US3736625A

US3736625A - Apparatus for coiling textile sliver

Info

Publication number: US3736625A
Application number: US00099352A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Johns
Original assignee: WELLMAN IND
Current assignee: Wellman Inustries Inc; WELLMAN IND
Priority date: 1970-12-18
Filing date: 1970-12-18
Publication date: 1973-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-05

Abstract

Apparatus for coiling sliver through a coiler head, in which the sliver is guided downwardly into and through an inclined tube rotating on a substantially vertical axis, and the sliver is advanced through the tube by nippingly engaging and applying a pulling force to the sliver at a point adjacent the lower end of the inclined tube. Further, the tube is tapered to form an inclined converging passage which progressively compacts the sliver in its course through the tube.

Description

United States Patent Johns [54] APPARATUS FOR COILING TEXTILE SLIVER [75] inventor: Herman S. Johns, Patterson, NC.

[73] Assignee: Wellman Industries, Inc., Johnsonville, SC.

[22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 99,352

Related US. Application Data 1 [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 46,866, June 17,

1970, abandoned.

[52] 11.8. C1. ..l9/159 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/80 [58] Field of Search ..19/157, 159 R, 159 A [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,562,864 2/1971 Osgood et a1. ..19/159 R 1 June5, 1973 3,218,677 11/1965 Denis et a1 ..l9/157 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,109,985 2/1966 Great Britain ..19/159 R 1,075,831 10/1954 France 19/159 R 110,078 5/1925 Switzerland ..19/1'50 131,141 8/1919 GreatBritain ..l9/159R Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for coiling sliver through a coiler head, in which the sliver is guided downwardly into and through an inclined tube rotating on a substantially vertical axis, and the sliver is advanced through the tube by nippingly engaging and applying a pulling force to the sliver at a point adjacent the lower end of the inclined tube. Further, the tube is tapered to form an inclined converging passage which progressively compacts the sliver in its course through the tube.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR COILING TEXTILE SLIVER This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Ser. No. 46,866, filed June 17, 1970, now abandoned and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING COMBED TEX- TILE SLIVERS,

Most textile coilers currently in use in the textile industry are provided with inclined coiler tubes rotating about a substantially vertical axis for receiving and guiding textile slivers downwardly and outwardly so as to form coils of sliver in respective sliver cans or other containers therebeneath. A pair of driven calender rolls usually. is provided adjacent the ingress end or mouth of the coiler tube to advance the sliver therethrough by a downward pushing force. Generally, the slivers being processed are of relatively small cross-sectional area as compared to the cross-sectional area of the sliver passage defined by a coiler tube, so that the sliver may be advanced through the coiler tube quite easily.

Recent developments in the textile industry have not only dictated that larger slivers be coiled into sliver cans than has normally been the case, but they have also indicated a need for relatively closely confining the sliver in its course through a coiler mechanism so as to improve the control of the sliver and keep it compacted to some extent so that a greater amount of sliver may be packed into a sliver can of given size than has normally been expected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for coiling sliver through a coiler head wherein the sliver is guided axially downwardly into the open upper end of an inclined coiler tube rotating about a substantially vertical axis, and wherein the sliver is nippingly engaged and pulled downwardly by a pair of calender rolls positioned adjacent the open lower end of the coiler tube and serving to advance the sliver through the coiler tube.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus of'the character last described wherein the coiler tube is tapered along its length internally thereof to provide an inclined downwardly converging passage for the sliver serving to apply a progressively increasing compacting force to the sliver in its course through the coiler head so that the sliver can be coiled in a sliver can in a more compact condition.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a coiler head embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the coiler head omitting the sliver feeding'means and the uppermost sliver guide ring shown in FIG. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, as illustrated, the textile coiler head embodying the invention is designed to accommodate a relatively large, heavy tow or sliver of textile fibers, such as wool or worsted sliver weighing at least several thousand grains per yarn; e.g., up to about 9 ounces or more per yard. Although the coiler head is especially designed to accommodate the sliver guiding means of thisinvention, it is to be'understood that the novel features of the coiler to be described hereinafter are applicable to otherwise conventional coilers of either the planetary type, in which both the spectacle and the coil forming member rotate relative to each other, or the standard type, in which the spectacle remains stationary and the coil forming member rotates within the spectacle.

