US3081045A - Automatic supply package indexing mechanism for winding machines - Google Patents

Description

March l2, 1963 Filed May 19, 1960 T. E. PITTS ETAL AUTOMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM FOR WINDING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffii ,1l/e4 ra/v f7. STEELE ATTORNEY March l2, 1963 T. E. Pm-s ETAL 3,081,045 AUTOMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 79.44A: E //rrs f- March l2, 1963 T. E. PlTTs ETAL 3,081,045

A AUTOMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM FoP .WINDING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY March 12, 1963 T. E. PITTs ETAL 3,081,045

AUTOMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed May 19. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I mwa 1A I ATTORNEY March 12, 1963 T. E. PITTS ETAL AUTOMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed May 19. 1960 FOR WINDING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENT ORS ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,081,045 AUTUMATIC SUPPLY PACKAGE INDEXING MECHANISM FR WINDING MACHINES Thomas E. Pitts, Cranston, and Carlton A. Steele, Norwood, RJ., assignors to Leesona'Corporation, Cranston,

RJ., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 30,346 14 Claims. (Cl. 242-356) This invention relates to improvements in winding machines or the like and is concerned speciiicallywith an automatic indexing mechanism for a winding machine of the autom-atie type.

In U.S. Patent 2,764,362 to Goodhue et al., entitled Winding Machine and issued September 25, 1956, there is disclosed and claimed a fully automatic Winding .ma-

.chine for winding yarn or ythe like into various `forms of packages, especially cones. In essence, the machine of this patent consists of a winding section, including a winding mandrel mounted for controlled movement between a winding position, a braking position, and a reverse rotation position, and a driving drum provided with a groove to traverse the yarn being wound upon the mandrel; an end-:Finding and knot-tying section operable in the event of thread breakage and including a knot-tying device and separate means for finding the respective free ends of the broken yarn and conveying them to the -knot-tier -to be `joined together; a preliminary yarn servicing section including means for detecting, tensioning, and cleaning the yarn supplied to the mandrel; and an enclosed control section for superintending the various other sections and controlling the functioning thereof. It wascontemplated in the machine of this patent that a reserve package of yarn would be vavailable for introduction thereto upon exhaustion of the original supply package and means was provided on the yarn servicing section for holding the end of yarn from the reserve package in a position of readiness and for changing to that end upon an indication, aiorded by other means .on the servicing section, that the original supply had run out. However, no pro- -vision wasmade there for transferring the reserve package 'from reserveto active unwinding position, or, conversely, for transferring the exhausted package from active to reserve position at which it coul-d be replaced to constitute a further reserve supply. Instead, the yarn packages were mounted in fixed position and, since either package had to be capable of serving as the active supply, the positions thereof necessarily represented a compromise between the most satisfactory position for the active package, i.e., with its axis in close alignment with the path of the yarn to the winding mandrel, and the most satisfactory position for a reserve package, spaced from the active package to avoid interference therewith but nevertheless accessible for servicing.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention ltofconstruct a self-activating yarn supply package indexing mechanism for winding machines, particularly of the fully automatic type just described, which mechanism is adapted to index a fresh supply package from a reserve position to active unwinding position and the exhausted supply package from unwinding position to a reserve position at the same time as the free end from the reserve supply'is introduced into the winding operation.

A further object of the invention is an automatic supply package index mechanism for Winding machinesk and package indexing is prevented when the thread merely 31,081,045 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 2 breaks -and is subject to repair by instrumentalities provided for this purpose on the machine.

In the course of developing the automatic package indexing mechanism of the present invention, considerable simplification, curtailment and condensation of components and functions were found possible in the yarn servicing section of the machine of the previously identitied patent and, consequently, the invention as a whole also embraces an improved yarn servicing section for association with yarn winding machines, again, particularly of the Vfully automatic type, and embodies the novel features -in this area also.

Thus, an additional object is an improved device for detecting early in the supply section the availability of yarn from the package in unwinding position for preventing yarn `change-over and package indexing when the flow of yarn to the winding mandrel has been interrupted due to breakage but is nevertheless available at the service section t-o the end-finding and conveying means.

Another object is a yarn Idetecting device as just described which is combined with the yarn tensioning array and affords a means of releasing the tension on the yarn during an end-iinding and tying cycle and/or a yarn change-over cycle.

.A further object of the invention is an improvement in lthe manner of retaining the free end of yarn from the reserve package in ready position and for guiding that end to a position accessible to the end-finding means during yarn change-over.

A still further object of the invention is an improved mechanism for openinga yarn slub catcher during an endiinding yand tying and/or yarn change-over cycle and for guiding the supply end of the yarn to the slub catcher as that end is being conveyed to the knot-tier for union with the free-end from the package being wound.

These and other objects Vand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a View, partly in right side elevation and partly in section, of the automatic supply package indexing mechanism and improved yarn servicing section of the invention in `association with an automatic winding machine of the ,previously mentioned patent, only a fragment ofthe control section Vthereof being shown;

FIGS. 2 and fr3 are fragmentary detail views .in plan and left side elevation, respectively, ofthe mounting and driving arrangement for the supply end-finding and conveying means;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view ofthe supply package indexing clutch in association with the actuating member therefor `and mounted inoperative position' within the `yarn servicing section housing, the top panel thereof being removed;

`FIG.. 5 is a view in front elevation of the clutch Vand actuating member of FIG. 4, taken in section along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and also revealing the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device in operative relationship ment `for the package indexing shafts in operative rela! tionship to the clutch; Y I-TIGS. 10 and 11 are detail views taken in section along lines 10-10 and 11-11, respectively, of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is 4a perspective view of the clutch latch actuating member;

FIGS. 13-17 are top plan views of a development of the cam surfaces of the clutch latch actuating member, showing the principal positions taken by that member with respect to the cooperating guide pins during the cycle of the member; n

FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail view, mainly in section, of the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device, showing the relationship of the guide pins to the cam surfaces of the clutch latch actuating member;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged detailed view in perspective showing the lower disc of the yarn tensioning array and the guide wall for maintaining the yarn in such array;

FIGS. 2() and 2l are top plan and bottom plan views, respectively, of th top panel of the yarn servicing section;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view in perspective of a yoke connecting certain operating links;

FIG. 23 is a front end view, in full scale, of the slub catcher;

FIG. 24 is a right side elevational view of the slub catcher;

FIG. 25 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the slub catcher operating means;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the yarn guide at the front end of the servicing section;

FIG. 27 is an elevational view of the front end of the suction tube of the supply end-finding means, showing the closure plate for the tube;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the suction tube taken substantially along line 28-28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged View in perspective of the closure plate operating cam; and

FIG. 30 is a plan view of waxing attachment platform on the servicing section top panel.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION From a broad or general point of View, the present invention 4may be characterized in the following manner. From the front end of the control casing of the winding machine extends a bracket which supports the housing of the yarn servicing section. Upon the top panel of this housing are mounted the several devices which service the yarn on its way to the winding mandrel including various guides, a combined yarn tensioning array and yarn sensing device, a yarn waxing attachment, and a yarn slub catcher. Spaced below the front end of the servicing section housing is a supporting frame member and a plurality of concentrically arranged shafts extend between the frame member and the bottom wall of the section housing, being journaled therein for independent rotation. The inner shaft is constantly driven by means of a driving connection for the lower end thereof beneath the supporting frame member, and the outermost shaft, which is normally held against rotation, supports at least two yarn supply packages at circumferentially spaced positions with respect thereto.

Within the servicing section housing is a clutch for establishing a driving connection between the upper end of the inner shaft to rotate the normally restrained outer shaft as well as the supply packages supported thereby, which clutch is of a semi-revolution type operated by a latch and is adapted to rotate the outer shaft the number of degrees corresponding to the spacing of the packages. The timing of the clutch is such that upon disengagement thereof, one of the packages is halted in active unwinding position, and the remainder in reserve position, at which positions they remain until the clutch is again activated.

The clutch actuating mechanism consists 4of a pivotally mounted member having on one side thereof a radially projecting toe or kicker which, as the member rocks, is adapted to engage the latch of the clutch to actuate the clutch and on the opposite side thereof, a circumferen- 4- tial pattern of camming surfaces by which the member is positioned axially to locate the path of the toe either to engage or to clear the clutch latch. Cooperating with the camming surfaces of the member to determine its axial position is an axially movable pin having a body portion projecting above the top panel of the yarn servicing section housing and provided with a shoulder to engage the yarn moving to the winding mandrel, whereby when yarn is present at this shoulder the pin is held free of the camming surfaces and when the yarn is absent, the pin drops into engagement with the camming surfaces to cause the clutch to be actuated to index the supply packages. A fixed guide pin projecting below the bottom surface of the housing top panel works in conjunction with the axially movable pin. The clutch latch actuating member is connected by a series of links to the supply end-finding means and is rocked about backwardly and then forwardly to original position as the end-linding means passes through the end-finding cycle.

Arranged concentrically with the yarn sensing pin is a disc tension array, the bottom element of which is stationary and the top element of which is movable along with the yarn sensing pin, and the camming surfaces on the clutch actuating member are so arranged that during the return portion of its cycle the sensing pin and the top member of the disc tension array are elevated to permit the yarn to enter the array and engage the shoulder on the pin.

At the back end of the yarn servicing section top panel adjacent the control section of the winding machine is at least one slub catcher for causing rupture of the yarn in the event of an abnormal change in the diameter thereof and the slub catcher is pivotally mounted for bodily movement toward and away from the top panel. An operating arm formed integrally with the slub catcher projects downwardly into the servicing section housing, which finger is engaged through a camming latch by means of a lever arm carried on the link connecting the clutch actuating member with the yarn end-finding means, whereby movement of the links during the end-finding cycle causes the slub catcher to be pivoted to permit the supply end of yarn to `be guided thereto and then returned to operative slub catching position. On the under surface of the top panel is a suction duct connected by a flexible hose to a source of suction in the control section housing, which duct communicates with a plurality of suction openings in the top cover of the yarn servicing section housing, there being one such opening adjacent each of the slub catcher and yarn sensing and tensioning device to maintain these devices free of lint, and a third which is adapted to hold the free end of yarn coming from the reserve supply package in readiness for a change-over from one supply package to another supply package.

