US3550871A - Textile machinery - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent l3,550,871

[72] Inventor John V. Keith 2,929,569 3/1960 Detrick et a1. 242/(A) Warwick, RJ. 3,169,715 2/1965 Ludwig 242/25 (A) [21] Appl. No. 652,819 3,174,700 3/1965 Lemaire 242/18(A) [22] Filed July 12, 1967 3,345 ,003 10/1967 Mattingly et a1 242/18(A) Patented Dec. 29, (1:970 in FOREIGN PATENTS 73 A e Leesona orpora n 1 1 Warwick, M. 507,350 9/1930 Germany 242/18(A) a corporation of Massachusetts Primary Examiner--Stan1ey N. Gilreath [54] TEXTILE MACHINERY 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

52] U.S.C|. 242/18, 242/45 511 1nt.Cl unss sqqq, Bh59/38 so FieldofSeareh 242/18,

[ 5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,067,534 7/1913 Manquat 242/18(A)UX CdQH'Pl-rs::':::'7::'"" .9 Y.

Att0rneysA1bert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton ABSTRACT: A winding machine having an active takeup head and a reserve takeup head for continuously winding an advancing strand of yarn. When a package being wound at the active head is filled to a desired size, the reserve head is activated and winding continues uninterrupted as the advancing strand of yarn is transferred for winding on the reserve head.

Thereafter, the filled (formerly active) head is stopped for doffing. A preset yarn tension is maintained throughout the winding and transfer operation.

is s a Q ES I60: 0 Y T LVU T if PATENTEUDEBZSISYB- 3,550 871 SHEET 1 0F 6 INVENTOR.

JOHN \Z KEITH WWI? ATTORNEYS PATENTED 050291970 SHEET 2 OF 6 INVENTOR.

JOH N ITH ATTORNEYS 'PATENTEU 05029 I970 I SHEET 3 OF 6 INVENTOR.

JOHN V. KEITH $2,, ATTORNEYS 'PATENIEnninzslsm sum 5 OF 6 JOHN VY F|G.I2 M

ATTORNEYS 1 TEXTILE MACHINERY during the manufacture of synthetic yarn wherein filamentforming compositions are continuously extruded through a spinneret at very high rates of advance. In many prior machines, when a winding package receiving yarn from a continuous supply such as a spinneret reaches a desired size, the advancing yarn is severed, and the free end drawn up by an aspirator or disposed of in some other suitable manner. Yarn disposal continues until such time as the same winding head or perhaps an adjacent inactive winding head is readied for winding. The wasteful consumption of yarn during this period is considerable and results in a costly operation.

A number of attempts have been made to achieve continuous winding economically, but these have generally proved unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Several known constructions employ movable winding heads mounted on a turret, or otherwise, which cause a wound package to retreat from winding position and advance an empty bobbin or core into winding position. These are often complicated mechanisms lacking in a desired degree of rigidity. Also lacking are simplified and effective techniques for maintaining yarn tension throughout the course of winding and especially during the period of yarn transfer.

Additional difficulties are encountered with conventional designs when winding heavy denier, multifilament yarns. These result from the inherent structure ofyarn which has little or not twist as it issues from the spinneret and thus is in the form of a bundle of many parallel strands held together primarily by the tension in the yarn. It is difficult, particularly in view of the high linear yarn speeds involved, to grasp and sever instantaneously the entire yarn bundle. For example, it is not uncommon for present transfer devices to grasp the yarn so that the filaments are split or divided into parallel courses, so that only one course is severed by the cutter. An occurrence of this nature may result in a down spindle, is wasteful of new yarn advancing continuously from the spinneret, and indeed is detrimental to the machine itself.

The present invention is directed to a winding machine in which a pair of winding heads are disposed at fixed locations with the inherent simplicity and rigidity arising from such a construction. Suitable transfer apparatus is employed to direct the advancing yarn from an active one of the winding heads to a reserve one of the heads while preset yarn tension is maintained throughout the winding and transfer operation. Apparatus is provided for seizing and clamping the yarn on the newly activated winding head, whether the yarn is in the form of a monofilament or a large bundle of filaments, and for completely severing the length of yarn extending between the two winding heads. When the yarn has been fully transferred, the winding head on which winding has terminated is stopped for doffing.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved textile apparatus for continuously winding an advancing strand of yarn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved winding machine having an active winding head and a reserve winding head at fixed locations and for providing uninterrupted winding as a continuously advancing strand of yarn is transferred from the active head to-the reserve head. A further object is provision for maintaining a preset yarn tension during winding and throughout the transfer operation. Another related object is provision for initiating rotation of a spindle of the reserve winding head as a package at the active winding head approaches the desired size and, more particularly, provision of a timer for initiating rotation of the spindle at the reserve winding head after winding on the active head has proceeded for a predetermined period of time sufficient for substantially filling the package, and for signaling for yam transfer from the active to the reserve winding head when the spindle of the reserve head has attained operational speed. Still another related object is provision for severing the length of yarn extending between the heads following transfer.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic front elevation view of a Winding machine showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged front elevation view of a winding head illustrated in FIG. 1, and showing intermediate and extreme positions of associated transfer apparatus;