The coiler head shown in the accompanying drawings is fully disclosed in my said copending application Ser. No. 46,866 and is described more in detail in my later copending application Ser. No. 81,738, filed Oct. 19, 1970 and entitled APPARATUS FOR COILING STRAND MATERIAL SUCH AS TEXTILE SLIVER, whose disclosures are, therefore, incorporated herein by reference.

Portions of a textile coiler are shown in FIG. 1 and include posts 20 which support a frame 23 of a coiler head broadly designated at 24 and beneath which a substantially cylindrical, rotary sliver can or container C is positioned during the coiling of sliver S thereinto. As shown, coiler head 24 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed spectacle 25 and a platform 26 spaced above spectacle 25. As best shown in FIG. 2, a rotary coil forming member or circular coiler plate 27, is positioned in a corresponding opening provided in spectacle 25. Coiler plate 27 overlies sliver can C, and the lower surfaces of spectacle 25 and coiler plate 27 are substantially flush with each other. Coiler plate 27 is of substantially lesser diameter than sliver can C, and the substantially vertical rotational axis of coiler plate 27 is off-set relative to the axis of sliver can C. Coiler plate 27 is provided with an eccentrically positioned sliver delivery opening or passage 30 therethrough which may be circular as shown in FIG. 2 and into and through which a strand of sliver S is directed by calendering means, to be later described, for coiling the sliver into the rotating sliver can C.

By means of a plurality of circularly arranged spacing .bars or posts 31-34, coiler plate 27 is secured to and suspended from a substantially circular rotary support plate 37 also serving as a calender roll support plate. Rotary support plate 37 is of greater diameter than coiler plate 27, and is suitably secured to the upper surface of an annular, inner, rotary race member 40 whose peripherally grooved outer surface is engaged by a circular series of balls 41 (FIG. 1) which also engage the inner peripherally groovedsurface of an annular, outer, stationary race member 42. Thus,

race members

40, 42 and balls 41 form collectively an anti-friction bearing for supporting support plate 37 and coiler plate 27. The stationary outer race member 42 is suitably secured to coiler head frame 23.

A pair of substantially horizontally disposed, spaced apart and substantially parallel reinforcing bars 44 are suitably secured upon support plate 37 and extend upwardly therefrom through a substantially circular opening 45 formed in platform 26 and which may be of about'the same diameter as coiler plate 27, butis of substantially lesser diameter than support plate 37. A generally rectangular coiler tube support plate 46 is suitably secured to the upper surfaces of reinforcing bars 44 and has an upstanding coiler tube bracket 47 suitably secured thereto;

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper portion of bracket 47 is a downwardly and outwardly inclined, tapered, coiler tube 50 which defines a downwardly and outwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage therethrough. The smaller, open, lower end of tube 50 terminates above and closely adjacent a lower sliver condensing ring 51 positioned eccentrically of the rotational axis of coiler plate 27. It should be noted that the internal diameter or cross-sectional area of each the lower open end of tube 50 and ring 51 is considerably less than the original cross-sectional area or diameter of the sliver S at it approaches the coiler head. Ring 51 is spaced above and substantially aligned with sliver delivery opening 30 of coiler plate 27, and may be loosely positioned in a suitable opening provided therefor in coiler tube support plate 46. Lower sliver condensing ring 51 is, in turn, carried by a suitable bracket 53 suitably secured to coiler tube support plate 46.

An intermediate sliver guiding or condensing ring 55 (FIG. 1) is supported in substantially concentric relation to the substantially vertical axis of coiler plate 27 and positioned closely adjacent the upper or ingress end of coiler tube 50. Further, an upper sliver guiding and condensing ring 56 is spaced above and disposed in substantially axial alignment with intermediate ring 55. All of the sliver condensing rings 51, 55, 56 preferably are made from or coated with a smooth ceramic material.

The sliver guiding or condensing rings 56, 55, 51 are of progressively smaller internal diameter, in that order, and of less internal diameter than the normal or original diameter of the sliver S as it approaches upper ring 56 so that the condensing rings apply a progressive condensing force to the sliver S in its course into and through coiler head 24. It can thus be seen that the rings 56, 55 serve to apply successive spaced apart zones of progressively increasing, circumscribing and relatively light compacting force to the sliver while guiding the same downwardly in a generally axial path toward a rotary sliver-coiling component embodied in coiler plate 27. Condensing rings 51, 55 may be of about the same internal diameter as or of slightly lesser internal diameter than the respective lower and upper ends of the passage defined by coiler tube 50.