The supply end-finding and conveying means is in the form of a curved suction tube mounted on the control section for rotation through an arc of approximately from a rest position adjacent the knotter to an end-finding position adjacent the yarn sensing and tensioning device and back again. At the end of the suction tube is a cover plate adapted to be closed by a cam provided on the service section top panel after the supply end has been drawn into the tube so as to clamp the yarn to the tube, the cover plate including cooperative knife edges to sever excess yarn and being opened at the knotter to deliver the yarn thereto.

Description of Related Components of Prior Art Machines Before commencing the detailed description of the drawings, it should be brought out that while the invention is capable of adaptation to various types of winding machines, it was specially designed for use in the fully automatic machine of U.S. Patent 2,764,362 and is shown in association with the control section of that machine.

However, only enough of the unmodified structure of that machine has been set forth in the drawing as is necessary to an understanding of the relationship between that unmodified structure and the structure of the invention. In order to facilitate a correlation between the invention and the remainder of the machine of the patent, the unmodified components thereof will be identified with the same numeric designations as were employed in the patent. It will also be appreciated that while the present illustrations and descriptions have been and will` be confined to the structure situated at a single winding position, the commercial form of a complete winding machine embodying the invention will more often be of the gang type in which a plurality of assemblies will be mounted upon a common frame to wind a plurality of strands of yarn and will be driven from a common source of power.

In so far as the related parts of the prior art machine are concerned, with particular reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, `the housing of the control section for the winding system consists mainly of a U-shaped frame 29 comprised of a horizontally extending base 21 and opstanding sidewalls 22 and 23, the latter of which, being closer to the observer, has been cut away to reveal certain of the working parts enclosed within the housing. Frame 20 rests upon a bed, part of which is indicated at 2. Projecting forwardly of frame 20 is the end-finding and conveying means for the supply end of yarn which consists of an inverted, generally U-shaped tube i155, of which only the lower end portions can be seen in FIG. 1. The end of tube 155 adjacent the frame 20 (dotted lines in FIG. 1) is received within a sleeve 163 jcurnaled for rotation in a bracket 158 which is secured `to the base 21 of the frame and includes two vertically spaced apart bearing portions 156 and A162 for supporting that end of the tube. Between the two bearing sections, the lower end of sleeve -163 is encircled by a bevel pinion 168, keyed or otherwise affixed to the tube for rotation therewith, which pinion is in meshing relationship with a mating .bevel gear 169 (FIGS. 2 and 3), carried on one end of a horizontal stub shaft 1170. .Shaft "179 is journaled for rotation in a horizontal sleeve bearing 160 for-med as an integral part of bracket 157 and carries on its other end, i.e., the end facing the observer in FIG. l, a spur gear 171 which is to be adapted to be rotated by `means of a segment gear 172 rocka-bly mounted on a stud shaft y173. The said stud shaft 173 is, in turn, supported by a bracket 175 resting on the base 21 of frame 2i).

Also situated in yfront of the frame Ztl is a thread breakage lever 625 having-a horizontal section 633 (shown in section in FIG. 1) extending transversely across the path of the yarn on its way to the winding section (not shown) of the machine. As is explained in the previously identifie'd patent, breakage lever 625, -by swinging upwardly fpom its depressed running position =as in FIG. l upon interruption in the flow of the thread thereover, furnishes the machine with lan indication that the thread has been broken and this indication sets into motion a sequence of operations in the course of which the end-finding means are lactuated to seek out the respective ends of the broken yarns, convey them to the knot-tying means t-o be -re-V united, and set the machine again in operation. This sequence of operations may be referred to las an end-finding and tying cycle. Early in -this cycle, stud-shaft 173 is rocked, by means not shown, relative to supporting bracket -1'75 and this rocking motion is transmitted to horizontal shaft l174i through spur gear 171 and segment gear 172. Rotation of shaft '170 leads, in turn, to rotation of supply end-finding tube 155 4by virtue of the meshing relationship of bevel gear 169 `and bevel pinion 168, whereby tube 155 is swun-g from la retracted rest position ladjacent the upper forward end of frame 20 and the knotter (not shown), downwardly and forwardly to seek out and engage the supply end of the-broken thread, after which tube 155 is Vreturned tolinitial position to convey this end to the knotter to be united with the end of the broken thread from the package being wound. The position of the forward end of tube (shown in PIG. 1) is approximately that of the tube on its way to seek out the supply end. Tube 155 is hollow throughout its length and the bore thereof communicates with a bore 159 in bracket i157 which, in turn, communicates With a suction or vacuum chamber 183 extending below base 21 of iframe 2f).

The parts of the machine thus far described as well as their function are precisely `the same as in the previously identified patent and reference may be Ymade to that patent for `a more complete description thereof than it is possible to provide here. These parts have no essential relationship t-o the subject matter of the present invention and are, infact, pertinent here primarily because of the fact that the supply end-finding means of the patented machine is a convenient source of motion for driving certain operative parts :of the 'in-vention. The motivation of the parts of the invention could, of course, be accomplished independently of the end-nding means of the patented machine. In any event, the subject matter of the invention is preferably associated with the patented machine and the Adescription thus far will yat least facilitate an understanding of the preferred context in which the invention is utilized.

Improvements 0f the Invention (l) Yarn Servicing Section 'Housing- The description will now be directed toward the novel featunes of the present invention Vwith continuing reference to IFIG. l.

`As can be seen in that figure, the base 21 of frame 20 is extended forwardly -as at V21a to serve fas a bracket for the attachment of the back end of the yarn servicing section housing 30. This housing is Igenerally in the shape of an elongated box, having a lateral offset 32 |adjacent the front end of the side thereof yremote from the observer -in FIG. 1, but seen in plan in FIG. 4, disposed in forwardly and downwardly inclined relationship to frame 2u. Comprising housing 30 is a bottom wall 34 having an inclined rear portion 34a affixed 'at its rear end to the forward end of the frame extension 21a and a horizontal front portion 3417, right and left side walls 36 and 38, respectively (FIG. 5), la front wall 40 and a top panel 42. All of these walls are formed integrally with the exception of top :panel 42 which is removable in the manner of 'a cover. At its rear end adjacent the control section of the machine, housing 30 is at least partially open to accommodate certain operating links.

(2) Supply Package Supp0t.-Situated beneath the front end of housing 30 is 4a nail 44 constituting a part of the yframe of the machine and held in fixed spaced reliationship to the floor or other surface upon which the machine rests, the support l'for rail 44 Iand its connection to the other fixed frame member being omitted. On the 'top surface of rail 44 is mounted la pedestal bearing 46 `which rotatably supports la yarn package supply spider generally design-ated 4S. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, spider 48 is `constituted by 1a central hub 50 and two diametrically opposed arms 52 and 54. Each of 'arms `52, 54 is provided adjacent the `radially outermost vend thereof with an opstanding pin or post 56 which is 'adapted to hold a yarn supply package (see FIG. 9), shaft 60 projects through an aperture inY the horizontal portion 3411 of the lower wall 34 of housing 30, a bushing 62 being interposed Vbetween the aperture edge and the shaft surface. A second shaft 64 extends through the length of tubular shaft 60, Abeing held in concentric relationship therewith by means of a tubular bushing 66 so as to be rotatable independently of tubular shaft 60. At its lower end, shaft 64 passes through and beyond pedestal 46 and rail 44, terminating with a bevel gear 68. Depending from the lower surface of rail 44 is an Iarm 69 which supports for free rotation `a shaft 71 carrying at its free forward end a bevel 'gear 73 having meshing relationship with bevel gear 68. Shaft 71 extends rearwardly from rail 44 beneath the machine and is connected at its rear end, in a manner not Ishown in the drawings, to a suitable source of power so that during the operation of the machine, shaft 71 undergoes constant rotation and transmits that rotation to internal shaft 64.

(3) Supply Package Support Indexing Clutch- It will he seen from what has been said that the external tubular shaft 60 is adapted upon rotation thereof to effect rotation of the supply package spider 48 and bring the supply packages S1 and S2 successively into unwinding position when needed. The motive power for rotating external shaft l60 is derived from constantly rotating internal shaft 64 and means must be provided for coupling and uncoupling these shafts to rotate package carrying spider 48 an ex-tent necessary to reverse the positions of the supply packages with respect to unwinding position. To this end, a semi-revolution clutch, best seen in FIGS. 4-7, is provided within the servicing section housing 30 in association with the upper ends of the two concentric shafts. A generally rectangular base plate 70 is secured to the horizontal portion 34b of bottom wall -34 of housing 30 in the area of offset portion 32 thereof as by means of bolts 72 passing through two oppositely situated corners thereof, base plate 70 being held in slightly spaced relation to lthe upper surface of lloor .portion 34b by means of spacers 74 interposed between the lower surface of the plate and fthe upper surface of housing oor. Spacers 74 may be constructed as separate collars or as bosses formed integ-rally with the housing floor. In its center, plate 70 is provided with a circular aperture '76 for penetration by the concentric arrangement of shafts, and free rotation of tubular external shaft 60 with respect to plate 70 may be assured by extending bushing 62 between lthese two components, as at 78. Bushing 62 may also be formed with an enlargement y80 having oppositely facing shoulders for contacting plate 70 and bottom wall portion 34b, and when so constructed enlargement 80 assists spacers 74 in maintaining the proper spatial relationship of plate 70 with respect to the floor surface.