FIG. 2A (Sheet 1) is a fragmentary side elevation view further illustrating a portion of transfer apparatus shown in FIGS. land 2;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the winding machine shown in FIG. 1;:

FIG. 4 is a front elevation diagram showing in full lines the path of yarn advancing to an upper (active) winding head of the machine and, in broken lines the yarn path as the yarn is being transferred to a lower (reserve) winding head;

FIG. 5 is a diagram similar to FIG. 4 but showing in full lines the path of yarn advancing to a lower (active) winding head, in broken lines the yarn path as the yarn is being transferred to an upper (reserve) winding head, and in phantom lines the yarn path during an intermediate phase of initial threadup of the machine; 1

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary enlarged front elevation views of successive relative positions of the advancing yarn and a yarn holding mechanism of either winding head;

FIGS. 6A, 7A, and 8A are fragmentary top plan views corresponding, respectively, to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8;

FIG. 9 (Sheet 4) is a schematic side elevation view showing a chuck of either head for releasably supporting a core of a yarn package, parts being broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 10 (Sheet 4) is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevation view of a releasable clamp of the yarn holding mechanism shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 (Sheet 4) is a fragmentary, enlarged section view taken generally along lines 11-11 in FIG. 7 (and in FIG. 7A);

FIG. 12 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary elevation view looking at the right end of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is an electromechanical diagram illustrating a control system for the winding machine.

THE WINDING MACHINE IN GENERAI.

Refer now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and '3'show a winding machine to which a strand of yarn Y is advanced from any suitable supply (not shown) at a constant rate along a pair of godet rolls l2 and 14 rotatably mounted on a front housing 16 of the winding machine. From these rolls the yarn is delivered to one of a pair of substantially identical winding heads, and as shown, to an upper (active) winding head 18 while a lower (reserve) winding head 20 is idle. These heads may be of any suitable type, such as Leesona Corporation Winding Heads, as

employed on the No. 959 Talteup machine, and are fixedlymounted on platforms 22 integrally fixed with a frame 24 of the winding machine so as to be disposed substantially one above the other.

The winding heads 18 and 20 each include a variable speed drive motor, M1 and M2 respectively (FIGS. 3 and 13), and each has a base 26 suitably fixedly secured to the platform 22 and carrying a traverse mechanism 28 which guides the advancing yarn Y to and fro across a winding package P forming on a spindle 30 of the activehead (presently the upper head 18). Operational speed of the traverse mechanism is synchronized with the spindle speed in any suitable manner known in the art. The spindle 30 is rotatably mounted on a swing arm 32 (FIG. 3) pivoted on a stub shaft 34 mounted on the base 26 to permit the spindle to swing away from the traverse mechanism 28 as the package P grows in size. A core 3 6 of the yarn package P is received and supported on the spindle 30.

A'yarn transfer arm 38 has a threading roll 40 freely rotatable at an upper end thereof and is formed with a hub 42 at its opposite, lower end. The hub 42 is supported for rotation about a fixed, generally horizontal shaft 44 suitably secured to transfer arm 38 is swung about the shaft 44 from an upright,

waiting position (FIG. 1), to an intermediate or holding (full line) position shown in FIG. 2. The arm 38 is then swung to an extreme or transferring (broken line) position (FIG. 2) engaging and depressing a switch plunger of a transfer switch lTS for head 18 (and 2T5 for head 20). The transfer switches are I fixedly mounted by arms 45 to the respective shafts 44. For

ease of movement, a handle 46 extends laterally from each of the transfer arms 38.

Biasing the transfer arm 38 to the upright, waiting position (FIG. 1), that is in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a helical spring 48 (FIGS. 2A and 3) having its coils generally concentric with the fixed shaft 44 and opposite ends suitably fixedly secured, respectively, to the hub 42 and the shaft 44. During the winding operation the transfer arm 38 is maintained in either the upright, waiting position (FIG. 1) or in the intermediate, holding position (solid lines in FIG. 2) and to this end the shaft 44 has a radial bore 50 (FIG. 2) which houses a ball 52 biased outwardly by a compression spring 54. A pair of recesses 56 and 58 (of a size compatible with the ball -52) in the hub 42 cooperate with the ball 52 to releasably hold the transfer arm 38 in the upright and intermediate positions, respectively.

While the strand of yarn is being wound on the upper (active) head 18, it follows a path shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 (solid lines). In sequence, as the yarn Y leaves the godet rolls 12 and 14 FIGS. 1 and 3) in a downward direction, it passes around a freely rotatable askew guide roll 60 mounted on the front housing 16 and then travels upwardly around a compensator wheel 62 from which it moves downwardly through the upper (active) traverse mechanism 28 and onto the package P.

