US3169361A

US3169361A - Method and apparatus for controlling the processing of filamentary material

Info

Publication number: US3169361A
Application number: US258463A
Authority: US
Inventors: James R White
Original assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp
Current assignee: Owens Corning
Priority date: 1963-02-14
Filing date: 1963-02-14
Publication date: 1965-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-16

Description

Feb. 16, 1965 J. R. WHITE 3,159,351

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTRGLLING THE PROCESSING OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Feb. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jmwss A. WHITE Arron/v5 V) Feb. 16, 1965 J. R. WHITE 3,169,361

macs AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE PROCESSING OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Feb. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "88 mv TOR ig- JAMES A. H/ ft Arrow/5V3 United States Patent Ofitice 3,169,361 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 The invention relates to method of and apparatus for processing filamentary materials and especially to a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a twister and more specifically to a method and means of controlling the relative position of the ring rail at the completion of a twisting operation.

It has been conventional practice in the textile industry to transfer or wind filamentary materials from supply packages onto bobbins or spindles rotating at high speeds and, through the medium of a ringtraveler or fiyer carried by a ring rail, to impart twist to the filamentary material as it is collected upon a bobbin or a spindle of a twister apparatus. A twister of conventional character is provided with a large number of bobbin carrying spindles which are simultaneously driven at the same speed in order that the same amount of twisted material or yarn is collected on each spindle.

It is imperative that the bobbins have substantially the same amount of yarn to insure uninterrupted weaving or knitting operations. It is conventional to employ a mechanically actuated counting device adapted to be manually preset or adjusted to meter the total yardage to be placed on the bobbins and when such amount of the filamentary material is transferred to the bobbins, the yard age counting device actuates means for interrupting the circuit to the spindle drive motor bringing the motor and spindles to a stop.

The interruption of the motor circuit occurs irrespective of the relative position of the ring rail which is adapted for vertical reciprocatory movement. The ring rail may therefore stop in any position and unless such stoppage occurs at its uppermost or lowermost position, difiiculties are encountered in removing the bobbins from the spindles.

This invention embraces a method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of the motor driving the twister spindles and ring rail to condition the motor circuit when a predetermined yardage of filamentary material has been wound on the bobbins, to effect continued rotation of the motor until the ring rail is moved to a predetermined position at which the motor is automatically de-energized.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of and apparatus for effecting an interrelation between 21 yardage counter actuated means and a ring rail actuated means to eliect an interruption of the motor circuit upon transfer of predetermined yardage to the collector bobbins and after the ring rail is moved to a position facilitating easy removal of filled bobbins and installation of empty bobbins on the twister spindles.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a textile strand or yarn twisting or packaging apparatus embodying an arrangement for performing the method of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the portion of the twister mechanism or apparatus illustrated in FIG- URE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of the motor control circuit and components for controlling the operation of the twister.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated a twister apparatus which is inclusive of a frameltl comprising end plates 12, one of which is shown in the drawings, the end plates being connected by means of spindle supporting bolster rails 14 at each side, one of which is shown, and by a supply package mounting structure 16. The structure 16' is provided with suitable mandrels (not shown), each mandrel supporting a supply package 20 of strand or other filamentary material to be twisted or processed by the apparatus.

Each of the longitudinally extending bolster rails 14 supports a plurality of spindles through the medium of bolster members 22, each of the bolster members22 journally supporting a spindle 24. Each of the spindles 24 is adapted to accommodate a spool or bobbin 26 upon which is wound the strand or filamentary material 21 from an individual supply package 20. Each spindle is provided with a whorl 30 and the whorls of each pair of spindles are driven by direct contact with a driving belt 32.

Each of the driving belts 32 engages or takes over a driving pulley 34, there being a driving pulley for each belt 32. The driving pulleys 34 are fixedly mounted upon a longitudinally extending drive shaft 36 journaled in suitable bearings carried by the end plates 12 of the frame 10, the shaft 36 being driven by an electrically energizable motor 38 mounted at one end of the twister frame construction. The twister apparatus includes means for feeding or advancing the strand material 21 from the packages 20, there being an individual feeding means or unit 40 for each strand at a bobbin winding station.