The upper end of external tubular shaft 60 terminates slightly above the plane of plate 70 and fastened on the end thereof for rotation therewith is a disc 82 having two lugs I84 projecting from diametrically opposite portions of its periphery l(see FIG. 8). In practice, disc 82 functions as the driven element of the clutch. The driving element of the clutch is constituted by a second disc 86 with a periphery composed of alternating notches 88 and projections or teeth 90. Notched disc `86 is keyed to the upper portion of internal shaft 64 at a level spaced slightly above the plane of lug disc 82, being clamped between a nut 92 in thread-wise engagement with a threaded enlargement 94 on shaft 64 and a flange 96 at the lower end of the enlargement. To enable notched disc 86, which rotates with constantly rotating shaft 64, to be selectively coupled with or uncoupled from the lug disc 82, which is fixed to external tubular shaft 60, a Iflat V-shaped member 98 lis pivotally mounted, at its midpoint, fto disc 82 by means of a stud 100 offset from the disc axis. At is diametrically opposite ends, member 98 is extended or prolonged, as at 102, to project slightly outside the normal periphery of disc 82, and on the external side of one such arm is an upstanding lug v104 of a suitable shape and vertical dimension to engage with any one of the notches 88 around the periphery notched disc 86. kMember 98 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (in FIG. 6) by means of a spring 106 connected at one end to an ear 108 bent up from the internal side of the same arm -which carries upstanding lug 104 and at the other to a tongue 110 upstanding from the upper surface of disc 82. Spring 106 tends, therefore, to rock V- shaped member 98 relative to disc 82 about its axis on stud to engage lug 104 with one of the notches on the periphery of notched disc 86 (the parts being shown in engaged position in FIG. 6), and when the lug and a notch are so engaged, the two discs 182 and 86 are coupled ytogether to cause external tubular shaft y60 to rotate.

Since a supply package will normally remain in active unwinding position until exhaustion of the yarn thereon, the clutch can obviously be operative to couple the driving or driven elements thereof only for a limited period. Moreover, attention has already been directed to the fact that the clutch is of the semi-revolution type. The necessary control over the independent movement of V-shaped member 98 relative to lug disc 82, by which the duration of coupling is determined, is achieved by means of a latch 114. Latch 114 (seen in plan in disengaged position in FIG. 6) is formed as an elongated plate pivotally mounted adjacent one end on a stud 116 affixed on the forward unoccupied corner of base plate 70 and is provided at the opposite end thereof with an upstanding detent 1118. The pivoted end of latch 114 is extended longitudinally to form an ear 1115 to which is connected one end of a tension spring 117 stretching more or less parallel to the latch axis to a pin 119 embedded in the floor 34h of housing 30. The opening 121 in latch 114 through which stud 116 passes is elongated slightly longitudinally of the latch for a reason to be explained in a moment. Spring 117 biases latch `114 to the left (in FIGS. 4 and 6) as far as elon gated opening 121 permits and also counterclockwise toward the periphery of the discs. A stop 123 on the upper surface of base plate 70 limits the movement of latch 114 to just prevent detent 118 from engaging the normal periphery of disc 82. At its upper end, detent 118 terminates between upper surface of V-shaped member 98 and the lower surface of notched disc 86 so that it is adapted, when latch 114 is against stop 123, to engage one of the lugs 84 on disc 82 as well as one of the prolonged ends 102 of V-shaped member 98, these parts being shown in engaged position in FIG. 4. As long as detent 118 remains adjacent the periphery of disc 82 in engagement with a lug 84 and an extension 102, it will be seen that V-shaped member 98 is rocked about stud 100 to hold lug 104 away from the notches on the periphery of notched disc 86 with the result that notched disc 86 rotate freely while disc 82 and the external shaft 60 remain stationary. On the other hand, if latch 114 is swung away from the periphery of disc 8.2 and out of engagement with lug 84 and extension 102, V-shaped member 98 will pivot about stud 100 under the influence of spring 106 to place upstanding lug 104 in engagement with one of the notches 88, coupling discs 82 and 86 together, whereupon the rotation of shaft 64 is transmitted to external tubular shaft 60. As is best shown in FIG. 6, the pivotal movement of V-shaped member 98 upon the release of the latching detent 118 causes extension 102 to be shifted forwardly of, or in leading relation to, the lugs 84. Thus, as the two discs rotate together to bring the originally remote lug and extension around to the location of detent 118 (latch 114 having been permitted to return under the influence of spring 117 to a position abutting stop 123), that detent will be contacted first by the leading edge of the extension 102. Disc 82 will continue to rotate to br-ing the lug 84 into contact with the detent also and since V-shaped member can rotate no longer, relative motion between the disc and member must result. This relative motion is enough to rock member 98 about stud 100, removing lug 104 9 from 'the corresponding notch of disc 86 and uncoupling the discs. Thus, the latch 11114 is effective to permit the two discs to rotate in coupled relation only to the extent of Ian arc of 180.

The action of the clutch during coupling and vuncoupling is almost instantaneous and, as a consequence, disc Si. and the parts rotating therewith build up a considerable amount of momentum. Latch 114 is free to shift slightly on stud 116 because of the elongation of opening 121 and some of the momentum is absorbed by spring 117. Even so, lug 84, disc 82 and associated parts could conceivably bounce back from detent 114 in reaction to the impact of stopping. To avoid this possibility,` a back-latch 120 is also mounted for pivotal movement with respect to stud 116 and is provided on its front edge adjacent its free end with an upstanding detent 122 and on its rear edge adjacent the same end with a downwardly bent tongue 124 adapted for engagement with a slot 126 provided for this purpose in latch 114. Slot 126 is enlarged with respect to tongue 124 to give limited free motion in an outer direction to backlatch 120 relative to main latch 114. The longitudinal dimension of backlatch 120 is such that the extreme termination of upstanding detent 122 engages the trailing edge of a lug 84 on disc 82, when the forward edge of the lug is engaged with detent 118. In other words, mutually facing edges of detent 118 on main latch 114 and detent 122 on backlatch 120 are spaced apart just enough to accommodate a lug 84 therebetween. Like latch 114, back-latch 120 is biased toward the periphery of disc 82 by means of a torsion spring 125 wound around stud 116 with one end embedded in the stud and the other bearing against the inside face of detent 122. Thus, back-latch 120 will yield or swing outwardly away from the periphery of the disc 82 to permit lug 84 to pass and, when the lug is passed the extreme edge thereof, will swing inwardly, in effect, to trap the lug between the mutually facing edges of two detents. Obviously, the dimensions of slot 126 in main latch 114 must be such as to permit independent movement of back-latch 120 of suliicient magnitude to afford passage to lug 84.

Movement of latch 114 to release lug 84 and extension 182 is achieved through an operating linger 132, `formed integrally with latch 114, which extends downwardly and outwardly from the latch edge vadjacent stud 116 past base plate 70, as at 134, and terminates in a lateral extension 136. lt will thus be seen that by striking the lateral extension 136, latch 114 will swing outwardly to initiate a cycle of operation for the clutch;

(4) Clutch Latch Actmzzz'ng Member.-The means for acting upon finger 132 to release latch 114 comprises a rockably mounted member having a latch actuating foot on one side and camming surfaces on the circumference of the other side, which member is best seen in FIGS. 1, 4, and 12. As shown in FIGS. l and 5, a post 140 depends from lthe undersurface of the top panel 42 of housing 38 and ends in a boss 142 transversely bored as at 144 (see FG. 13) to receive and rigidly support a transversely disposed stub shaft 14-6. Shaft 146, as shown in FiG. 4, is situated with its axis above and in general align- -mcnt with finger 132 and projects from post 140 in the direction of the clutch with its end face in approximate vertical alignment withthe near edge of clutch base plate 70. Mounted on Shaft 146 for rocking movement with respect thereto is the latch actuating member V150 which, on one side, is held away from post 140 by a collar 148 encircling the shaft 14e and, on the other, is engaged by a compression spring 15'2. Spring 152 is retained on shaft V146 by means of a stop washer 154 aiiixed to the extrem-e free end of the shaftandjis effective to urge latch actuating member 158 toward post 140 against collar 148, but

will yield to permit member 158 to be moved axialiyY away from the collar. y

Latch operating member 150 itself is a three-dimensional solid of highly irregular configuration (see FIG. 12) and comprises, in general, a hub portion 184 penetrated by a bore 185 to admit shaft 146, a foot portion 186 projecting more or less radially from hub portion 184 at the end thereof adjacent post- 140, a crank arm portion 187 on the same end of hub portion 184 and projecting radially in more or less diametrically opposition to foot portion 186, and a circumferential cam surface portion 188, all in integral combination. As can be seen from FIG. 1 and FG. l2, crank arm portion 187 carries adjacent the free end thereof a laterally projecting pin 189 which is adapted to be connected to a link 190 for rocking member 150 relative to its supporting shaft 146; and, when in inoperative position, member 150 is positioned with the crank arm portion projecting forwardly to the extent permitted by link 190 with the foot portion 186 projecting rearwardly. Obviously, if link 190 is moved rearwardly, member 150 will be rocked in a clockwise direction in FIG. l, causing foot portion 186 to swing downwardly past latch operating linger 132.

When actuating member 150 is in abutting relationship with collar 148 under the inliuence of spring 152, that is, as far to 'the right in FIGS. 5 and l1 as permitted by collar 148, the vertical alignment of foot portion 186 relative to finger 132 and transversely of the axis of member 150 is such that 'finger 1312 is outside the path of the foot,

which will, therefore, clear the finger as member 150- swings. The purpose of the cam surfaces on circumferential portion 188 is, under certain conditions, to impart lateral motion to member 150 away from post 140, i.e., to the left in FIG. 5, in order that finger 132 will then be in the path of foot portion 186 and will be tripped to disengage clutch latch 114 as member 150 rocks.

