Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGRoUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to high
speed winding of filamentary material onto bobbins or
spools to form packages of filamentary material. More
particularly, it relates to the handling of man-made fila-
ment yarn (continuously fed at say 100 mph) during removal
of a full package (sidewound, crosswound yarn on a tube)
and transfer of the continuously fed filament yarn onto an
empty, rotating, flangeless tube, after which a furtiher yarn
package is formed.
The manufacture of man-made or synthetic filament
yarns is typically achieved by extruding a molten polymer,
such as polyester, polyamide, étc., through hole(s) in a
spinneret and then cooling the filamentts) thus formed.
Thereafter, the filaments may be gathered together to form
a multi-filament yarn and, possibly after further treatment,
are wound onto a tube so that a yarn package is formed.
Winding of the yarn is performed mechanically by winders
which rotate one or more packages to wind-up the yarn while
traversing the yarn along the package axis to achieve a uniform
thickness of yarn being wound.
A doffing/donning operation (i.e., replacement of the
yarn packages with empty tubes on the winder) is often performed
manually by an operator who (i) severs the yarn, ~ii) stops
the rotary drive to the packages; (iii~ replaces the packages
with empty tubes; (iv) re~establishes the rotary drive; and
~ )
`` 31,.~t~
.' ,.
(v) rethreads the yarn onto the empty tubes. Severing
of the filamentary yarn is typically performed with scissors
while the inlet of a suction or aspirator gun is held against
the yarn at a location above the point of severing. Once
the yarn is severed, the tail end is wound onto the yarn
package, while the newly formed leading end is sucked into
the aspirator and fed to a waste collector. The suction gun
is then placed onto a holder while the yarn packages are being
replaced by empty tubes~ When the empty tubes attain full
speed, the operator manipulates the suction gun to attach
the yarn to the rotating tubes so that this winding operation
may begin.
In order to economize such winding operations, it
has heretofore been proposed to mechanize the doffing and
donning operations to a certain extent by providing a mechanism
which automatically severs, aspirates and rethreads the yarn.
Exemplary of proposed mechanisms of that type are the dis-
closures in U. S. Patent 4,023,741 issued to Schar on May 17,
1977; U. S. Patent 4,052,017 issued to Schar on October 4,
1977; and U. S. Patent No. 4,108,388 issued to Schar on
August 22, 1978.
In the afore-mentioned U. S. Patent 4,023,741, a
mechanism is disclosed in which a cutter and aspirator are
carried at the end of a reciprocable carrier arm. The carrier
arm is extendable toward a pair of traveling yarns in a direc-
tion parallel to the yarn package axis such that the cutter
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l-- )
/~
sequentially severs the yarns and the aspirator exhausts
same to waste while the packayes are being removed. A
pair of holders are arranged to capture the cut filaments
being sent to waste. The carrier arm and the holders are
rotatable downwardly together to a location on the opposite
side of the winders (i.e., the cutter, aspirator, and holders
travel through a vertical plane containing the bobbin axis)
to thread the yarn onto the empty tubes. It will be appre-
ciated that by requiring that the cutter and aspirator travel
downwardly with the yarn holders, a more complicated mechanism
results. Also, by moving the yarn holders through the vertical
plane containing the yarn package axis, it is necessary to
provide extra guides above the winder to engage and properly
orient the yarns during the rethreading procedure. Crossing
of the vertical plane also complicates the return of the
holders to the upper position because care must be taken to
avoid contact of the holders with the rethreaded yarns as
the holders pass through the plane of the yarns. Also, the
particular path assumed by the yarn holders appears to for~-
close any chance that the yarns can be threaded into tailing
guides which are commonly employed on yarn winders between the
level of the yarn package axis and the level of the yarn
traverse guide.
A particular type of cutter mechanism is disclosed
in the afore-mentioned ~. S. Patent 4,108,388. That cutter
mechanism includes a pair of superimposed cutter blades which
-- 3 --
are relatively movable. The blades include alignable slots
which open to the side to admit a yarn directed toward the
slot by cam surfaces àt the front of the blades. After a
yarn enters the slot, it becomes pinched between the rela-
tively moving blades and is severed. It will be appreciated
that the side-wise entry direction of the slot demands that
a relatively precise alignment occur between the cutter and
the yarns to assure that the yarns contact the front cam
surface. Also, unless the relative movement between the
cutter blades is very rapid, an inadequate cutting action
may result because the filaments begin to slacken i~mediately
upon being pinched between the relatively moving blades.
Although it has been heretofore proposed to provide
a yarn cutter with scissors-type blades, thereby defining
a forwardly open slot, there may not be means for capturing
the filaments within the slot. Such a deficiency would not
be desirable in cases where the yarn is being traversed and
thus may be traveling in a direction away from the cutter at
the instances when the blades close, i.e., the filaments may
exit the cutter without being cut.
