USRE21967E

USRE21967E - Process and apparatus for handling

Info

Publication number: USRE21967E
Authority: US
Publication date: 1941-12-02

Description

Dec. 2, 1941. v F. J. ToslA H Re. 21,967

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELASTIC FILAMENTS Orizihal Filed Aug. 14, 1957 IN ram/role I ORNEYS ieiuued Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELASTIC FILAMENTS Fred J. Tobias, Ridgewood, N. Y., asslgnor to Filatex Corporation, Trenton, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Original No. 2,199,550, dated May 7, 1940, Serial No. 159,051, August 14, 1937. Application for reissue May 5, 1941, Serial No. 392,011

14 Claims.

The invention relates in general to the handling of elastic filamentary bodies and in particular to a process of rewinding covered and uncovered elastic rubber yarns and threads and to correlated improvements designed to enhance the properties andusefulness of such yarns and threads.

In the heretofore practiced methods of manufacturing and handling packages of rubber like elastic filamentary bodies such as bare rubber filaments and filaments in the form of covered elastic yarns, non-uniformity in tension throughout a given length of such filamentary bodies has invariably resulted. .Such non-uniformity of tension of the packages has given rise to many serious difllculti'es both in the covering of rubber filaments and in the fabrication of various structures from the resultant covered yarns. In the process of producing elastic yarns comprising a rubber core and a covering of textile thread, the

rubber core is usually passed through the cover-' ing machine in a stretched condition, the degree of stretch being lnitiallyadjusted before starting of the machine. Due to the non-uniform tension in the rubber filaments introduced into the covering machine, the degree of stretch is automatically varied, thus yielding a nonuniform covered elastic yarn.

In the winding and rewinding of covered elastic yarns according to the hitherto known practices, the yarn has been transferred from one package to another under tension and with a relatively short span between the packages so that any non-uniformity in tension present in the yarn of the first package was maintained and transmitted by the yarn into thesecond package. This non-uniformity in tension within the yarn package gave rise to seriousdiiliculties in knitting and weaving operations as the structure produced was characterized by having portions undergreater tension than other portions which tended to yield a wavy fabric which would not lie fiat.

In the winding up and rewinding of covered yarn into a package on a revolving supporting core such, for example, as a spool, cop, cone, bottle or the like, by withdrawing the yarnover one end of a supply spool, cop, bottle or. the like, held in a stationary position. During such a rewinding process, a twist is imparted to the yarn on the newly lormed package which. cannot be eliminated except by twisting the yarn in the opposite direction. A yarn having such a twist is known in the art as an "oil-balanced" yarn,

elastic yarns, it has been customary to wind the i the condition of which does not change during subsequent rewinding operations. In the weaving and knitting of fabrics, oil-balanced elastic yarns have proved to be useless as the kinks and knots which develop in the yarn catch in the knitting needles or shuttles causing breaks and producing unsightly spots in the fabric.

The general object of the invention is to obviate the foregoing and other disadvantages.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing a yarn package in which the yarn is balanced and under substantially uniform longitudinal tension.

A specific object is to provide a process where'- by the tension in a rubber filament is continuously and consistently removed prior to passing the filament for use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for eliminating the usual off-balance developed in a covered elastic yarn during rewinding.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

According to the invention, a balanced elastic yarn package is produced by continuously unwinding an elastic yarn from a' yarn package in which the yarn is wound under more or less tension, relaxing the yarn. and rewinding the relaxed yarn under a uniform tension into a second yarn package. The expression yarn as used in the specification and claims is intended to into the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic .view in side elevation. of one embodiment of the apparatus 01' the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and v Fig. 3 shows in an enlarged top view, the drawing rollers shown in Fig. 1.

