US3927515A

US3927515A - Apparatus for producing wrapped yarns

Info

Publication number: US3927515A
Application number: US488809A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis B Northup; Donald R Hart
Original assignee: SPANCO IND Inc
Current assignee: SPANCO IND Inc
Priority date: 1972-08-11
Filing date: 1974-07-15
Publication date: 1975-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-23

Abstract

A wrapping machine for wrapping binder strands around core strands has spool-carrying hollow spindles thereof so mounted that each spindle is selectively movable between operative and inoperative positions. In the operative position of each spindle, a free end thereof is located closely adjacent delivery rolls for the core strand, and in the inoperative position, the spindle is so spaced away from the delivery rolls as to readily permit doffing and donning of spools over the free end of the spindle. Suction means communicates with the hollow spindles for facilitating the passage of the wrapped core strands therethrough.

Description

United States Patent [191 Northup et al. 1 Dec. 23, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAPPED 3.25l.l80 s/mee Klein 57/89 YARNS 3,328,946 7/l967 Schumann et a]. 57/l8 3,478,506 11/1969 Kawashima........... 57]! X Inventors: Francis B-Norlhumlhmld RJiart, 3,640,144 2/1972 57/89 x both of Sanford, NC. [73] Assignee: Spanco Industries, Inc, Sanford, Primary Watkins Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park 4;, & Gibson [22] Filed: July 15, 1974 [2]} Appl. No.: 488,809 [57] ABSTRACT M U A fi ati Data A wrapping machine for wrapping binder strands [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 279,944, Aug. 11, around core strands has spool-carrying hqnow spnidles 1971 Pat. No 3331369 thereof so mounted that each spindle lS selectively movable between operative and inoperative positions. 521 US. cl. 57/13; 57/89 Perative P each P a free end [5]] hm D026 3/28; D01 1/24] thereof is located closely adjacent delivery rolls for 5 M a Search 57,3 6, 18, 19, 34 R, the core strand, and in the inoperative position, the 57/52, 54, 5852, 59 78, 88, 39 1275, spindle is so spaced away from the delivery rolls as to 12737, 91, H2 [56, 160, 106! m8 readily permit dofiing and donning of spools over the free end of the spindle. Suction means communicates 5 was Cited with the hollow spindles for facilitating the passage of UNITED STATES PATENTS the wrapped core strands therethrough. 2,246,473 6/194! Stahlecker 57/89 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 28 (Oh (ol'l 62 20, 2st Q i Q Q Zla/ I 7| (020.: I E QJZPJ -I w U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,927,515

U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,927,515

5 M@ Ems APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAPPED YARNS This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 279,944, filed Aug. ll, I972, now US. Pat. No. 3,831,369 and entitled YARN STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

According to our said copending application, a core strand of substantially parallel untwistedstaple fibers is drafied through rolls of a drafting unit while a continuous binder strand is wrapped about the drafted core strand to form spaced-apart helices thereon, and the staple fibers of the drafted core strand are generally of a length sufficient to be engaged by the delivery rolls of the drafting unit and to extend therefrom while their leading ends are being wrapped by the binder strand so as to aid in maintaining integrity of the drafted core strand as the binder strand is being wrapped around the core strand.

It is well known to utilize yarn wrapping machines having rotating hollow spindles with spools of binder strand material carried thereon for helically wrapping the binder strand material around a core or body strand to form a composite yarn thereof. Generally, the spindles of known prior art wrapping machines have been supported on stationary mounting means or they have been so supported as to be moved a short distance inwardly and outwardly relative to a spindle driving belt so as to start and stop rotation of the spindle, as desired. In either event, prior art yarn wrapping machines have been constructed with the spindles thereon so located as to permit readily dofiing and donning the spools over the free ends of the spindles.