Even in the absence of automatic severing and aspirating,
i.e~, where a manually operable aspirator "gun" is employed,
difficulties can be encountered in "capturing" a yarn for
severing, especially when the yarn is located an arm's length
or more away from the operator. For example, as is the case
-- 4 --
in one previously proposed aspirator gun a 510t opens in a
direction perpendicular to the s~lction tube. Thus, it iS
necessary for the operator to guess when the slot and yarns are
aligned in order to capture the yarnsO This can be a slightly
difficult procedure, involving undesirable delays (e.g., see
U. S. Patent 3,175,290 issued to Bunting, Jr., et al on March
30, 1965~.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides automatic filamentary
yarn handling apparatus for use with a filamentary yarn winder
of the type comprising a yarn package support, and means for
rotating at least one package about an axis oE said support to
wind~up at least one filamentary yarn continuously fed alony a
yarn path toward the winder, said yarn handling apparatus com-
prising: gathering means upstream of said package's rotary axis
for displacement from a rest position toward the path of travel
of the yarn, said gathering means including: cutter means for
severing said yarn as said gathering means is displaced toward
said yarn's path of travel, suction means including an inlet
disposed adjacent said cutter means for continuously drawing-in
said yarn after severing has occurred, yarn transfer means,
including at least one guide associated with said yarn being
transferred, mounted for movement relative to said gathering
means between spaced positions, said guide being arranged to
engage said yarn upon said gathering means returning to its
rest position with the severed yarns, and displacement means
for: moving said transfer means relative to said gathering
means with the yarn remaining engaged with said guide, and
moving said guide toward the package axis duriny a yarn
rethreading sequence.
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Other advantageous features of the invention will
become apparent from the ensuing disclosure of a preEerred
embodiment thereoE. For example, the gathering head is suited
for mounting on a hand-held yarn cutter/asp:irator which is
manually manipulated by the operator.
THE DRAWINGS
The advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodi-
ment thereof, in connection with the accompanying drawirlg~ in
which like numerals designate like elements, and in which
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the yarn
handling apparatus oE the present invention mounted on a con-
ventional yarn winder;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a drive mecha-
nism for the yarn transfer portion of the apparatus, with a
side portion of the frame removed to expose the components;
,~-
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus
disclosed in Figure 1 as a package winding sequence precedes;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 depicting a
first step of the doffing sequence in which the yarns have
been cut and asp.irated and a drive head of the winder is
ascending;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 depicting a
subsequent step in the doffing sequence wherein the drive
unit has released a carriage portion of the yarn handling
apparatus to enable guide arms of the latter to be swung into
operational position;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 depicting a
subsequent step in the doffing sequence wherein a gathering
head of the yarn handling apparatus has retracted, causing
the yarns to be caught by the guide arms;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 depicting a
subsequent step in the dofEing sequence wherein the guide
arms are manipulated to thread the yarns into tailing guides
of the winders;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 depicting a
subsequent step in the doffing sequence wherein the guide
arms are manipulated to a position enabling thrown-on guides
of the winder to capture the yarns;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 wherein the
guide arms are returned to a starting point of Figure 3
following completion oE the doffing sequence;
~9~
Figure 10 is a plan view of the winder and yarn
handling apparatus according to the present invention, and
the operational step depicted in Figures 1, 2, hnd 3;
Figure 11 is a plan view of the yarn handling apparatus
and depicts a step in the operational step corresponding to
that depicted in Figure 4;
Figure 12 is a plan view similar to Figure 11
depicting the operational step corresponding to that
depicted in Figure 6;
Figure 13 is a plan view similar to Figure 12
depicting the operational step corresponding to that
depicted in Figure 7;
Figure 14 is a plan view similar to Figure 13 depicting
the operational step corresponding to that depicted in
Figure 8i
Figure 15 is a side elevational view7 partially
broken-away of a latching mechanism of the yarn handling
apparatus;
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 depicting
the latch in a retracted mode;
Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view through
a cutting/aspirating portion of the yarn handling apparatus
according to the present invention in a retrac-ted mode;
Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 18-18 of Figure 17 depicting the mounting o~ a cam
bar on a flui~ inlet tube of the aspirator;
Figure 19 is a longitudinal sectional view taken
along line 19-19 of Figure 17 depicting a gathering head
portion of the yarn handling apparatus;
Figure 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20
of Figure 19 depi.cting a stationary cutter hlade in plan,
Figure 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21-21
of Figure 19;
Figure 22 is a fragmentary view corresponding to
Figure 19 depicting the relationship of the cutter mecha~ism
immediately following the severing of the yarns,
Figllre 23 i5 a longitudinal sectional view taken
through the free end of a yarn transport shaft on which the
guide arms are mounted;
Figure 24 is a side elevational view of a hand-held
yarn cutting and aspirating device according to the present
invention;
Figure 25 is a longitudinal sec-tional view taken
through a portion of the hand-held device of Figure 24
depicting a suction-inducing portion of the device; and
Figure 26 is a sectional view through a portion of
the hand-held device according to Figure 24 depicting a
trigger-actuated valve for activating the cutter mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION O~' A PREFERRED
_EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Automated Filament Handlins Mechanism
A yarn cutter/aspirator 10 according to the present
invention is depic~ed in Fiyure 1 in conjunction with a yarn
winder, such as a conventional yarn winder 12 of the type
marketed as model No. SW 46 SSD by Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik
A.G. The winder comprises a stationary frame 14 from which
projects a yarn package axle or spindle 16 which supports a
pair of conventional removable tubular packages 18, 18'.
Disposed above the spindle 16 is a package drive head
22 which is vertically reciprocably carried by the frame 14.
Conventional power mechanisms (not shown) within the frame 14
raise and lower the drive head 22 upon suitable actuation
thereof. The drive head 22 includes a helically grooved roll
24 mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the package
axle. During a winding operation, yarns F, F' pass downwardly
through overhead guides or godets (not shown) and travel within
the helical grooves 26, 26' of the roll 24 and also within
horizontally reciprocable guides 28, 28' disposed above the
respective grooves. The roll 24 is rotatably driven and the
traversing guides 28, 28' are reciproca~ed along the packages
axis to achieve a uniform distribution of the wound filaments
j along the yarn packages.