' winding and advanced by suitable means such as cooperating drawing rollers ll-M and later used as by being formed into a second yarn package by winding upon a core l6, such as a cop, bottle, cone, bobbin or the like when other use, such as fabrication of various structures as previously mentioned, is to be deferred until some later time. A free hanging loop I6 i maintained in the filament between the withdrawing means and the point of use. The yarn in the loop 16 relanes and, since the weight of the yarn is negligible, it is in an untensioned condition throughout the zone formed by the loop. Relaxation of the yarn takes place without any tendency on the part of the yarn to twist. Since the rotating speed of the cop l normally remains constant the size of the loop It tends to decrease due to the gradual increase in the diameter of the second yarn package durlng rewinding. This effect may be prevented by employing for the with drawing means a pair of conical rollers provided with a cooperating guide I! which is caused during operation to move the thread from the small end to the large end of the drawing rollers, thus gradually increasing the feeding speed of the yarn to compensate for the increased rewinding rate. With this latter arrangement it is obvious that the drawing and winding speeds may be correlated to maintain the size of the loop I6 sub stantially constant or within certain suitable limits during operation. The traverse means It maybe provided with suitable guide means I9 for delivering the yarn to the core IS, the tensioning device IB-being employed to restrict the advance of the yarn and thereby control the winding tension.'

One of-the unwinding rollers l4--l4 and the rewind-supportfor the core l5 may be mounted upon the same shaft A and thus be driven by a common drive wheel D. Preferably the unwinding and rewinding means are mounted upon sep- 'arate shafts and are independently driven but itis to be understood that the unwinding and rewinding means are in simultaneous operation and co-function to produce the balanced yarn package of the invention.

Another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is shown in Fig. 2 wherein a yarn pack age on'a support, for example, in the form-of a bobbin, cop or spool I provided with braking means i3 is rotatably mounted so that the yarn I! may be withdrawn therefrom by means of cooperating drawing rollers l4'l4'. The yarn I 2 is delivered in a relaxed state to a receptacle 2| which is preferably in the form of a tapering tube. The yarn is caused to fall freely within the receptacle to form a plurality of folds or loops- 22. The relaxed yarn is withdrawn from the other end of the tube around a guide rod or roller 23 and formed into a yarn package by winding upon a core l5 such, for example, as a cop, .spool, bottle or the like'havin'g a suitable guide means II cooperating therewith.

The uniform tension under which the yarn is wound upon the,core It may be controlledby a suitable guiding or tensioning means I9 mounted on the guide'means and/or by tensioning means .10. The drawing rollers l'4'-ll' may be of the type shown in Fig. 3, or they may be cylindrical,

for the differences in the rates of feeding and I winding.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a top view of a pair of conical drawing rollers M-M which are journaled at their small ends in adouble bearing 24. At their large ends, the rollers l4-|4 are provided with bevel gears 25-25 which intermesh with each other, one of which may be driven by suitable means (not shown).

While the invention has been described broadly withrespect to the rewinding of a yarn package, it is within the purview of the invention to carry out a suitable operation between the first and second yarn packages, for example, the operation of covering a rubber core. A conventional covering unit may be interposed in the apparatus shown at any suitable point in the right hand arm of the U-shaped loop. Such a covering unit has been diagrammatically illustrated at 26 and will usually comprise one or more rotatable spindles for applying a suitable covering to the core. In such an arrangement, the rubber filament will be continuously supplied to the covering machine while in a uniform state of tension throughout.

While only single units of the apparatus of the invention have been shown, it is contemplated to provide apparatus composed of a plurality of units disposed adjacent one another whereby'the various operating elements may derive their motive power from a common source.

The elastic yarn in the package obtained 'by' the winding process of the invention is characterized by being substantially completely balanced throughout its length as to tension and twist and'is therefore admirably suited for direct use in the fabrication of textile material without the necessity of rewinding, balancing or other-- 1. A process of rewinding rubber-like elastic I yarn which comprises unwinding a tensioned rubber=-like elastic yarn from a package thereof,

. delivering the yarn to a receptacle in which it is permittedto assume a relaxed state, withdrawing the yarn and rewinding the relaxed yarn under a uniform tension to form a package of balanced yarn. 2. A process of rewinding rubber-like elastic yarn which comprises continuously unwinding a tensloned rubber-like elastic yarn from a package thereof, deliverlhg the yarn to one end of a.rev ceptacle in which it is permitted-to assume a re laxed state, continuously withdrawing yarn from the opposite end-of the receptacle and rewinding the relaxed yarn under uniform tension.

