US3564958A - Yarn handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn continuously advancing at high speed through a winding machine. The strand is cut and an injector plunger and jet divert the strand into an aspirator which passes the strand to a disposal container. An aspirator for handling strandular materials such as yarn constructed to provide a vortex encircled by a high speed laminar fluid stream which substantially increases the capacity of the aspirator for controlling the strandular material which has been directed into the aspirator.

Description

United States Patent Hans H. Richter Warwick, RJ.

Feb. 12, 1969 Division of Ser. No. 653,767, July 17, 1967. Patent No. 3,452,910.

Feb. 23, 1971 Leesona Corporation Warwick, RJ. 7

a corporation of Massachusetts Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee YARN HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 83/100, 83/175, 83/402 Int. Cl.B65h 29/24 Field of Search..., 83/ 100, 402, 175;226/91, 92, 97; 57/34 (B), 34.5; 30/133 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,197 9/1949 Caille 226/91 3,090,268 5/1963 Edwards 83/100 3,191,831 6/1965 Bunting, Jr., et al.. 226/97X 3,452,626 7/1969 Speakman 83/4029/ 3,452,910 7/1969 Richter 226/91 Primary Examiner-James M. Meister AttorneysAlbert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton ABSTRACTrApparatus for handling a strand of yarn continuously advancing at high speed through a winding machine. The strand is cut and an injector plunger and jet divert the strand into an aspirator which passes the strand to a disposal container. An aspirator for handling strandular materials such as yarn constructed to provide a vortex encircled by a high speed laminar fluid stream which substantially increases the capacity of the aspirator for controlling the strandular material which has been directed into the aspirator.

iPAT ENTEUFEBZINHYI I 3554.958

INVENTOR. HANS H. RICHTER W. M flaw/ M ATTORNEYS YARN HANDLING APPARATUS This application is a division of copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 653,767 filed Jul. 17, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,910.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling an advancing strand of yarn and, more particularly, to apparatus for cutting the strand and handling the cut strand.

Throughout the following specification, the term yarn" means all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise, and the term package" means the product of a winding or twisting machine, whatever its form.

During winding of packages of yarn from a continuously advancing strand of yarn, it is common practice when a package is full, to cut the strand of yarn and pass the advancing strand through an aspirator and into a collection receptacle. The aspirator is then usually used to thread the strand of yarn onto a new core for winding another package. Commercially available aspirators have been found unsatisfactory for handling the yarn at higher speeds (3,000 to 5,000 y.p.m.) desired in more modern textile equipment. One problem is that available air pressure in many textile mills is relatively low, about 80 p.s.i. maximum. Additionally, prior yarn cutting techniques have been found to be inadequate at the higher yarn speeds, at least in part because the momentum of the advancing strand causes it to be somewhat unmanageable.

To overcome these difficulties, the present invention is, in brief, directed to apparatus for cutting a rapidly advancing strand and passing it through an aspirator of substantially increased capacity over that which has previously been commercially practical at normally available operating pressures. In order to handle the rapidly advancing strand at readily available operating pressures, the aspirator has a venturi through which a vortex is encased in a rapidly moving laminar stream for moving the strand at high speed. A strand injector cooperates with a cutter in aiding entry of the strand into the aspirator.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for handling a continuously advancing strand of yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus including an aspirator having substantially increased capacity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful injector.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and im proved apparatus for handling a continuously advancing strand of yarn and including a cutter operable for cutting the advancing strand, an injector for diverting the cut strand into an aspirator through which the strand is propelled by a stream including a vortex encased in a high velocity laminar stream.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a winding machine including a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of yarn handling apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the yarn handling apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2, and illustrating an additional feature of the invention;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary elevational views of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, in progressive stages of operation, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of an actuating valve shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 in the drawings, awinding machine 10 receives a continuously advancing strand of yarn Y from a suitable source of supply such as a spinneret (not shown). The yarn makes multiple passes around a godet roll 11 and afilament separator 12 and then passes throughyarn handling apparatus 13. From this apparatus, the yarn passes around a roller 14 on acompensator arm 15 and then upwardly through atraversing mechanism 16 which guides the yarn as it is wound into a package P on a takeup spindle 17. When the package P is full, theyarn handling apparatus 13 is operated to cut the strand Y and direct the advancing strand from the spinneret into acontainer 18. The strand of yarn may advance at speeds in excess of at least 5 ,000 y.p.m.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 2, thestrand handling apparatus 13 includes astrand cutter 19 for cutting the advancing strand Y. The cut strand is diverted by aninjector 20 into astrand inlet 21 of anaspirator 22 from which the advancing strand is discharged via aflexible tube 23 into thecontainer 18 which is vented as through ascreen 24. The apparatus is operated by a pressurized fluid, usually compressed air at about p.s.i., supplied through aconduit 25 and an actuatingvalve 26 to theinjector 20 and through anotherconduit 27 and ashutoff valve 28 to theaspirator 22.