-- 10 --
-- ~ : )
'Jl31 ~va~
During such traversing movement, the yarns travel
in a common vertical plane, each yarn bundle forming a
fan-like pattern, the boundaries of which being indicated
in broken lines ff, f'f' in Figure l. The yarn packages
are driven by a drive roll (not shown) mounted on the drive
head 22 behind the grooved roll 24. The drive roll rotates
the yarn package through frictional contact therewith.
As a yarn package fills with wound yarn, the drive head 12
is pushed upwardly by the peripherally accumulating yarn
layers while continuing to make peripheral drive contact
therewith.
Mounted on the winder above the grooved roll 24 are
a pair of conventional tailing guides 29, 29' ~Fig. 1) which
contain slots for receiving the yarns. At the initiation
of a winding operation, the tailing guides cause the yarns
F, F' to be wound in a manner producing transfer tails on
the tubes which facilitate eventual unwinding of the yarn
by the user of the yarn. Thece tailing guides 29, 29' are
well-known and a further description thereof is unnecessary.
Disposed at a lower side of the winder is a conventional
rod 30 (see Fig. 8) which carries a pair of pig-tail shaped
throw-on guides 32, 32'. The rod includes a mounting section
30A which is mounted on the drive head 22 for rotation about
an axis extending parallel to the package axis. The rod 30
is normally stored behind the winder chuck but can be swung
forwardly so that a mounting section of the rod extends parallel
to the package axis. The rod 30 carries a pair of thro~7-on
guides 32 (only one throw~on yuide 32 being depicted) which
are aligned ver-tically with respective ones of guide arms 46,
46' to be discussed. During a rethreading operation, the throw-
on guides 32 receive the yarns (see the solid line illustration
in Figure 8) and are then swung rearwardly (see the broken line
~osition of Figure 8) to carry the yarns against the package
tube and into pinched slots formed in the packages, whereupon a
new winding operation commences. Further details of this throw-
~n mechanism ~rom United States Patent 4,146,186 assigned to
Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik A.G., Federal Republic of Germany.
In order to replace or doff the packages when the
winding opera-tion is finished, it is necessary to sever all the
Eilament(s) in the yarn. Since the source of filamentary yarn
supply cannot be shut off during the doffing sequence, the yarns
continue to be supplied and must be carried to storage or waste.
After the filled packages are removed from the winder chuck and
empty packages are installed thereon, the yarns must be -threaded
into the tailing guides 29, 29' and attached to the empty pack-
age tubes.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
mounted to the frame 14 a yarn handling mechanism which auto-
matically cuts the yarns, aspirates the yarns
- 12 -
to waste, and rethreads the yarns onto empty packages.
Basically, the yarn handling mechanism comprises a
movable gathering head 41 which includes a cutter
mechanism 42 and an aspirator rnechanism 44, and a pair
of guide arms 46, 46' which are movable relative to the
gathering head 41 to transfer the yarn to the empty packages.
The gathering head 41 forms part of a reciprocable
unit 47 carried at the front end of an extendible/retractible
rod portion 48 of a fluid actuated cylinder 50 ~Fig. 17).
The cylinder 50 is moun-ted on a housing 52 which is swingable
relative to the frame 14 about a vertical pivot post 54
(compare Figs. 10 and 12).
The reciprocable unit 47 further includes a casing 56
~Fig. 17) to which are mounted the front ends of a pair of
elongate conduit tubes 58, 60 that travel along with the
casing. One of the tubes is connected at its rear end to a
source of pressurized fluid, preferably air, and conducts
that air through a cross bore 62 in the casing to the other
tube Z0. The latter tube 60 comprises a conventional aspirator
which includes a suction-inducing nozzle ring 64 through which
the air is conducted. Flow of air rearwardly into a central
passage 68 of the aspirator tube creates a suction at the
inlet 70, which inlet is formed in a suction conduit extension
69 of the air exhaust tube 60 and is situated at the gathering
head 41. As noted earlier, the thus-described aspirator is
of a conventional nature, one suitable type being marketed
by the Slack & Parr Corp.
- 13 -
The air inlet and exhaust tubes 58, 60 and the fluid
cylinder rod 48 are slidably disposed within openings in a
front wall 72 of the housing. The tubes 58, 60 are also
slidably disposed within apertures in a rear wall 74 of the
housing.
A preferred gathering head 41 includes a sleeve 75
mounted on the forward end of the suction conduit 69 (Figs.
17, 19), which sleeve houses the cutter mechanism 42 as well
as a tip 78 for the inlet of the suction conduit, This tip
is formed of low-friction material and includes a vertical
slit 80 across the inlet 70, whicn slit receives filaments
and locates same relative to the suction inlet 70. The sleeve
is held to the suction conduit 69 by means of a fastener 79
having a wedge face 79A which wedges against the conduit 69
when the fastener is installed (Fig. 2).
The cutter mechanism 42 i5 situated in a lower por-
tion of the sleeve 76 and includes a pair of relatively
movable cutter blades 82, 84 disposed within a chamber 86
of the sleeve. One of the cutter blades 84, hereafter
designated as a stationary bladé, is freely mounted to the
sleeve by a horizontal pin 85. This stationary cutter blade
84 includes a forwardly projecting portion 88 which forms a
yarn-catching slot 90. This slot comprises a pair of forwardly
diverging side walls 92, 94 communicating at their rear ends
with a lateral portion of the slot in the form of a vertical
through-passage 96. The through-passage 96 includes a
curvilinear front wall 98 which, at an upper surface of
the plate, is relatively sharp to form a cutting edge, as
will be discussed hereinafter. The lower portion of the
through~passage is flared outwardly at 100.