It is to be noted that the internal cross-sectional areas of the condensing rings are such that they are engaged about their entire inner peripheries by the sliver S and, although the internal cross-sectional area of ring 55 may be slightly less than that of the upper end of coiler tube 50, the natural expansion of the sliver upon passing through ring 55 is such that the sliver fills the tube 50 and is compacted thereby substantially, if not entirely, throughout passage of the sliver from the upper end to the lower end of tube 50.

In the processing of a large worsted sliver weighing in the range of about 9 to 27 ounces per yarn (about 3,937 to 11,812 grains per yard), for example, it has been found that the internal diameters of rings 51, 55, 56 should be about two one-half inches, four inches and six inches, respectively, and that the internal diameters of the lower and upper ends of coiler tube 50 should be about two one-half to three inches and four one-half inches, respectively. Thus it can be seen that the cross-sectional area of the sliver is reduced considerably in its course through condensing rings 56, 55, coiler tube 50 and lower condensing ring 51. In other words, in its course between the upper condensing ring 56 and the lower condensing ring 51, the crosssectional area of the sliver is reduced to about one-fifth of that cross-sectional area thereof when it passed through upper condensing ring 56. Also from the time any given portion of the sliver S passes through the intermediate condensing ring 55 until such portion emerges from lower condensing ring 51, the crosssectional area of such portion is reduced to less than one-half of the cross-sectional area thereof when it passed through the intermediate condensing ring 55. It is apparent that, in the coiling of smaller slivers, a generally proportionally smaller coiler tube 50 and condensing rings 51, 55, 56 would be used.

The intermediate and upper sliver condensing rings 55, 56 are loosely supported in respective ring-like flanged brackets 60, 61. Bracket 60 is suitably secured to the upper end of coiler tube 50 and also has the lower, smaller, end of a downwardly converging frustoconical funnel 62 suitably secured thereto in alignment with the upper end of tube 50. The larger upper end of funnel 62 preferably surrounds the lower portion of bracket 61, and the cross-sectional area of the open lower end of funnel 62 is about the same as that of the upper end of the passage in tube 50, to aid in guiding sliver S from ring 56 to ring 55 and into coiler tube 50. Upper bracket 61 may be suitably secured to a funnel portion 63 of a conveyor frame 64.

The egress portion of conveyor frame 64 is carried by arms 65 suitably secured to and extending upwardly from coiler head frame 23. Conveyor frame 64 rotatably supports a pair of upper and lower rollers 66, 67, and the egress portion of a driven endless conveyor belt is mounted on lower roller 67 to serve as means for deliverying sliver S from a suitable source, not shown, into coiler head 24. From the foregoing description it is apparent that funnel 62, lower ring-like bracket 60, coiler tube 50, coiler tube support plate 46, and calender roll support plate 37 rotate in concert with coiler plate 27. A suitable frustoconical cover 68, preferably in the form of a pair of substantially frustoconically segmental sliding doors, may be suitably supported on platform 26 so as to enclose the coiler tube 50 and its support plate 46 therein.

The condensing rings 55, 56 preferably are loosely mounted in the brackets 60, 61 so that they may be turned about their axis in either direction in accordance with any twisting or gyrating of the sliver passingtherethrough so as to reduce frictional resistance of these rings to the passage of the sliver therethrough. Additionally, the intermediate sliver condensing ring 55 serves as ceramic guide means interposed between funnel 62 and coiler tube 50, and through which the sliver S passes, so as to reduce abrasive frictional forces acting on the sliver in its change from axial downward movement to an outward path of travel as the sliver passes from funnel 62 into coiler tube 50.

Carried by calender roll support plate 37, and disposed between lower sliver condensing ring 51 and sliver delivery opening 30 of coiler plate 27, is a calendering means, comprising a pair of calender rolls 74, 75, for receiving and advancing the textile sliver S through sliver delivery opening 30. As shown, each calender roll is frustoconically shaped. However, cylindrical calender rolls may be used, if desired. Calender rolls 74, may be supported with their longitudinal axes extending in substantially horizontal and substantially radially converging relationship toward the substantially vertical, predetermined, rotational axis of coiler plate 27. Additionally, calender rolls 74, 75 are mounted for orbital rotation with and about the vertical axis of coiler plate 27.

