US3796384A

US3796384A - Yarn control device

Info

Publication number: US3796384A
Application number: US00172072A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Rosen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-10-20
Filing date: 1971-08-16
Publication date: 1974-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-12
Also published as: US3717312A; NL163833C; CH517854A; DE1760600A1; FR1570969A; DE1785582B2; NL6808161A; CS162661B2; JPS509895B1; DE1760600C2; GB1236821A; CS162660B2; US3720384A; DE1785582A1; NL163833B; SE314157B

Abstract

A yarn control holds a reserve of yarn fed at a constant tension. Means control the size of the yarn reserve under the influence of the yarn wound on a spool body with a speed in a defined relation to the machine speed. The reserve yarn is withdrawn from the yarn body either perpendicularly to the central line of the spool body for positive yarn feeding so that the yarn withdrawal will be equal to the winding of yarn onto the spool body or in axial direction in relation to the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

Description

United States Patent [191 Rosen 51 Mar. 12, 1974 YARN CONTROL DEVICE [76] lnventor: Karl l. J. Rosen, Villa Flaga,

abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 20, 1967 Sweden 4374/67 [52] US. Cl 242/47.12, 66/132, 242/47.01 [51] Int. Cl B65h 51/20 [58] Field of Search; 242/47.l2, 47.01, 47.02, 242/4703, 47.13; 66/132 R [56] References Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,492 2/1940 Henne 66/132 2,641,913 6/1953 Alric 66/132 3,083,924 4/1963 'VOssen et a1. 66/132 X 3,131,729 5/1964 Leysinger 242/47.13 X 3,225,446 12/1965 Sarfati et a1. 242/4701 X 3,361,317 1/1968 ge v r s s 321 g 3,490,710 1/1970 Miihlhausler ..66/132 X Primary Examiner-Stan1ey N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard &

Flynn 5 7] ABSTRACT A yarn control holds a reserve of yarn fed at a constant tension. Means control the size of the yarn reserve under the influence of the yarn wound on a spool body with a speed in a defined relation to the machine speed. The reserve yarn is withdrawn from the yarn body either perpendicularly to the central line of the spool body for positive yarn feeding so that the yarn withdrawal will be equal to the winding of yarn onto the spool body or in axial direction in relation to the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

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INVENTOR BYMQAMWV M Mow - 1 YARN CONTROL DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 734 956, filed June 6, 1968 and entitled A YARN CONTROL DEVICE, now abandoned.

In the operation of a yarn feeding unit having a feed control device, or feeder, for a textile machine, it is known to operate same in a manner termed continuous" or positive which means that the yarn is fed unto, and withdrawn from, the feed control device at the same rate, such rate being normally but not necessarily constant at a predetermined value. It is also known to operate a textile machine in a manner termed intermittenf which means that, although the rate of feed to, and rate of withdrawal from, the feed control device will average the same over the operation of the machine, such rates are wholly independent of each other as of any given moment or over short increments of time. In previous practice, yarn feeding devices of each type have been known and machines have been known for operation in either of one or the other mode. It is a major purpose of this invention to provide a yarn feed control device which in a simple manner can be converted from one to the other mode of operation and thereby lend corresponding flexibility to a textile machine equipped therewith and otherwise capable of both modes of operation, or to provide a single easily convertible feed control device for a group of textile machines of both types.

It is known to wind yarn on a cylindrical body perpendicularly to the shaft through the body and at the same time to withdraw the yarn in axial direction, the size of the yarn layer being thereby sensed by photoelectric devices. Such a device is particularly suitable to be used in jacquard machines or machines with intermittent yarn feeding. However, on most jacquard machines there is knitted a smooth product wherein positive yarn feeding is needed. The present invention makes it possible to combine these two types of feeding and by the invention there are obtained considerably cheaper devices for the sensing of the just wound yarn reserve on the spool body.