Substantially constant tension is maintained in the yarn Y as it is being wound on either winding head 18 or 20 including the time during transfer between the heads. To this end, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the compensator wheel 62 is rotatably mounted at the extremity of a compensator arm 64 which is fixed to shaft 66 for rotation therewith. Shaft 66 is rotatably mounted in a transducer assembly 67 (FIG. 13) and extends through the front housing 16. The winding speed of the active spindle 30 is regulated through the transducer 67 by a control in a manner generally as disclosed in a control system described in US. Pat. No. 2,752,l05, issued June 26, l956to John V. Keith and assigned to Leesona Corporation. This control system is responsive to the advancing strand of yarn passing over wheel 62 and moving compensator arm 64 downwardly when the tension in the yarn exceeds a preset value to slow the active spindle 30, and to permit the arm 64 'to pivot upwardly when the tension is less than the preset value to increase the speed of the spindle.

Other elements which determine the path of the yarn during setup and transfer operations include a crossover roll 68 rotatably suspended from the front housing 16, a fanning roll 70 rotatably mounted on a fixed arm 72 extending outwardly from the traverse mechanism 28 of the upper winding head 18, and threading bails 74, one extending upwardly from each tion, an aspirator 78 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 5) is supported 0111a bracket 79 fixed to the lower shaft 44 and is connected to a source of vacuum (not shown), to advance the strand of yarn at substantially the intended winding, speed, as is understood intheart.

In starting to wind a package P, and asthe winding continues, a starting end of the winding is'held. by the spindle assembly. As may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 9, a nose member 80 is suitably mounted on a spindle shaft for rotation therewith and is held in place as by a snap ring 82 (FIG. 1). The nose member 80 is formed with a pair of radially and axially spaced beveled surfaces 84 and 86 for smooth passage of the yarn across the nose during transfer of the yarn from the active to the reserve winding head. During transfer 'of the strand of yarn, a yarn clamp 88 (preferably of a resilient material such as spring steel) fastened at one end to the larger beveled surface 84 as by a screw 90 and extending from this screw substantially tangentially to the nose member 80 in the direction of the spindle, has a free upturned end 89 to engage the strand of yarn as the strand is moved under the free end.

Such movement of the yarn is effected by a yarn engaging finger 96 during initial threading of the machine and during transfer of the yarn from an active to a reserve winding head. More particularly, an annular undercut flange 92 of the nose member 80, intermediate the beveledsurfaces 84 and 86, has a cutout 94 (FIGS. 6--8A) which receives the yarn engaging finger 96. The finger 96 has a radially extending lug 98 (FIG,

11) with a bore 100 fixedly receiving a stud 102 as with a press fit. The stud 102 is substantially parallel to the axis of the spindle shaft 30 and extends rotatably througha bore 106 in the nose member 80. An arcuate-shaped lever 108 (FIGS. 11 and 12) has a curved, elongated slot 110 which receives the stud 102. The lever 108 is held away from an adjacent surface 112 of the nose member 80 by spacers 114 (FIG. 11). An arcuate saddle member 116 has three equally spaced holes, a pair of outer holes and a center hole 118 having a flat portion. The center hole 118 is received over a threaded end of the stud 102 which has a cooperating flat portion for nonrotatably mounting the saddle member 116 on the stud. A shakeproof lock bolt 119 secures the saddle member on the stud 102 with slight axial play of the stud so that it may rotate. A pair of bolts 120 extend through the slot 110 and the outer holes 118 and threadedly receive nuts 122 to secure the lever 108 to the stud 102 for rotation therewith. By loosing the nuts, the lever 108 may be positioned as desired along the curved slot 110, for reasons which will be apparent later.

The finger 96 is releasably held in the position shown in FIG. 6 by a permanent magnet 124 mounted on the inner surface 112 of nose member 80 and extending laterally therefrom. The lever 108 is ferromagnetic and one end is positioned to contact the magnet, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 12, when a yarn engaging tongue 126 on the leading end of the finger 96 engages a cylindrical surface 1280f the un dercut of the nose member flange 92, as shown in FIG. 6. The finger 96 is provided with a tail 130 having a pad 132 at its extreme end to prevent rotation of the finger when it has been rotated by the strand of yarn during startup or transfer, from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. During transfer the yarn engages and rotates the finger to the position shown in FIG. 7, the lever 108 is removed from engagement with the magnet 124, and remains disengaged by reason of centrifugal force while the spindle 30 is rotated in excess of a predetermined speed. The finger 96 is adjusted to remain open at different speeds by moving the lever 108 along its slot 110 to a desired position. When the finger is open (FIGS. 7 and 7A) it will snare the strand of yarn Y during a subsequent revolution of the spindle and will then deflect the strand against the bevel 84 so that the yarn clamp 88 may grasp and hold the strand (FIGS. 8 and 8A) for winding into a new package P.

