US2236459A - Winding machine - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1941. E, R sw s 2,236,459

WINDING MACHINE Filed March 51, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 m MM? )maw March 25, 1941. E, SWANSQN' 2,236,459

I wnmme MACHiNE 1 Filed March 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zakari'r:

.7 W M vmu Jfiazwgvs:

March 25, 1941. E. R. SWANSON 2,236,459

WINDING MACHINE 7 Filed March 51, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet a Patented Mary. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING MACHINE Application March 31, 1939, Serial No. 265,315

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to winding machines for winding bobbins, pirns, cops, cones and other forms of packages of thread, yarn and similar strand-materials. In the following specification and claims the term package is employed in a general sense to signify any form of wound mass and the term yarn is intended to apply to all types of strand-material whether textile or otherwise.

One object of the-present invention is to provide means for relieving the tension on the strand deliverin to the winding machine at the start of winding apackage or when the winding opera tion is resumed after its arrestment for any cause.

Another object of the invention is to provide means controlled automatically by. the winding machine to relieve or entirely remove the applied tension on the strand as it is first taken up by the Winding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for opening or otherwise controlling the tension-device to prevent it from applying tension to the strand during the initial stage of the winding.

Another object of the invention is to provide electrically-actuated means for controlling the operation of the tension-device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide electromagnetic means for opening the tension-device. i I

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the type indicated which is simple in construction, dependable in action and proof against derangement Or getting out of order.

The following specification describes a preferred form of construction of the invention and a modification thereof as illustrated by the accompanyin drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bobbinor pirn-winding machine showing the present invention applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the tension-device of the machine and the electrical controlling means therefor, showing the tension-members closed to.- gether to act on the strand as it feeds therebetween';

Fig. 4 is a similar plan view showing the tension-members in open position under the action of the controlling means to relieve the tension on the yarn;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view .of the electromagnet, switch and wiring connectionsfor the tension-controlling means;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a winding matension-controlling means of the modified form of winding machine.

In winding machines of various types the strand-material is usually wound on a yarn-carrier such as a bobbin, pirn, cop-tube or other core rotated by a winding spindle, drive-roll or other means and the strand is traversed longitudinally thereof by reciprocatory or rotary guiding means to deposit it in helical coils on the core. Means are usually provided for tensioning the strand as it feeds to the package being wound and when the rotation of the winding spindle is continuous the sudden draft on the strand at the start of the winding is liable to strain or rupture the yarn if tension is applied thereto at this juncture. Likewise, in winding large packages of yarn at high speed, when the winding is started abruptly severe strain is placed on the yarn due to the resistance to its feed applied by the tensioning means; particularly when the package has reached a considerable size and restarting takes place after piecing up the strand following a break therein or after replenishment of the supply. To correct this latter condition a slow-speed starting device is sometimes embodied in the drive of the machine, but this complicates the mechanism and adds to the cost of manufacture.

To overcome the above-noted difliculties and deficiencies in winding apparatus of various types the present invention provides means for relieving the tension applied to the yarn at the start of the winding operation, thus correcting the trouble at its source. For securing this desired result the invention contemplates the employment of means for automatically opening the tension-device during the initial stage of the winding and prior to the starting or restarting of 'the rotation of the package. As a preferred form of construction the following specification describes electromagnetic means for automatically adjusting or opening the tension-device. I

Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the present drawings illustrate the invention as applied to a bobbin or pirn winding machine such as shown and described in an application for patent Serial No. 231,044, filed September 21, 1938, by C. D. Reynolds and H. A. Moe. In this type of machine the completed bobbins are doifed and replaced by fresh yarn-carriers automatically to provide for continuous operation of the machine. The dofhng and donning means and the means for restoring the parts to initial position to start the winding of a new bobbin are operated electrically as fully disclosed in the application referred to above.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the present drawings, one unit of the multi-spindle winding machine is here'shown as comprising a main frame or casing 2 enclosing the driving mechanism for a rotary winding spindle. 3 and a traversing thread-guide 5. The winding spindle 3 is rotated by means of a gear 3 connected thereto by a clutch l0 and driven by a gear I onthe driveshaft 8. The thread-guide 5 is carried by a traverse-rod i2 extending in parallel relation to the spindle 3 and adapted to be reciprocated by a rocker-arm l3 connected thereto by a link H. The rocker-arm i3 is arranged to be continuously oscillated by a cam l5 through the means of a bowl or follower I6 on the arm engaging a helical groove in the cam. The cam I5 is rotatably mounted on the winding spindle 3 and connected to a gear i1 driven by a gear l3 on a second drive-shaft ill.