A storing feeder may of course be driven centrally by means of a tape of the same kind as the one used on common tape feeders or any other type of driving belt or chain. If the yarn is not withdrawn in an axial direction from the spool body of the feeder but is wound in the same direction as it is wound on the body, the yarn will be fed without possibility of its sliding over the cylindrical body for the reason that the yarn is arranged thereon in windings. There is thus ensured an absolutely positive and sliding-less yarn feeding. For special bindings one needs of course two or more tapes each driving the cylindrical bodies at different speeds. In this manner, the feeders may be divided into groups each having its special yarn need.

Feeders are already available in the market in which the yarn is manually arranged in multiple windings about two spool bodies one beside the other, one body having for its object to separate the yarn windings by means of grooves in the body. However, all of them have at least one great draw-back. If for any reason the yarn is not consumed due to deficiencies in the machine, e.g., when many needle tongues are closed, there is no practical way of uncoupling the feeder but yarn that is not consumed will continue to be fed and the machine will malfunction.

This drawback has been completely overcome by the present invention. This has been achieved by drawing all the spool bodies at the same speed in a preselected relation to the machine being operated by them, the yarn being either unwound perpendicularly to the center line of the spool body for positive feeding so that the unwinding will be equal to the winding onto the spool body or in axial direction in relation to the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

An object of the invention is to use a yarn feed control device which, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a rotating spool body on which the yarn is wound so as to form a yarn reserve and means are provided for controlling the quantity of the yarn reserve under influence of the yarn wound onto the spool body. The main feature of the invention is that the yarn feed control device comprises a yarn withdrawal means which is brought from one position which renders possible an unwinding of yarn from the spool body only perpendicularly in relation to its axis for positive yarn feeding to another position which renders possible an unwinding of yarn in the axis of the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption. A clutch is arranged between the spool bodies and means for driving the spool body, which latter are driven simultaneously or in groups at the same speed by the machine, e.g., a knitting machine on which the feed control device are arranged, said clutch being adapted at positive yarn consumption to remain engaged as long as said means for the withdrawal of the yarn from the spool body is in such a posi tion that the yarn withdrawal will be equal to the winding on of yarn but at intermittent yarn consumption is engaged only at a certain minimum value of the yarn quantity stored on the spool body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the yarn withdrawal means comprises an adjustable arm which in one end position stands perpendicularly to the axis of the cylindrical body and in its other end position forms an elongation of the same. This makes it possible, as long as the arm extends perpendicularly to the center line of the spool body, to let the feed control device function as a positive feeder while, when the lever is folded down so that the yarn is withdrawn in the longitudinal direction of the spool body, the positive yarn feeder is uncoupled and the machine may intermittently use yarn as much as is actually at the moment in the feeder in question. When any existing error has been corrected or a special knitting has been carried out, the arm is reset in perpendicular position in relation to the spool body and the feeder will again function in a positive feeding manner.

A further object is to provide means whereby the positive yarn feeding may quickly be changed to a jacquard feeder which always has a reserve of yarn ready to be used for the intermediate need in the different knitting places. If a smaller quantity of yarn is knitted, the reserve grows on the storing feeder or yarn feed control device which starts a reaction so that the spool body stops in a manner already known. When the yarn reserve on the reserve feeder has reached a predetermined minimum quantity, the spool body restarts to wind on yarn so that the yarn reserve will never be completely used up.

The reserve-feeder is intended to be used mainly in such cases when the yarn is not consumed at a constant speed, e.g., when knitting on jacquard machines, cotton machines, different kinds of flat knitting machines, stocking knitting machines, warp machines and weaving looms. On many machines there is, however, manufactured a smooth product, i.e., a product in which the yarn is used at a constant speed. In the manufacture of such a product there is always obtained the best product by means of a forced yarn feed, i.e., positive yarn feeding. The so called tape feeder is the best known device for obtaining such a positive yarn feeding.

No other feeders offer the advantages with the reserve-feeder, namely to keep a just wound reserve of yarn which has best tested to its strength, e.g., for the immediate need at each knitting location. It could be said that by means of the reserve feeder there is provided a spool which nevers grows thinner or shorter. Any errors in the yarn are discovered at a length of ten to fifty meters of the same before the knitting location and thus the machine may be stopped without any violent braking and the risk of errors in the product is considerably reduced.