However, as indicated earlier herein, in the production of helically wrapped staple fiber yarns according to the method of our said copending application, the length of the staple fibers of the strand being drafted is such that the staple fibers are engaged by and extend from the delivery rolls of the drafting unit while their leading ends are being wrapped by the continuous binder strand. Since the wrapping of the binder strand about the drafled strand is effected immediately adjacent the free end of the spindle, the free end of the spindle is disposed closely adjacent the nip of the delivery rolls of the drafting unit such that the distance between such nip and the free end of the spindle is no more than the length of the staple fibers in the drafted strand. Thus, with the spindle occupying its normal operative position, the distance between the free end of the spindle and the delivery rolls of the drafiing unit is insufiicient to permit doffing and donning of spools of binder strand over the free end of the spindle.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for supporting hollow spindles, of the character described, in an operative position with their free ends closely adjacent the delivery rolls to facilitate directing respective drafted core strands into the hollow spindles for wrapping the core strands closely adjacent the delivery rolls, and wherein each such spindle is readily movable between the operative position and a predetermined inoperative position spaced away from the delivery rolls to readily permit doffing and donning of spools of binder strand over the free end of the spindles.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein means defining an airflow passageway, such as a suction tube, communicatively connects each hollow spindle to a 2 suitable source of suction for effecting an airflow through the spindle in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough to aid in leading the fibers of the drafted strand into the hollow spindle in an untwisted substantially parallel condition and to prevent waste material, such as lint, from accumulating therein. Preferably, the means defining each such airflow passageway is provided with an opening in one side thereof for passage of the wrapped yarn therethrough to a suitable yarn take up means.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation, partially in section, illustrating the apparatus of the present invention with the wrapping spindle occupying an operative position closely adjacent'the delivery rolls of a drafting unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through a representative embodiment of the wrapping spindle of FIG. I, but omitting the drafting unit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation looking at the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the righthand side of FIG. 3 showing a movable bracket of the spindle mounting means locked in operative position with the spindle body or blade occupying a substantially vertical, operative, position closely adjacent the nip of the delivery rolls of the drafting unit, but omitting the suction tube from the lower end portion of the spindle;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the spindle in the course of movement thereof toward the inoperative position from the operative position of FIG. 4, and wherein the spindle has been moved axially downwardly away from the delivery rolls to ensure that the outer delivery roll will not interfere with outward and inward movement of the spindle between fully inoperative and partially inoperative positions; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the spindle and the movable bracket of the spindle mounting means occupying fully inoperative positions in solid lines and wherein broken lines show portions of the spindle and spool occupying the positions of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, each of the views illustrates a single yarn forming station for forming a wrapped yarn. It is apparent, however, that the yarn wrapping or yarn covering machine includes a plurality of such yarn forming stations arranged in one or more substantially horizontal rows on either or both sides of the machine. In the illustrated yarn forming station a fibrous strand material is directed into and drafied through a suitable drafting unit 10 which is shown extending in a generally vertical position and is provided with a pair of delivery rolls 11 defining a nip therebetween for delivering therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers. The drafted strand then passes downwardly through a hollow spindle 20 to be later described. The fibrous strand material being fed into drafting unit 10 may be in the form of one or more fibrous strands serving as the core strand of the wrapped yarn Y being formed. Such fibrous strands may be termed as rovings," each of which is composed of substantially parallel, essentially untwisted, staple fibers. By way of example, two rovings R are illustrated in FIG. 3 as representing at least one core strand of staple fibers being fed into and delivered from drafting unit 10.

The hollow spindle 20 may be of conventional or any other desired construction capable of rotatably supporting a removable spool 30 of a binder strand 3] wound thereon and which is driven to rotate the spool 30 during the wrapping of the binder strand 31 around the fibrous strand in forming of the yarn Y. The binder strand 31 is wrapped about the drafted strand formed of the rovings R to form spaced-apart helices thereon, not shown, as the drafted strand in untwisted condition moves from the delivery rolls 11 downwardly through hollow spindle 20. A typically constructed spindle 20 is shown in FIG. 2 wherein it will be observed that the spindle comprises an elongate, tubular inner shank or spindle core 21 having a longitudinally extending or axially extending passageway 22 throughout the length thereof for guiding the drafted strand axially therethrough.