The wooden bobbin or yarn-carrier b is held between a slidable spindle-extension 20 at the end of the spindle 3 and a stub-spindle 23 journaled in an outboard bearing 24 supported by a bracket 25 projecting forwardly from the frame or casing 2. The head of the bobbin 1) is held frictionally in a cup 21 at the end of the spindle-extension 20 and the latter is telescopically connected to the main spindle 3 to adapt it to be retracted to release the bobbin upon the completion of the winding. The retraction of the spindle-extension 20 is effected by electromagnetic means, not herein shown but fully described and illustrated in the application previously referred to. When released, the wound bobbins drop down into a box or chute arranged below. but not herein shown, and the fresh bobbin is delivered to the machine from a magazine 28 by instrumentalities indicated generally at 29 in Fig. 2.

The thread-guide 5 is mounted on a holder 30 in the form of a bifurcated arm having legs 3| pivoted on the traverse-rod [2. The traverserod i2 is formed with partial screw-threads 32 for engaging the threaded bore of a sleeve-like nut 34 mounted on the rod between the bifurcations or legs 3| of the thread-guide arm 30. A progression wheel or disk 35 fast on the nut 34 is adapted to make contact with the yarn wound on the carrier b to feed the thread-guide 5 outwardly along the rod i2 during the winding, whereof to build the bobbin with progressively advancing conical layers in the usual manner known to those versed in the art. After 9. bobbin has been completed and dotted the threadguide 5 is returned automatically to initial position to wind 8. new bobbin by releasing the nut 34 from the threads 32 on the traverse-rod l2 and sliding the arm 30 rearwardly on the rod under the action of electromagnetic means shown and described in the application previously referred to.

Surmounting the casing 2 is a bracket 33 which, with several similar brackets spaced along the gang machine, support a horizontal rod 33. An arm 43 supported from the rod 33 carries a supply-holder 4i for mounting a cone C orother package of yarn for delivery of the strand :1 to the bobbins to be wound on the machine. Projecting upwardly from the bracket 33 is a stanchion 43 which serves as one of a series of similar supports for a pair of horizontal rods 44 and 45. Also supported by the stanchions 43 below the rod 45 is a tubular rod or pipe 41 which forms a conduit for the conductors or wires of the electrical circuit for energizing the electromagnetic means of the machine.

Supported from the rod 45 is a bracket 43 on which is mounted the tension-device 53 for applying tension to the strand 1/ as it feeds to the winding bobbin. The tension-device may be of any preferred form and, as herein illustrated, it-