3. Apparatus for handling covered rubber-like elastic yarn which comprises positively driven means for continuously unwinding tensioned elastic yarn from a package thereof, means-for j winding the yarn into a package, means for mainpermitted to assume a relaxed state, means for continuously withdrawing the yarn from the receptacle andv for winding it into a package of substantially uniformly tensioned yarn.

5. A method 01' winding a rubber-like elastic filamentary body in final package form. which consists in unwindingthe elastic filamentary body under tension from a previously formed package, maintaining a zone of said elastic filamentary body between said previously formed package and the final package and also continuously maintaining said elastic filamentary body substantially relaxed insaid zone; and continuously Ieeding said elastic filamentary body from said zone to said final package under a substantially uniform tension.

6. A process of handling rubber-like elastic is maintained in advance of thefilament tension-- positively driven means for removing the filament from the winding. means for tensioning and advancing the filament, the speeds of operation of the means for removing the filament from the winding and the means for tensioning andadvancing the filamentbeing so correlated that a freely suspended loop, in which the filament exists in a substantially relaxed condition.

ing means, and means for applying a covering to the filament while it is maintained under tension.-

10. A process for handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprises removing a tensioned rubber-like elastic filament from its support, passfilaments which comprises removing a tensioned rubber-like elastic filament irom its support. passing the filament so removed through a zone in which it is permitted to assume a substantially relaxed condition, passing the filament lromsaid zone and subjecting it to a tensioning operation. and winding the filament while under tension.

7. A process of handling rubber-like elastic filamentsgwhich comprises removing a tensioned. rubber-like elastic filament from its support, passing the filament so removed through a zone in which it is permitted to assume a substantially relaxed condition, passing thefilament from said zone and subjecting it to a tensioning operation, applying a covering to the filament while under tension, and winding the covered filament.

tially relaxed condition ahead oi the means for restricting the advance or the filament.

9. an apparatus for handling rubber-like elastic filaments comprising means for supporting a winding of tensioned rubber-like elastic filament,

ing the filament so removed through a zone in which it is consistently permitted to assume a substantially relaxed condition, passing the filament from said zone in a substantially uniform state of tension,.-and winding the filament while so tensioned.

11. A procem for handling rubber-like elastic filamentswhich comprises a tensionedrubber-like elastic filament from its support. passing the filament so removed through a zone within which the filament at all times of operaticn is permitted to assume a substantially un- I tensioned condition, passing the filament from said zone and thereafter tensioning the filament, and. utilizing the filament while it is tensioned.

12. A process for handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprises unwinding a rubberlike elastic filament from its support, passing the filament so removed through a zone within which the filament at all times of operation is permitted to assume an unstretched condition, and passing the filament from said zone to a point o! use.

13. A process of handling rubber-like elastic filaments which comprises removing a tensioned rubber-like elastic filament from its support, passing the filament so removed through a zone inwhich itiscausedtoassumeasubstantially untensi'oned condition, passing the filament from said zone and subjecting it to a operation, applying a covering to thefilament while under tension, and winding the covered filament.

14. An apparatus for handling rubber-like elasticfliaments comprising means for supporting a I winding of tensioned rubber-like elastic filament,

positively driven means for removing the filament from the winding. means for tensioning and advancing the filament, the speeds of operation ofthemeans for removing flaefilament from the windingand the means for tensioning and ad vancingthefilamentbeing socorrelatedthata suspended loop, inwhich the filament exists in a substantially untensloned condition, is maintained in advance oi the filament tensioning means, and means for applying a covering to the filament while it is maintained under tension.

HtID J. 'IOBIAB.