All jerks and tension shocks which are not so strong that the yarn breaks are completely eliminated. It is of course these advantages that eliminate at least 90 percent of all the machine interruptions and they should be available also at a positive feeding of yarn to the machine. The present invention provides a feeder which could be used with the same advantages for yarn storing (according to the aforegoing) with intermittent or altering yarn consumption as for a positive yarn control when such is needed. In both cases there is obtained a tested and just wound reserve of yarn which is continuously renewed.

There are two basic type of apparatus for the rewinding and storing of yarn for the immediate need at different types of textile machines. One of these types is characterized in that the spool body rotates when the yarn is wound on the same. The other one is characterized in that the spool body stands still and the yarn is wound on the same by a concentrically arranged winding device in the shape of a wheel with a flange and an opening in the flange through which the yarn passes on a rotating arm.

The invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a feeder or feed control device with a stationary spool body and a driven yarn winding arm rotating about said body;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same feeder;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section through a feeder with a rotating spool body;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the same showing essentially the device for the yarn withdrawal from the spool body;

FIG. 5 shows a vertical section through a feeder with a rotating spool body according to FIG. 3 but using the swingable control arm of FIG. 1.

The feeder according to FIGS. 1 and 2 uses a stationary spool body 11 and comprises a frame or stand 1 in which a shaft 2 is journalled in ball bearings 3. The shaft has a projecting arm 4 with a bent outer end through which the yarn 5 runs. Mounted on the shaft 2 is a flanged wheel 6 similar to a pulley. A ring 7 with abutments 8 is arranged on the mounting housing of this pulley-like wheel 6. The ring 7 is pressed by a spring washer 9 against the wheel so as to be driven thereby. The wheel 6 is driven by a thin belt 10 (V-belt or circular belt) with a suitable speed. One or several units may be driven by one and the same belt exactly like the yarn feeding wheels on tape feeders. The spool body 1 1 is mounted on an elongation of the shaft 2. An internally toothed ring 13 is stationarily arranged in the apparatus stand 1.. A similar gear ring 14 is mounted on the upper part of the spool body. Two gears or sprockets 15 run against said gear rings 13, 14, said sprockets 15 being fixedly interconnected by means of a shaft 16 which is rotatably mounted in a second arm 17 extending from the shaft 2. The gear rings 13 and 14 as well as the sprockets 15 thus comprise a conventional planetary gear system which is designed, in a well known manner, to provide suitable drive ratios between the associated meshing pairs of gears so as to prevent the spool body 11 from rotating relative to the frame 1.

So as to prevent the yarn 5 at the spool body from winding onto previously wound yarn windings, the feeder is provided with a toothed disk 18 which is relatively rotatably mounted on a sleeve 19 by means of an intermediate ball bearing. Sleeve 19 is connected to shaft 2 by means of pin 1?, which pin 19- permits the sleeve 19 and the disk 18 mounted thereon to angularly tilt relative to the axis of the shaft 2. By means of the influence from a pressure spring 20 the toothed disk 18 tries to take an inclined position in relation to the shaft 2. As the stored quantity of yarn 21 on spool 11 diminishes, the teeth 45 on the disk 18 which project outwards through slots 48 in the spool body 11 can press the remainder of the stored yarn 21 down on the spool body due to the pressure from the spring 20. A flange 22 on the sleeve 19 then presses against a pin 23 which thereby is displaced in its guide 24 so that it catches the abutments on the ring 7 as driven by means of the belt 10. The shaft 2 with the arms 4 and 17, the sprockets l5, and the sleeve 19 with the

flanges

22 and 25 are then rotated with the same speed as the driving wheel 6.

