US3754718A

US3754718A - End-finding means for yarn handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3754718A
Application number: US00176132A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Abbott
Original assignee: Abbott Machine Co Inc
Current assignee: Abbott Machine Co Inc
Priority date: 1971-08-30
Filing date: 1971-08-30
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28

Abstract

A yarn end-finding nozzle mounted to be moved to and from the surface of the package on which an end is to be found and a yarn knotter, said nozzle being provided with a sensor adapted when it detects the found end within the nozzle to effect retraction of the nozzle to the knotting position for knotting and resumption of the winding operation.

Description

United States Patent Abbott Aug. 28, 1973 [54] END-FINDING MEANS FOR YARN 2,758,799 8/1956 Fiirst 242/35!) R HANDLING APPARATUS 3,030,040 4/1962 Reiners... 242/356 R 3,168,257 2/l965 Perry 242/356 R Inventor: Samuel bbott, Wilton, NH. 3,203,634 8/1965 Pam 242/356 E ux Assignee: Abbo Machine Inc. Wilton, 3,563,478 2/l97l Bell 242/356 R N.H. Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Filed! g- 1971 Assistant ExaminerMilton Gerstein 211 App] 17 132 Attorney-Sewall P. Bronstein, Robert T. Gammons et al.

[52] US: Cl. 242/356 R, 224422//33% [57] ABSTRACT [5 1 1 Int. Cl B65'h 54/24 A yarn end-finding nozzle mounted to be moved to and [58] Field 6 36 39 from the surface of the package on which an end is to d' be found and a yarn knotter, said nozzle being provided with a sensor adapted when it detects the found 56] References Cited end within the nozzle to effect retraction of the nozzle to the knotting position for knotting and resumption UNITED STATES PATENTS of the windmg operation. 2,704,430 3/1955 Harris 57/345 X 20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures I I 132 I18 134 l4 10 llb l H l I02 114 I no 06 12 41 K l l 100 -l04 H2 l Patented Aug. 28, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

PRIOR ART FIG. lo

PRIOR ART Patented Aug. 28,1973 3,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

PRIOR ART 44 is; L!

FIG. 3

PRIOR ART Patented Aug. 28, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CLUTCH FIG. 6

PRIOR ART S FIG. 7

PRIOR ART FIG. 8

PRIOR ART END-FINDING MEANS FOR YARN HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,168,257 discloses a winding machine embodying an end-finding nozzle of the kind with which this invention is concerned wherein a nozzle is supported for movement toward the surface of the package on which yarn is being wound on the one hand to find the end of the yarn and on the other to present the found end to a knotter. The nozzle in the aforesaid patent is provided with flexible lips at its entrance adapted by engagement with the surface of the package to loosen the yarn end. In the aforesaid machine, the operation takes place within a definite time cycle with variations due to package size, a condition thought to be somewhat disadvantageous for large packages which revolve a fewer number of times. A timing device was used to correct this situation, however, this has the disadvantage that if the end is found early in the time cycle resumption of the winding operation is wastefully delayed by the timer. The present invention is designed to enable searching long enough to be quite sure of finding the end of any package regardless of size but only for as long as necessary to find the end and thereupon to stop the finding operation and start the second portion of the cycle of operation, that is, the knotting and winding operations, the advantage being that the searching operation is, thus, not bound to a specific time. By reducing the average time consumed for finding, the capacity for the winding is increased and surface disturbance of the package is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As herein illustrated the finding nozzle embodies a passage and a narrow, elongated entrance opening in communication therewith, the opening being of the approximate length of the package on which the yarn is being wound. The nozzle is supported for movement toward and from the surface of the package and from time to time, that is when the nozzle is moved up to the surface of the package for finding, a lower than atmospheric pressure is established within the nozzle to create suction at the entrance opening to draw an end into the nozzle. There are means effecting movement of the nozzle to and from its finding position and in accordance with this invention, sensing means is provided exteriorly of the nozzle passage and rearwardly of the entrance opening thereto operable by the presence of a found end in the nozzle passage to initiate operation of said means to effect retraction of the nozzle. The sensing means may comprise a photoelectric device from which eminates a beam arranged to be intercepted by a found end within the passage as the yarn is traverse within the passage. As disclosed the nozzle contains aligned openings which intersect the nozzle passage and there are means for supporting adjacent the openings respectively a lamp and a light sensitive cell.