comprises a pair of tension-members or gridlike plates 5| and 52 arranged in opposed relationship with their bars or fingers 53 alternating and adapted to overlap to form a sinuous course for the strand 1/ drawing between the plates. The two members or plates 5| and 52 are supported on a rod 55 projecting through apertures in ears 53 and 51 at the top and bottom of the plates and held in lugs 53 and 53 on the bracket 43. One member 5| is fastened in fixed position on the bracket 43 while the other member 52 is free to pivot on the rod 55 to adapt it to swing toward and away from the fixed member. The member 52 is formed at the top with a laterally-projecting arm 53, see Figs. 3 and 4, to which is attached a cord 3| connected at its opposite end to a pin or weight-holder 34 carrying a weight 55. The cord 5i leads across a hook 66 on the side of the bracket 43 and thus acts to suspend the holder 54 and its weight 35 to urge the movable tension-member 52 toward the fixed member 5|, thus causing them to cooperate to apply pressure on the strand 1: to sinuate its course as it draws through the device. The rod 55 is continued downwardly beyond the bracket 43 and bent at right-angles with a pigtail 51 formed at its end. Fastened to the top of the bracket 43 is a second pigtail 33 which cooperates with the pigtail 51 to guide the strand 1 in a medial course through the tensiondevice. Fastened to the rod 44 at the upper end of the stanchion 43 is a spring-arm 69 carrying a guiding eye 13 at its upper end, through which the strand 1! leads to direct it downwardly to the thread-guide 5; the arm 53 being adapted to flex slightly under fluctuations in the draft on the yarn as it is wound up and down on the conical chase of the bobbins The means for adjusting or opening the tension-device 50 to relieve the tension on the strand comprises an electromagnet 15 which is energized from a circuit controlled by the switch that initiates the operation of the automatic donning mechanism prior to starting. the winding of a new bobbin. The magnet 15 may be of any suitable type with its coil-windings surrounding a core I5 forming an extension of a wire arm 11. The arm 11 is formed with an angular portion 13 journaled in a bearing I9 which projects laterally from an arm or bracket 30 rigidly fastened to the rod 45 at one side of the tension bracket 43. A collar 14 on. the end of the angular portion 13 of the arm 11 holds the arm in place. The arm 11 is thus swiveled to the bracket 30 to adapt it to pivot thereon, being normally maintained in the position illustrated by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 by gravity, resting upon 8. lug 3| projecting from the side of the held with the end of its core 18 adjacent but spaced a slight distance away from the flaring forward portion of the movable tension-member 52 at the upper end thereof. Consequently,

when the magnet 151s energized it will attract the outer portion of the pivoted tension-member 52 and swing the latter away from the stationary member 5|, as shown in Fig. 4, to relieve the pressure of the members on the strand 1!. The pivotal mounting of the arm 11 permits the magnet 15 to be lifted manually into the position indicated by dash-lines in Fig. 2, whereof to allow the tension-member 52 to be swung wide open for cleaning the device or other purposes. A lug 82 spaced from the lug 8| on the bracket 80 acts to limit the upward movement of the arm 11 to insure that the magnet 15 will return to its lowermost or operative position,

when released.

The magnet 15 is connected in circuit with the source of electrical current which operates the other parts of the machine by flexible conductors 84 and 85 joined to wires 88 and 81 leading through the conduit 41. The circuit is closed to energize the magnet by means of a Switch 80 shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The switch 80 may be of any suitable type and actuated from any moving part of the machine, in the presentembodiment of the invention the rotary drum-switch shown in the application hereinbefore referred tobeing made use of. In the machine of the prior application the rotary dnmi. of the switch is energized by a spring placed under tension by electromagnetic means. The rotary switch serves as the timing device for the various instrumentalities of the doffing and donning mechanism, the spring being released and energized to rotate the drum to close the several circuits in timed sequence. For the present purpose the switch 90 may be in the same circuit with the bobbin-donning means which remain active to hold the fresh bobbin or yam-receiver in connection with the winding spindle of the machine as it is first rotated to wind several coils of yarn on the bobbin. For the sake of simplicity the switch 90 is shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 5 as connected directly in circuit with the magnet windings, indicated at 15, and the current line conductors i and 92 through the wires 84, 85 and 94.

The construction and arrangement of one preferred embodiment of the invention having been described in detail its method of operation is explained as follows: To prepare the machine for operation the strand y of yarn or other material is drawn off from the supply cone 0, led up through the pigtail 61, tension-device 50 and pigtail 68; whence it is threaded through the guideeye 10 on the arm 69, thence drawn down to the thread-guide and threaded therethrough with its end attached to the bobbin 1). The winding spindle 3 is driven continuously and through its connected cup 21 engaging the bobbin b the latter is rotated to wind on the yarn as it is traversed longitudinally thereof by the thread-guide 5, actuated by the continuously-reciprocated traverse-rod I2. As the winding operation proceeds the thread-guide 5 is advanced outwardly along the traverse-rod I2 by the turning of the progression wheel 35 which makes contact intermittently with the yarn on the bobbin at each rearward traverse-stroke of the guide. The bobbin increases in size longitudinally until finally it reaches its full length, at which juncture suitable instrumentalities are actuated to energize the dofilng means. The full bobbin is doffed by the retraction of the spindle-cup 21 and thereafter the donning means places a fresh yamcarrier in alinement with the winding spindle 3 and stub-spindle 28, holding it in this position until it is gripped automatically by the spindlecup 21 and rotated thereby. In the meantime the thread-guide vI1 is restored to first position.