An understanding of the peculiar configuration of these cam surfaces may be best had with reference to FIG. 12 wherein they appear in perspective and in FIG. 13 wherein they appear as a development. Cooperating with the cam surfaces are two guide pins, one an axially movable pin 192 and the other a xed pin 193, which function to control the lateral position of member 150 during its cycle of movement from a forward solid line position in PIG. 1 rearward through about 90 of rotation to dotted line position and back again. Considered from the point of View of the guide pins, the cam surfaces on circumferential portion 188 may be divided into two areas: those surfaces in the area to the right in FIG. 12 or below in FIG. 13, a 4more or less centrally located shoulder 194, which are adapted to cooperate with -axialry movable pin 192, andthose surfaces in the area to the left .of shoulder 194' in FIG. 13, which are adapted to cooperate with ixed pin 193.

Lookinginitially at the surfaces making up the first of these areas, at the back tend of this area is a generally lat surface 195 upon which pin 192 rests in the initial forward position of member 150, which surface 195 is bounded on the side thereof remote from post 148 by a vertical shoulder 196. Shoulder 1'96 lies Within a plane transverse to the member axis for a stretch adjacent the rear end of initial flat surface 19S, and then deviates obliquely toward post 141i for a short'stretch as at 197. At the end of at surface 19S, ,just forwardly of the oblique shoulder st-retch 197 is an upwardly inclined surface 198 abruptly terminating in a sheerwall 199 which constitutes the rear wall of a recess 200. The oor 201 of recess 200 is curved concentrically with hub portion 152 and atits mid-point is a step 202 defined by an inwardly inclined shoulder 203 risingfrom floor 201 and Vmerging at its front end with a transverse shoulder 203 which, in turn, intersects at its front end with an'axial shoulder 204. The curved licor 201 of recess 200 continues beyond axial shoulder 284 and joins at its front end with an upwardly inclined surface 205. Surface 205, at its upper end, merges into a short circumferential front end surface 286, Vthe last of the surfaces of the first area, the radius of surface 206 being somewhat greater than that of initial fiat surface 195. The inside wall of recess 200 is constituted by a shoulder 207 of varying vertical dimension, which amounts to a transverse extension of shoulders 196 and 197, until it disappears at front end surface 206. Front end surface 206 is extended, as at 208, laterally in a direction away from post 140, and extension 208 merges at a rear end into the top surface of a rib 209. Rib 209 bounded on the one side, i.e., remote from post 140, by shoulder 194 and on the other by shoulders 207, 196, and 197 and stretches all the way back to the rear end of circumferential portion 188, at which end the rib surface is spaced radially outwardly of and generally parallel to initial fiat surface 195. Between its ends, the top surface of the rib is slightly flattened from true concentricity with hub portion 184.

The area of circumferential portion is composed of an elongated transverse channel 210 extending the full length of the portion 188 and defined on the one side by shoulder 194 and on the other by a rib 211. At both its ends, rib 211 stops short of the ends of channel 210, the front end thereof being aligned with the upper end of incline 205, with the rear end aligned between the extremes of shoulder 197 and terminating in an outwardly inclined shoulder 212. At the outer rear corner of channel 210 is a projection 214 having a forwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder 216 terminating in a plane spaced outwardly of the exterior limit of rib 211 and connected at its rear end with a shoulder 218 stretching parallel to rib 211 to the end of circumferential portion 188. In effect, projection 214 is an extension of rib 211 separated from the rear end thereof by an inwardly flaring slot defined by shoulders 212 and 216. Preferably, the plane of shoulder 218 is aligned about mid-way between the planes of the side walls of rib 211. The bottom wall of channel 210 is curved concentrically with hub portion 184 along a slightly shorter radius than that of initial fiat surface 195 (see FIG. 5). If desired, the bottom wall of channel 210 may be extended on the outside of rib 211, as at 219 (see FIGS. 5 and 13); otherwise, the side of circumferential portion 188 may be cut olf in line with the outer wall of rib 208, except for projection 214.

An understanding of the purpose of the various surfaces provided on the circumferential section 188 may be best obtained with reference to FIGS. 13-16. In these figures, it must be kept in mind that pin 192 is restrained against all movement other than axial, and pin 193 is wholly fixed, while member 150 is free both to rotate about its own axis and to undergo bodily movement along that axis. Thus, although it may appear in these figures that the position of the two pins changes, in actuality, this not the case. Rather, the pins are fixed and member 150 moves.

The cycle of operation of actuating member 150 begins with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 13, namely, with pin 192 resting on surface 195 spaced slightly from shoulder 196 and pin 193 contacting shoulder 218 to maintain member 150 slightly spaced away from collar 148 on supporting shaft 146. As member 150 is rocked or rotated by link 190 in the direction indicated by the arrow (FIG. 13), pin 193 will engage the inclined shoulder 197, causing member 150 to be shifted slightly further away from collar 146 and post 140. Shoulder 197 insures that fixed pin 193 will not enter the slot between rib 211 and projection 214 but will remain in cha-nnel 210 as the slot moves past. Once fixed pin 193 is past the slot (FIG. 14) and is engaged by inclined rib end 212, member 150 will be cammed further away from post 140, holding shoulder 207 out of frictional contact with movable pin 192 as might tend to restrain pin 192 against axial movement. Continued movement of member 150 soon brings pin 192 to inclined surface 198 which initially lifts the pin (which is free to move only axially as already indicated) for a purpose to be explained subsequently. As the front end of surface 198 passes beneath, the pin 12 drops into recess 200 at least to a point corresponding to the radius of initial surface 195.

The result from this point on will depend upon whether pin 192 is free of all restraint and thus able to drop into engagement with the bottom wall 201 of recess 200 or is held against downward movement for a reason to be explained shortly. If the latter is true, pin 192 remains at about its initial level, as the rotation of member 150 proceeds until it is contacted by the upper end of incline 205 and is lifted onto front end surface 206. All the while fixed pin 193 is engaged by the inside wall of rib 211, which exerts the only guiding force on member 150, and so long as this is the case, member 150 will be held by spring 153 in an axial position on shaft 146 sufficiently close to collar 148 and post 140 that foot portion 186 will clear operating finger 132 of cam latch 114, latch 114 will continue to disengage the clutch. On the other hand, if pin 192 is free to drop the full depth of recess 200 into contact with floor 211, then as rotation of member 150 proceeds, the pin will shortly encounter inclined shoulder 203 of step 202, which, in order to pass the pin, shifts member 150 bodily away from post 140 (FIG. l5) and in so doing brings foot portion 186 into actuating alignment with latch finger 132. As a consequence, further rotation of member 150 causes foot portion 186 to engage finger 132, pivoting clutch latch 114 clockwise in FIGS. 4 and 6 away from the periphery of disc 82. This, as already explained, results in the elements of the clutch being temporarily coupled together to impart rotation to external tubular shaft 60 and package supporting spider 48.

Obviously, clutch latch 114 must be free to return to clutch disengaging position almost immediately after rotation of the coupled clutch elements begins and it will be seen that inclined shoulder 203 of step 202 in the center of recess 200 is quite short in length and only a lfew more degrees of rotation of member 150 is necessary to bring axial shoulder 204 past pin 192, allowing member 150 to shift bodily back to a position relatively near post to the limit determined by the engagement of fixed pin 193 with the inner side of rib 211. Toward the end of the rocking movement of member 150, movable pin 192 will encounter the inclined surface 205 by which it is lifted from the bottom of recess 200 up to the front end surface 206. At this point, of course, the pin is free of shoulder 207 and since rib 211 terminates at its forward end in axial alignment with the termination of inclined surface 206, fixed pin 192 is also clear of rib 211. Member is, therefore, -free to shift bodily (FIG. 15) to the fullest extent toward post 140 into abutment with collar 148, the axial dimension of which is so selected that, during the second half of the operating cycle of member 150, pin 192 will remain on rib 209, and pin 193 will remain on extension 219, if present, or will remain in the path of inclined shoulder 216, if extension 219 is absent during the rearward half of the operating cycle.

During the latter half of its cycle, member 150 rotates or rocks in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 16 with pin 192 riding in upwardly displaced position on the top surface of rib 209. Fixed pin 193 moves adjacent the external wall of rib 211 until inclined shoulder 216 of projection 2114 is encountered (FIG. 17). Thus, member 150, throughout most of the second half of its cycle, is in maximum proximity to post 140. Consequcntly, foot portion does not engage latch operating finger 132 but swings clear of the outward end thereof. After pin 193 has encountered inclined shoulder 216 on projection 214, continued rearward movement of member 150 causes the member to be shifted in an axial direction slightly away from post 1140. It will be observed that shoulder 216 on projection 214 is in approximate alignment, in an axial direction, with inclined shoulder 197 on rib 209 and the combined axial shifting and rotational movement of member 150 leads eventually to pin 192 dropping off the top surface of rib 209 into contact with rea-rend surface 195. This completes the cycle and the parts are now in readiness to start another cycle at the appropriate time.