Desirably to assist in loosening the end, a baffer is supported adjacent to the entrance opening of the nozzle, movable together with the nozzle to a finding position adjacent the package, the baffer being adapted to be oscillated repeatedly to strike the surface of the package during the finding operation. The baffer comprises an elongate element suspended for free oscillation while in the finding position.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the company drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic elevational view of a winding machine showing the finding nozzle in its inoperative position;

FIG. la is a fragmentary elevation of the nozzle showing the air jet by means of which a subatmospheric pressure is created at the entrance to the nozzle;

FIG. 2 is in fragmentary elevation to larger scale showing part of the linkage for effecting movement of the nozzle into and out of operative position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken through the same vertical axis as FIG. 2 but looking from the left to the right in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view to much larger scale showing the relation of the finding nozzle to the package in its operative position with the nozzle sectioned in part to show the yarn situated within the passage and to show the details of the sensing device;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the nozzle showing an alternative arrangement of the sensing device;

FIG. 5 is a planned view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows the brake and brake actuating means for stopping the cam shaft during the end-finding operation and releasing the cam shaft when the end is found;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the cam for effecting energization of the solenoid by means of which the brake is applied;

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the timing switch employed in the control circuit.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1, 4 and 5, the endfinding nozzle 10 comprises a generally triangular transversely flat structure having at its wider end a transversely extending, narrow entrance opening 12 which is substantially as long as the packageP on which the yarn is wound and at its narrower end a hollow coupling 14 by means of which it is connected to a bag 8 for collecting yarn ends. The nozzle 10 is supported for movement toward and from the surface of the package on an underlying mounting plate 16, FIG. 1, on which it is adjustable angularly to conform to various tapers of the packages of various degrees of completion. The mounting plate 16 is pivoted at 18 to the upper end of a lever 20, the lower end of which is provided with three

arms

22, 24 and 26. The lever 20 is pivoted at 28 so that the pivot point 18 is movable arcuately about the pivot 28. The arm 24 of the lever has pivoted thereto at 30, one end of a lever 32 carrying near its middle a cam follower roll 34 engaged within a cam groove 36. The other end of the lever 32 is connected by link 38 to a pivot point 40 on an extension 42 which is rigid with the mounting plate 16 of the nozzle.

The lever 20 is provided with a hub 44, FIG. 3, carrying integrally therewith a disk 46 adapted to be driven frictionally by a friction, driving disk 48 having an operating arm 50. A lever 52 is pivoted at 54 to the friction disk operating arm '50. The lever 52 is urged by a spring 53 so that its left end abuts a stop pin 56 on the arm 50. To move the nozzle to end-finding position, the right end of the lever 52 is raised by a lifter rod 58 which is operated by a cam 60 on a horizontal cam shaft 62.'The driving connection to the nozzle 10, however, will yield when the nozzle meets the package because the friction drive to the disk 46 can slip, thus, the nozzle will stop at the surface of the package regardless of the size of the package. The stroke of the cam 60 is made sufficient so that even with the longest travel of the nozzle to meet the smallest package there would be some remaining stroke of the 'cam in the direction to continue raising lifter rod 58.

It is desirable that nozzle should not press hard against the package during the end-finding rotation of the package, but on the contrary, it should move back a little so that its open entrance end is slightly spaced from the surface of the rotating package. Accordingly a rod 64 is firmly attached at one end to the lever 52 at 66 and carries a collar 68. Near the end of the upward movement of the lifter rod 58, the collar 68 strikes a fixed part of the frame causing the rod 64 to detain the lever 52 at the point 66. With the lever 52 detained at 66, further rise of the lifter rod 58 rotates the lever 52 in the counter clockwise direction causing the pivot point 54 to be depressed and accordingly rotate the friction disk operating lever 50 a little in the clockwise direction and so retracting the nozzle away from the surface of the package.

At the finding position of the nozzle, a blast of the high-pressure air is admitted thereto through a jet 70, FIG. 1a, by a valve operated by a cam on the horizontal cam shaft 62 to produce a subatmospheric pressure at the entrance opening to the nozzle to draw a found end thereinto. The package P is driven in the reverse or unwinding direction during the finding operation. In the patented machine, the nozzle is withdrawn by the rod 58 being lowered by a cam 78 on the horizontal cam shaft 62, and if the end has been found during the interval, it is drawn into a position to be taken by a knotter which is indicated generally at 80. The return move ment of the nozzle is limited to a definite position adjacent the knotter by a shoulder on the disk 48 whichengages an abutment 82 on the disk 46.