The yarn 5 is then wound about the stationary spool body 11 just under the highest tooth 45 of the toothed disk 18 due to rotation of arm 4 around the spool 11. The teeth 45 of the disk 18 successively push the yarn 21 downwardly on the spool body 11 in such a manner that one yarn winding presses another winding in front of itself so that the windings will not overlap one another. When the yarn reserve 21 has reached a sufficient size, i.e., a sufficeintly great number of yarn windings have been laid side by side on the spool, the resistance of the yarn reserve overcomes the force of the spring 20, whereupon the disk 18 moves to a more horizontal position. This causes pin 23 to disengage the abutments on the ring 7 so that the shaft 2 with all the components mounted thereon come to a stand still. The yarn winding is then interrupted. In this way the device functions as a yarn storing feeder for all kinds of more or less continuous yarn consumption.

During certain types of knitting a positive yarn feeding is necessary. The feeder described here is provided with a device rendering it suitable to be used also for positive yarn feeding. Displaceable in a longitudinal slot in the shaft 2 is a rod 27 (FIG. 1) provided at one end with teeth 51. The rod is provided with a radially projecting arm 28 which is engageable with the flange 25 for altering the inclination of the sleeve 19 and of the disk 18. .lournalled on a pin 30 in a slot in the lower end of the shaft 2 is an arm 29 provided at one end with a gear wheel having teeth 52. By means of gear 52 meshing with gear rack 51 on rod 27 the arm 29 may be folded up by means of a lever 31, which cooperates with a disk 26 on the shaft 2, so that the arm 29 pivotally encloses an angle of 90 with the shaft 2.

For adjustment to positive feeding, the arm 31 is manually or mechanically swung in the counterclockwise direction according to FIG. 1, the disk 26 with the rod 27 and the arm 28 then being moved downwards. The rack 51 causes gear 52 to rotate whereby the arm 29 is swung upwards such that it will stand perpendicularly to the shaft 2 as indicated by dash and dot linesin FIG. 1. The downward movement of rod 27 also causes arm 28 to engage the flange 25 which forces the sleeve 19 with the disk 18 mounted thereon to take a somewhat more inclined position than the one shown in the figure. As a result of the increasing inclination the pin 23 is displaced in its guide 24 so as to engage the abutments on wheel 7 such that the winding arm 4 and shaft 2 are, forced to rotate with the same speed as the pulley 6. The belt is driven with such a speed that the yarn wound on the spool body at all times corresponds to the yarn need of the knitting machine. The expression yarn need is here used to indicate all positive feeding of a yarn length which to some extent is smaller than the yarn length the knitting machine would take up if the maximum speed of the yarn were not determined by the device for the positive feeding. With the arm 29 in the positive feeding position illustrated by dash-dot lines in FIG. 1, the arm 29 will rotate with the shaft 2 whereby the yarn 5 will be caught by the free end of arm 29 in the way shown in the figure due to the fact that the tension ring 32 keeps the yarn close to the spool body 11. Since the yarn as it extends between the ring 32 and guide 49 is normally under tension from the knitting machine, the engagement of the free end of the rotating arm 29 by the yarn prevents the yarn to be pulled or drawn out from the tension ring 32 at a higher orbiting speed than that at which the arm rotates, thereby providing for a continuous or positive feed of yarn to the knitting ma chine. When the arms 4 and 29 rotate with a predetermined speed, the knitting system has no possibility to knit a larger yarn length per machine turn than what is permitted by the apparatus in question. For a return to a free yarn feeding to the knitting machine the adjustment of the arm 31 is changed so as to return arm 29 to its downward axial position, in which position the arm 29 will not engage the yarn 5. This adjustment may be performed centrally by means of a pattern chain or a drum without difficulty. When knitting measured lengths there is obtained the advantage that all products, e.g., sweaters and pullovers, will be of equal lengths.