Since coiler head 24 is particularly useful for coiling large wool or worsted slivers into coiler cans, although not limited thereto, it is preferred that calender rolls 74, 75 are driven at the same relative surface speed but independently of each other so as to avoid slippage or scuffing of the stock therebetween. Therefore, calender rolls 74, 75 are mounted on respective substantially horizontally disposed calender roll shafts, 76, 77 journaled in respective pairs of bearing blocks 80, 81; 82, 83 suitably secured to and depending from calender roll support plate 37. Since both

shafts

76, 77 extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of coiler plate 27, shaft 77 is relatively short as compared to the length of shaft 76. This is also desirable to accommodate the drive of rolls 74, 75 in opposite directions relative to each other.

Drive means is provided for rotating coiler plate 27,

support plates

37, 46, coiler tube 50, bracket 60 and funnel 62 about a common substantially vertical axis. Such drive means also rotates

calender roll shafts

76, 77 during orbital movement of calender rolls 74, 75 about the axis of coiler plate 27. Accordingly, a suitable gear box 90, secured upon spectacle 25, is connected through gearing 91 to a motor-driven speed variator 92. Since speed variators are well known, a detailed description thereof will not be given herein.

A rotary drive shaft 94 extends forwardly from gear box 90, overlies the rear portion of platform 26 and has a pinion 110 fixed thereon, shown in the form of a sprocket wheel, whose lower portion extends through an opening 111 in platform 26 and engages an annular rack or ring gear 112. Gear 112 is suitably secured to the upper surface of, and is concentrically arranged with respect to, calender roll support plate 37. Conveniently, gear 112 may be in the form ofa relatively thin annular plate provided with a circular series of equally spaced radially extending slots 112a therethrough engageable by the teeth of sprocket wheel 110. If desired, slots 1 12a may be formed in calender roll support plate 37, in which case, annular plate 112 may be omitted.

It is thus seen that pinion l transmits rotary motion to coiler plate 27 and associated parts while imparting orbital movement to calender rolls 74, 75 about the axis of coiler plate 27. At the same time, rotation is imparted to calender rolls 74, 75 about their own respective axes, by means of a pair of

pinions

115, 116 shown in the form of sprocket wheels.

Pinions

115, 116 are fixed on the respective

calender roll shafts

76, 77 and their upper portions engage substantially diametrically opposed portions of a stationary annular rack or gear 117 carried by platform 26. As shown, gear 117 is in the form of a circular series of equally spaced radially extending slots formed in platform 26 adjacent the periphery of circular opening 45. The slots of rack 117 define teeth therebetween engageable with

sprocket wheels

115, 116.

It is thus seen that, during orbital movement of calender rolls 74, 75 with clockwise rotation of coiler plate 27 in FIG. 2, pinions 115, 116 are rotated through engagement thereof with stationary rack 117 to impart.

rotation to the respective calender rolls 74, 75 in opposite directions relative to each other. Calender roll support plate 37 is provided. with an opening 120 therethrough, through which the upper portions of calender rolls 74, 75 and pinion 116 extend so that the nip of calender rolls 74, 75 is positioned closely beneath lower sliver condensing ring 51.

Since both calender rolls 74, 75 are driven independently of each other, as is preferred, and either or both calender rolls must yield to accommodate and gripthe sliver S therebetween, one or the other, or both, calender rolls 74, 75 or

shafts

76, 77 should be yieldably sup ported. By way of example, either or both of the calender rolls 74, 75 may be constructed in the manner disclosed in my said later copending application Ser. No. 81,738, wherein each calender roll of a pair is in the form of a tubular shell mounted on its shaft by means of a resilient material, such as natural or synthetic rub ber, between the shell and the shaft, thus permitting lateral displacement of the shell relative to its shaft by strand material passing between the adjacent calender rolls.