As shown, shank 21 does not rotate, although it is to be understood that a spindle of the type having a rotating core portion may be used, if desired. The major portion of the length of shank 21 is surrounded by a hollow body or spindle blade 24 of generally cylindrical form whose reduced upper free end terminates substantially flush with the free end of the shank 21 therewithin.

The body 24 is rotatably mounted on shank 21, as by means of suitable bearings 25. Suitable annular spool supporting elements 26, 26s are mounted in surrounding relation to body 24 for removably and frictionally supporting spool 30 thereon. It is preferred that spool 30 is of the flanged type as shown in the various views. It will be noted that the lower spool supporting element 26a is spaced a substantial distance from the lower end of the hollow body 24 of spindle 20 so that the lower portion of spindle body 24 defines a whorl 27. Whorl 27 is adapted to be engaged by a spindle driving means or member embodied in a driven belt 40 carried by the frame of the apparatus, portions of which frame are broadly designated at 50 and which may include an angle bar or girt51 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6. The drafting unit also is carried by frame 50.

It is preferred that belt 40 drives spindle body 24 and spool 30 in the same direction in which the binder strand 31 is wound on the spool 30; i.e., in the opposite direction from that in which the spool would rotate if a direct tangential pulling force were applied to the binder strand as it was being unwound from the spool. Such arrangement aids in maintaining the binder strand under desired tension during the yarn wrapping operation, and it also insures that the binder strand will be taken up on spool 30 in the event of breakage or other parting of the binder strand at a point between the package and the core strand or strands R.

According to the invention, novel spindle mounting means is carried by frame 50 and normally supports spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with driving belt 40 and with the free end of spindle 20 located closely adjacent the nip of the delivery rolls 11 of drafting unit 10 substantially as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 so that the drafted core strand R is wrapped closely adjacent the delivery rolls 11 as the core strand is being delivered from the delivery rolls directly into the hollow spindle 20. The spindle mounting means has means operatively associated therewith for selectively moving spindle 20 relative to the drafting unit 10, belt 40 and frame 50 between the operative rotating position of FIGS. 1-4 and a predetermined non-rotating inoperative position, such as that indicated in solid lines in FIG. 6, in which spindle whorl 27 is out of engagement with spindle driving belt 40 and the spindle 20 is spaced away from the delivery rolls 11 a suificient distance to readily permit doffing spool 30 over the free end of spindle 20 and donning another spool over the free end of spindle 20. Accordingly, the lower portion of a spindle base 28 (FIG. 2) extends through and is fixedly mounted on a laterally extending upper portion 61a of a first or movable bracket 61 carried by and guided for movement on a second or fixed bracket 62 suitably secured, as by screws 62a, to frame 50. The spindle base 28 may be secured in the lateral portion 61a of movable bracket 61 by means of a nut 28a (FIG. 2) threaded onto the reduced, threaded lower portion of base 28 and through which tubular shank 21 extends. The lower end of shank 21 may be secured in base 28 by a nut 21a threaded onto the lower end of shank 21.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first or movable bracket 61 is in the form of an angle bracket and, since spindle 20 normally occupies a substantially vertical operative position, the aforementioned lateral portion 610 of first bracket 61 normally occupies a substantially horizontal position and thereby serves as a substantially horizontal web portion of first bracket 61. Bracket 61 also includes a substantially vertical web portion or leg 61b guided against one face of a substantially vertical body or web portion 62b of second or fixed bracket 62 by a pair of substantially vertically spaced upper and lower guide members a, b (FIGS. 4-6). Guide members a, b are shown in the form of bolts having suitable washers thereon, but may be in the form of shoulder bolts or may take any other desired form.