In the embodiment illustrated, the means for feeding or advancing the filamentary material or strand comprises pairs of feed rolls, each

unit comprising rolls

42 and 44 journally supported in a housing or casing 46, the material feeding units being of conventional construction. The

rolls

42 and 44 are driven through suitable friction means from a single shaft 50 which is rotated by a belt 52 engaging a drive pulley 54 on the shaft 36 and engaging a driven pulley 56 adapted through gearing 58 to rotate the shaft 50 at the proper speed.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a similar drive is provided for the companion shaft 50 driving the feed roll units for the strands at the opposite side of the twister apparatus through a belt 52' driven by pulley 54' on the shaft 36 which engages a driven pulley 56 for the roll feed shaft 50'. Each of the material feeding units 40 is inclusive of a member 60 having an eye 62 through which passes the strand 21 from the package 20. The strand is threaded between the driven

rolls

42 and 44 and through a guide eye 64, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The member 69 is connected withconventional cam means within each feed roll unit establishing a friction drive to the feed rolls to advance the strand during the period that the strand 21 is tensioned between the eye 62 in the member 60 and the supply package. In the event of breakage of a strand between the feed rolls and the adjacent strand package, the member 60 is automatically moved by reason of the lack of tension of the strand to disengage the drive for the adjacent feed unit.

The twister apparatus includes a conventional ring rail 68, there being one for each row of bobbins at opposite sides of the twister, the ring rails being reciprocable in vertical directions. Mounted upon each ring rail 68 adjacent and surrounding each spindle 24 is a ring 70 supporting a traveler or fiyer 72 which is freely rotatable around the spindle in a circular orbital path provided by the ring 70, the adjacent strand 21 being threaded through the traveler 72.

In the twister shown in the drawings, the motor 38 provides a driving means for rotating the spindles 24 and the bobbins 26, for vertically reciprocating the ring rail 68 carrying the rings 70 and travelers 72, and for driving the feed rollunits 40. The arrangement for vertically reciprocating the ring rail is conventional and includes a crank or eccentric (not shown) driven by the motor 38, the crank or eccentric etfecting longitudinal reciprocation of the link or rod 74 which, in turn, actuates two bell cranks 76, one of which is shown in FIGURE 2, pivotally supported upon a bracket 78 depending from the bolster rail 14.

Each bell crank 76 is connected by means of a link 80 with a vertically reciprocable rod 82, the upper end of which is secured to the ring rail 68. The rods 82 are mounted in suitable guide bushings 84 carried by the bolster rail 14. An identical arrangement of links, bell cranks and rods is provided at the opposite side of the twister frame for actuating the second ring rail.

In the operation of the twister apparatus, the strand 21 is wound upon the bobbins 26 rotating at high speed and, through the use of the travelers72, each strand is twisted as it is collected or wound upon a bobbin. During the winding, the ring rail 68 is continuously re ciprocated in order to distribute the strand lengthwise of the bobbin upon which it is being wound in a conventional manner. The twister is provided with a yardage counter or yardage integrator 88 of a. type adapted to be manually set or adjusted for the amount of yardage to be placed on each of the bobbins.

The counter mechanism is driven by a belt 85 or other means driven by the motor 38. In conventional twister apparatus, the counter actuates a switch to in terrupt the circuit of the drive motor when the number of yards for which the counter has been set have been wound on the bobbins. the drive motor brings all driven components of the twister mechanism to rest. In this type of control for interrupting the motor circuit, the ring rail 68 may be in any position when the motor is de-energized. If the rail is stopped at a position intermediate its stroke, difiiculties are encountered in endeavoring to remove the filled bobbins or strand packages from the spindles 24.

The present invention is inclusive of means for effecting continued operation of the motor 38 after the counter 88 has actuated a switch means embodied therein so that the ring rail, feed rolls and the spindles are not brought to rest until the ring rail has been moved to a predetermined position, preferably at its lowermost position, to facilitate easy removal of the filled bobbins 26. This is accomplished through the provision of control means intercalated in the motor circuit and with the switch means in the counter 88 rendered effective when the ring rail reaches a predetermined position to interrupt the energizing circuit of the drive motor 38.

The circuit for accomplishing this purpose is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 3. Referring to FlG- URE 3, the motor 38 is operated by a three phase power supply designated L1, L2 and L3 through a magnetic starter 90 of conventional construction. A control circuit 92 is provided for the motor 38 which includes a transformer 94, a manually operated switch 96 for initiating operation of the motor control circuit, a manually operable stop switch 98 and a relay 100 for closing and opening the motor contacts M1, M2 and M3 of the magnetic starter.