Despite the important role played by iixedpin 193, as Well as vertically movable pin '192, in the preceding discussion, very little has been said so far about the structural relationship of these pins to the remainder of the machine.v With respect to pin 193, as can be seen in FIGS. 5, 1S and 2l, top panel 42 of housing 30 is provided on its undersurface at a point spaced somewhat rearwardly of its front edge with a `downwardly directed boss 2215()l in Iwhich the upper end of pin 193 is embedded. The length of pin 193 need not be, and preferably is not, so great as to bring its lower end into actual contact with the concentric bottom wall of channel 210. Some separation between ther pin end and the channel bottom allows for any slight irregularities in that wall. However, pin 193 must project to some extent into the channel to engage the sides of rib 211. The description of the mounting of movable pin 192 follows in the next section,

(5) Combined Yarn Sensing and Tensonng Device.-. Allusion has'been made, Ialready to the fact that pin 192 is movable in the direction of its own axis, i.e., in an essentially vertical direction, and is completely free, under certain conditions, for such axial motion but is prevented, under other conditions, from undergoing more than limited axial movement. In actual practice, it is intended that the presence or absence of yarn stretching from the supply package in active unwinding position to a point at least adjacent the front end of toppanel 42 of housing 30 shall be the condition or factor determinative of the operation of clutch latch actuating member 150` to engage the package indexing clutch. So long as yarn from the supply package (designated Y herein) in active unwinding position (package S1) is present adjacent the front end of top panel l42 and, thus, in a position to be picked up by the supply end-finding means and conveyed thereby to the knotter, it is obviously desirablev to hold that package in active unwinding position even though the thread being wound may break and require re-tying.` Gn. the other hand, if the supply of yarninrthe package in active unwinding position shouldbecome exhausted, as -rnusteventually happen, thereis no `point in having the supply endfinding means attempt to find the nonfexistent end from that package. It may also happen that the thread being wound may break at or adjacent the supply package and this. circumstance, although not, strictly speaking, the same as exhaustion of the yarn, is for the purposes ofthe present invention equivalent thereto since the supplyV end will be equally` unavailable to the supply end-finding means, in eitherV event.V Naturally, where the thread breaks adjacent the supply package, the machine attendant could locate and re-thread the broken end. However, any condition requiring special attention by the attendant detractsfrom the automatic feature of the machine and, for this reason, a fresh package is preferably brought to active unwinding position,peither in the event the supply of yarn on the original package becomes in fact` exhausted or in the event the threadvbreaksV inthe region of the supply package. l

ln order that the presenceof the thread adjacent the front end ofthe top panel may be detected and transmitted to movable pin 192, that p irn isformed as one end `ofan elongated plunger 244 arrangedv for sliding movement in a sleeve 246. At a point on boss 230 on the undersurface of top lpanel 42 spaced an appropriate distance from fixed pin 193 in conformity to the dimensions of the cam surfaces on the circumferential portion 188 of actuating member 150, there is provided a circular aperture248 adapted to receivethev lower end of sleeve 246. Sleeve 246 is prevented` from passing entirely through aperture 24S by an integral annular tiange 250, contacting the marginal'edges of the panel surface, and is checked against upward movementl by aV lock washer 252 encircling its lower end and engaging the lower face -is supported wholly by the lower tension disc.

of the boss. As already indicated, it is intended that plunger 244 shall be free for sliding movement within sleeve '246 and friction between the adjacent surfaces of the two parts, which might tend to interfere with such free sliding movement, may be reduced by relieving the periphery of plunger 244 over a major portion of its length, as at 254. About midway of its length, plunger 244 is severely reduced in cross-section, as at 256, to dene a shoulder 258, which is adapted to engage the strand of yarn Y, and solong as strand Y is present at this shoulder, plunger 244 will be maintained in upwardly displaced position essentially shown in FIG. 18 and pin 192 will be precluded from descending into recess 200 on latch finger actuating member 15). The yarn gains access to shoulder 258 on plunger 244 through a slot 260 transversely cut into the periphery of sleeve 246 and terminating inwardly approximately on a diameter of the sleeve.

Preferably, the yarn detecting plunger and its guiding sleeve is combined with the disc tension array which is adapted to impose tension on the yarn as it travels to the winding mandrel. Tok this end, opposed concavoconvex . tension discs 262 and 264 are mounted on sleeve 246, the center portion of the discs being depressed, as at 265, and formed with circular apertures 268 and 270, respectively, large enough to t loosely around the sleeve. Sleeve 246 may have an annular step 271 adjacent iiange 248 to provide a tighter iit with the aperture of the lower disc.

Obviously, the yarn will experience ditiiculty in gaining access to slot 260 in sleeve 246 unless the tension discs are in some way separated at the time a new thread of yarn attempts entry. For this reason, upper disc 262 is adapted to be lifted away from lower disc 264 by means of a tubular cap 272, preferably formed of plastic, enclosing the upper end of sleeve 246. The lower end of cap 272 extends between sleeve 246 and the inner edge of aperture 268 in upper disc 262 and terminates in an annular projection engaging the lower marginal surfaces of disc 262 adjacent aperture V268. A bolt 274 having a flat head 276 is axially threaded into the upper end of plunger 244 for longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, head 276 being adapted to abut the end Wall 278 of cover '272t The vertical level of bolt head 276 is so selected by varying the effective length of screw 274 that the mutually facing surfaces of tension discs 262 and 264 are in contacting relationship to impose tension on the yarn when pin 192 at the lower end of plunger 244 rests on the rear end or initial surface 195 of the circumferential portion 18S of clutch latch finger actuating member 159, This is the normal position of the parts when the unwinding operationis proceeding normally and is illustrated in FIG. 18, a slight amount of clearance being shown in this figure between ,cover end wall 278 and bolt head 276 to indicate that the upper tension disc In the event the weight of the upper tension disc is insufficient to impose the desired amount of tension upon the moving strand, a washer 277 may be placed thereon, a felt pad 279 being preferably interposed between the washer and the upper surface of the-upper disc.

Correlating the discussion of the cam surfaces on circumferential portion 188 of member ,156 with the description of the combined yarn sensing and yarn tensioning device, it follows that as the member is moving through the rear half of its cycle with movable pin 192 riding on the top surface of rib 269, plunger 244 will be maintained in maximum upwardly displaced position, lifting cap 272 and the upper tension disc 262 supported thereby to permit the yarn Y to pass between the normally contacting surfaces of the two tension discs and enter slot 264i. Once within the slot, yarn Y will remain there in a position to be engaged by shoulder 258 when pin 192 again descends into recess 200 upon leaving inclined surface 198.

The running position of the yarn (shown in FIG. 18) indicates that the yarn approaches the sensing and tensioning device from the left and it is desirable that guiding means be provided to insure that the yarn does not become inadvertently entangled with the lower edge of lower tension disc 264. One satisfactory form of guiding means has been found to be an arcuately shaped shield 280 (best seen in FIG. 19) extending approximately half way around the circumference of the device on the left side, the upper edge of the shield being inclined from front to rear from a level just below the upper limit of the lower tension disc at its front end to a somewhat higher level between the vertical limits of the upper tension disc 262 at its rear end. Introduction of this strand to the device also may be facilitated by mounting the same upon a slightly raised platform 282 formed on the upper surface of housing top panel 42, the side walls of such platform being curved downwardly and outwardly to merge smoothly with the top surface of panel 42.

The construction of the parts constituting the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device is obviously such as to tend to accumulate lint, dust and other foreign matter which could possibly cause malfunctioning. In accordance with the invention, the interior of the device may be kept free of such material by the provision of a series of slots 286 located at spaced points around the depressed central portion 265 of lower tension disc 264, the open lower end of the lower disc lying over an aperture 288 passing through top panel 42 and communicating with a suction duct 290 to be more fully described later.

(6) Drive for Clutch Latch Actuczzng Members-Referring now to FIGS. l and 2l, allusion has already been made to an operating link 190 which is connected at its front end to pin 139 on crank portion 187 of clutch latch actuating member 150. As can be seen in FIG. l, link 196 extends rearwardly from pin 139 with its longitudinal axis approximately parallel to the plane of housing top panel 42 and is pivotally connected at its rear end to one arm of a Y-shaped yoke 296 (see FIG. 22). Yoke 296 is supported from a rearwardly and downwardly inclined post 29S depending from the undersurface of top panel 42 adjacent the rear end thereof and supporting a laterally directed -stud shaft 30G; Yoke 296 is formed in two parts 302 and 364, part 302, which constitutes the arm of the yoke connected to link 199, having an offset extension '306 at the lower end thereof and part 394, which constitutes the remaining arm of the yoke, is in the shape of a dogleg with the lower end enlarged as at 365, the whole of part 304 lying in a single plane. Both of arms 392 and 364 are pivoted on shaft 360 intermediate their ends with the lower offset extension 396 of arm 302 secured in juxtaposed relationship to the enlarged end portion 305 of arm 394 by a bolt and nut 363. In order that the initial position of actuating member 15d relative to pins 192 and 193 may be adjusted, the aperture for accommodating bolt 3% in the enlarged end of arm 30.4 is elongated in the nature of a slot, as at 310, the relative radial positions of the two arms on shaft 309 being therefor variable within the limits of this slot.

At its upper end, planar arm 304 is pivotally connected to the forward end of a downwardly and rearwardly extending connecting rod 312, the rear end of which is pivoted on a generally downwardly projecting arm 314 formed as an integral part of driving gear 169 for the supply end-finding means. Gear 169 is, of course, located within the control section, as already described. The radial position of arm 314 with respect to remainder of gear 169 is so selected that when the supply end-finding means 1s in rest position, arm 314 is in maximum forward position and, similarly, link 312, yoke 296, line 19? and clutch latch actuating member 150 are in maximum :forward position with movable pin 192 resting on the 16 rear end surface 195 of circumferential portion 188. It has already been explained that gear 169 rotates with shaft 170 under the driving iniiuence of segment gear 172 mating with spur gear 171 and, consequently, arm 314 will rotate also in a rearwardly direction, pulling on line 312, yoke 296, and link to rock member 15G from forward to rearward position as the supply end-finding means rotates forwardly to locate the supply end. Conversely, as the supply end-finding means, after having found the supply end (or failed to do so), returns to rest position, member 15G` and the parts by which it is connected to the gear 169 will likewise be returned to starting position.

Thus, mem-ber 150 is motivated from, and in timed relation to, the supply end-finding means and the cycle of operation of member 150 corresponds to that of the endnding means.