As the strand of yarn is grasped by the clamp 88 a part of the strand between the heads is cut by a cutting device which may be best seen In FIGS. 2 and 2A. The cutting device includes a support bracket 134 for a yarn cutting blade 136 and is fixedly secured to the fixed shaft 44 and extends generally radially therefrom. The cutting blade 136 has a cutting edge 138 at an upper end and at its lower end is swingably mounted,

by means of a pivot pin 139, on the support bracket 134. A

bracket 142 is suitably fixed at a lower end to the transfer arm 38 and the opposite end is pivotally connected to the cutting blade 136 adjacent the knife edge 138 via a link 140. In operating or cutting position (phantom lines in FIG. 2), the knife edge 138 extends into an annular recess 144 FIGS. 2 and 3) in the nose member 80 between the flange 92 and the beveled surface 84, forcutting the yarn as will be more fully described later.

For ease of removal of a wound package P, the structure schematically shown in FIGS. 9 and is provided. A pair of discs 150 and 152 are keyed to the spindle shaft for rotation therewith. The disc 150 nearest the nose member 80 is slidable axially on the spindle shaft and the other disc 152 is fixed thereon by a set screw 154. The discs have a three or more axially directed slot: 156 near their outer peripheries. These slots loosely receive the ends of chuck bars 158. In operation, the chuck bars 158 serve to centrally position and support the package receiving core 36 at the winding heads 18 and 20. The ends of the chuck bars 158 are formed with inclined surfaces 160 which cooperate with similarly formed inclined surfaces 162 in the slots 156 so that radial movement is imparted to the chuck bars when the disc 150 is moved longitudinally of the spindle shaft 30. Such movement is provided by an actuating mechanism including a plurality of rods 164, preferably spaced equidistantly around the spindle 30. These rods have ends fixed to the disc 150 and pass freely through openings 166 provided in the disc 152. Coiled about spindle 30 between nose member 80 and disc 150, a compression spring 168 serves to bias the disc 150 to the right and against a stop collar 170 fixed to the shaft 30 by a set screw 172. Thus the spring 168 urges the chuck bars 158 toward their expanded position. Proximate to the right-hand side of disc 152, as viewed in FIG. 9, a sleeve 174 encircles the spindle 30 and is splined to a hub member 176 fixed by bolts 178 to the frame 24 of the winding machine. A handle 180 is connected to the sleeve 174by I means of a yoke 182 and is operable to move the sleeve axially on the spindle 30. At the end of the sleeve 174 nearest the disc 152 is a circular flange 184 which engages the free ends of the rods 164 when the sleeve 174 is moved leftwardly by use of the handle 180.

With continued reference to FIG. 9, when it is desired to place a core 36 onto the spindle 30, the handle 180 is moved leftwardly so that the flange 184 engages the free ends of the rods 164 and moves the rods and the disc 150 to the left, compressing the spring 168 and allowing the chuck bars 158 to move inwardly so that a core 36 may be slid longitudinally onto the spindle. When the core 36 has been positioned on the spindle, the handle 182 is released so that the spring 168 returns the disc 150 to the right causing the chuck bars 158 to move outwardly until they firmly bear against the inner peripheral surface of the core 36, holding it in place on the spindle 30.

When the handle 180 is moved leftwardly to remove a package from the spindle 30, the disc 150 moves to the left as previously discussed. A tappet 186 has one end fixed to the disc 150, and projects towards and is substantially aligned with a release pin 188 slidably received in an axial bore 190 passing through the nose member 80 with one end of the pin passing through thebeveled surface 84 for engaging the free end of the yarn clamp 88 and lifting the yarn clamp 88 thereby releasing the end of the yarn tail held thereunder during winding. After the fully wound yarn package P has been replaced with an empty core 36 and the handle 180. is released. the spring 168 returns the disc 150 to its original position and the tappet 186 withdraws from the release pin 188 so that the free end of the yarn clamp 88 again engages the beveled surface 84.

CONTROL SYSTEM FIG. 13 is a diagram using symbols of the Joint Industry Conference Electrical Standards for Industrial Equipment, and shows a suitable control system for the winding machine. The system is compatible with and complimentary to that disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,105 to John V. Keith, and? is shown in a deenergizedstate. It should be noted that line numbers are along the margins of FIG. 13. Whenever a component appearing in FIG. 13 is mentioned, it is followed by a number in parentheses which specifies the particular line in the drawing in which the component is located.

A source of electric potential EMF(301) provides power for the control circuit via parallel lines L1 and L2. Power is initially applied to lines L1 and L2 by closing a master'switch MS(301) to energize the circuit. Field windings FMI(302) and FM2(314) of the motors M1 and M2, respectively, are connected across the lines 1.] and L2 so as to be continuously energized when the master switch MS(301) is closed.