Because this arrangement did not provide adequate time to find the end of large packages which turn a fewer number of times, the aforesaid patented machine was modified to the extent of providing a timing mechanism for holding the finding nozzle at the finding position for a variable length of time according to the packaged size and then withdrawing it. This was accomplished by providing a solenoid operable brake, FIG. 6, for stopping the horizontal cam shaft 62 for long enough to find the end. The brake is operated when the end finder moves up to the end-finding position by a cam 60, FIG. 7, on the horizontal cam shaft 62 which closes a microswitch M1 in a circuit containing a solenoid S, the latter operating through kinematic connections 51 to apply a brake 53 to a brake pulley 55 which in turn, through a train, stops the cam shaft 62. When the solenoid S is de-energized, the spring 59 pulls the brake pulley away from the brake thus allowing the brake pulley to resume rotation by engagement with the drive pulley which rotates continuously. In order to hold the finding nozzle in a forward position for a predetermined variable time, a time delay switch T was provided comprising a time delay switch box supporting a track 13 for tilting upwardly as the finding nozzle was raised to the finding position at an inclination such that a ball 15 supported on the track would roll down the track to actuate a switch M2 which, in turn, deenergized the solenoid and released the brake so that the horizontal cam shaft 62 resumed its rotation and returned the finding nozzle to its retracted position. The delay could be varied by adjusting the angular disposition of the track to change the time it took for the ball to reach the switch or by adjustable stops which limited the distance the ball had to travel to reach the switch. This arrangement had the advantage of being able to vary the time of finding, however, if the end was found sooner than the period for which the finding operation was set resumption of operation of the winding operation was delayed by the difference between the set time and the actual finding time. In accordance with this invention in order that as short as possible time be consumed in searching for the end and having found the end to restart the winding operation, sensing means 100, FIG. 4, is provided comprising a light sensitive cell 102 and lamp 104, the sensing means being situated exteriorly of the nozzle, so as not to interfere with freedom of movement of the yarn in the yarn passage, in alignment with the

openings

106 and 108 at the top and bottom of the passage. As illustrated the nozzle passage is generally triangular (swallow-tail) in configuration the wider end corresponding substantially in width at the entrance to the length of the package of which the end is to be found and the narrower corresponding substantially in width to the coupling 14. A portion 12a of the nozzle passage from the entrance l2 rearwardly is uniformly shallow in depth as shown in FIG. 4, not much greater in depth than the diameter of the yarn and its is in this portion that the

opening

106 and 108 are situated.

Sleeves

110 and 112 mounted on a bracket arm 115, FIG. 5, support the cell and lamp adjacent the openings. As illustrated the beam from the lamp 104 passes through the opening 106 and through the opening 108 to the light sensitive cell 102 uninterupted as long as there is no yarn present in the passage. Preferably the openings are located in the portion 12a closer to the side next to the larger end of the package. As the yarn end is drawn into the nozzle by the suction, its natural traversing movement, because of its disposition on the package, will move it transversely within the passage until is passes between the

openings

106 and 108, thus, intercepting the beam. Interuption of the beam effects operation of the sensing cell which, in turn, deenergizes the solenoid S thereby releasing the brake whereupon the cam shaft resumes rotation and effects withdrawal of the nozzle. The retraction of the nozzle at the end of the finding operation, whether short or long, since most finding operations take place rather quickly, reduces the average time consumed for this purpose so that resumption of the normal winding operations can be had much sooner than machines operating on a fixed cycle or with a timer and, hence, provides for more economical use of winding time.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4a the bottom of the nozzle at the inside may be coated with a reflective material 99 and the cell and

lamp

102 and 104 mounted above the nozzle so that the beam from the lamp 104 passes downwardly through an opening 106 in the top of the nozzle and is reflected by the surface 99 back through an opening 108 to the cell 102. This construction has the advantage of mounting the photosensing means above the nozzle where there is more space thereby clearing the underside of the nozzle and improving performance because of the fact that the yarn interupts the beam twice in each traverse.