The guide members a, b loosely penetrate respective vertically extending slots 0, d extending through the substantially vertical leg 61b of first bracket 61. Slots c, d serve as respective guideways permitting substantially axial or vertical movement of bracket 61 between the fully operative position of FIG. 4 and the intermediate or lowered position of FIG. 5. However, when bracket 61 is moved downwardly from the fully operative position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5, guide member b then is aligned with an angularly arranged slot extension e which extends upwardly and forwardly or outwardly at an angle when bracket 61 occupies its operative position of FIG. 4. Thus, the free upper end of spindle 20 is positioned so that the front or outer delivery roll 1 1 will not interfere with forward movement of spindle 20 to the solidline doffing or inoperative position of FIG. 6. Accordingly, the lower portion of bracket 61 then may be moved rearwardly or inwardly toward frame 50 as slot extension e is moved past the lower guide member b and as the upper portion of movable bracket 61 is caused to pivot about the substantially horizontal axis of upper guide member a, thus tilting bracket 61 and the spindle 20 thereon to the fully inoperative position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6.

In order to selectively move spindle 20 into and out of operative position; i.e., between the solid-line inoperative position of FIG. 6 and the operative position of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a manually movable lever means has a block 71 on its rear or inner end which is pivotally mounted on movabie bracket 61, as at f, for selective movement between respective operative and inoperative positions in which bracket 61 and and spindle 20 also occupy their respective operative and inoperative positions. Lever means 70 serves as a handle and, when it occupies the raised or substantially horizontal position of FIG. 4, it then occupies operative position. On the other hand, when lever means 70 occupies the lowered or downwardly and outwardly inclined position of FIG. 6, lever means 70 then occupies the inoperative position. The lever means 70 is a part of a toggle means or bell crank means as will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The pivot point f for block 71 is positioned so as to permit pivoting of lever means 70 and block 71 about a substantially horizontal axis on the front or outer portion of the substantially vertical web portion 61b of movable bracket 61. In order to lock movable bracket 61 in the operative position of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the upper portion of block 71 may engage an abutment 3 when a downwardly projecting portion or adjustable abutment 73 on the lower portion of block 71 is positioned forwardly or outwardly of dead center or outwardly of the center of gravity of spindle 20 and movable bracket 61 with respect to the axis f of block 71, with abutment 70 in engagement with a laterally projecting lower portion h of fixed bracket 61. It will be noted that the laterally projecting lower portion h of bracket 62 serves as a slide surface for the lower end of adjustable abutment 73 during pivotal movement of lever means 70 and block 71 about pivot point f. If desired, a suitable spring 75 may be provided between lever means 70 and bracket 62 to aid in holding the block 71 in the locked position shown in FIG. 4.

When an operator moves the lever means 70 downwardly in opposition to spring 75, the lower end of adjustable abutment 73 is moved rearwardly relative to pivot point f, thus permitting pivot point f to move downwardly, to in turn, permit movable bracket 61 to move downwardly relative to guide members a, b, fixed bracket 62 and frame 50. Thus, spindle 20 and the spool 30 thereon are moved generally axially and downwardly away from the nip of delivery rolls 11 until the slot extension e is aligned with lower guide member b. It is preferred that the lower edge of the substantially vertical web portion 61b of movable bracket 61 is of irregular configuration, substantially as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 so that, upon the downward movement of the bracket 61 being such as to align the slot extension e with lower guide member b, the lowermost edge portion of movable bracket 61 will rest upon the laterally projecting lower portion 11 of fixed bracket 62.