Another and simpler construction of a yarn storing feeder with a possibility of positive feeding will be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The feeder illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 possesses many parts or components which are structurally and functionally similar or identical to corresponding parts and components of the feeder illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus said corresponding parts of the embodiment of FIG. 3 will be referred to by the same reference numeral as used to designate corresponding parts of the embodiment of FIG. l but with the number added thereto. This feeder operates with a rotating spool body 111. In the same way as in the previously described feeder the stored yarn 121 influences the inclination of the toothed disk 118 in relation to the diametric plane of the spool body. In this case the disk 1 18 also controls a micro switch 133 which in turn controls the connection between the pulley 106 driven by the knitting machine and the spool body 1 11. Particularly, the switch 133 is disposed within the spool 111 and is provided with a conventional depressible plunger 153 which is disposed so as to be positioned in abutting contact with the flange 122 of the spool 119, the plunger 153 controlling in a conventional manner the opening and closing of the contacts of the switch 133. The switch 133 is connected to an external source of power by means of a first electrical lead 156, with the switch 133 also having a further electrical lead 154 in the form of a slip contact, which slip contact 154 is disposed in engagement with a disk-shaped conductor 134 insulated from the spool body 111. The disk-shaped conductor 134 is in turn engaged by a further slip contact 135 as provided on one end of a further electrical lead 155, which electrical lead is in turn connected to a coupling magnet 139, such as a solenoid, as mounted on the spool body 111. Coupling magnet 139 has a conventional extendable plunger 161 which is adapted to extend so as to engage the abutments of the ring 107 for permitting the spool 111 to be rotatably driven by the wheel 106. The switch 133 thus controls the supply of yarn to the spool body 111 when the yarn feeding device is being utilized for intermittent yarn feeding since the switch 133 coacts with the tilting disk 118 for permitting the spool body 111 to be selectively rotated whenever the number of windings 121 on the spool body decrease below a predetermined number, whereupon rotation of the spool body 111 by wheel 107 results in further windings being placed on the spool body.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the yarn when withdrawn from the spool body 111 passes through the eye 149 of a control arm 136, which control arm is pivotally mounted on the frame 101 for swinging movement between a first position wherein the eye 149 is substantially axially aligned and spaced from the spool body 111 (as illustrated in solid line in FIGS. 3 and 4), which thus results in axial withdrawal of the yarn from the spool body so as to permit intermittent feeding of yarn, and a second position wherein the eye 149 is substantially radially spaced outwardly from the periphery of the spool body (as illustrated in dash-dot lines in FIG. 4) so as to permit a positive or continuous withdrawal or feeding of yarn from the spool body.

When one wishes to obtain a positive yarn feed, the arm 136 is swung through an angle of approximately 90 degrees into the dash-dot position illustrated in FIG. 4. The arm 136 is provided with an eccentric 159 thereon, which eccentric is rotatably supported on the pin 137 as fixedly secured to the frame 101. The rotational movement of arm 136 into the positive feed position illustrated by dash-dot lines in FIG. 4 causes the eccentric to coact with the plunger 162 of a switch 138, resulting in closure of the contacts of the switch 138. The switch 138 is connected to a source of power by means of a first lead line 158, and is also connected to a further electrical lead line 157, which lead line is also connected to the disk-shaped conductor 134. The closure of the switch 138 by the swinging movement of the arm 136 into the dash-dot position of FIG. 4 thus results in the current flow through lead line 157, conductor 134 and lead line 155 whereby coupling magnet 139 is energized so that plunger 161 engages the ring 107 for causing the spool 111 to be positively rotatably driven by the wheel 106. The spool body 1 I l is thus positively rotatably driven at the same speed as the pulley 106 so long as the arm 136 is in the position for positive feedmg.

When the spool body 111 is being rotated, whether being used for intermittent or positive feeding, the yarn is supplied to the spool 111 so as to be wound thereon directly under the toothed disk 118, the yarn being supplied to the spool 111 by conventional means.