When it is desired to terminate winding of the strand Y onto the package P, theshutoff valve 28 in theair conduit 27 to theaspirator 22 is opened and the actuatingvalve 26 in theair conduit 25 to theinjector 20 is operated. With the actuatingvalve 26 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, an operating flange 29 (FIG. I) on avalve member 30 is rapidly rotated clockwise from a position with a spring-pressed ball detent 31 in abody 32 of the valve seated is afirst recess 33 in thevalve member 30, to a position with the ball detent 31 seated in asecond recess 34 in the valve member. As thevalve member 30 is rotated between these positions, apassage 35 through the valve member momentarily connects aninlet passage 36 in thevalve body 32 with anoutlet passage 37 in the body so that compressed air from thesupply conduit 25 passes into theinjector 20. After thepassage 35 in the valve member has passed the inlet and outlet passages, avent passage 38 in the valve member connects theoutlet passage 37 with avent 39 in thevalve body 32 to release the air from theinjector 20. The next time the apparatus is operated, thevalve member 30 is turned counterclockwise so that thepassage 35 again momentarily connects the inlet and outlet passages and then asecond vent passage 40 in the valve member connects theoutlet passage 37 with asecond vent 41 in the valve body as the ball detent 31 again seats in thefirst recess 33 in thevalve member 30.

When the actuatingvalve 26 is operated, compressed air passes through theinjector supply conduit 25 and an air inlet 42 (FIG. 2) in arigid injector body 43 and into ahollow cylinder 44 of the body to move a piston 45 (about /2 sq. in. area) in thecylinder 44 to the left from a normal, retracted position as shown in FIG. 2. Thepiston 45 is concentrically, fixedly secured intermediate opposite ends of atube 46. The rear (right) end of the tube is sealed by aplug 47 securely fixed in the tube end. The left end of the tube extends slidably through acylinder end wall 48 and is fixedly secured to aplunger 49 which is moved along with thepiston 45 from the retracted position (FIG. 2) to an extended position (about three-fourths inch total stroke) as shown in FIG. 6.

A magnet 50 (5 lbs.) in arear closure member 51 of therigid injector body 43 holds thetube 46 in place in the retracted position of theplunger 49 until a predetermined air pressure (10 p.s.i.) has built-up in thecylinder 44, whereupon thetube 46 breaks loose from themagnet 50 and theplunger 49 accelerates more rapidly than it would without such restraint.

The plunger has atip 52 with a generally frustoconical configuration conforming generally to an inwardly converging configuration of thestrand inlet 21 in theaspirator 22. A notch 53 in the apex of theplunger tip 52 receives the strand Y as theplunger 49 moves toward its extended position (FIG. 4). In moving to the extended position, theplunger 49 engages Just before the strand Y is cut, aport 54 near the rear end of 5 theinjector tube 46 clears the front end of a seal member 55 (after about one-half inch plunger movement) fixedly secured at the rear of theinjector cylinder 44. Compressed air then passes into thetube 46 and through apassage 56 communicating with the front end of the tube and terminating in a port 57 (about one thirty-second inch diameter) at the base of the injector notch 53. The air leaves the port in the form of a jet 58 (FIGS. 4-6) which impinges upon the strand Y to drive it into thestrand inlet 21 as shown in FIG. 5, and to prevent the strand from moving rearwardly out of theaspirator 22. Continued movement of theplunger 49 to its extended position causes aresilient washer 59 on the rear end of theinjector tube 46 and seated against atransverse flange 60 on theplug 47, to strike thecylinder seal member 55. As thewasher 59 is compressed, theplunger 49 remains sufficiently spaced from the surface of the strand inlet 21 (FIG. 6) that the strand Y may move freely through the inlet.

It is desirable to introduce the cut strand of yarn Y into the strand inlet with as great a velocity as possible. To this end, the path of the strand Y from the point where it is engaged by theplunger 49 is such that the momentum of the rapidly advancing strand aids in moving the strand into the strand inlet. Furthermore, thecutter 19 is spaced a sufficient distance (about l'kto 2 inches) from the axis of theaspirator strand inlet 21 and theinjector plunger 49 to provide a free end on the cut strand sufficiently long that the strand may form a return portion 61 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which more completely fills the aspirator strand inlet as is desirable for reasons which will become apparent later.

Theinjector plunger 49,tube 46 andpiston 45 are returned from the extended position (FIG. 6) to the retracted position (FIG. 2) by a compression spring 62 (2 to 3 lbs.) telescoped about thetube 46 and seated on thefront end wall 48 of theinjector cylinder 44 and against thepiston 45. Holes, as 63, in theinjector body 43 provide vents for the free passage of air into and out of thecylinder 44 between thepiston 45 and thecylinder end wall 48 as theplunger 49 is moved to the retracted position and extended position, respectively.