The other cutter blade 82, hereafter designated as
the reciprocable blade, is mounted for reciprocable movement
within the chamber 86 and carries an annular seal 102 to
create a fluid-tight work compartment 104 (Fig. 22) within
the chamber 86, which compartment 104 communicates with
pressurized fluid, preferably air, via an inlet 106 in the
sleeve 76. This inlet 106 communicates with a flexible hose
108 (Figs. 17, 72) which is attached to a pipe 110 extending
coaxially within the air inlet tube ~8 (Fig. 17). By
alternately supplying air~to, and exhausting air from, the
work compartment 104, the reciprocable blade member 82 is
displaced forwardly and rearward~ly. Rearward di~placement
is effected by means of a spring-112, preferably a coil
compression spring, which acts between the reciprocable
cutter member 82 and a rear end of the yarn-capturing blade
member 84. The spring 112 acts against the stationary blade
84 below the pin 85 so that a moment is imparted to the
stationary blade 84 which tends to press the latter against
the reciprocable blade 82. During a cutting stroke, the plane
of the stationary blade extends upwardly at an angle a of from
~ ~b;8~
one to three degrees (preferably t~o degrees) relative
to the plane of the stationary blade to assure a line-to-
surface contact therebetween and facilitate self-sharpening
of the blades.
The front end of the reciprocable blade 82 includes
a sharp edge 120 disposed in con-tact with the upper surface
of the stationary blade 84. Preferably this edge 120 extends
perpendicularly to the direction of reciprocation of the
blade 82. During a forward stroke of the reciprocable blade
the edge 120 passes completely across the through-passage 96
in the stationary blade 84. Accordingly, a yarn F which is
captured within the through-passage is severed by a highly
efficient combination scissors/shear action between the
straight edge 120 and the curved upper edge of the front
wall 98 of the through-passage (Fig. 22). The diameter of
the yarn F is exaggerated in Figures 19, 22 for clarity.
The interaction occurring between these two edges is
enhanced by the action of the spring 112 since the stationary
blade is urged upwardly against the reciprocable blade as
noted earlier.
In order to assure that a ~uick, clean severing of
the yarn occurs, the reciprocable cutter member is constrained
for rapid "snap-like" movement. This is achieved by a spring-
biased ball detent 122 which engages a recess 124 in the top
- 16 -
~68~
surface of the reciprocable blade 82 when the latter is
in a retracted or rearward position (Fig. 19). The detent
122 prevents reciprocable movement of the latter until a
selected pressure build-up occurs in the working compartment
104. Thus, instead of a more gradual advance of the
reciprocable blade 82 which might result in an uneven,
jayged cutting of the moving yarn and resultant unbraiding
thereof, a rapid, clean severing occurs.
The through-passage 96 of the stationary blade 84 is
disposed rearwardly of the yarn-receiving slit 80 of the
aspirator tip 78 to assure that at the instant severing occurs,
the yarn F is pressed firmly into the slit 80 and thus suitably
positioned for capture by the induced suction at the aspirator
inlet 70.
Reciprocation of the reciprocable blade 82 is pro-
duced, as noted earlier, by alternately supplying pressurized
fluid to, and exhausting it from, the work compartment 104.
This is achieved by means of a cam-operated poppet valve 126
(Fig. 17) which is actuated by two sets of cams 1~8~ 128'
carried by cam bars 130, 130' mounted on the aspirator air
inlet tube 58. The poppet valve 126 is of a conventional
nature and has a fluid inlet 131 which is connected to the
pressurized fluid source, and a fluid outlet 132 to which the
rear end of the fluid supply pipe 110 is connected via a
flexible hose 134 (see Figs, 17, 10). A spring-biased cam
3~ ~
follower arm 136 of the valve is axranged to be sequentially
contacted and displaced by the cams 128 on the aspirator
fluid supply tube 58. When displaced, the cam follower arm
136 opens the poppet valve 126 and directs fluid to the
working compartment 104 of the sleeve 76 to urge the
reciprocable blade 82 forwardly. The poppet valve is
mounted on the housing 52 and thus remains stationary
while the reciprocable unit 47 is being displaced forwardly
and rearwardly.
Mounted on the housing 52 are a pair of limit switches
140, 142 (Fig. 10) which are contacted and activated by por-
tions of the reciprocable unit 47 to create signals when the
reciprocable unit is in extended and retracted positions.
That is, the first limit switch 140 is activated when the
casing is in a fully extended condition, and the second limit
switch 142 is activated when the casing is in a fully retracted
condition.
As noted earlier, the housing 52 is rotatable about
a vertical pivot pin 54. That pivotal movement is imparted
by a fluid-actuated ram 146 ~Fig. 10) which is pivotably
mounted between the frame 14 and the housing 52, The ram
146 is actuated in response to activation of the second limit
switch 142 when the reciprocable uni-t 147 returns to its
retracted position. Third and fourth limit switches 150, 152
are mounted on the frame 14 and are activated when the housing
52 is in a rotated position ~Fig. 12) and a non~rotated posi-
tion (Fig. 10), respectively. The purpose of these limit
- 18 -
JtV~V ~
switches is to provide signals for actuating the machine
logic, as will be e~plained subsequently.