At, thus, equipped the air suction alone is about percent effective on an average from 80 to percent. Desirably the suction may be assisted to afford more consistent finding by employing a baffle 114. The

baffer 114, FIG. 4, comprises a narrow, elongate blade 116 supported in pendulum fashion at its opposite ends between the lower ends of transversely spaced rods 118--l18, the upper ends of which are connected to a transversely extending spindle 120 supported in a horizontal position above and parallel to the entrance to the nozzle between the upper ends of transversely spaced supporting plates l22-122. The lower ends of the plates 122l22 are secured to the nozzle support 16. An arm 124 is clamped at one end to the spindle 120 midway between its ends and has its distal end a fork 126. An electric motor 130 is mounted on the nozzle support having a drive shaft 132 to which is fixed a cam 134, the latter being arranged to operate within the fork to effect oscillation of the arm 124. The tines of the fork are spaced apart a distance which is greater than the diameter of the cam 134 so that the arm, while oscillated by the cam, is free to turn relative to the cam and, hence, will not force the baffle against the surface of the package but will rather cause it to be swung pendulum-like to strike the surface of the package without applying substantial or static pressure to free an end. The freedom between the driver cam 134 and the driven fork 126 causes the baffle to be swung freely against the surface of the package and, because of the proximity of the baffle to the center line of the entrance to the nozzle passage, there is little difference in the effect of the baffle between small and large packages. The force of the action is determined by the speed and weight of the baffle and is constant for any given set of conditions. That is, once the momentum is under way, the freedom of action allows the same for all size packages. Optionally the baffle may have a sponge, rubber face. The motor 130 is started by a switch which is included in the circuit with the solenoid.

Although it is preferable that the baffle should be free, this is not absolutely necessary.

A secondary advantage of the position 'of the baffle close to the entrance to the nozzle resides in the fact that it tends to increase the flow of air near the surface of the package which is ideal insofar as improving the finding operation. Other advantages of this type of baffle are that there is no tendency for the yarn to wrap up as in the case of the revolving baffle; there is much less disturbance of the surface of the package and the baffle itself is cleared by that part of the nozzle directly beneath it.

The finding operation is initiated as described in the aforesaid patent by engagement of a clutch which operates to effect rotation of the horizontal cam shaft, the latter rotating only doing the finding operation as described in that patent.

I claim:

1. ln a yarn processing machine, means supporting a yarn package, end-finding means comprising a nozzle embodying a passage and a narrow elongate entrance opening in communication therewith, said opening being approximately as wide as the package is long, means supporting the nozzle for movement toward and from a finding position adjacent the surface of the package, means for at times establishing a subatmospheric pressure in the nozzle to create a suction at said opening, means for effecting movement of the nozzle toward and from said finding position and sensing means situated exteriorly of the nozzle passage rearwardly of the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite ends of the opening operable in response to the presence of a found end within the nozzle passage to initiate operation of said means for effecting movement of the nozzle away from said finding position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a photoelectric device arranged to intercept a found end within said passage as the yarn is traversed laterally within the nozzle opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle contains aligned openings which intersect the inte rior passage inwardly of said entrance opening and intermediate its ends and said sensing means comprising a light source supported adjacent one opening and a light-sensitive cell supported adjacent the other opening.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a portion situated inwardly of the entrance opening which is uniformly rectangular in transverse cross section and longitudinally tapers from a width corresponding to that of the entrance opening to a substantially lesser width.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said photoelectric device is situated in that position of the passage of rectangular cross section inwardly of the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite sides thereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an elongate baffle suspended adjacent the entrance opening for free oscillation to and from the surface of the package while at the finding position and motor driven means operably connected thereto for effecting oscillation thereto.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a narrow, elongate, rubber, covered blade, a spindle, spaced posts fixed to the nozzle support between which the spindle is journeled for rotation about an axis above and parallel to the entrance opening said spindle supporting the blade adjacent the nozzle opening at the upper side thereof in relation to the direction of rotation of the package, an arm clamped to the spindle having a fork at its distal end, and a motor mounted on the nozzle support having a drive shaft on which is fixed a cam, said cam being operable within the fork to effect oscillation of the blade.

