldable means is overcome by the torque applied by the force of said thread against said edge as it moves toward said lug and then off said rocker arm when the latter is pivoted by said torque.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said yieldable means is provided by the location of the center of gravity of said rocker arm relative to the pivot axis thereof to provide a gravitational torque in a direction counter to the torque direction applied by said thread.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, and additional stop means positioned to arrest the swinging movement of said rocker arm with the center of gravity thereof positioned relative to said pivot axis of said rocker arm to return the rocker arm by gravitational torque to said rest position after the thread has moved off said rocker arm.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, said last-mentioned means being pivotable means and moving said axis of rotation of said rocker arm in said plane radial to the winding carrier.

11. A device as claimed in claim 2, means mounting said guide rod for adjustable movement thereof with said guide rod remaining substantially longitudinally parallel to said axis of said winding carrier.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, said last-mentioned means moving said rod in a plane inclined relative to the horizontal in a direction toward or away from said winding carrier.

14. A device as claimed in claim 2, said traversing device embodying a grooved roller adapted to take over and guide the traversing movement of the thread at the stroke reversal zones, said drive roller being behind said grooved roller, and said winding carrier being beneath and between said rollers, and thread feed guide members having guide bars parallel to the axis of said winding carrier and including means for guiding the thread in a path initially spaced from said rocker arm and its guide rod to a position below said winding carrier and then upwardly into said thread catching groove in the winding carrier and substantially simultaneously with the catching of said thread in said groove changing the thread path to one over said edge of said rocker arm and its associated guide rod as the thread tension increases upon beginning of the winding thereof on said carrier.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, said stop means including a locking lever with an engaging portion on it in order to engage with said rocker arm and to stop it in said rest position, means pivotally mounting said locking lever near to said rocker arm in such a way, that said lever is kept in engagement with said rocker arm by said yieldable means and that it is brought out of engagement with said rocker arm by the force of said thread, as it is caught in said catching groove.