One side of the manually starting switch 96 is connected by a conductor 104 with a counter actuated switch 106 associated with the counter 88, the switch 106 being connected by means of a lead'108 with a holding relay 110, the holding relay 110 being connected with the other Interruption of the circuit to 4 I side of the switch 96. Connected across the switch 96 between the

conductors

104 and 108 is a limit switch 112 which is in parallel with the counter controlled switch .106.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a bracket 114 mounted by one of the end plates 12 provides a support for a switch housing 116 enclosing the limit switch 112, shown in FIGURE 3, the limit switch being provided with a movable actuating arm 118. Mounted upon the ring rail 68 is a plateor member 120 disposed in a position to engage the arm 118 of the limit switch 112 at each reciprocation of the ring rail 68. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the limit switch housing 116 is disposed whereby the member 120 on the ring rail 68 engages and actuates arm 118 at a lowermost position of the ring rail 68.

In the operation of the twister, the operator first adjusts or sets the counter 88 to the yardage desired to be packaged or wound on the bobbins 26 and then manually closes the switches 96 of the control circuit 92. This operation energizes the relay controlling the contacts M1, M2 and M3 of the motor starter 90 to initiate operation of the drive motor 38. A holding relay is energized providing a circuit for the motor 38 through the normally closed switch 106 in the counter and through the relay 110.

At each reciprocation of the ring rail 68 during bobbin winding operations, the member actuates the arm 118 of the limit switch 112 but such switch does not affect the circuit to the motor 38 as the circuit is maintained through the closed switch 106 of the counter mechanism. When the counter 88 registers the yardage for which it has been previously manually set, the counter automatically opens the switch 106.

The opening of the switch 106 does not interrupt the control circuit for the 'motor 38 as the motor continues to operate during the period that the limit switch 112 is in circuit-closing position. The twister continues to be operated by the drive motor 38 until the ring rail 68 reaches a position at which the member 120 actuates the arm 118 of the limit switch 112 to open the control circuit for the motor 38 through deenergization of the holding relay 110 whereby the drive motor 38 and the driven components of the twister are brought to rest.

Through this method and arrangement, the ring rail 68 is always moved to a predetermined position at the completion of winding operations. In the embodiment illustrated, the member 120 actuates the limit switch 112 when the ring rail is at its lowermost position and is brought to rest in this position. Q

The filled bobbin 26 may then be readily removed from all of the spindles and replaced with empty bobbins. While the limit switch is positioned with respect to the ring rail 68 to cause the ring rail to be brought to rest in its lowermost position, it is to be understood that by changing the position of the limit switch hous- I ing 116, the ring rail 68 may be automatically brought to rest in any desired position after the amount of yardage for which the counter 88 has been set has been wound on the bobbins.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and dilferent arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of controlling the operation of apparatus for transferring filamentary material from supply packages to rotating bobbins through the medium of a movable guide for distributing the filamentary material on the bobbins including the steps of presetting a yardage counter for the amount of yardage of filamentary material to be collected on the bobbins, initiating operation of a motor driving the bobbins and actuating the yardage counter and the guide, automatically actuating a switch by the counter when the predetermined yardage of filamentary material has been transferred to the bobbins to condition a control circuit for the motor, and thereafter automatically de-energizing the motor when the moving guide attains a predetermined position.

2. The method of controlling the operation of twister apparatus wherein filamentary material is transferred to rotating bobbins through the medium of a movable ring guide rail and ring travelers including the steps of presetting a yardage counter for the amount of yardage of filamentary material to be collected on the bobbins. initiating operation of a control circuit to energize a motor driving the bobbins and actuating the yardage counter and moving the ring rail, automatically opening a switch in the motor control circuit by the counter to condition the motor control circuit when the predetermined yardage has been transferred to the bobbins, and thereafter automatically opening the control circuit to de-energize the motor when the ring rail is moved to a predetermined position.

3. In combination with apparatus for transferring filamentary material from supply packages to rotating bob bins having an electrically energizable motor for rotating a plurality of bobbins and effecting reciprocating movement of a guide rail for distributing the material on the bobbins, a yardage counting means driven by the electrically energizable motor. said yardage counting means being adjustable to predetermine the yardage to be wound on the bobbins, a control circuit for said motor, a first switch means in said circuit actuable by said counting means. and a second switch means intercalated with said first switch means arranged to interrupt operation of the motor when the guide rail attains a predetermined position.