FIG. illustrates therein a vertical sectional view through a feeder which possesses a rotating spool body 111 which is substantially identical to the spool body illustrated in FIG 3. Further, the yarn 121 is wound onto and removed from the spool body 1 11 and the size of the yarn reserve 121 is controlled by the disk 118 in substantially the same manner as with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, further description of the spool body and of its related components is not believed necessary. However, in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the yarn 105 is withdrawn from the spool body by passing through an eyelet 149 which, in this situation, is mounted on an arm 136' which is stationarily secured to the frame 101. Thus, when the yarn passes under the ring 132 and through the eyelet 149-, as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 5, then the feeding device will permit intermittent yarn feeding. However, the device of FIG. 5 is also designed to permit positive yarn feeding and for this purpose is provided with a control arm 129 rotatably mounted on the end of the rod 127 in substantially the same manner as illustrated in the FIG. 1 embodiment. The arm 129 is pivotally moved upwardly into the dotted line position for controlling the with drawal of the yarn 105 when positive yarn feeding is desired. The structure of FIG. 5 thus incorporates therein the basic spool structure of FIG. 3 in conjunction with the control arm of FIG. I. The structure and mode of operation of the FIG. 5 embodiment is thus believed evident from the description given above.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than a selected rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool means and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate;

said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn and thereby restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn to a rate no greater than said selected rate at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means; and

said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn affecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn axially from the spool means. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said yarn control means includes a control member mounted for movement between said first and second positions, said control member including said restraint portion and when in said first position having the restraint portion thereof positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means and disposed in engagement with said yarn at said yarn control contact point, and said means including drive means for causing relative rotation between said spool means and said control member when said control member is in said first position whereby said control member limits the rate of yarn withdrawal from said spool means in correspondence to the relative rotation between said spool means and said control member, said restraint portion of said control member no longer engaging said yarn at said contact point when said control member is in said second position.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a lever-like control member mounted for pivotal movement between said first and second positions, the free end of said control member defining said restraint portion and being disposed for engaging the yarn at said contact point when said control member is in said first position.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is pivotally movable through an angle of approximately when displaced between said first and second positions.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of said spool means.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said control member is mounted for pivotal movement within a plane containing therein the longitudinal central axis of said spool means, and said control member when in said first position extending substantially radially relative to the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said control member is pivotally mounted directly adjacent one axial end of said spool means and is pivotally swingable from said first position wherein said control member extends substantially radially relative to the central axis of said spool means and said second position wherein said control member extends substantially axially of said spool means.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is stationarily mounted, and means mounting said control member for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is mounted for rotation about said central axis, and said control member is nonrotatably mounted in the circumferential direction on said spool means.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the restraint portion of said control means in said first position is positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means for permitting withdrawal of yarn from the spool means in only a radial direction, and the restraint portion of said control means in said second position being aligned with said central axis for permitting said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

11. A device according to claim 10, further including a stationary frame and said control means including a control member disposed adjacent said spool means and pivotally mounted relative to said frame for movement between said first and second positions, said spool means being mounted for rotation relative to said frame about a central axis, said restraint portion comprising guide means connected to said control member and movable therewith between said first and second positions, and said control member when in said first position having said guide means disposed radially of said central axis for engaging the withdrawn yarn and for restraining the withdrawal of yarn from said spool means as said spool means is rotated, and said guide means being disposed, at least substantially, on said central axis when said control member is in said second position.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said restraint portion comprises yarn guide means engaging said yarn at said contact point when in said first position and being located radially outwardly of said central axis and being mounted to orbit said central axis relative to said spool means and permit withdrawal of yarn from said spool means in only a radial direction, and wherein in said second position of said control means said guide means is positioned, at least substantially, on said central axis to permit said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein when said control means is in said first position said guide means is spaced radially of said spool means and axially between planes defined by the ends of said spool means.

14. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

a spool body;

first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a first control positionand intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a second control position, said control means including a control portion which is movable relative to said spool body between said first and second positions, said control portion being disposed for coacting with the withdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; and second means for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be wound on the spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being Withdrawn when said control means is in said first position. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said secnd means includes sensing means coacting with the yarn reserve on said spool body for controlling the size thereof.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said spool body is mounted for rotation, said second means including means operatively associated with said first means for causing rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said second position and said sensing means indicates a reduction in the yarn reserve on said spool body beyond a predetermined lower limit,

and said second means including means causing continuous rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said first position.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member disposed adjacent said spool body for rotation about an axis coaxial with said spool body, and saidfirst means also including releasable coupling means coacting between said spool body and said drive member for permitting said spool body to be selectively drivingly coupled to said drive member, said coupling means being associated with and actuated by said second means for causing rotation of said spool body whenever said control means is in said first position.