and the strand 1 drawing therethrough is fastened to the bobbin' by gripping it between the latter and the cup 21, this operation also being performed automatically.- 4

' As before stated, the donning means remains active during the initial stage of the winding and the tension-relief takes place at this time. That is'to say, immediately the donning means starts to act the electrical circuit to the magnet 15 is closed by the switch 90 which controls the donning operation. Energization of the magnet 15 causes its core 18 to attract the pivoted tension-member 52 and swing it away from the fixed member 5|, asshown in Fig. 4, to relieve the tension on the strandy, this relief taking place just before the start of winding the new bobbin and continuing for a brief period thereafter. The magnet 15 is then de-energized by the continued rotation of the drum-switch 90, thereby releasing the tension-member 52 to permit it to swing back into operative position under the influence of the weight 85 connected thereto. The return of the tension-member 52 will be relatively slow so that tension is applied to the running strand y gradually without placing a sudden strain on the yarn. In this way the device operates to relieve the tension on the yarn at the start of the winding when the strand is taken up suddenly so that all chance of rupturing or straining the material is eliminated.

Figs. 6 to 9 of the present drawings illustrate the invention as applied to a winding machine of the type known as a precision winder. This type of machine is employed for producing crosswound packages of relatively large size, of either cylindrical or conical shape. As herein illustrated the winding machine comprises a main frame I00 providing bearings for a horizontal winding spindle I03 journaled therein and a cam-shaft I04 arranged therebelow in parallel relation thereto. A reciprocable thread-guide I05 is slidably mounted on a traverse-frame I06 which is pivoted on the cam-shaft I04 to permit the guide to move away from the winding spindle as the package is built up thereon. The traverse-frame I06 is balanced by a counterweight I01 tending to maintain the guide I05 bearing against the surface of the package being wound and a dogging device, represented generally at I08, cooperates withan arcuate quadrant I09 to resist the movement of the traverse-frame toward the winding spindle.

The quadrant I09 is pivoted to the main frame I00 by means of a stud or screw 0 to adapt it to serve as a rockable stopping lever for initiatcarrying a hand-lever H1 and also an arm or lever I I3, the lower end of which is formed with a detent abutment II9 adapted to engage the shoulder on the abutment II3 at'the end of the arm II4 of the quadrant I39. The rocker-shaft II3 may be operated by a springjor other means upon release of the detents to' cause declutchins of the drive to arrest the operation of the machine. The operation of the machine is started by rocking the hand-lever I" manually in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 to clutch the drive pulley with the winding spindle, the detent abutments H3 and Ill being engaged at -this time to maintain the drive connected.

Any suitable type of tension-device may be used with the machine shown in Fig.- 6 and as here illustrated a disk-tension I23 is mounted on a bracket I2I fastened to the side of the ma chine frame I33 at I22. The bracket I2I is formed with a circular housing I23 projecting from the side of a hub I24 in which is fixedly secured a sleeve I23. Mounted to rotate on the sleeve I23 are a pair of tension-dlsks I33 and III of usual construction having opposed convex faces with rims flaring outwardly therefrom. A spindle I32 is slidably mounted in the sleeve I23 and carries a collar I33 fastened to its outer end by means of a set-screw- I 34. The collar I33 is arranged to bear against a flexible diaphragm I35 which engages against the rim of the tension-disk I33; while the opposite disk "I has a similar flexible diaphragm I33 bearing against its rim with its central portion in abutting relation to the face of a boss I31 on the end of the hub I24. The spindle I32 projects beyond the hub I24 to adapt it to receive a helical spring I33 tensioned between the hub and a collar I39 fastened to the-end of the spindle. Through this means the outer collar I33 applies pressure at the center of the outer diaphragm I33 to cause the latter to act against the rim of the tensiondisk I33 to maintain the latter bearing against the strand 1 drawing between the disks; the inner diaphragm I33 acting with a yielding pressure against the disk I3I.