INITIATING TI-IE WINDING OPERATION To initiate the yarn winding operation, the circuitry is preset to assure that winding will be initiated at the upper winding head 20. A double throw initial start switch IS having three normally open ganged contacts IS1(322), IS2(324), and IS3(325) is operated first to close the contacts IS1(322) and IS2(324). In the event a contact 1LR1(321) is in the open condition (as illustrated) no changes occur within the control circuit when the initial start switch IS is first operated. However, if the contact 1LR1(321) is closed, a latch relay lLR(320) is energized via a rectifier R1(32I) and the closed contacts IS1(322), 1LR1(320), and 182(324). When energized, the latch relay lLR(320) now closes its contacts 1LR2(320) and 1LR3(325) and opens its contacts 1LR1(321) and 1LR4(328). The latch relay lLR(320) is of a type having a permanent magnet (not shown) cooperable with a ferromagnetic plunger thereof (not shown) to hold the plunger in whatever position it is situated when the relay is such that an armature AM1(306) of the motor M1 at the upper winding head 18 is operatively connected to a speed controller 192(303) when a contact 5R1(304) is closed. The switch IS is next operated to open contacts IS1(322) and 182(324) and to momentarily close the contact IS3(325) to energize a relay 3R(326). Since contact 1LR3(32 5) and contact IS3(325) are closed, a holding contact'3R1(327) of the relay 3R(326) is closed to hold said relay energized even when the switch IS is again returned to its initial position. Thus, contacts 3R2(3l5) and 3R3(320) are closed and contacts 3R4(317) and 3R5(318) are opened.

As a relay 4R(3l7) is deenergized upon the opening of the contact 3R4(3.17), a relay 5R(3l5) is energized by closure of the contact 3R2(3l5). The effect of energizing the relay 5R(315) is to close its contact5R1(304) and to open its contact 5R2(305) thereby energizing the armature AM1(306) of the motor M1 through the closed contacts 2R1(304) and 2R2(306). The speed controller 192(303), which is a commercially available mechanism identified by a model No. 6225.100-20 and manufactured by the Electric Regulator Corporation of Norwalk, Connecticut, is now operative to accelerate the spindle 30 at the upper winding: head 18 to operational speed. A manually adjustable potentiometer 196 is electrically connected into the circuitry of speed controller 192(303). Adjustment of the potentiometer 196 changes the resistance of the speed controller 192(303) and thereby changes the speed at which said controller 192(303) will cause the spindles 30 to rotate. The potentiometer 1% is used to synchronize the winding speed of spindle 30, at the start of each winding cycle, with the speed of the advancing yarn. Once the speed of spindles 30 are synchronized with the yarn speed, there is no need for further adjustment of the potentiometer 196 until some factor changes as, for example, a change in yarn speed or the voltage of the power input changes. While the speed controller 102(303) is operating to accelerate the spindle 30 at the winding head 18, the yarn Y advancing from the godet rolls l2 and 14 is readied for transfer to the reserve winding head 20.

When the motor M1 has attained operational speed and therefore also the spindle 30 at the upper winding head 18, the

transfer arm 38 associated with the winding head 18 is swung to the extreme or transfer position as seen in FIG. 2, and may be returned to its original upright position as soon as yarn is seized in the clamp 88. As the leading edge of the transfer arm 38 depresses a contact plunger of a transfer switch lTS, a contact 1TS1(319) is opened and a contact 1TS2(320), ganged thereto, is closed.

Upon opening contact 1TS1(319), the circuit through a closed contact 7TDR1(319) is opened and a relay 6R(318) is deenergized so that all of its contacts (6R1 etc.) assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 13. With contacts 2TS1(319), 1TS2(320), 1LR2(320), and 3R3(320) all in closed positions, the latch relay 1LR(320) is energized. As a result, the contact 1LR2(320) is opened and the contact 1LR1(321) is closed and each of these contacts will retain these respective positions even after the latch relay 1LR(320) has been deenerg'ized. Also, the contact 1LR3(325) is opened thereby deenergizing the relay 311(326), and the contact 1LR4(328) is closed thereby energizing the relay 2R(328). The contacts of the relay 3R(326) thereby reassume the positions illustrated in FIG. 13. Thus with contact 3R2(3l5) opened, the relay 5R(315) is deenergized so that the armature AM1(306) in the motor M1 is no longer powered through the speed controller 192(303). However, simultaneously therewith, the contact 3R4(317) is closed thereby energizing the relay 411(317). When the relay 4Rl317) is energized, its contact 4R1(312) is closed such that the armature AM 1(306) of the motor M1 at the upper winding head 18 is powered through and regulated by a tension controller 194(309). The tension controller is a commercially available mechanism identified by a model No. 6225.100-16 and manufactured by the Electric Regulator Corporation of Norwalk, Connecticut. After the initial start operation, the contact 3114(317) remains closed and the relay 4R(317) remains energized to hold the contact 4111(312) closed.