18. A device according to claim 14, further including a frame and means stationarily mounting said spool body relative to said frame, and said first means including a driven yarn feeding member mounted for orbital movement around said spool body for winding yarn thereon.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member, and wherein said second means includes releasable coupling means for rotatably drivingly connecting said driven feeding member to said rotatable drive member, said coupling means causing continuous engagement between said driven feeding member and said rotatable drive member whenever said control means is in said first control position.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein said control means includes a lever-like control member and means mounting said control member for pivotal movement between said first and second control positions relative to the longitudinal central axis of said spool body, said mounting means permitting said spool body to rotate relative to said control member, and said control member when in said first position having a portion thereof disposed radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool body for engaging the yarn at a contact point spaced radially from said central axis for restricting the withdrawal of yarn from said spool body in response to relative rotation between said spool body and said control member about said longitudinal central axis.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the free end of said control member is disposed at said contact point located radially outwardly of the axis of said spool body when said control member is in said first position, and the free end of said control member being spaced from said contact point when said control member is in said second position, said control member in said second position imposing no restraint on the axial withdrawal of yarn from said spool body.

22. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve therein;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than that at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means, said yarn control means including a restraint portion located at a first point spaced radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being disposed for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from said spool means;

said control means also including means for causing said restraint portion when located at said first point to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraint portion restrains the rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means; and

means coacting with said control means for deactivating same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate, said deactivating means permitting said restraint portion to be moved to a second point spaced from said first point,'said restraint portion when located at said second point no longer restraining the axial withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means.

23. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling the withdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarn guide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from said spool means, said control means including mounting means coacting between the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relative movement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarn guide portion when in said first position being spaced radially outwardly from the centralvaxis of said spool means for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when in said second position being spaced from said first position so as to exert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spool means; and

means for causing relative rotation between said guide portion and said spool means for effecting relative orbiting of said guide portion about said central axial when said guide portion is in said first position at a second velocity at least substantially equal to the first velocity.

24. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

a spool body;

yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body, said yarn control means including a control portion disposed in a first position wherein said control portion is adapted to engage the yarn as withdrawn from said spool body, said control portion when in said first position being disposed radially outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of said spool body, and mounting means coacting between said control portion and said spool body for permitting relative rotation therebetween about said central axis; second means operatively interconnected between said yarn control means and said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn from said spool body when said control portion is in said first location; and third means associated with said control means for permitting deactivation of same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool body intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said third means including means permitting said control portion to be moved relative to said spool body from said first portion to a second position wherein said control portion exerts no restraint on the yarn controlling the axial withdrawal rate thereof. 25. In combination with a textile machine having means associated therewith for withdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn from the source to the textile machine, said yarn control device including a spool body and first means coacting with the spool body for causing yarn to be wound on the spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supply source being wound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of said yarn reserve, and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacent the other axial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textile machine, comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control device includes:

yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said control means including restraining means disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarn withdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is no greater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body;

second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in said location; and

means for deactivating said restraining means for enabling yarn to be withdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired as determined by the operation of the textile machine.

26. The combination according to claim 25 wherein the deactivating means enables said restraining means to be moved to a second location which is spaced from said first-mentioned location wherein the restraining 'means no longer restricts the axial withdrawal of yarn from the spool body by the textile machine.

27. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity corresponding to said preselected rate; and

said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn from the spool means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 795 3 4 Dated March 12 914 lnventor(s) Karl I. J. Rosen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersvPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title Page, left hand column, line [76];

change illa Flaga" to Villa Haga'-.

Col. 8, line 20 delete "yarn control".

line 21; before "means" (first occurrence) insert I yarn control-.

Col. 11, line 3; change "therein" to thereon---.

line 54; change "axial" to -axis-.