Below the tension-device I23 is a pigtail-guide I43 for directing the strand 1 between the disks and mounted on top of the bracket I2I is a slubcatcher I4I through which the strand feeds to clean the yarn. Above the slub-catcher MI is a guiding pin I42 across which the strand 1! leads as it draws upwardly to the thread-guide I33 to feed to the package being wound, a thread-bail I43 being mounted on the upper portion of the traverse-frame I33 to serve as a track or guideway for the yarn during the reciprocation of the guide.

A triangularly-shaped drop-wire or stopping lever I44 is pivoted at I43 on the forward end of the quadrant I39 with one arm reaching downwardly and carrying a cross-pin I43 on which is a sleeve I41 arranged to bear against the strand 1 as it feeds to the winding. The opposite arm or leg I43 of the drop-wire I44 is adapted to be engaged by projections or teeth I43 on a wheel or rotary disk I33 which is mounted on and rotated by the cam-shaft I34. When the strand breaks or its supply is exhausted the drop-wire I44 is released to permit its arm I43 to swing into engagement with one of the teeth I49 on the rotary disk I33, whereby it acts to lift the outer end of the quadrant I39 to disengage the detents I I3 and I I9 and release the lever II3. Upon release of the lever III the rocker-shaft H3 is operated to disconnect the drive to arrest the operation of the machine.

With this last described type of winding machine the tension-device I23 is opened by sliding the spindle I32 to remove the pressure of its,

collar I33 against the diaphragm I33 so that the pressure of the tension-disks against the strand is relieved. This result is accomplished by means ofan electromagnet I33. carried by an elbowshaped arm I33 pivotally fastened to the tensionbracket I2I by a stud I31. Conveniently, the magnet I33 may be held in a strap-like extension I33 of the arm I33 enclosing the magnet and fastened to the main portion of the arm by a screw I33. A set-screw I33 threaded through an oflset lug I3I on the bracket I2I is arranged to bear against the under side of the arm I33 to locate the magnet with its core I32 disposed 'at a slight distance away from the end of the collar I33. The windings of the magnet I33 are connected in circuit with a source of current by means of wires I33 and I34, an automaticallyoperated switch being provided for closing the circuit when the winding machine is first started to operate.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the switch I13 may be of the mercury type mounted on a. pivoted arm or holder "I. The switch-holder I II is pivoted on a screw I12 at the upper end of an arm I13 projecting vertically from a bracket I13 attached to the machine frame at I13. Fastened to the bracket I13 is a cylinder I11 which constltutes a part of a dash-pot for delaying the opening of the switch I13. A weighted piston I13 in the cylinder I11 is connected by a rod I19 to the switch-holder "I and in the bottom of the cylinder is a valve I 33 having a hall-closure I3I whereby when the piston is raised in the cylinder the valve will be opened to admit air.

When the piston I13 descends in the cylinder the valve is closed by the ball "I and a small vent-orifice I32 permits the slow escape of the air so that the downward movement of the piston is retarded to retard the tilting action of the member "I in opening the switch I13.

The glass envelope of the switch I 33 is provided with contacts In and m at one end across which the mercury I 33 flows when the opposite end of the switch is tilted upwardly as shown in Fig. 8, thus closing the circuit to the magnet I33. Referring to Fig. 9, one pole of the switch I13 is connected with the magnet I33 by the wire I33 and the wire I94 from the opposite pole is connected to the line conductor I92 with a wire I34 leading from the opposite line conductor I93 to the magnet I 33. The line conductors I92 and I93 carry current from any usual source.