(7) Slub Catclzer.-Up to this point, of the rseveral dcvices with which the machine is equipped for servicing the yarn as it passes the yarn servicing section, there has been described only the combined yarn sensing and tensioning means and attention will now be turned to additional devices (best seen in FIGS. l and 20) provided on the top panel of housing 30 for acting on the yarn. Situated on the upper surface of top panel 42 adjacent the rear end lthereof is a slub catcher, generally designated 320, the function of which is known in the art. In essence, slub catcher 320` consists of a slub-engaging blade 322 and a guide blade 324 mounted in fixed spaced-apart relationship at right angles to the surface of panel 42 on a bifurcated frame 325 having a hub or body section 326 and two spaced parallel arms 327 and 328 projecting from the body section. Frame 325 is supported for bodily rocking movement toward and away from the upper surface of top panel 42 about a shaft 329 held above the top panel and extending through hub portion 326. Blades 322 and 324 are disposed with their planes transverse to the length of housing 30, guide blade 324 being somewhat longer than the other and, when in operative position, the lower edge of blade 322 is spaced very slightly from top surface of a rectangular plate 330 attached to top wall 42 and constituting an anvil for the blades while the lower edge of blade 324 is spaced slightly to the rear of and just below the top surface of that plate. The blade-supporting frame 326 includes an integrally formed leg 332 projecting downwardly from rear arm 323 into the interior of housing 30' for a reason that will be explained shortly. Arranged between blades 322 and 324, preferably adjacent the latter, is a thin cutting blade or knife 334, by which the thread can be severed at will.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 24, knife 334 is cradled for tilting movement with its upper edge seated in the crotches of two spaced-apart inverted V-shaped portions 336 formed as a part of supporting arm 328 and is biased upwardly into said crotches by means of a tension spring 338 connected at one end to a laterally projecting tongue 340V bent forwardly from knife 334 and at the other to a vertical extension 342 on arm 328. Spring 338 is normally operative to hold knife 334 upwardly and forwardly away from rear blade 324 and anvil plate 330 tothe extent permitted by the inverted V- shaped portions 336 but is adapted to be tilted or rocked downwardly into yarn cutting position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 24 by means of an operating rod 334 pivotally supported in two ears 346 bent downwardly from opposite ends of hub portion 326 of frame 32S. The end portion of rod 344 adjacent knife 334 is bent downwardly to contact the knife and exert leverage thereupon, and the other end portion is lbent in the form of a crank, as at 348. Rod 344 is restrained against axial movement with respect to ears 346 by stop washers 350. The crank end portion 343 of rod 344 is pivotally connected to one end of a downwardly and rearwardly directed link 352 which is connected to its other end to a reciprocable operating member 354 therefor. Only a short length of member 354 is visible in FIG. 1, the remainder of that member as Well as the mechanism by which it is reciprocated and controlled being enclosed within control section housing of the winding machine and forming no part of the present invention. This mechanism is described iand claimed in the commonly assigned application of Thomas E. Pitts and Porter I. Barnes, for Delivery Package Control Mechanism for Winding Machines, Serial No. 30,347 iled'May 9, 1960, to which reference is hereby made.

(8) Slwb Catcher Operating Means.-As already stated, the supporting frame 325 of slub catcher 320 includes a downwardly projecting leg 332 and it is by means of this arm that the slub catcher is adapted to be rocked toward and away from lanvil plate 330 in the following manner. Carried on link 190, at a point spaced somewhat forwardly of its extreme rear end, is a transverse pin 358 (see FIGS. l and 25) upon which is disposed for rocking movement `elongated lever 360i extending both above and below link 190 with its longitudinal axis generally vertically at right angles to the link axis. A spring 362 extends between the lower end of lever 360 and link 190 to bias the lever in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 25 to the extent ermitted by a stop tab 364 bent laterally from the front lever edge. At its upper end, lever 360 engages a finger-like extension 366 of a latching cam plate 368` disposed in parallel relationship to the under surface of panel 42 with the end thereof opposite extension 366 pivoted on a vertical pin 37()L aiiixed to a rear extension 372 of top panel 42. Formed integrally with cam plate 368v is an arm 374 projecting at an oblique angle to the normal axis thereof and arm 374 is connected at its remote end to one end of a spring 376 having the opposite end thereof secured to a post 378i depending from the bottom surface of top panel 42. Spring 376 biases plate 368 through arm 374 in a direction counterclockwise in FIG. 2l. Extending inwardly into plate 368 between arm 374 and extension 356 is a slot 380 including an outer oblique portion 381, bounded on one side by the inner side of arm 374 and on the other by a parallel edge 382, and a square inner portion 383. At its lower end, leg 332 of the slub catcher projects downwardly into slot 380* and is adapted to be engaged by the slot edges, the inclined edges of the oblique portion 381 functioning as cam surfaces and the right angular edges of inner portion 383 as latching surfaces for the leg.

It will be seen that as link 19t)` is moved rearwardly by virtue of the rotation of gear 169' and integral arm 314 during the supply end-finding cycle, the upper end of lever 360 pivoted on the link will engage extension 366 on slub catcher operating plate 36S and, since lever 369 is held against counter-clockwise rotation by tab 364, the rearward movement of the lever will force plate 368 to swing clockwise (in FIG. 21) against the tension of spring 376. Swinging movement of plate 368 brings an inclined edge of the oblique slot, i.e., the inner edge of arm 380, into contact with the adjacent edge of leg 332, whereby the leg will be away from extension 372, rocking the slub catcher frame 325 upwardly and away from anvil plate 330 and lifting slub` catcher blades 322 and 324 away from the anvil surface. Eventually, of course, lever 360 will move past extension 366, permitting spring 376 to return plate 368 to initial position. As the plate returns, the slub catcher falls under its own weight to operative position to be locked therein by virtue of the engagernent of the opposite sides of leg 332 with the right angular edges of inner slot portion 383. It will also be seen that the edges of the inner slot portion determine the operating position of the slub catcher blades relative to the top surface of anvil plate 330. As link 190 moves forwardly during the second half of the supply endiinding cycle, lever 360 is, of course, free to pivot and pass beneath extension 366 and, once past, the lever is returned to essentially upright position by spring 362. The operation just described will be more clearly under- 18 stoodif itis appreciated that 1eg'332 never'leaves slot 380 throughout the cycle.

As was the case with the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device, the slub catcher is also subject to lint and foreign matter accumulation and means may be advantageously provided for removing this material. For purposes of illustration, this means takes the form of an elongated transverse slot 384 (see FIG, 20) passing through top panel 42 of housing 3u and anvil plate 330 adjacent and parallel to the front slub catcher blade 322. The interior end of aperture 384 communicates with a source of suction, which is preferably the same as that provided for the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device at the front end of the servicing section. To this end, suction duct 290 extends, in generally V-shaped configuration, along the undersurface of top panel 42 (see FIG. 21), communicating at its extreme forward end with aperture 248 at the yarn sensing and tensioning device and at its extreme rearward end with aperture 384. A exible hose 390` is connected to the extreme rear end of duct 290, which is formed with a downwardly directed tubular neck 392 (FIG. l) for this purpose, the other end of hose 390` being connected to main suction chamber 183 extending beneath the frame of the machine.

Suction aperture 384, by virtue of its location immediately forward of the `slub catcher, is adapted to serve a function other than is always a possi-bility that, in the course of the manipulation of the package being wound durin-g an end-finding and uniting cycle, slack could develop in the length of yarn extending across the servicing section and allowing the sensing pin plunger 244 to move downwardly, resulting in a false indication of the absence of yarn at the sensing device. However, the path of the yarn to the slub catcher extends over aperture 384, which is elongated to take care of minor variations in yarn position, and, if slack should exist, it would be taken up by the action of the suction upon the yarn. -By haV- ing the sensing pin move slightly upwardly at the start of the end-finding cycle, as caused by inclined surface 198 adjacent rear end surface 195, the tension discs are separated, permitting any slack present to be removed. Aperture 384 also maintains the yarn taut while pin 192 is riding on rib` 269 during the second half of the endiinding cycle to facilitate its engagement by the endiinding means.

(9) Reserve End Holder and Guide-At the base of the V-.shaped configuration of duct 290 is a third aperture 390 in communication therewith and passing through top panel 42 of the housing, the location of aperture 390 being rough-1y mid-way the length of the servicing section housing and somewhat to the left of the norm-al path of the yarn thereal-ong (see FIG. 20). The purpose of this .aperture is to receive and retain the yarn end Y of the reserve supply package S2, as it rests in reverse position, awaiting `the tim'e when it will be brought into active winding position. From aperture 399, reserve end Y stretches :over to the left side of housing 30 and then downwardly to reserve package S2, and as reserve package S2 undergoes translation fromreserve to active position, the yarn must, of course, follow behind. 'Ilo facilitate movement of the yarn during package change-'over -operation, a guide 392 extends around the corresponding side land fnont portion lof the housing with its ends embedded or otherwise aiiixed to, in the appropriate housing walls. At its rear end, guide 392 is bent upwardly into a tight loop, as at 394, which acts to rkeepl the yarn from :sliding loif the guide in `a rearward direction, the lev'el of loop 394 being above the top surface of housing top panel 42 (FIG. 1). From this elevated point, at its effective rear end, guide 392 extends :in a general-ly smrooth curve downwardly and around the corner 'of the housing and, adjacent its front tend, is bent tinto yarn guide eye 396 in vertical alignment with the axis with `the supply package S1 in active unwinding position, Ithe manner in which the guide is bent to form eye 396 being such that the yarn will automatically enter the eye as it slides on the guide (see FIG. 26). To prevent the yarn from being carried past the eye 396, the extreme front end portion of the guide is bent outwardly from eye 396 in essentially loop-shaped configuration 398, one side of the loop forming an effective yarn stop. An arcuate protective shield 397 may be placed at the front of housing 30, the right end thereof being open for the yarn to reach the guide eye.