Col. 14, line 1; "delete in its entirety.

line 2; delete "cumference of said spool means, said".

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attest ing Officer 7 Commissioner of Patents rORM pomso (169) uscoMM-Dc BO376-P69 .5, GOVERNMEN'LFRINTING OFFICE 2 l9, $66-3l.

Claims

1. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than a selected rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool means and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn and thereby restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn to a rate no greater than said selected rate at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means; and said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn affecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn axially from the spool means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said yarn control means includes a control member mounted for movement between said first and second positions, said control member including said restraint portion and when in said first position having the restraint portion thereof positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means and disposed in engagement with said yarn at said yarn control contact point, and said means including drive means for causing relative rotation between said spool means and said control member when said control member is in said first position whereby said control member limits the rate of yarn withdrawal from said spool means in correspondence to the relative rotation between said spool means and said control member, said restraint portion of said control member no longer engaging said yarn at said contact point when said control member is in said second position.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is pivotally movable through an angle of approximately 90* when displaced between said first and second positions.

14. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a first control position and intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a second control position, said control means including a control portion which is movable relative to said spool body between said first and second positions, said control portion being disposed for coacting with the withdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; and second means for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be wound on the spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn when said cOntrol means is in said first position.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said second means includes sensing means coacting with the yarn reserve on said spool body for controlling the size thereof.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said spool body is mounted for rotation, said second means including means operatively associated with said first means for causing rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said second position and said sensing means indicates a reduction in the yarn reserve on said spool body beyond a predetermined lower limit, and said second means including means causing continuous rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said first position.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member disposed adjacent said spool body for rotation about an axis coaxial with said spool body, and said first means also including releasable coupling means coacting between said spool body and said drive member for permitting said spool body to be selectively drivingly coupled to said drive member, said coupling means being associated with and actuated by said second means for causing rotation of said spool body whenever said control means is in said first position.

22. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve therein; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than that at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means, said yarn control means including a restraint portion located at a first point spaced radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being disposed for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from said spool means; said control means also including means for causing said restraint portion when located at Said first point to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraint portion restrains the rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means; and means coacting with said control means for deactivating same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate, said deactivating means permitting said restraint portion to be moved to a second point spaced from said first point, said restraint portion when located at said second point no longer restraining the axial withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means.

23. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling the withdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarn guide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from said spool means, said control means including mounting means coacting between the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relative movement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarn guide portion when in said first position being spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool means for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when in said second position being spaced from said first position so as to exert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spool means; and means for causing relative rotation between said guide portion and said spool means for effecting relative orbiting of said guide portion about said central axial when said guide portion is in said first position at a second velocity at least substantially equal to the first velocity.

24. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body, said yarn control means including a control portion disposed in a first position wherein said control portion is adapted to engage the yarn as withdrawn from said spool body, said control portion when in said first position being disposed radially outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of said spool body, and mounting means coacting between said control portion and said spool body for permitting relative rotation therebetween about said central axis; second means operatively interconnected between said yarn control means and said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn from said spool body when said control portion is in said first location; and third means associated with said control means for permitting deactivation of same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool body intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said third means including means permitting said control portion to be moved relative to said spool body from said first portion to a second position wherein said control portion exerts no restraint on the yarn controlling the axial withdrawal rate thereof.

25. In combination with a textile machine having means associated therewith for withdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn from the source to the textile machine, said yarn control device including a spool body and first means coacting with the spool body for causing yarn to be wound on the spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supply source being wound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of said yarn reserve, and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacent the other axial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textile machine, comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control device includes: yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said control means including restraining means disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarn withdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is no greater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body; second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in said location; and means for deactivating said restraining means for enabling yarn to be withdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired as determined by the operation of the textile machine.

26. The combination according to claim 25 wherein the deactivating means enables said restraining means to be moved to a second location which is spaced from said first-mentioned location wherein the restraining means no longer restricts the axial withdrawal of yarn from the spool body by the textile machine.

27. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a preselected rate and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity corresponding to said preselected rate; and said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn from the spool means.