It will be recalled that when the transfer arm 38 associated with the winding head 18 was swung to the transfer position (see FIG. 2) such that the leading edge of the transfer arm 38 depresses the contact plunger of the transfer switch 1T5, the contact 1TS1(319) thereat was momentarily opened thereby deenergizing the relay 6R(318) and thereby returning each of the contacts associated therewith (6R1 etc.) to the positions indicated in FIG. 13. With the consequent closure of the contact 6R3(329), a time delay relay 7TDR(329) is energized which serves to reset a counter mechanism C M(330) forming an element of a predetermining counter 198. The predetermining counter 198 is a commercially available unit and one example of a counter employed for the purpose of the invention herein is Type EVs sold by Kessler-Ellis Products, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. When a contact PC1631) of the predetermining counter 198 is closed, a motor M3(331) is energized to rotate a cam 200 engaging aswitch 202(330) to alternately open and close said switch. The motor M3631), cam 200, and switch 202(330), all comprise elements of a oulser unit 204. As the cam 200 is rotated by the motor M3(331), the switch 202(330) is successively opened and closed thereby energizing and deenergizing the countermechanism CM(330) of the predetermining counter, 198. The predetermining counter 198 may be preset so that when the countermechanism CM(330) has received a preestablished number of electrical pulses, it is effective .to open the contact PC1(331) to deactivate the motorM3(331) and close a contact PC2(332), and to hold the contacts those positions until receipt of a further signal. The counter 198 is preset according to the size of yarn package P desired. Of course, this value will vary according to the unit weight of the yarn being wound and the winding speed. Subsequently, when the contact 6R3(329) is closed as has been described, the countermechanism CM(330) is reset to return the contacts PC 1(331) and PC2(332) to the positions indicated in FIG. 13 and the counter is reset to the zero or initial condition. Thus, as yarn begins winding at the upper winding head 18, the counter 198 begins to register the time elapsed since the beginning of wind- YARN TRANSFER With the closure of the contact PC2(332) after the preset time has elapsed, a motor M4(333) is energized through a closed contact 8TDR1(333) to rotate a shaft 206 through one revolution. A disc cam 208 on the shaft 206 engages a normally open switch 210(334) and uporl rotation of the shaft 206 moves said switch to the closed position. Closure of contact PC2(332) likewise energizes a delay relay 8TDR(332) as well as a signal lamp LP1(332). The relay 8TDR(332) is of the initial delay type which operates its contacts after the lapse of a predetermined time. Thus, the relay 8TDR(332) moves its contact 8TDR1(333) to the open position, but is delayed until the switch 210(334) has been moved to the closed position so as to hold the motor M4633) energized. A second contact 8TDR2(335) of the delay relay 8TDR(332) is closed to complete the circuit to a relay 9R(337) and its closing is also delayed for a short period. The relay 9R(337) is effective to close its holding contact 9R1(336) and with the contact 6R4(337) held in the closed position by its relay 6R(3l8), which is energized throughout the normal winding operation, the relay 9R( 337) remains energized.

The relay 9R(337) is also effective to close the contact 9R2(316) to energize the relay 5R(315), and to open the contact 9113(318). By energizing the relay 5R(315), the contact 5R1(304) is closed and the'contact 5R2(305) is opened so that the armature AM2(310) of the motor M2 at the lower, inactive, winding head 20 is electrically connected to the speed controller 192(303). The signal lamp LP1(332) serves to indicate this condition. It will be recalled that the contact 1LR4(328) earlier assumed a closed condition and maintained that condition even after the latch relay 1LR(320) was deenergized. Therefore, the relay 2R(328) has remained energized during the winding operation at the upper winding head 18 with the result that all of the contacts of the relay 2R(328) (2R1 etc.) are in positions opposite those indicated in FIG. 13. During this period, the armature AM2(310) of the motor M2 at the lower winding head 20 would be powered through and regulated by the speed controller 192(303) except that the contact 5R1(304l) has been opened.

In this way, the spindle 30 at the heretofore inactive winding head 20 is brought up to operational speed by the speed controller 192(303) prior to winding yarn thereat. Simultaneously, the yarn Y is readied for transfer to the inactive winding head 20 in the manner described earlier.

Continued operation of the motor M4(333) also rotates a cam 212 on the shaft 206 to close a normally open switch 214(335). Closure of the switch 214(335) causes a lamp LP2(335) to light and the cam 212 is so contoured that it holds the switch 214(335) closed and therefore the lamp LP2(335) remains lighted even after the shaft 206 stops rotating. The cam 212 allows the switch 214(335) to open shortly after the motor M4633) begins to rotate in the course of the succeeding transfer operation.