A first adjustable limit screw 153 is mounted on
the housing 52 and is engageable with a portion 154 of the
frame 14 to define a stop for the housing in a rotated
condition (Fig. 12). A second adjustable limit screw 156
is mounted on the frame 14 and is engageable with the housing
52 to define a stop for the latter in its non-rotated condi-
tion (Fig. 10). Rotation of the housing 52 is the last movement
in the operation of the gathering head portion of the yarn
handling mechanism.
The operation of the gathering head 41 commences at
the termination of a winding step, i~e., when it is time to
doff the filled packages 18, 18'. At such time a signal is
sent, either by an operator pushing a "stop" button on the
winder 10 or perhaps by a computer in an automated plant,
which causes the fluid cylinder 50 of the yarn handling
mechanism to extend the gathering head forwardly. The
front end of the yarn-capturing slot 90 in the stationary
blade 84 is generally coplanar with both yarns F, F' with
the dimension of the slot mouth or inlet being large enough
to accommodate displacements of the yarns from such common
vertical plane. Thus, it is assured that eventually, as the
gathering head advances, the initlal yarn F will enter the
slot 90 and become captured in the through-passage 96. At the
same time, the yarn F becomes confined within the vertical slit
80 in the aspirator tip 78 and is thus aligned with the suction
inlet 70.
-- 19 --
, J
When the cams 128 on the air inlet tube 58 begin
making contact with the actuating arm of the poppet valve
126, pressurized fluid is repeatedly supplied to the working
compartment 104 in the gathering head 41 to build-up pressure
therein and overcome the bias of the ball detent 122. When
that occurs, the reciprocable blade 82 snaps-out and its
cutter edge l20 passes across the through-passage 96 and
severs the yarn F. The spring lI2 urges the stationary blade
84 firmly against the reciprocable cutter edge 120 to produce
a clean cut through the yarn. It will be appreciated that
the cutter operates in response to each cam signal regardless
of whether severing has or has not occurred. A sufficient
number of cams 128 are provided to provide sufficient opportunity
for the yarn to be captured in the slot 90, 96.
When severed, the yarn F is immediately caught-up in
the continuously induced suction at the aspirator inlet 70
and is conducted to waste via the air outlet tube 60.
The gathering head 41 continues forwardly and performs
a similar severing of the second yarn F'. Thus, both yarns
F, F' are being exhausted to waste, enabling the package 18,
18' to be replaced, either manually or perhaps by an automated
robot.
At the forward end of the stroke of the gathering
head 41, the limit switch 140 is activated and signals the drive
head 22 to ascend, thereby breaking the drive connection to
the yarn packages which are automatically braked.
- 20 -
Prior to retraction of the gathering head 41, the
afore-mentioned gulde arms 46, 46' of the transfer mechanism
are displaced toward the vertical yarn plane and the arrange-
ment of such guide arms 46, 46' shall now be discussed in more
detail.
The guide arms 46, 46 r are affixed to a hollow
shaft 170 which is orientecl parallel to the package axis.
This shaft 170 is rotatably mounted on a coaxial bar 172
(Fig. 23) which is, in turn, affixed to a vertically
traveling carriage 174 (Figs. 2 and 23). The shaft 170
rotates relatlve to the bar 172 about the common longitudinal
axis thereof. A spring, preferably a coil spring 176, is
connected between the free ends of the shaft and bar by
means of pins 178, 180 carrled thereby, to bias the shaft
(a) rotationally to a position wherein the guide arms 46,
46' are in a rest condition out of the common vertical plane
of the yarns, and (b) longitudinally inwardly against a
stop element 182 on the bar to properly locate the guide
arms along the axis of the shaft. The rotational positioning
of the shaft 170 is determined by the spring 176 in conjunc-
tion with cam surfaces 20`2, 204, 206 as will be discussed.
The carriage 174 is mounted for vertical sliding
movement upon a stationary upright pole 184. Oriented in
an upright position adjacent the pole 184 is a conventional
fluid-actuated cable cylinder 186 which includes an internal
~ 21 -
~9~ 37
fluid-actuated piston 188 and cables 190, 192 extending
from opposite sides of the piston 188 and passing through
seals (not shown) at ends of the clyinder 186. Each cable
190, 192 passes around a free-wheeling pulley 194, 196
and is connected to the carriage 174 such that mo~ement
of the piston 188 in one direction creates movement of the
carriage 174 in the opposite direction.