As mentioned previously, as theplunger 49 moves to its extended position, the cutter I9 is operated to cut the strand Y. More particularly and with reference to FIG. 2, a pair of pins 64 (FIG. 8) one fixedly secured to either side of theplunger 49, are received inelongated notches 65 in opposite side edges of acutter blade 66 slidably mounted atop acutter body 67 fixedly secured to and depending from theinjector body 43. Thepins 64 andnotches 65 provide a lost motion connection between theplunger 49 and thecutter blade 66 such that the blade is delayed in cutting the strand Y until after thejet 58 has started and theplunger 49 has moved to the position shown in FIG. 5. As thecutter blade 66 engages the strand Y (FIG. 5), it moves the strand against acutting edge 68 of astrand guide 69 in thecutter body 67. A similar strand guide 70 is in a bracket 71 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which depends from thecutter body 67. These guides have reduced necks 72 (FIG. 8) opening through edges of thecutter body 67 and bracket 71 for the passage of the strand Y into the guides.

With reference to theaspirator 22, (FIG. 2) as the strand Y enters thestrand inlet 21 it passes through aconduit 73 in aninlet portion 74 of ahollow body 75 of the aspirator and into an elongated throat 76 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of aventuri passage 77 formed by the inner surface of thebody 75. Theconduit 73 is fixedly secured in theventuri passage 77 by a clampingsleeve 78 threaded into thebody 76 and a smaller clamping sleeve 79 threaded into thefirst sleeve 78 and against a suitable sealing packing 80 about theconduit 73.

By introducing the strand Y into theconduit 73 with thereturn portion 61 at its free end, as previously mentioned, theconduit 73 is more completely filled so that air flow through the conduit is more effective in moving the strand into theaspirator throat 76. After thereturn portion 61 passes through theconduit 73 and into thethroat 76, only one thickness of the strand Y runs through the conduit so that friction is reduced.

Compressed air for operating theaspirator 22 is introduced through theaspirator supply conduit 27 and anipple 81 opening into theinlet portion 74 of theaspirator body 75 and, more particularly, into the upstream end of the venturi. Thisnipple 81 is inclined at about 18 to the axis of the theventuri 77 in a direction toward theventuri throat 76.

The air passes between the outside of the conduit-73 and theventuri surface 77 to an end of the conduit at the upstream end of theelongated throat 76. This end of the conduit is provided with a plurality of helical lands andgrooves 82, and as shown in FIG. 9, with four helical grooves. These lands and grooves may have a half-inch lead for 840 to 1,300 dn. yarn Y at a speed of about 3,500 y.p.m. with the grooves as wide and deep as is practical. The lands andgrooves 82 are tapered at about 9 to the venturi axis at the end of the conduit, and are generally parallel to the venturi axis at their rear ends. The lands andgrooves 82 cause the compressed air to spiral and enter thethroat 76 in the form of a vortex 83 (FIG. 3) which has low axial velocity and very high tangential velocity. Thevortex 83 is encircled by ahigh velocity stream 84 of laminar air passing generally parallel to the venturi axis and generally along the surface of theventuri 77.

Thus, as the strand Y emerges from theconduit 73, thevortex 83 causes it to follow a generally spiral path transverse to the venturi axis through theventuri throat 76 and anoutlet portion 85 of theventuri 77. This spiral path causes the strand Y to move into thelaminar stream 84, which propels the strand at high velocity through the aspirator, and at substantially the same speed that the strand advances through the windingmachine 10 during winding. Thelaminar stream 84 retards movement of the spiraling strand Y against the surface of theventuri 77 thus effectively preventing the whipping strand from cutting into theventuri throat 76 and damaging the aspirator.

Theventuri throat 76 should be as long as possible without allowing thevortex 83 to dissipate thelaminar stream 84 or the strand to cut into the venturi surface. With a throat diameter of about 0.20 inch, a throat length of about 0.50 inch in preferable. As is understood in the art, the air velocity in thethroat 76 is higher than downstream of the throat, and by maintaining this high speed as long as possible the strand Y is moved faster. Theventuri inlet portion 74 converges at about 20 and theoutlet portion 85 diverges at about 12. Apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 is capable of handling a 1,300 dn. strand of yarn advancing at a velocity up to at least 3,500 y.p.m. with an operating air pressure of p.s.i.