It will be recalled that-the motor M4(333) is arranged to make only one complete revolution whereuponv it deenergizes itself through the cam 208 and switch 210(334). The period of the revolutionis such that the lamp LP2(335) is not lighted until such-time-thatthe spindle 30 at the lower winding head 20 has achieved operational speed. Lighting of the lamp LP2(335)-indicates that the proper time has arrived to perform the yarn transfer operation from the upper winding head 18 to the lower winding head 20. Thereupon, the transfer arm 38 associated with the lower winding head 20-isswung to the extreme position as seen in phantom lines in F102 and is then returned to its original upright position as soon as yarn is seized beneath the clamp 88. As the leading edge of the transfer 1 arm 38 in its extreme position (see FIG. 2) depresses the con tact plunger of a transfer limit. switch 2T5, the contact 2TS1 (319) istopened and a contact 2TS2(321) isclosed. The

relay 6R(318) is thereby deenergized and its contacts (6R1 etc.) assume the positions indicated in FIG. l3.

Because the contact 1LR1(321) is still in theclosed position and contact 6R2(319) is also closed, the latch relay 1LR(320) is energized to return all of its. contacts to the conditions indicated in FIG. 13. Thus, with. contact 1LR4(328) open, the relay 2R(328) is deenergized such that all of the contacts associated therewith (2R1 etc.) resume the positions indicated in FIG. 13. Therefore, uponthe operation of the transfer switch 2T8, the armature AM2(310) of the motor M2 at the lower winding head 20 is now energized through and regulated by the tension controller 194(309).

-W hen the relay 6R(318) is deenergized upon the opening of the contact 2TSI(319), its -cntac t 6R4(337) is opened to deenergize the relay 9R(337) and to turn off the lamp 'LP2(335). This results in opening contact 9R2(3l6) to deenergize the relay R(3I5) and return the contacts 5Rl(304)-and=5R2(305) to the conditions indicated in FIG. 13. Since the armature 'AMI(306) of the 'motor M1 at the upper winding head 18 is no longer powered but is now-connected in series with a dynamic braking resistor DBR(305) through closed contacts 2R1(304) and '2R2(306), the spindle 30 at the upper winding head is quickly brought to a halt, the energy in the spindle being dissipated through said resistor. When the relay 6R(3l8) is deenergized and thecontact 6R3(329) is thereby closed, the'countermechanism CM(330) is activated to return the contacts PC 1(331) and PC2(332) to the positions indicated in FIG.,13 as well-as to: reset the counter 198 to its initial condition. Thusythe counter198 is automatically reset to begin counting as a new package begins to wind.

The winding process now continues at the lower winding head 20, the winding time being registered by the countermechanism CM(330) in responseto repetitive opening and closing of the switch 202(330) by the motor M3(331). Once again, at an appointed time, the countermechanism CM(330) operates to open the contact PCl(33l)and close the contact PC2(332) to begin the aforedescribed seriesof operations which result in energizing thearmature AM1(306) in the motor M1 at the upperwinding head I8-to bring-the spindle 30 thereat up to speed under under the regulation of the speed controller 192(303).

- Should it be desired for. anyreason to preempt the counter 198 to initiate the transfer operation at an earlier time than was originally programmed, an emergency switch ES(337) is provided which when closed energizes the relay"9R(337) to initiate the transfer operation in'the aforedescribed manner.

' OPERATION Startup and Initial Threadup In threading-up the machine the master switch'MS is closed and the initial start switch IS is first rotated clockwise (FIG. I)

" to the aspirator 78, as shownbflhebroken lines in FIG. 1.

One or more highly polished J-shaped hooks, as 220-(FIGS. 4 and 5), are then used to lead the yarn into a path (-FIG. 5) around the guide roll 60, compensator wheel 62, and the fanning roll 70 to (inphantom line) the aspirator 78. Assuming that the winding of yarn is to be initiated at the upper winding head 18, the yarn Y is'engaged by a hook 220 between the compensator wheel 62 and the aspirator 78 and is directed, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, through the upper threading bail 74, around the upper threading roll 40 and around the crossover roll 68 beforepassing overvthe' fanning roll 70 and into the aspirator 78. The transfer arm 38 is now swung to the intermediate or holding position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2, and is held by the spring biased ball 52 engaged in the recesses 58.