Mounted on the frame 14 adjacent an inner end of
the shaft 170 is a stationary cam bar ~00 (see Figs. 2 and
4). The cam bar 200 comprises first, second and third cam
surfaces 202, 204, 206 arranged to be contacted by first and
second wheels 208, 210 of a cam follower 212 fixedly mounted
on the shaft 170. The first and second cam surfaces 202, 204
are separated by a straight surface 205. It will be appreciated
that as the carriage 174 ascends and the first cam follower wheel
208 rides upon the first cam surface 202, the shaft 170 will
be rotated (clockwise as viewed i~ Fig. 4) such that the free
outer ends of the guide arms 46, 46' approach the winder, i.e.,
approach the yarn plane and a vertical plane containing the
package axis. A similar but more pronounced rotation in the
same direction occurs when the second wheel 210 contacts the
third contact surface 206 as the carriage descends. When the
follower wheel 208 rides upon the second cam surface 204 as the
carriage descends, the shaft 170 is rotated ~colmtercloc~ise
as viewed in Fig. 7) to enable the ~re-e ~nds o~ the gui~e ar~s
4~, 46' to pass by ~he tailing gui~es 29, 29'. ~here~fter, the
arms 46, 46' ar~ s~un~ cl~ckwise tc~ thread the yarns into ~he
t2i~ing ~ides ~is- 7~-
- 22 -
As a yarn winding opera-tion proceeds, the carriage
174 is continuously urged toward its uppermost limit on the
post 184, but is restrained from that limit by means of a
releasable stop latch 220 (Figs. 3, 4, 15, 16). The stop
latch 22Q comprises a horizontal bolt 221 which slides
horizontally in an aperture 222 of the cam bar 200 and is
biased by a spring 223 to a position in the travel path of
the stop 182 carried by the carriage 174. The bolt 221 is
releasable by means of a lever 224 which is pivoted to the
cam bar 200 about a horizontal axis 226 and which includes a
leg 228 extending into a xecess 230 of the bolt 221. A contact
leg 234 of the lever 224 extends into the vertical trave] path
of a cam face 236 of the winder head 12 such that as the winder
head 12 is raised (during a yarn package doffing sequence),
the bolt 221 is slid open to enable the carriage 174 to
complete its ascent, with ensuing rotation of the guide arms
46, 46' as the cam follower wheel 208 rides along the cam sur-
face 202. The latch is disposed sufficiently above the winder
head 12 to assure that release of the latch occurs only after
the gathering head 41 has severed and aspirated both yarns F,
F'. Return of the gathering head 41 to its retracted position
cannot occur until the carriage reaches its uppermost posi-
tion ~i.e., until the carriage activates an upper limit switch
(not shown)~. In this fashion, the carriage completes its
ascent and the ends of the guide arms 46, 46' are rotated
forwardly into the common plane of the yarns F, F', before
the gathering head retracts ~Fig. ~)~
- 23 -
i8~3~
~ first of the guide arms 46 is thus situated
inwardly of the first yarn F (i.e., between the frame 14
and the first yarn F), and the second guide arm 46' is
situated between the yarn F, F'. When the gathering head
is thereafter retracted, the severed yarns F, F' enter
grooves 240 formed in the free ends of the guide arms 46, 46'.
The yarns thus pass through those grooves 240 on their way to
waste via the aspirator. Once the gathering head 41 has been
retracted, the limit switch 142 is activated causing the fluid
ram 146 to swing the housing 52 about the pin 5~ ~Figs. 6 and
12). The mechanism remains in thls position while -the packages
are replaced ~either manually or automatically).
It will be appreciated that when the housing 52 and
gathering head 41 are rotated together about the pin 54, the
yarns F, F' are displaced away from the plane of the winder
and will thus enable the yarns to be transported toward the
empty packages with no possibility of making contact with the
winder. It should also be pointed out that when the gathering
head has been rotated to the Figure 13 position, the outer yarn
F' engages the underside of the guide arm 46 of the inner yarn
F inwardly of the groove 240 of that guide arm 46, but will
later engage that groove 240 during subsequent rearward rotation
and descent of the latter. Hence, the outer yarn F' will pass
through the grooves 240 of both guide arms 46, 46' during the
major part of the descent sequence.
24
The descent sequence begins with the application
of a subsequent signal, either manually from an operator or
automatically from an automa-ted system. In response to such
signal, the winder head 22 descends toward the packages and
the cable cylinder 186 lowers the carriage 174. Accordingly,
the first cam follower wheel 208 travels down the cam 202A
of the cam bar, whereupon the shaft 170 is rotated under the
influence of the spring 176 (Fig. 23) to move the free ends
of the guide arms 46, 46' out of the yarn plane while pulling
the yarns therealong.
Thereafter, the first cam follo~er wheel 208 rides
along the second cam surface 204 and rotates the outer ends
of the guide arms 46, 46' (against the bias of the spring 176)
away from the winder and out of the path of the tailing guides
29, 29'. Thereafter, the spring 176 returns the guide arms to
a position wherein their outer ends lie beneath the tailing
guides 29, 29'. Accordingly, the yarns F, F' are installed
into slots thereof open toward the guide arms 4G, 46' rather
than in a direction parallel to the package axis as is standard
in manual doffing systems.)
- 25 -
i8~71
As the carriage 174 further descends, the second
cam follower wheel 210 contacts the third cam surace 206
and causes the ends of the guide arms 46, 4~' to be swung
still further toward the winder to a position just below
and beyond the standard throw-on guides 32. At this point,
the car~iage 174 engages a lower limit switch (not shown)
to actuate a timer which, after counting~down to enable the
bobbins to reach full speed (the latter being engaged and
driven by the drive unit 22), signals the control mechanism
for the throw-on guic'es 32. The guictes 32 are then rotated
to carry the yarns un~er the packages and into standard pinch
grooves in the packages. The yarns are thus placed in tension
between the aspirator and the pinch grooves and are caused
to break. Accordingly, the tailing ends of the yarns are sucke~
to waste, the newly formed lead ends of the yarns are wound
upon the packages (Fig. 9), and the carriage re-ascends into
engagement with the stop latch 220.
It will be appreciated that in lieu of transferring
the yarns to the throw-on guides 32, the presen-t invention
could be designed to insert the yarns directly into the
package pinch grooves.