In operation, it can be seen that the open sliver S in its normal somewhat expanded state is introduced into the coiler head 24 by first being guided through and lightly condensed by the upper condensing ring 56 spaced axially above the rotary coil forming member 27. As heretofore'described, as the sliver passes through the upper condensing ring 56, the ring may readily turn on its axis in accordance with any twisting or gyrating of the sliver. The sliver then passes through the funnel 62 and is further lightly condensed through the intermediate condensing ring at the entrance to inclined coiler guide tube 50. It is apparent that the rings 56, 55 apply progressively increasing, relatively light, circumscribing compacting force to the sliver upstream of the open upper end of the inclined guide tube. It is to be noted that the sliver is advanced successively through the condensing rings 56, 55, coiler tube 50 and lower condensing ring 51 by virtue of the calender rolls 74, 75 nippingly engaging and applying a downward pulling force to the sliver at a point adjacent the open lower end of the tube 50 and while the sliver is guided axially downwardly and free of any nip pres.- sure thereon into the larger open upper end of the tube.

As the sliver is pulled through the tube 50, the size of the tube relative to the sliver and the tapered form of the passage defined by the tube are such that the tube applies a gradual progressively increasing compacting force to the sliver in its course from theintermediate guide ring 55 to the calender rolls, which compacting force is augmented by the lower condensing ring 51. Thus, by the time the sliver reaches the calender rolls 74, 75, the sliver is compacted to about onehalf or less than one-half of the original size thereof when it was upstream of the upper condensing ring 56 so that the sliver may be coiled into sliver can C in a more compact condition.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

I claim:

cent the upper end of said coiler tube for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, bracket means rotatable with the upper end of said coiler tube, said bracket means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring and permitting the same to gyrate independently of said coiler tube under influence of the sliver passing through said sliver guide ring, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

2. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including a downwardly converging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lower end of about the same cross-sectional area as the internal cross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring. I

3. A textile coiler according to claim 2, including means supporting said funnel for rotation with said coiler tube.

4. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including an additional sliver guide ring spaced above and being of greater internal diameter than said first-named sliver guide ring for guiding and lightly compacting the sliver in its course to said first-named sliver guide ring.

5. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including additional guide means carried by said coil forming member and positioned between the lower end of said coiler tube and said calender rolls to aid in compacting and guiding the sliver passing from said sliver guiding passage to said calender rolls.

6. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, guide means positioned above said passage for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, said guide means comprising a sliver guide ring spaced a substantial distance above the upper end of said coiler tube, means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring to permit gyration of said sliver guide ring by the sliver passing therethrough, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pullingthe sliver through said'passage.

7. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, a downwardly converging frustoconical funnel mounted for rotation with and positioned above and in alignment with said coiler tube, the internal cross-sectional area of the lower end of said funnel being about the same as that of the upper end of said passage for guiding a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the crosssectionalarea of the sliver in its course through said passage, ceramic guide means interposed between said funnel and said coiler tube and through which the sliver passes and serving to reduce abrasive frictional forces acting on the sliver in its change from a downward to an outward path of travel as the sliver passes from said funnel into said sliver guiding passage, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

8. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, guide means positioned above said passage for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, said guide means comprising a sliver guide ring positioned immediately adjacent the upper end of said coiler tube, a downwardly converging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lower end of about the same cross-sectional area as the internal cross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring, means for supporting said funnel for rotation with said coiler tube, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

Claims

1. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, guide means comprises a sliver guide ring positioned immediately adjacent the upper end of said coiler tube for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, bracket means rotatable with the upper end of said coiler tube, said bracket means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring and permitting the same to gyrate independently of said coiler tube under influence of the sliver passing through said sliver guide ring, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

2. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including a downwardly converging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lower end of about the same cross-sectional area as the internal cross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring.

6. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, guide means positioned above said passage for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, said guide means comprising a sliver guide ring Spaced a substantial distance above the upper end of said coiler tube, means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring to permit gyration of said sliver guide ring by the sliver passing therethrough, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

7. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guiding passage, a downwardly converging frustoconical funnel mounted for rotation with and positioned above and in alignment with said coiler tube, the internal cross-sectional area of the lower end of said funnel being about the same as that of the upper end of said passage for guiding a sliver in its downward course into said passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage, ceramic guide means interposed between said funnel and said coiler tube and through which the sliver passes and serving to reduce abrasive frictional forces acting on the sliver in its change from a downward to an outward path of travel as the sliver passes from said funnel into said sliver guiding passage, and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.