At strand speeds above 3,500 y.p.m. and up to about 5,000 y.p.m., it has been found desirable to provide a frustoconical sheath or sleeve 86 (FIGS. 3 and 9) (converging at about 18) seated and adhesively secured on the taperedhelical lands 82 as shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the lands andgrooves 82 are out such that thesleeve 86 seats on the tapered lands at the end of the conduit but farther back where the lands are in line with the cylindrical sidewall of theconduit 73, the sleeve is spaced from the lands. Thus, the compressed air is caused to enter thesleeve 86 and follow the spiral path defined by the lands andgrooves 82 and to emerge into theventuri throat 76 in the form of thevortex 83. Furthermore, thesleeve 86 is closely spaced from the venturi surface at the venturi throat 76 (about .010 inch) and diverges from the venturi surface to its opposite end so that the air passing between the sleeve and the venturi surface is compressed and its velocity increased as thelaminar stream 84 is directed into thethroat 76. Thelaminar stream 84 enters theventuri throat 76 at higher velocity than without use of the sleeve and causes the yarn to be carried through the aspirator at a higher speed.

Should speeds in excess of 5,000 y.p.m. be encountered, the apparatus is capable of handling the yarn by addition of at least a drop of liquid, such as water, into thejet 58. This drop of water may be supplied in any suitable manner, for example by water introduced into theinjector tube 46 through a water supply conduit 87 (FIGS 1 and 2). This conduit is connected with anipple 88 extending through theinjector body 43 andseal 55 and communicating with anannular passage 89 in theinjector seal 55 facing thetube 46. Theannular passage 89 is slightly ahead of thetube inlet port 54 when the plunger is in its retracted position (H6. 2). As theplunger 49 is moved to its extended position theinlet port 54 passes across theannular passage 89 to admit water to the interior of thetube 46, and as theresilient washer 59 at the end of the tube strikes theseal 55, the water in the tube is caused to move toward the leading end of the tube and is ejected through theport 57 along with thejet 58. The effect of the water is to more completely seal theconduit 73 in theaspirator 22 and to accelerate the yarn because of the mass of the water, so that thejet 58 is more effective in moving the yarn Y through theconduit 73.

When the filled package P has been removed from the takeup spindle l7 and a new core inserted thereon, theaspirator 22 may be removed from a mountingbracket 90 on the windingmachine 10 and used for guiding the advancing strand Y through the cutter guides 69 and 70 and around the roll 14 on thecompensator arm 15, through thetraverse mechanism 16 and onto the new core for winding another package P. Theaspirator 22 may be releasably mounted in any suitable manner and, as illustrated, the mountingbracket 90 is fixedly mounted on the windingmachine 10 and has a socket 91 (FIG. 2) which telescopically receives afinger 92 of theaspirator body 75. Agroove 93 in the leading end of thefinger 92 receives aguide pin 94 extending into thesocket 91 so that the aspirator is stationary when on the winding machine.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn advancing from a supply comprising, a strand receiver having an opening therein for the reception of said strand, means creating a fluid stream within said receiver to induce the strand through the receiver, injector means operable to engage and direct the strand toward said openings, severing means operable after engagement of the strand by the injector means to sever the strand, and fluid means cooperative with said injector means to tension the strand during severing and for carrying the strand advancing from said supply into said fluid stream after severing of said strand.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injector means comprises a plunger, and means mounting said plunge for movement between a first position spaced from said opening and a second position proximate to said opening.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said severing means is connected with said injector means for movement therewith.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid means includes a fluid passage through said injector means, and conduit means for conducting fluid to said opening.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including control means actuatable as said injector means moves toward said second position for admitting fluid to said fluid opening.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said injector means engages said strand at an intermediate position between said supply and a takeup and forms a bight in said intermediate portion, the bight being projected to said opening, the severing means severs the strand between said bight and said takeup to thus provide a tail downstream of said opening,

and said fluid means operates to urge said tail into said fluid stream.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid stream is provided as a vortical stream and a high velocity laminar fluid stream generally encircling said vortical stream.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn advancing from a supply comprising, a strand receiver having an opening therein for the reception of said strand, means creating a fluid stream within said receiver to induce the strand through the receiver, injector means operable to engage and direct the strand toward said openings, severing means operable after engagement of the strand by the injector means to sever the strand, and fluid means cooperative with said injector means to tension the strand during severing and for carrying the strand advancing from said supply into said fluid stream after severing of said strand.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injector means comprises a plunger, and means mounting said plunge for movement between a first position spaced from said opening and a second position proximate to said opening.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said severing means is connected with said injector means for movement therewith.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid means includes a fluid passage through said injector means, and conduit means for conducting fluid to said opening.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including control means actuatable as said injector means moves toward said second position for admitting fluid to said fluid opening.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said injector means engages said strand at an intermediate position between said supply and a takeup and forms a bight in said intermediate portion, the bight being projected to said opening, the severing means severs the strand between said bight and said takeup to thus provide a tail downstream of said opening, and said fluid means operates to urge said tail into said fluid stream.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid stream is provided as a vortical stream and a high velocity laminar fluid stream generally encircling said vortical stream.

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