Operation
To facilitate a complete understanding of the inven-
tion, the entire operational sequence of the filament handling
system according to an aspect of-the invention will now be
summarized.
- 26
In operation, a filament winding operation proceeds
in the usual fashion, with khe drive unit rotating the yarn
package and yradually rising as the package becomes filled.
The yarns F, F' travel downwardly through the traversing
guides 28, 28' through the helical slots 26, 26' in the
driven roll 24, and onto the packages 18, 18'.
The yarn handling apparatus 40 according to the present
, . .
invention waits in a park or rest mode (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and
10), with the carriage 174 being urged upwardly by the cable
cylinder 186 against the stop latch 220 (Figs. 3 and 15). In
this position, the fxee ends of the guide arms 46, 46' are
located outwardly from the common vertical plane of the yarns
F, F'. The gathering head 41 awaits in a retracted position
generally within that com~on plane.
; When the winding operation is completed, a signal
is furnished to the machine. This signal may be produced
by an operator manually pushing a "stop" button on the winder
(Fig. 3), or by means of a signal from a computer if the
winder is part of an automated system. In response to that
signal, pressurized fluid is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder
50 which extends the reciprocable mechanism 47, including the
gathering head 41, toward the yarns F, F'. Eventually, the
first or inner yarn F enters the slot 90 of the stationary
blade 84 and becomes trapped within the lateral position 96
of that slot (Fig. 19). The yarn F is thus received within
the vertical slit 80 in the aspirator tip 78 and is pressed
tightly therein as the yarn F continues to be wound upon the
package 18.
.
- 27 ~
As the cams 12~ make contact with the follower arrn
136 of the poppet valve (Fig. 17), pressurized fluid is
supplied to the working compartment of the chamber 104 in
the cutter sleeve 76. When pressure in that compartment 104
builds-up sufficiently to overcome the restraint imposed by
the detent 122, the reciprocable blade 82 snaps outwardly
across the lateral portion 96 of the slot 90 (Fig. 23), thereby
severing the yarn F which is immediately sucked into the
aspirating conduit 69.
As the gathering head 41 advances further, a similar
operation is performed on the second yarn F' which is also
severed and aspirated into the aspirator conduit. Thus, both
yarns now travel into the suction conduit 69 and are aspirated
to waste. At the end of the forward stroke of the gathering
head, the limit switch 140 is activatedl thereby instigating
a signal to the winder which causes the drive head 22 to
ascend, thereby breaking drive relationship with the packages
(Fig. 4~.
Thereafter, the ascending drive head 22 engages the
latch disengagement lever 23~ and retracts the stop bolt 221
(Figs~ 5 and 16). This enables the carriage 174 to complete
its upward movement, whereby the first cam follower wheel 208
engages the first cam surface 202 and swings the guide arms
toward the winder (Fig. 5). Accordingly, the free ends of
the guide arms become disposed within the yarn plane inside
of the respective yarns ~i.e., ~etween the frame 14 and the
- 28 -
f
respective yarn). When the carriage 17~ reaches its
uppermost position, a limit switch is activated, which
initiates retraction of the gathering head 41. Accordingly,
the hydraulic cylinder 50 retracts and the gathering head 41
returns to its original retracted position. During such
retraction, the yarns F, F' respectively engage the grooves
240 of the guide arms 46, 46'. At the end of the retraction
stroke, the limit switch 142 is activated, causing the fluid
ram 146 to rotate the housing 52 about the pin 54 to dis-
place the tip 78 of the aspirator conduit 69 away from the
yarn plane (Figs. 6 and 12). In so doing, it is assured that
the yarns F, F' will not contact the winder during subsequent
descent of the guide arms.
The yarn handllng mechanism now rests in this position
as the packages 18, 18' are replace, either manually or
automatically. The yarns F, F' sucked-in through the
aspirator 69, 78 are delivered to waste. Thereafter, a
restart signal is delivered to the machine, either by manual
depression of a "start" button on the winder or by a computer
signal in an automated system. Such restart signal actuates
the cable cylinder 186 to lower the carriage 174, such that
the first cam follower wheel 208 leaves the first cam surface
202, thereby causing the guide arms 46, 46' to rotate about
the axis of the shaft 170 and swing the filaments outwardly
from Ihe original yarn plane (see broken line position in
Fig. 7).
- 29 -
The carriage 174 continues its descent until the
first cam followex wheel 208 engages the second cam surface
204 and causes the guide arms 46, 46' to swing toward the
winder so that the free ends of the guide arms are located
below the tailing guides 29, 29' to thread the yarns F, F'
into those tailing guides (Figs. 7 and 13). Further descent
of -the carriage 174 brings the second cam follower wheel 210
into engagement with the third cam surface 206 which produces
further rotation of the free ends of the guide arms 46, 46'
toward the winder 12 at a location below the standard
rethreading guides of the winder (Figs. 8 and 14). As a
result, the yarns F, F' are positioned to become picked-up
by the standard throw-on guides 32, when the latter are swung
toward the empty packages. When the carriage 174 has fullv
descended, a limit switch is activated, thereby starting a
timer which controls the moment at which the throw-on guides
32 are swung toward the empty packages. This time period is
required in order to assure that the drive head 22 has suffi-
cient opportunity to bring the empty packages up to final speed.
The actual rethreading of the yarns occurs in a conventional
manner as the throw-on guides insert the yarns F, F' into
the usual pinch slots in the empty packages. Accordingly, the
yarns are captured by the rapidly rotating packages, thus
producing tension in the yarns between the packages and the
aspirator 69 of such a degree that the yarns are broken (Fig. 8).