Means on Suction Tube for Engaging Yarn.- When the reserve supply package has been moved to active winding position (the position occupied by package S1 in FIGS. 1 and 20), the Y from the reserve package extends from guide eye 396 to such an aperture 390 along a path substantially indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 20, lying outside or to the left of arcuate -shield 280 since the force of the suction acting upon the end of the yarn in aperture 390 is not sufficient to cause the yarn to ride over that shield into the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device. When in this position, reserve end Y' is ready for introduction into the winding operation by the action of the iSupply end-finding means. Suction tube 155, which constitutes the essential element of the supply end-finding means, swings, as already indicated, in a more or less semi-circular path and the portion of this path in the region of the yarn servicing section is shown -in dotted lines in FIG. 20. It will be seen that the path of suction tube 155 at its extreme forward end intersects with the path of the reserve end in ready position. Consequently, as the suction tube approaches the forward end of its path, reserve end Y will be accessible to it. Necessarily, of course, suction tube 155 must be equipped with means for engaging yarn Y and, preferably, with means for severing the engaged end from the length of that yarn extending to suction aperture 390 as well. The construction of the front end of tube 155 by which these objects are achieved is shown in FIGS. 27 and 28.

Fitting around the extreme front end of tube `155 and fixedly secured thereto is a sleeve or socket 397 formed with a lateral bracket portion 398` for supporting hinge pin 400. Extending over the mouth of sleeve 397 is a closure plate 402 having right angular ears 404 and 404 bent upwardly from two opposite edges thereof and pivoted `on hinge pin 400. At the end thereof corresponding to bracket portion 398i, closure plate 402 is extended, as at 406, and projecting outwardly fnorn the inner corner of the extension is a short finger 408, by means of which closure plate 402 is opened and closed. At the front end of inner ear 404 is forwardly and downwardly inclined edge 410, which edge is sharpened to function as a knife edge. A blade 412 for cooperating with knife edge 410 is carried on the corresponding side of sleeve 397 and the lower edge thereof may also be sharpened. Ears 404 and 404 of colsure plate 402 are so attached as to have friction fit with the adjacent surfaces of bracket portion 398 as well as with blade 412 so that the closure plate will remain in a given position with respect to sleeve 397 until forceably moved to a different position.

Mounted on top panel 42 of housing 30 (rseeFIGS. 20 and 29) is a closure plate control cam 414 having a lower camming edge 416 for cooper-ating with finger 408 to move the plate 402 to closed position when suction tube 155 mov'es across the path of reserve end Y. Cam 414 is supported at the end of a bracket 418 provided for this purpose on the top surface of top panel 42, with camming edge 416 spaced slightly above the panel surface to permit pin 408 to pass thereunder. The camming edge of control cam 414 is inclined downwardly from front to rear (see FIG. 29) lwith respect to the direction of movement of the advancing suction tube, and as the tube passes in front of the cam, finger 408 will be engaged by edge 416 4and moved downwardly, causing the plate to swing upwardly to close off the mouth of suction tube 155. The closure plate will be open as suction tube 5 approaches cam 414 since the knotter in llldes a somewhat similarly shaped cam (not shown) which swings the closure plate to open position as the tube delivers the yarn to the knotter. Obviously, the location of cam 414 with respect to the path `of reserve end Y in ready position is fairly critical as plate 402' must be open to engage the yarn as its leading edge crosses the yarn path. In general, it has been found that if the lowermost .point of cam edge 416 approximately coincides with the path of the reserve end in ready position the yarn will be firmly lodged between the tube mouth vand the closure plate when the closure plate begins to close, due to the distance separating the front end of the plate from operating finger 408. Of course, slome adjustment of the position of cam 414 may be necessary to meet a particular situation. The path of reserve yarn Y in ready position will normally be `spaced above the top surface of top panel 42 due t0 the placement of guide eye 396 and, preferably, the presence of a raised surface or platform 420 around the margins of -aperture 390. The level of this path can, of course, be varied to correspond to the level of the suction tube mouth by bending lguide 392 to adjust the position of guide eye 396 upwardly or downwardly as may be necessary.

(11) Yarn Waxing Attachment-If the application of wax to a particular type of yarn is desirable, the machine may be constructed to include a waxing attachment. Such an attachment may take the form of a cake of wax 426 having a central aperture 427 of polygonal configuration and positioned upon a shaft 428 whose upper end is correspondingly shaped to mate with aperture 427, whereby the shaft and cake rotate together. Shaft 428 is journaled for rotation in top panel 42 with its lower end projecting downwardly below the lower surface of the panel and carrying a pulley 430. A second shaft 432 is journaled for rotation in top panel 42 at a point within the confines of offset portion 32 of housing 30 in approximate alignment with internal shaft 64 of the package indexing clutch, shaft 432 also projecting downwardly below the lower surface of panel 42 and carrying a pulley 434. The two pulleys 430 and 434 are encircled by an endless driving belt 436, whereby the pulleys and their corresponding shafts rotate together. Clutch shaft 64, which is constantly rotating, is extended upwardly, as at 436, and a pin 438 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) projects laterally from the upper end of extension 436 to engage an elongated rod 440 depending downwardly from pulley 434. The length of pin 43S and rod 440 and the position of rod 440 relative to pulley shaft 432 are so chosen that the rod is engaged by the pin and will be pushed around by the finger as it rotates, revolving pulley 434 as well as pulley 430 and wax cake 426.

As can be best seen from FIG. 20, the waxing attachment is located forwardly of slub catcher 320, the portion of top panel 42 lying beneath cake 426 being raised slightly to define a platform 444. A substantially semicircular portion of this platform may be depressed slightly from the normal level thereof, as at 446, to facilitate entry of the yarn Y being actively wound beneath the wax pad and to guide the yarn on its way to the slub catcher as well as to prevent the yarn from becoming entangled or abroaded by shaft 428. To guide the yarn Y to the waxing attachment and the slub catcher, there is utilized a common guide 450 which extends in generally U-shaped configuration from its front end affixed to top panel 42 between suction aperture 39() and the waxing attachment to the rear end affixed to the top panel at approximately the left rear corner thereof. From the level of these ends, guide 450 is inclined upwardly to the apex of the loop which is spaced a sufficient distance about the panel surface that the yarn will normally tend to pass thereunder as it is being pulled forward by suction tube for reunion at the knotter with the end of yarn from the package being wound. Entry of the yarn into the slub catcher may be assisted by the presence of an 21 upwardly inclined edge 452 at the outer end of the elongated slub catcher blade 324.

The details of the waxing attachment from no part of the present invention and are separately disclosed and claimed in the commonly assigned application of Carleton A. Steele, entitled, Waxing Attachment for Winding Machines, Serial No. 30,347, filed May 9, 1960.

(l2) Summary of Operation of the Machine-The manner lof operation of the structure of the invention will be reasonably apparent from the detailed description thus far given and, for that reason, a brief summary of that operation should suflice here. As long as the yarn from the supply package S1 in active unwinding position proceeds without interruption, the machine operates in normal fashion to wind that yarn upon the package on the Winding mandrel. In the event of thread breakage (which usually will occur at the slub catcher)7 the upward movement of thread breakage lever 625 initiates the end-finding cycle, in the course of which suction nozzle 155 swings forwardly from a rest position adjacent the knotter to endeavor to locate the yarn in the region between cam 414 and the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device. As a result of the forward movement of tube 155, the clutch actuating member 150 will be rocked rearwardly to swing toe portion 186 forwardly. lf yarn is present at the yarn sensing plunger 244, pin 192 is prevented from descending with respect to the surfaces of circumferential portion 18% of clutch latch actuating member d) and the path of the toe portion 186 of that member will remain clear of the clutch latch. Under these circumstances, therefore, indexing of the yarn supply package will not occur. However, the supply end of the broken thread, being stretched taut by the suction aperture 384 in front of the slub catcher, which has already been lifted away from anvil plate 330, will be engaged between the open closure plate 462 and the mouth of the suction tube and will be clamped therebetween as closure plate operating linger 468 passes under the camming edge 416 of cam 414. As already indicated, closure plate 402 is in open position as suction tube 155 swings forwardly by Virtue of an opening cam (not shown) situated at the knotter, which cam is effective to open the closure plate to release the supply end of yarn when that end is delivered to the knotter to be united with the end from the package being wound. After engaging the supply end, suction tube 155 returns to the knotter and delivers up that end to the knotter and, once the two ends are joined together, the winding operation proceeds as before. In the event, however, that no yarn is present at the combined yarn sensing and tensioning device, as would beV the case either where the supply package in active unwinding position has become exhausted or the thread breaks between that package and the sensing device, pin 192 is wholly free to move and will cause clutch actuating member 156 to be shifted axially toward the indexing clutch during the rearward rocking motion thereof. Consequently, the path of toe portion 186 is shifted toward the clutch latch and the latch operating ngerwill lie within that path to be engaged by the toe portion 136. Release of the clutch latch results in the elements of the clutch being temporarily coupled together to index the supply package and support and bring a fresh package into active winding position and the original package to reserve position. Package indexing occurs about mid-way of the lfirst half of the indexing operation and as the original reserve package is brought to active winding position, the end of yarn therefrom, which has been retained all the while in suction aperture 39), is brought to ready position, extending from the package through guide eye 396 to the suction aperture and where it can be engaged by suction tube 155. The operation of the clutch is very rapid and, consequently, the end from the translated reserve package will be in proper position by the time the suction tube reaches the front end of its path. After engaging the new end of yarn,'s'uction'tube 155 returns to rest position, during the course of which the tension discs will be separated to permit the yarn to enter therebetween and assume an operative position with respect to the combined sensing and tensioning device. During this time, the yarn is also directed by guide 45t) to the waxing attachment, if present, as well as to the slub catcher. The knetter now functions to join the new end to the end from the package being wound and the winding operation is again initiated. To prepare the machine for the next indexing cycle, the attendant removes the yarn holder from the area of the package carrier in reserve position and replaces it with a fresh package, the yarn end therefrom being drawn over the guide 392 and dropped into suction aperture 390, which holds it in place.

it will be appreciated that the precise design and details of construction of the various components of the mechanismof the present invention are subject to considerable variation, the structure illustrated and described here having been'furnished for purposes of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

1. in an automatic winding machine including means for rotating a delivery package to wind yarn thereon, means for detecting an interruption in the yarn being delivered to said delivery package, means actuated in response to said detecting means for locating and reuniting the respective ends of the interrupted yarn, said locating and reuniting means including an end locating member pivoting in a predeterminedv arc during the operation of said means, an automatic package replenishing mechanism for presenting a fresh supply package of yarn to active position for winding on said delivery package upon exhaustion of one supply package, control means for operating said replenishing mechanism to bring said fresh package to active unwinding position, an actuating member for said control means mechanically coupled to said end locating member and movable therewith through a predetermined path, said replenishing mechanism control means being engaged and actuated by said actuating member upon movement thereof, means for sensing the presence of yarn at a point between the supply package in active position and said initial detecting means for preventing the engagement of said control means by said actuating member whereby operation of the package replenishing mechanism is avoided if the yarn is broken between the sensing means and the delivery package but is permitted if the yarn is absent at the sensing means.