The switch-arm "I is tilted upwardly to close the switch by the movement of the starting lever I I1 when the latter is rocked in a clockwise direction to start the operation of the winding machine. The starting handle II1 carries an arm I93 at the end of which is a pivoted latch I33 adapted to engage under and lift the switchholder "I. The latch- I93 is pivoted between the sides of the forked end of the arm I33 on a screw I9I, a hairpin-shapedspring I93 coiled about the screw being arranged to normally hold the latch in the position shown in Fig. 6. The latch I93 has a forwardly-extending arm adapted to engage under the end of the switch-holder HI and a downwardly-extending arm formed with a stop I93 adapted to engage in under one of the sides of the forked end of the arm I33. The spring I 93 'tends to maintain the latch I93 in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the stop I36 engaged with the arm I35 while permitting the latch to rock in a clockwise direction on the arm when the latter moves downwardly to position the latch under the end of the switch-holder III.

The method of operation of the last-described embodiment of the invention is explained as fol-' lows: After the strand of yarn'y has been drawn from its source of supply, not herein shown, threaded through the tension-device I20 and led up to the thread-guide I05 in the manner as explained above its end is attached to a fiber or paper tube T mounted on the winding spindle I03. To initiate the winding operation the starting handle I I1 is rocked in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 'I to that illustrated in Fig. 6, whereby to connect the drive with the winding spindle I03. During the first part of the movement of the handle II! the latch I at the the mercury I35 across the contacts I33 and I84.

immediately closes the circuit to the magnet I55 and the latter is'energized to cause its core I 62 to attract the collar I33 on the end of the spindle I32 of the tension-device I20. The attraction of the collar I33 slides the spindle I32 to relieve the pressure of the diaphragms I35 and I35 against the rims of the tension-disks I30 and I3I and the disks are then free to separate so that immediately the strand y starts to feed through the tension-device no substantial resistance to its draft is encountered.

It will be understood that the energization of the magnet I55 takes place at the first movement of the starting handle I I1 before the clutch is actuated to engage the driving means and start the rotation of the spindle I03. As the movement of the starting handle III is continued the abutment II9 on the arm or lever H8 is carried down into engagement with the shoulder on the abutment I I5, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to complete the clutching of the drive and immediately thereafter the spindle I03 is rotated to wind on the yarn as it is traversed longitudinally thereof by the reciprocating thread-guide I05. During this last movement of the handle II! the latch I90 rides off from the end of the switch-holder HI and under the influence of gravity the piston I'I3 starts to descend in the cylinder I". The ball closure IBI remains seated in the valve opening I30 and consequently the air beneath the piston will escape slowly through the vent orifice I82. Consequently, the switchholder I'II will be retarded in its movement back to its original position shown in Fig. 6 so that the switch will remain closed for a brief interval while the first few coils of yarn. are being wound onto the tube T on the winding spindle I03.

Eventually, as the piston I10 reaches the bottom of the cylinder I" the switch-holder III will be tilted back into the position shown in Fig. 6 to flow the mercury I35 away from the contacts I33 and I84 to open the circuit to the magnet I55. The magnet I55 is thus de-energizedand as its core I62 releases the collar I33 the spindle I32 is slid to the left as viewed in Fig. .6 under the tension of the spring I33. Pressure is then again applied to the tension-disks I30 and I3I to cause them to bear against the strand y to apply resistance to its draft, and thus the yarn is tensioned as it feeds to the package being wound during the remainder of the winding operation.

When the strand breaks or its supply is exhausted the drop-wire I is released and actu-' ated by engagement with the teeth I 43 on the disk I50 to raise the quadrant I03 and thereby release the detents II! and 3. Upon release of the detents the starting'lever III is swung back into the position illustrated in Fig. '7 to declutch the drive and the arm I36 is swung downwardly to carry the pawl I30 beneath the end of the switch-holder III in position to raise the latter again when the operation of the machine is restarted. As the arm I33 moves downwardly the latch I30 comes into contact with the end of the switch-holder Ill and is rocked upwardly against the tension of its spring I95 to permit it to pass by the end of the switch-holder.

It will thus be observed that at each starting of on the yarn. By thus relieving the applied tension on the strand when it is first taken up by the rotation of the winding spindle all strain' on the yarn is avoided to prevent its rupture or injury to the material. Consequently, the winding spindle can be started at a high rate of speed so that the use of complicated slow-speed starting devices is unnecessary.