When the motor M1 and spindle 30 of the upper head have attaindoperational speed under control by the speed controller 192 (FIG. 13), the second signal lamp LP2 is illu- 'minated and then the upper transfer arm 38 is swung from the 13) in circuit with the transducer 67. The advancing yarn Y assumes a path which extends between threading bail 74 and threading roll 40 diagonally across the nose flange 92 and'the beveled nose surfaces 84 and 86. With reference to FIGS. 6 through FIG. 8A, as the spindle rotates, the yarn Y now brushes across the finger tail 130 (FIG. 2 dotted line Y, and

" FIGS. 7 and 7A), and the finger tongue 126 is moved to its open position. In doing so the hold of the magnet 124 (FIGS. llandf I2) is overcome and centrifugal force maintains the finger 96 in the open yarn engaging position. During the ensuing revolution of the spindle 30, the yarn ,Y is hooked by the finger96 so as to detlect the yarn path between the threading ba'il74 and the threading roll 40 and carry the yarn into line with the yarnclamp'88 for seizure thereby (FIGS. 8 and 8A). At this instant, the yarn Y extends taut between finger 96 and clamp 88. Thus constrained, the yarn Y is advanced across the cutting blade 136 whose knife edge 138 extends into the annular recess 144, and is severed. The yarn is firmly held at the clamp 88"and winding now proceeds at the winding head with the yarn following the path indicated by solid lines in FIG. 4,

while the other end of the cut yarn passes into the aspirator 78 and is eliminated thereby. The yarn is automatically engaged by a yarn guide of the upper traverse mechanism 28 after it is cut and thereby released from the threading roll 40 and guided into the path of the traverse mechanism guide as the yarn starts winding on the core 36, as is understood in the art. Upon :decrease of the rotational speed of the spindle below a "predetermined value, the magnet 124 automatically resets the finger 96 in the closed position (FIG. 6).

Yarn Transfer When the time arrives for transfer of the yarn from the active (upper) winding head 18 to the reserve (lower) winding more of the J-shaped guide hooks 220, the yarn Y (FIG. 4) is engaged-(solid lines) between the compensator wheel 62 and the active (upper) traverse mechanism 28 and is drawn (broken lines) into a loop extending, in order, from the com pensator wheel 62'around the fanning roll 70, under the threading bail 74 at the lower winding head 20, under and around threading roll 40, through the return guide 76, and

around the crossover'roll 68 to the upper traverse mechanism 28. The lower transfer arm 38 is swung to the intermediate position indicated in FIG. 2 and held by the spring-biased ball 52 engaged in the recess 58. After a preset period of time has elapsed sufficient for the reserve spindle to reach winding speed the second signal lamp LP2 is again illuminated and the lower transfer arm is moved to its extreme position whereupon the yarn is held by the yarn clamp 88 and cut by the cutter 36,

as previously described. Winding proceeds on the now active lower head 20. Movement of the transfer lever 38 to its extreme position depresses the plunger of the transfer switch 2TS to brake the upper (now reserve) head 18, and to transfer the lower (now active) head speed control to the tension controller 194 (FIG. 13).

When winding at the active lower winding head is substantially complete such that the proper time has arrived for the transfer of yarn to the reserve upper winding head 18, the signal lamp LP] is illuminated and the reserve (upper) head 18 speeds up, regulated by the speed controller 147. The J- shaped hooks 220 are again employed to ready the yarn in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the procedure for initiating the winding operation and the yarn again assumes the path indicated in broken lines between compensator wheel 62 and fanning roll 70 in FIG. 5. When the second signal lamp LPZ is illuminated the above described transfer procedure is completed.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments in a particular environment, the invention is suited for use in other environments and various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not to be limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. Winding apparatus comprising a plurality of winding units each adapted to successively wind an advancing strand into a package, individual electrical drive means for operating each of said winding units, transfer means for transferring the advancing strand between an active one of said winding units onto which said advancing strand is being wound and a reserve .one of said winding units to which the strand will be shifted from said active unit for winding, tension control means common to said active and reserve units for regulating the active winding unit to thereby maintain a predetermined tension in said strand, speed control means common to said active and reserve units for initiating rotation of said reserve unit prior to transfer of the strand thereto, an energizing circuit connecting said drive means for said active and reserve units with an electrical power source, said tension control means and said speed control means being connected in said circuit, and electrical control means in said energizing circuit for powering'the'drive means of said active unit through said tension control-means while shunting said speed control means, said electrical control means being further operable to power the drive means of said reserve unit through said speed control means while shunting said tension control means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for guiding said strand to both said active and reserve winding units in substantially common paths.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes a separate transfer unit for each winding unit.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tension control means includes a sensor operable to detect the tension value in the strand during strand advance to the active winding unit.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said speed control means is operable to rotate said reserve winding unit at a predetermined speed correlated with thelinear rate of advance of said strand.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for mounting said active and reserve winding units at fixed loci throughout operation of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including timing means operable to delay rotation of said reserve winding unit as a portion of the package is wound on the active winding unit, and said timing means be operable to start the reserve winding unit at a predetermined interval prior to completion of windiniof a package on said active winding unit.

. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including slgnahng means for indicating when said reserve winding unit has reached a predetermined speed prior to transfer of the strand thereto.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for stopping said active winding unit upon completion of the winding of a package thereon and the transfer of the advancing yarn therefrom to said reserve winding unit.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including severing means for severing a strand leading from the active winding unit onto the reserve winding unit coincident with said strand transfer.

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