4. In combination with a twister apparatus having an electrically energizable motor for rotating a plurality of bobbins and effecting vertical reciprocation of a ring rail, a yardage counting means driven by the electrically energizable motor, said yardage counting means being manually adjustable to predetermine the yardage to be wound on the bobbins, a control circuit for said motor, a first switch means in said control circuit actuable by said counting means, a second switch means in said control circuit arranged to be actuated at each reciprocation of the ring rail, said first switch means being ar ranged to be opened by the counting meanswhen the predetermined yardage of material has been wound on the bobbins to condition the control circuit whereby subsequent actuation of the second switch means de-energizes said motor.

5. In combination with a twister apparatus having an electrically energizable motor for rotating a plurality of bobbins and effecting reciprocation of a ring rail, a yardage counter operable during rotation of the bobbins, said counter being settable to predetermine yardage to be wound on the bobbins, a control circuit for said motor, yardage counter actuated switch means in said control circuit, a second switch means in said control circuit actuated by means associated with the ring rail, said switch means being intercalated whereby said second switch means is inefiective to interrupt operation of the motor until the counter actuated switch means is moved to open position.

6. In combination with a twister apparatus having an electrically energizable motor for rotating a plurality of bobbins and effecting reciprocation of a ring rail, a yardage counter operable during rotation of the bobbins: said counter being settable to predetermine yardage to be Wound on the bobbins, a control circuit for said motor. yardage counter actuated switch means in said control circuit, ring rail actuated switch means in said control circuit, said switch means being intercalated whereby said ring rail actuated switch means is ineffective to interrupt operation of the motor until the counter actuated switch mean is in open position.

7. In combination with a twister apparatus having an electrically energiza'ble motor for rotating a plurality of bobbins and effecting reciprocation of a ring rail, a yardage counter operable during rotation of the bobbins, said counter being settable to predetermine yardage to be wound on the bobbins, a control circuit for said motor, a first switch means in said control circuit arranged to be actuated by said yardage counter when the predetermined yardage is wound on the bobbins, a second switch means in said control circuit adapted to be actuated during movement of said ring rail, said first and second switch means being intercalated whereby said second switch means is ineffective to interrupt operation of the motor until the counter actuated switch means is in open position, said second switch means being effective to deenergize said motor when the ring rail is moved to a predetermined position.

8. In combination with apparatus for winding filamentary material on rotatable bobbins from supply packages, a member, filamentary material guide means for each bobbin supported on said member, said member being movable relative to said bobbins to distribute the filamentary material lengthwise of the bobbins, a yardage counter adapted to be preset to predetermine yardage of filamentary material to be wound on the bobbins, an electrically energizable motor arranged to rotate the bobbins and counter and actuate said movable member, a. control circuit for said motor, said circuit including a first switch associated with the yardage counter, a second switch in parallel with said first switch, said second switch being arranged to be controlled by means associated with said movable member, said first switch arranged to be opened by the yardage counter when the predetermined yardage of material has been wound on the bobbins to condition the control circuit whereby subsequent actuation of the second switch de-energizes the motor when said member attains a predetermined position.

9. In combination with apparatus for winding filamentary material on rotatable bobbins from supply packages, a ring rail, filamentary material gmide means for each bobbin supported on said ring rail, said ring rail being reciprocable relative to said bobbins to distribute the filamentary material lengthwise of the bobbins, a yardage counter adapted to be indexed to predetermine yardage of filamentary material to be wound on the bobbins, an electrically energizable motor arranged to rotate the bobbins and counter and reciprocate said ring rail, a control circuit for said motor, said circuit including a first switch associated with the yardage counter, a second switch in parallel with said first switch, said second.

switch being associated with means concomitantly movable with the ring rail, said first switch arranged to he opened by the yardage counter when the predetermined yardage of material has been wound on the bobbins to condition the control circuit whereby subsequent actuation of the second switch de-energizes the motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,645,083 Young et al. Oct. II, 1927 1,679,542 Pucci Aug. 7, 1928 2,461,952 Worth et al. Feb. 15, 1949 2,618,115 Sumner Nov. 18, 1952 2,922,273 Granberry Jan. 26, 1960 3,029,588 Davis Apr. 17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,540 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1960

Claims

1. THE METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL FROM SUPPLY PACKAGES TO ROTATING BOBBINS THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF A MOVABLE GUIDE FOR DISTRIBUTING THE FILAMENTARY MATERIAL ON THE BOTTOM INCLUDING THE STEPS OF PRESETTING A YARDAGE COUNTER FOR THE AMOUNT OF YARDAGE OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO BE COLLECTED ON THE BOBBINS, INITIATING OPERATION OF A MOTOR DRIVING THE BOBBINS AND ACTUATING THE