Thereupon, the operator may apply a rearward force to lever means 70 to move the lower portion of movable bracket 61 rearwardly to the fully inoperative position of FIG. 6 with spindle 20 and the spool 30 thereon then occupying the inclined or outwardly tilted inoperative position shown in FIG. 6 and with the inclined lower rear edge portion of bracket 61 engaging the rear wall of fixed bracket 62. Spindle 20 then is positioned so that the spool 30 may be doffed over the free end of the spindle and another spool may be donned over the free end of the spindle. It is apparent that, after the new spool has been positioned on spindle 20, the operator may simply return lever means 70 to the position of FIG. 4 to return spindle 20 and its new spool to the fully operative position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

As preferred, the drafting unit extends in a substantially vertical position 10 (see FIG. 1) such that the rovings R move downwardly in a steep or substantially vertical path as they are being drafted and as they emerge from the nip of delivery rolls 11. Also, for reasons noted earlier herein, it is preferred that the free end of spindle 20 be positioned closely adjacent the nip of delivery rolls 11 during production of the wrapped yarn. Desirably, it has been determined that the free upper end of spindle 20 should be so positioned relative to delivery rolls 1 1 that it is intersected by an imaginary line extending tangentially across the delivery rolls 11 beyond the nip of the delivery rolls during operation of the yarn wrapping apparatus. Thus, in association with the drafting unit 10 as illustrated, the free upper end of spindle blade 24 is positioned in the area between the diverging lower surface portions of delivery rolls 11 with such free upper end of spindle blade 24 thus being intersected by an imaginary line extending tangentially across the lower surfaces of the delivery rolls when spindle 20 and bracket 61 occupy the fully operative position of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. It can be appreciated, therefore, that it is desirable to be able to lower spindle 20 substantially parallel to its axis from the fully operative position to the intermediate position of FIG. 5, in the manner heretofore described, before tilting spindle 20 outwardly to the fully inoperative or dofling position of FIG. 6, thus insuring that the outermost delivery roll 11 will not interfere with the outward and inward tilting movements of spindle 20.

As indicated above and in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, as the strand or strands R of staple fibers emerge from delivery rolls 11, such strands pass directly from delivery rolls 11 to the upper free end of spindle 20 and into the passageway 22 (FIG. 2) through spindle 20 as the binder strand 31 from spool 30 is being wrapped around strands R closely adjacent delivery rolls 1 1. To aid in leading of the fibers of strands R into spindle passageway 22 in untwisted substantially parallel condition, and to also prevent fiber waste liberated from the yarn being fonned and any other waste material, such as lint, from accumulating in passageway 22, means are provided for inducing a suction airflow into the upper end of spindle passageway 22 and along the length thereof in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough. It is apparent that the suction airflow induced along spindle passageway 22 prevents waste material from accumulating in the passageway 22 and thus prevents such waste material from interfering with passage of the wrapped yarn Y through spindle 20. Such suction airflow also aids in threading the strands R, 31 through passageway 22 during piecing-up operations as will be later described.

Accord g y. as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a suction tube or conduit 80, defining an airflow passageway, is suitably removably secured to the base 28 of spindle 20 in encircling relation to and in communication with the lower end portion of shank 21 and thus is in communication with the lower end of yarn passageway 22. Suction tube extends downwardly from spindle base 28 and is connected to a suitable source of suction shown schematically at 81 in FIG. 1 and also serving as a waste collection device. Thus, a continuous suction airflow is induced along the passageway 22 of spindle 20 in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough. Since the yarn wrapping machine is equipped with a plurality of yarn forming stations, it is apparent that the source of suction and waste collection device 81 may be common to all of the yarn forming stations of the machine; i.e., suction tubes 80 of all the yarn forming stations of the yarn wrapping machine may be communicatively connected to the common source of suction and waste collection device 81.

It is preferred that suction tube 80 is of a flexible, translucent or transparent synthetic plastic material so that it may be easily formed to curve downwardly and inwardly as best shown in FIG. 1, and so that a portion of the wall of suction tube 80 may intersect the plane of the axis of spindle for convenient passage of the wrapped yarn from spindle 20 through the wall of suction tube 80. it will be observed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 that the lower portion of the wall of suction tube 80 is provided with an eyelet or egress opening 83 therethrough for egress of the wrapped yarn Y from shank 21 through the lower side of suction tube 80, from whence the yarn may be taken up on a suitable take-up means indicated schematically at 85 in FIG. 1.