While the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in two'preferred forms of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In combination, means for winding a strand of yarn or the like to form a package, means movable into engagement with the strand being wound for applying tension thereto, and electrically-operated means for moving the tensioning means laterally of the yarn strand to relieve the tension on the strand at the start of the winding operation.

2. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding mechanism, of means for tensioning the yarn feeding to the winding, electricallyoperated means for adjusting the tensioning means to relieve the tension on the yarn, a source of current in circuit with the electricallyoperated means, a switch in said circuit, and

means operated from the winding mechanism for closing said switch'at the start of the wind-" ing operation.

3. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding mechanism, of means for tensioning the yarn feeding to the winding, electrical means for adjusting the tensioning means to relieve the tension on the yarn, a source of current in circuit with the electrical means, a switch in said circuit, means for closing the switch at the start of winding, means for opening the switch, and means for delaying the opening of the switch during the initial stage of the winding operation.

4. In a winding machine, the combination with. the winding mechanism, of a tension-device for tensioning the yarn as it feeds to the winding, electrical means for adjusting the tension-device to relieve the tension on the yarn, a source of tension-disks I and I3I to relieve the tension determined period during the initial stage 01' the winding operation.

5. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding mechanism, of a tension-device for applying tension to the strand of yarn or the like feeding to the winding, an electromagnet for adjusting the tension-device torelieve the tension on the strand, '8. source 01 current in circuit with the electromagnet, a switch in said circuit, means actuated from the winding mechanism for automatically closing said switch at the start of the winding operation, and means for opening the switch after the start of the winding operation.

6. In a winding machine, means for winding a strand or yarn or the like on a yarn-carrier to form a package, means for tensioning the strand being wound, means for starting and stopping the winding operation, electrically-Q actuated means for adjusting the tensionlng means to relieve the tension on the strand, and means controlled by the starting means for energizing said electrically-operated means during the first stage of the winding operation.

7. In a winding machine, means for winding a strand of yarn or the like on a yam-carrier to form a package, means for tensioning the strand being wound, electromagnetic means for adjusting the tensioning means to relieve the tension on the strand, a source of current in circuit with said electromagnetic means, a switch in said circuit, and means for closing said switch for a predetermined period during the start of the winding operation.

8. In a winding machine, the" combination of mechanism for winding a strand oi yarn or the like, starting means for controlling the operation of the winding mechanism, means for tensioning the strand as it'ieeds to the winding, means for adjusting the tensioning means to relieve the tension on the strand, and means actuated by the starting means to operate the tensionadjusting means at the start of the winding operation.

9. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding mechanism, of starting means therefor, a tension-device for tensioning a strand of yarn or the like feeding to the winding, elecaasasso trically-oper'ated means ior relieving the tension on the strand, a source or current in circuit with said electrically-operated means, a switch in said circuit, and means operated from the starting means to close said switch to energize the electrically-operated means at the start of the winding operation.

10. In a winding machine, means for winding a strand of yarn or the like to form a package, a tension-device comprising relatively movable tension-members adapted to bear against the strand to apply tension thereto as it steeds to the winding, and means actuated from the winding machine to operate said tension-members to rehave the tension on the strand at the start of the winding operation.

11. In a winding machine, means for winding a strand oi yarn or the like to form a package, tension means adapted to bear against the strand to apply tension thereto as it feeds to the wind- -,ing, means to apply pressure to said tension a strand of yarn or the like to form a package,

manually-operable starting means for the winding means, a tension-device comprising a member adapted to bear against the strand to apply tension thereto, and means operated by the starting means for'moving said member laterally of the yarn strand to relieve the tension on the strand at the start of the winding operation.

13. In a winding machine, means for winding a strand of yarn or the like to form a package, starting means for the winding machine, a tension-device comprising opposed members adapted to bear against the strand to apply tension thereto as it feeds to the winding, and means operated by the actuation of the starting means to move one of said tension-members with respect to the other member to relieve the tension on the strand at the start of the windin operation.

' ERNEST R. SWANSON.

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