8. In a winding machine in which there is means for winding yarn from one yarn package to another and means for stopping the winding operation when the package from which the yarn is being unwound is exhausted or the yarn becomes broken, finding the end of the yarn on the package on which the yarn is being wound, tying the found end and for resuming the winding operation; a finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retracted position to a position adjacent the surface of the package and back to said initial position for tying, kinematic means operable to move said nozzle to the finding position, retract it therefrom and initiate the tying operation, timing means for interupting operation of the kinematic means at the finding position to cause the nozzle to dwell at said finding position for a predetermined time and a sensing device associated with the nozzle operable by detection of an end in the nozzle to disable said timing means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has top and bottom walls, comprising spaced openings in the top wall and a reflective material on the bottom wall at the inner side below said openings in the top wall, and wherein the sensing means comprises a lamp and cell supported above the nozzle in a position such that the beam from the lamp enters one of the openings and is reflected by the reflective material through the other opening to the cell.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a baffle supported adjacent the entrance opening to the nozzle passage and movable together with a nozzle to and from said end-finding position adjacent the package, and means for effecting oscillation of said baffle at said position to repeatedly strike the surface of the package during the finding operation.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a spindle, a narrow elongate blade suspended pendulumlike from said spindle situated above and parallel to the entrance of the nozzle, a motor-driven cam, and means operably connecting said cam to the spindle to effect oscillation of the pendulum-like supported blade.

12. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn and means supporting the package, end-finding means comprising a nozzle into which an end is adapted to be drawn by vacuum action, means for moving the nozzle to a finding position adjacent the surface of the supported package on which an end is to be found, timing means for causing said latter means to dwell for a predetermined length of time at said finding position,and sensing means for sensing yarn operable when the end is found in said nozzle to abort said timing means.

13. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn, and means supporting the package, end-finding means comprising an end-finding nozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a finding postion adjacent the surface of the supported package onwhich an end is to be found, kinematic means for effecting movement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said finding position and back again, timing means adapted to cause said kinematic means to dwell for a predetermined period of time at said finding position, and sensing means for sensing yam operable when the end is found in said nozzle to disable said timing means such that the kinematic means resumes operation.

14. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and means for supporting the package, an end finding nozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a finding position adjacent the surface of the package on which an end is to be found, a shaft operably connected to said nozzle, means for effecting rotation of said shaft to effect movement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said finding position adjacent the surface of the package and back again, a brake adapted to stop said shaft'when the nozzle arrives at said finding position, a cam on said shaft operable to effect operation of said brake, and means for sensing yarn operable when an end is found in said nozzle to disable said brake.

15. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and means for supporting said package, a knotter, an end-finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retracted position adjacent the knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of the package on which an end is to be found and back to said retracted position; kinematic means operable to move said nozzle from said position adjacent the knotter to said finding position and back again and following such retraction to initiate operation of said knotter, means for causing said kinematic means to dwell at the finding position of the nozzle, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable by the presence of a yarn in the nozzle to disable said latter means so that said kinematic means returns the nozzle to said position adjacent the knotter.

16. In a winding machine comprising a support and a package mounted thereon, a knotter supported in spaced relation to the package, an end finding nozzle movable from a retracted position adjacent said knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of the package on which an end is to be found, kinematic means including means for reversing rotation of the package during the finding operation and following the finding operation for tieing the found ends and resuming the winding operation, timing means for causing the kinematic means to dwell at said finding position, means for drawing the yarn into the nozzle during said dwell, and means for sensing yarn operable by the presence of an end in the nozzle to disable said timing means and to enable said kinematic means to return the nozzle to its position adjacent the knotter.

17. In a winding machine, a package support, an endfinding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retracted position adjacent a knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of a package on the support on which an end is to be found, said machine including means for stopping the winding operation and reversing rotation of the package during the finding operation and following the finding operation for tieing the found ends and resuming the winding operation; kinematic means operable to move the nozzle from its retracted position to said finding position and back to its retracted position, a solenoid-operable brake operable to interrupt operation of the kinematic means when a nozzle reaches said finding position, a microswitch for energizing said solenoid, said kinematic means being operable as it effects movement of the nozzle to said finding position to activate said microswitch, a timer switch operable to deenergize said solenoid at a predetermined time, and a sensing device for sensing yarn operable by the presence of an end in the nozzle to de-energize said solenoid independently of said timer switch.

18. In a winding machine in which there is a table on which are circumferentially mounted a plurality of winding units on which are mounted packages of yarn and bobbins for winding of the yarn from the packages to the bobbins, and means for moving the table to present the units successively to a tending station where, if a winding unit is not running or if the yarn has been broken, the table stops to permit retieing of the broken ends or tieing the end on the package to an end on a new bobbin replacing the empty bobbin; a finding nozzle movable from a retracted position adjacent the knotterto a finding position adjacent the surface of the package to find the end thereon, kinematic means for effecting movement of the finding nozzle to said finding position adjacent to the package and back to a position adjacent to the knotter for tieing and resumption of the winding operation, timing means for causing the kinematic means to dwell at the finding position, means for creating a subatmospheric pressure at the end of the finding noz'zle while at said finding position, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable upon detection of a found end in the nozzle to disable said timing means.

19. In a winding machine according to claim 18, a baffle movable together with the nozzle to said finding position adjacent the surface of the package and means for causing the baffle to repeatedly strike the surface of the package at said position.

20. A winding machine according to claim 19 wherein the baffle is suspended for swinging movement close to the entrance to the nozzle and provides at said entrance a restriction

Claims

1. In a yarn processing machine, means supporting a yarn package, end-finding means comprising a nozzle embodying a passage and a narrow elongate entrance opening in communication therewith, said opening being approximately as wide as the package is long, means supporting the nozzle for movement toward and from a finding position adjacent the surface of the package, means for at times establishing a subatmospheric pressure in the nozzle to create a suction at said opening, means for effecting movement of the nozzle toward and from said finding position and sensing means situated exteriorly of the nozzle passage rearwardly of the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite ends of the opening operable in response to the presence of a found end within the nozzle passage to initiate operation of said means for effecting movement of the nozzle away from said finding position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle contains aligned openings which intersect the interior passage inwardly of said entrance opening and intermediate its ends and said sensing means comprising a light source supported adjacent one opening and a light-sensitive cell supported adjacent the other opening.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a spindle, a narrow elongate blade suspended pendulum-like from said spindle situated above and parallel to the entrance of the nozzle, a motor-driven cam, and means operably connecting said cam to the spindle to effect oscillation of the pendulum-like supported blade.

13. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn, and means supporting the package, end-finding means comprising an end-finding nozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a finding postion adjacent the surface of the supported package on which an end is to be found, kinematic means for effecting movement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said finding position and back again, timing means adapted to cause said kinematic means to dwell for a predetermined period of time at said finding position, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable when the end is found in said nozzle to disable said timing means such that the kinematic means resumes operation.

14. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and means for supporting the package, an end finding nozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a finDing position adjacent the surface of the package on which an end is to be found, a shaft operably connected to said nozzle, means for effecting rotation of said shaft to effect movement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said finding position adjacent the surface of the package and back again, a brake adapted to stop said shaft when the nozzle arrives at said finding position, a cam on said shaft operable to effect operation of said brake, and means for sensing yarn operable when an end is found in said nozzle to disable said brake.

17. In a winding machine, a package support, an end-finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retracted position adjacent a knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of a package on the support on which an end is to be found, said machine including means for stopping the winding operation and reversing rotation of the package during the finding operation and following the finding operation for tieing the found ends and resuming the winding operation; kinematic means operable to move the nozzle from its retracted position to said finding position and back to its retracted position, a solenoid-operable brake operable to interrupt operation of the kinematic means when a nozzle reaches said finding position, a microswitch for energizing said solenoid, said kinematic means being operable as it effects movement of the nozzle to said finding position to activate said microswitch, a timer switch operable to de-energize said solenoid at a predetermined time, and a sensing device for sensing yarn operable by the presence of an end in the nozzle to de-energize said solenoid independently of said timer switch.

18. In a winding machine in which there is a table on which are circumferentially mounted a plurality of winding units on which are mounted packages of yarn and bobbins for winding of the yarn from the packages to the bobbins, and means for moving the table to present the units successively to a tending station where, if a winding unit is not running or if the yarn has been broken, the table stops to permit retieing of the broken ends or tieing the end on the package to an end on a new bobbin replacing the empty bobbin; a finding nozzle movable from a retracted position adjacent the knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of the package to find the end thereon, kinematic means for effecting movement of tHe finding nozzle to said finding position adjacent to the package and back to a position adjacent to the knotter for tieing and resumption of the winding operation, timing means for causing the kinematic means to dwell at the finding position, means for creating a subatmospheric pressure at the end of the finding nozzle while at said finding position, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable upon detection of a found end in the nozzle to disable said timing means.

20. A winding machine according to claim 19 wherein the baffle is suspended for swinging movement close to the entrance to the nozzle and provides at said entrance a restriction.