Although suction tube 80 may be of other construction, it preferably is formed of a flexible, translucent or transparent material, as indicated above, so that the movement of movable bracket 61 relative to stationary bracket 62 and frame 50, between the operative position of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the inoperative or doffing position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, will not fracture the tube 80, and the tube 80 will not hinder such movement to any substantial extent. It has been determined that the continuous airflow along passageway 22 facilitates the piecing-up of a broken end of yarn, since the parted strands R, 31 need only be positioned adjacent the open end of the passageway 22 communicating with the free end of spindle 20 and the free ends of the strands then will be drawn along the passageway 22 by suction. Any suitable implement, such as a barbed rod or a typical pipe cleaner, may be inserted through the egress opening 83 in suction tube 80 by an operator for ensnaring the yarn as it is being initially directed along the passageway 22 in spindle 20, and such implement then may be withdrawn through egress opening 83 to pull the yarn with it and thus thread the yarn through the opening 83 for subsequent connection with the take-up means 85.

it is thus seen that we have provided an improved apparatus for producing wrapped yarns in which the spool-carrying hollow spindle of each yam forming station of a yarn wrapping machine normally occupies an operative rotating position in engagement with a driving member and with a free end of the spindle located closely adjacent a pair of delivery rolls to facilitate directing a core strand from the delivery rolls through the hollow spindle and also to facilitate the wrapping of a binder strand from the spool around the core strand adjacent the delivery rolls, and wherein the hollow spindle is so mounted as to be moved selectively between the aforementioned operative position and an inoperative non-rotating position in which the spindle is spaced from the driving member and so spaced away from the delivery rolls 3 to readily permit the doffing and donning of spools over the free end of the spindle. it is seen further that we have provided means defining an airflow passageway for communicatively connecting the spindle to a source of suction to induce an airflow along an axial y in the hollow spindle in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough for aiding in directing the core strand into the spindle passageway and to prevent waste material, such as lint, from accumulating in the spindle passageway and ingtlerfering with passage of the wrapped yarn there- In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claiamed is:

1. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped staple fiber yarns comprising a frame, a drafting unit carried by said frame and having a pair of delivery rolls defining a nip therebetween for delivering therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers, a rotatable spindle having a free end and also having an axially extending passageway therethrough communicating with said free end for guiding the drafted strand through the spindle, a driving belt for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the drafted strand being delivered to the spindle by the delivery rolls, spindle mounting means carried by said frame and normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving belt and with the free end of said spindle located closely adjacent the nip of said delivery rolls for facilitating directing the drafted strand through said spindle passageway and for wrapping the drafted strand closely adjacent the delivery rolls, and means operatively associated with said mounting means to selectively move said spindle relative to said delivery rolls and between said predetermined operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced away from said driving belt and away from the delivery rolls to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively associated with said spindle mounting means includes means for moving said spindle out of said predetermined operative mam; position in a direction generally axially of said spindle and away from said delivery rolls and then outwardly generally laterally of the axis of said spindle during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative non-rotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively associated with said spindle mounting means includes means for moving said spindle out of said predetermined operative rotating position in a direction generally axially of said spindle and away from said delivery rolls and then ,outwardly with the free end of said spindle moving in a generally arcuate path and generally laterally of the axis of said spindle during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative non-rotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spindle mounting means compr'ues a movable bracket normally supporting the spindle in said operative rotating position, said means operatively associated with said mounting means comprising movable lever means operatively connected to said bracket and selectively movable in opposite directions in alternation between operative and inoperative positions, means on said bracket and cooperating with said lever means for normally locking said bracket so that said spindle occupies said operative rotating position thereof while said lever means occupies its operative position, and means responsive to movement of said lever means from its 9 operative position to its inoperative position for moving said bracket so that said spindle and the spool thereon move generally axially away from said delivery rolls and then outwardly away from said delivery rolls to facilitate the clotting and the donning of spools over the free end of the spindle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means defining an airflow passageway communicatively connecting said spindle to a source of suction and arranged to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough for aiding in directing the staple fibers of the drafted strand from the delivery rolls into the spindle passageway in an untwisted generally parallel condition during the wrapping of the drafted strand.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including takeup means for taking up the yarn being formed and emerging from said spindle passageway remote from said spindle free end, and said means defining said airflow passageway being connected to the end of said spindle remote from said free end thereof and having an egress opening therein arranged for passage therethrough of the yarn in its course from said spindle to said take-up means.

7. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped staple fiber yarns comprising a frame, a pair of delivery rolls carried by said frame and adapted to deliver therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers, a rotatable spindle having a free end and also having an axially extending passageway therethrough communicating with said free end for guiding the drafted strand through the spindle, a driving member for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the drafted strand being delivered to the spindle by the delivery rolls, spindle mounting means carried by said frame and normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving member and with the free end of said spindle located adjacent the nip of said delivery rolls for facilitating directing the drafted strand through said spindle passageway and for wrapping the drafted strand adjacent the delivery rolls, means communicatively connecting said spindle passageway to a source of suction to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough for aiding in directing the staple fibers of the drafted strand into said spindle passageway during the wrapping of the drafted strand, and means operatively associated with said mounting means to selectively move said spindle relative to said delivery rolls and between said predetermined operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced away from said driving member and away from the delivery rolls to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle.

8. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped staple fiber yarn comprising a frame, a pair of delivery rolls carried by said frame and defining a nip therebetween adapted to deliver therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers, a rotatable spindle having a free end and also having an axially extending passageway therethrough oommunicating with said free end for guiding the drafted strand through the spindle, a driving memher for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the drafted strand being delivered to the spindle by the delivery rolls, spindle mounting means carried by said frame and normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving member and with the free end of said spindle being intersected by an imaginary line extending tangentially across the delivery rolls beyond the nip thereof for facilitating directing the drafted strand through said spindle passageway and for wrapping the drafted strand closely adjacent the delivery rolls, and means operatively associated with said mounting means to selectively move said spindle relative to said delivery rolls and between said predetermined operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced away from said driving member and away from the delivery rolls to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, including means communicatively connecting said spindle passageway to a source of suction to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough for aiding in directing the staple fibers of the drafted strand into the spindle passageway during the wrapping of the drafted strand.

10. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped staple fiber yarns comprising a frame, a drafting unit carried by said frame and having a pair of substantially horizontal delivery rolls defining a nip therebetween for delivering therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers, a rotatable spindle below said delivery rolls and having a free upper end, said spindle also having an axially extending passageway therethrough communicating with said free end for guiding the drafted strand from said delivery rolls downwardly through the spindle, a driving belt for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the drafted strand being delivered to the spindle by the delivery rolls, spindle mounting means carried by said frame and normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined, substantially vertical, operative rotating position in engagement with said driving belt and with the free upper end of said spindle positioned between the lower portions of said delivery rolls with the free upper end of the spindle being intersected by an imaginary line extending tangentially across the lower surfaces of the delivery rolls, said thus positioned free upper end of said spindle facilitating directing the drafted strand through said spindle passageway and the wrapping of the drafted strand closely adjacent the delivery rolls, and means operatively associated with said mounting means for moving said spindle downwardly and outwardly away from said delivery rolls and to a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced away from said driving belt and away from the delivery rolls to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means operatively associated with said mounting means is arranged to move said spindle downwardly substantially parallel to its axis and then to move said spindle outwardly generally laterally of the spindle axis during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative nonrotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, including means defining an airflow passageway communicatively connecting said spindle to a source of suction and arranged to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough for aiding in directing the staple fibers of the drafted strand from the delivery rolls into the spindle passageway in an untwisted generally parallel condition during the wrapping of the drafted strand.

13. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped yams comprising a rotatable spindle having a free end and an axial passageway therethrough communicating with said free end and adapted to guide a core strand from a source of core strand material through the spindle, delivery rolls adapted to deliver the core strand from said source to said spindle, a driving member for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the core strand in its course from said source 12 into the free end of said spindle, spindle mounting means normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving member and with the free end of said spindle located adjacent said delivery rolls, said mounting means being movable between said operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced from said driving member and so spaced away from said delivery rolls as to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle for replenishing the binder strand, and means defining an airflow passageway connecting said spindle passageway to a source of suction to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough to prevent waste material, such as lint, from accumulating in said spindle passageway and interfering with passage of the wrapped yarn therethrough.

Claims

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively associated with said spindle mounting means includes means for moving said spindle out of said predetermined operative rotating position in a direction generally axially of said spindle and away from said delivery rolls and then outwardly generally laterally of the axis of said spindle during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative non-rotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively associated with said spindle mounting means includes means for moving said spindle out of said predetermined operative rotating position in a direction generally axially of said spindle and away from said delivery rolls and then outwardly with the free end of said spindle moving in a generally arcuate path and generally laterally of the axis of said spindle during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative non-rotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spindle mounting means comprises a movable bracket normally supporting the spindle in said operative rotating position, said means operatively associated with said mounting means comprising movable lever means operatively connected to said bracket and selectively movable in opposite directions in alternation between operative and inoperative positions, means on said bracket and cooperating with said lever means for normally locking said bracket so that said spindle occupies said operative rotating position thereof while said lever means occupies its operative position, and means responsive to movement of said lever means from its operative position to its inoperative position for moving said bracket so that said spindle and the spool thereon move generally axially away from said delivery rolls and then outwardly away from said delivery rolls to facilitate the doffing and the donning of spools over the free end of the spindle.

8. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped staple fiber yarn comprising a frame, a pair of delivery rolls carried by said frame and defining a nip therebetween adapted to deliver therefrom at least one drafted strand of staple fibers, a rotatable spindle having a free end and also having an axially extending passageway therethrough communicating with said free end for guiding the drafted strand through the spindle, a driving member for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the drafted strand being delivered to the spindle by the delivery rolls, spindle mounting means carried by said frame and normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving member and with the free end of said spindle being intersected by an imaginary line extending tangentially across the delivery rolls beyond the nip thereof for facilitating directing the drafted strand through said spindle passageway and for wrapping the drafted strand closely adjacent the delivery rolls, and means operatively associated with said mounting means to selectively move said spindle relative to said delivery rolls and between said predetermined operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced away from said driving member and away from the delivery rolls to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means operatively associated with said mounting means is arranged to move said spindle downwardly substantially parallel to its axis and then to move said spindle outwardly generally laterally of the spindle axis during each movement of said spindle to said predetermined inoperative non-rotating position from said predetermined operative rotating position.

13. Apparatus for producing helically wrapped yarns comprising a rotatable spindle having a free end and an axial passageway therethrough communicating with said free end and adapted to guide a core strand from a source of core strand material through the spindle, delivery rolls adapted to deliver the core strand from said source to said spindle, a driving member for rotating said spindle, said spindle being adapted to receive thereon for rotation therewith a spool having a binder strand wound thereon for wrapping the binder strand around the core strand in its course from said source into the free end of said spindle, spindle mounting means normally supporting said spindle in a predetermined operative rotating position in engagement with said driving member and with the free end of said spindle located adjacent said delivery rolls, said mounting means being movable between said operative rotating position and a predetermined inoperative non-rotating position in which said spindle is spaced from said driving member and so spaced away from said delivery rolls as to permit doffing and donning spools over the free end of the spindle for replenishing the binder strand, and means defining an airflow passageway connecting said spindle passageway to a source of suction to induce an airflow along the spindle passageway in the direction of movement of the wrapped yarn therethrough to prevent waste material, such as lint, from accumulating in said spindle passageway and interfering with passage of the wrapped yarn therethrough.