2. A winding machine as in claim l including means for holding the free end of the yarn from the reserve package in a position adjacent the path of the parn from the package in active position to the package being wound, and guide means adapted as the replenishing mechanism is operated to move theI reserve package to active position to guide a stretch of yarn adjacent the vfree end from the reserve package to a position accessible to said yarn end locating and re-uniting means,'whereby the yarn from Said reserve package after presentation to active position will be engaged by said last-named means and joined to the end of yarn from the package being wound to permit the winding to proceed without human attention.

3. In an automatic winding machine including means for rotating a delivery package to wind yarn thereon, means for detecting an interruption in the yarn being delivered to said -delivery package, and means actuated in response to said detecting means for locating and reuniting the respective ends of the interrupted yarn, an automatic package indexing mechanism for presenting a fresh supply package of yarn for winding on said delivery package upon exhaustion of one supply package, which mechanism comprises a rotatably mounted supply package support member adapted to support one supply package in active position for delivering yarn therefrom to the package and at least one reserve package at a reserve position spaced a predetermined number of degrecs of rotation from said active position, a drive means for said package support means, clutch means adapted for coupling said drive means to said support member to rotate the same, a latch member effective to disengage said clutch during normal winding, a latch actuator connected to and moved by said end locating and reuniting means, means for maintaining said latch actuator in an inoperative position relative to said latch, a yarn contacting member sensing the presence of yarn at a point between the supply package in active position and said initial detecting means and movable in the absence of yarn at that point, and means adapted to be engaged with said latch actuator by the movement of said yarn contacting member, said last-named means being effective when engaged to move said actuator to an operative position relative to said latch, whereby said latch is released upon movement of said actuator by said end locating and reuniting means to engage said clutch and rotate said support member.

4. A winding machine as in claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises an element movable cyclically along a predetermined path, normally spaced from said latch, said element including a cam surface thereon and said actuator engaging means comprises a pin movable by said yarn contacting member in the absence of yarn at said point into the path of said cam surface to engage with said surface upon movement of said actuator element and deflect said element from said path against said latch.

5. A winding machine as in claim 4 wherein said yarn contacting means comprises a plunger mounted for generally vertical movement with its axis disposed adjacent to and transversely of the yarn path, said plunger having a shoulder thereon adapted to engage the yarn and prevent downward movement of the plunger so long as the yarn is present at the shoulder, and said actuator engaging pin is formed as an integral extension of one end of said plunger.

6. A winding machine as in claim 5 wherein said pin extends from the lower end of said plunger and Said actuator element includes means operable at the beginning of a yarn end locating and reuniting cycle to engage said pin and elevate the pin and plunger, thereby relieving the weight of said plunger from said yarn, and means is provided downwstream of said plunger to remove slack from the yarn, said first-named means thereafter releasing said pin to permit the plunger to move downwardly to engage said shoulder with said yarn, whereby slack in the yarn does not give a false indication of the yarn being absent at said shoulder.

7. A winding machine as in claim 6 wherein said means for removing slack from said yarn comprises a suction duct having an `opening disposed adjacent the yarn path downstream of said plunger, said duct being adapted to suck said yarn into said opening if slack exists therein.

8. A mechanism as in claim 6 wherein said actuating member includes means operable where said last-named means has been projected by said sensing member to return said means and said sensing member to original position and thereby re-set said means and member for further operation.

9. A winding machine as in claim 3 including a slub catcher arranged in operative position across the yarn path and adapted for the passage of yarn there-beneath, said slub catcher being mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said path about an axis generally parallel to said path, and means operated by the said yarn end locating and reuniting means to pivot said slub catcher away from said path to permit the reunited strand to be re-introduced beneath said slub catcher and after re-introduction of the yarn to return said slub catcher to operative position.

l0. A combined yarn monitoring and tensioning arrangement for a strand of yarn moving along a predeter- 24 mined path comprising a plunger mounted for vertical movement with its axis disposed adjacent to and transversely of the path of the yarn being wound, said plunger having a shoulder thereon adapted to engage the yarn and prevent downward movement of the plunger so long as yarn is present at the shoulder, a stationary tension disc surrounding said plunger, a movable tension disc surrounding said plunger in superposed relation to said stationary disc, means on said plunger for raising said movable disc above said stationary disc when said plunger is moved to elevate said shoulder above the yarn path, said plunger being otherwise movable independently of said discs, and means operable after downward movement of the plunger has occurred, thereby indicating an interruption in the yarn, to move said plunger to elevate said shoulder above said path and simultaneously raise said movable disc, whereby the yarnmay be reintroduced between said discs and into engagement with said shoulder, said last-named means thereafter releasing said plunger for further monitoring of the yarn and said movable tension disc for further tensioning of the yarn.

1l. -In a yarn winding machine, an improved mechanism for detecting the presence of yarn and furnishing a positive control impulse in the absence thereof, said mechanism comprising a yarn sensing member arranged yfor contact with the yarn being wound, said member being biased for movement relative to the yarn and restrained against such movement by contact with the yarn, whereby said movement occurs in the absence of yarn, an actuating member movable normally along a predetermined path, said `actuating member having a cam surface formed at a locus Ithereon, means for positively moving said `actuating member in a cycle through said path, a guide element movable with said sensing member and normally retained in a position spaced away `from the path of said actuating member, said element being projected upon movement of said sensing member into the path of `the cam surface on said actuating member to engage said cam surface as the actuating member is moved along said path and cause said actuating member to be deflected temporarily a predetermined distance out of said path, and a cont-rol member adapted to be actuated to furnish 'a positive control impulse, said control member being detached from said actuating member and being spaced from the normal path o-f said actuating member on the side thereof opposite to said cam surface a distance not more than the predetermined distance of deflection of said actuating member wherebysaid control member is undisturbed by the movement of said actuating member in said normal path but is engaged and actuated by said actuating member when the latter is deflected from said normal path.

12. A yarn winding machine as in claim ll wherein said actuating member is deflected bodily `from its path `when said guide element is in projected position.

13. A yarn winding mechanism as in claim 11 wherein said guide element is movable along a fixed axis intersecting the path of `said actuating member and is normally retained by said yarn sensing member in a position along said axis spaced away from the path of said actuating member and the cam surface thereon.

14. A combined yarn monitoring and tensioning arrangement for Ia strand of yarn moving along a predetermined path, said arrangement comprising means for sensing ythe presence of yarn, said means having a surface normally in engagement with the yarn and being biased for movement in one direction upon disengagement of said yarn from said surface to a position indicating the absence of yarn from said surface, means for moving said sensing means in the opposite direction from said position to elevate said surface above said yarn path to permit restoration of such engagement; tension means associated with said sensing means, said tension means having a normal position in engagement with said yarn to apply tension thereto and an inoperative position per mitting 'the introduction of yarn thereto; and ra 10stmotion connection beween said sensing means and said tension means whereby movement of said sensing means in said opposite ydirection to elevate `said surface above said yarn path moves said .tension means from operative to inoperative position, .thereby allowing the yarn to 'be restored :into engagement with s-aid surface and introduced to said tension means simultaneously, said sensing means otherwise being freely movable `independently of said tension means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Colman Dec. 28, 1926 Esser Jan. 11, 1944 'Furst Feb. 7, 41956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 18, 1960

Claims (1)

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE INCLUDING MEANS FOR ROTATING A DELIVERY PACKAGE TO WIND YARN THEREON, MEANS FOR DETECTING AN INTERRUPTION IN THE YARN BEING DELIVERED TO SAID DELIVERY PACKAGE, MEANS ACTUATED IN RESPONSE TO SAID DETECTING MEANS FOR LOCATING AND REUNITING THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE INTERRUPTED YARN, SAID LOCATING AND REUNITING MEANS INCLUDING AN END LOCATING MEMBER PIVOTING IN A PREDETERMINED ARC DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID MEANS, AN AUTOMATIC PACKAGE REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR PRESENTING A FRESH SUPPLY PACKAGE OF YARN TO ACTIVE POSITION FOR WINDING ON SAID DELIVERY PACKAGE UPON EXHAUSTION OF ONE SUPPLY PACKAGE, CONTROL MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID REPLENISHING MECHANISM TO BRING SAID FRESH PACKAGE TO ACTIVE UNWINDING POSITION, AN ACTUATING MEMBER FOR SAID CONTROL MEANS MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID END LOCATING MEMBER AND MOVABLE THEREWITH THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATH, SAID REPLENISHING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS BEING ENGAGED AND ACTUATED BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF, MEANS FOR SENSING THE PRESENCE OF YARN AT A POINT BETWEEN THE SUPPLY PACKAGE IN ACTIVE POSITION AND SAID INITIAL DETECTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEANS BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER WHEREBY OPERATION OF THE PACKAGE REPLENISHING MECHANISM IS AVOIDED IF THE YARN IS BROKEN BETWEEN THE SENSING MEANS AND THE DELIVERY PACKAGE BUT IS PERMITTED IF THE YARN IS ABSENT AT THE SENSING MEANS.

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