- 30 -
With the re~hreading operation completed, the
carriage 174 ascends into engagement with the latch 270
and the fluid ram 146 swings the housing 52 about the
vertical pivot pin 54, thereby returning the gathering head
41 to its normal rest position (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10~.
It will be appreciated that the yarn handling
apparatus according to the present invention is highly
advantaseous in that it is capable o convenient retrofit
to existing winders without appreciable modification of the
structural components of the latter. The apparatus functions
in a relatively simplified manner, thereby minimizing mal-
function and break down. For example, the gathering head
remains at rest during the actual transfer of the yarns
toward the empty packages; only the guide arms need be
displaced during this sequence. Moreover, the movements
of the transfer guide arms are simplified in that the guide
arms do not pass through the vertical plane containing the
package axis. Rather, the guide arms remain to one side of
such plane. Conveniently, the guide arms are able to rethread
the con~entional transfer tail devices mounted on the winder.
As a matter of further convenience, the control
mechanism for the yarn handling apparatus is disposed at
the anchored end of the package axle and thus is not disposed
to interfere with the exchange of packages by a robot or an
operator at the free end of the package axle.
- 31 -
The actual severing of -the filaments is facilitated
because the cutter mechanism is able to receive the yarns
in the direction of reciprocation of the gathering head.
This assures that the yarns will eventually enter and be
captured by the cutter slot as the gathering head travels
through the ~arn plane. The cutter blades themselves make
sharp, crisp cuts throush all the filaments in each yarn
because the blades are pressed together during the severing
stroke, and since the cutting stroke is only initiated when
a selected press~lre build-up is attained to produce a "snap-
like" action of the cutting stroke. The pressing of the
blades together renders the blades self-sharpening during
movement thereof. The combination of a curved cutting edge
on one blade and a straight cutting edge on the other blade
creates a highly efficient combination of scissors and shear-
like cutting actions on the filamentary yarn.
The gathering head according to the present inven-
tion is ideally suited not only to an automated system, but
to a hand-held aspirator as well, and greatly facilitates
capturing of the filaments as well as the severing and
aspirating aspects thereof. It has been used many thousands
of times in the winding of polyester yarn, without a single
recorded failure.
- 32 -
i8~
Manual Severinq and Aspirating Gun
It will be appreciated that although the cutter
mechanism of the present invention has great utility in
an automated mechanism, it also has utility as an attachment
to an aspirator "gull" which i5 maneuvered manually by an
operator. Such a device 300 is depicted in Figures 24 to
26 in which an elongated,rigid fluid outlet tube 302 has
attached thereto an elongated rigid fluid inlet tube 304.
The latter conducts pressurized fluid, such as air, forwardly
(i.e., to the left as viewed in Fig. 24). This air is delivered
to the outlet tube 302 through a cross-bore 305 in a casing 306.
The air enters the outlet tube 302 via an apertured nozzle 308
whereby a rearward suction is created in the customary manner
in a forward extension 310 of the outlet tube 302.
~ ounted at the front end of the extension or suction
tube 310 is a gathering head 312 which operates under the
same ba.cic principles as the afore-described gathering head
41 tFigs. 19-22) in that it has an aspirator tip 314 and a
cutter mechanism 316 disposed therebelow. The cutter mechanism
may be identical to that previously described,although in a
manual device such as this, it might be desirable to invert
the positions of the blades 82, 84 so that the stationary blade
84 is located atop the reciprocable cutter. In this fashion,
the flared portion 100 of the through-passage 96 would be
disposed at the top rather than at the bottom. It is probably
less damaging to a yarn to travel initially through the flared
`
end 100 of the passage 9~ than through the end thereof
having the sharp edge 98, especially in a manual device
where it is likely that the residence time of the filament
in the blade 84 prior to severing will be lon~er than in
the automated mechanism.
Pressurized air is supplied to the cutter mechanism
via a conduit 318. That air is bled from the air inlet tube
304 via a passage 319 which cooperates with a poppet valve
320 (Fig. 26). The latter is of standard design and includes
a central passage 322 which communicates with the passage 319
when a spring-biased trigger 340 is actuated. At all other
times, the central passage communicates the cutter with an
exhaust passage 3~2.
In practice, the operator lines-up the device 300
with the yarn to be severed and then merely advances the
device, knowing that the yarn will become entrained within
the lateral portion 96 of the slot 90 (see Figs. 19, 20).
Thereafter, the trigger 340 is activated to sever the filament,
thereby causing the yarn to be aspirated to waste via the
tubes 310, 302.
It will be appreciated that in some instances the
yarns to be severed are somewhat remote from the operator
and not easily accessible. Previously proposed manual
severing and aspirating devices which have laterally opening
slots can be inconvenient due to-difficulty in aligning the
slot with the yarn. Such a problem is not present in the case
of a forwardly opening slot as in the present invention.
- 34 -
Although the invention has been described in
connection with preferred embodiments -thereof, it will
be appreciated that modifications, substitutions, deletions,
and additions not specifically described, may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims. For example, it will be
appreciated that the invention is not limited to one in which
the yarns being fed to the winder are in a vertical plane.
Further, the path of movement of the yarn transfer means
obviously depends upon geometrical considerations that are
specific to the type of winder, particularly where the
automatic apparatus is retrofitted to an existing winder.
WHAT IS CLAIMFD IS:
