US1522925A - Moistening device - Google Patents

Description

Jan, 13, l 925.

E. R. SWANSON MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 u :l v\ W y f i i JJ@ o Q 4f Awa/wy .1..." o Q w m www a Z 7 y 2.( 7 l f f H y @v 5% w Y M 5 5l! 6 G a f o A, M /b 0 4. 7 4 Z 2 Jan, 13, 1925.

E. R. SWA NSON MOISTENING -DEVICE Filed Jan. 2.

1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,522,925 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEsT R. swANsoN, or CRANsToN, RHODE ISLAND, AssreNoR To UNIVERSAL WIND- 'ING coMPANY, or Ros-TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHU- SETTS.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

Application led January 2, 1928. Serial No. 610,306.

To all whom Mn-ay comem:

Be it'known that I, ERNEST R. SwANsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

Cranston, in the county of, Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Moistening Devices, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in moistening or conditioning devices for use with textile machines.

Onebbject of lthe invention is to provide a moistening device in which cops and bobbins of yarn or thread may be held 1mmersed in the treating iiuid so that the material may be delivered therefrom in a dampened state carrying the proper content of moisture.

Another object-0f the invention is to provide an immersion trough or tank 1n which the cops o-r bobbins are supported -on holders, selfcontained within the tank,

to adapt the yarn to be delivered therefrom to a winding or other machine for conversion in its moistened state.`

Another object of the invention is to ,provide a moistening device in which the cops or bobbins may be conveniently and quickly applied to their holders in the tank and as readily removed therefrom in doffng spent bobbins and replacing them with fresh ones. v

Another object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the degree of immersion of the bobbins in the fluid to control the amount of moisture applied to the material thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a moistening device having a tank or trough for the fluid, bobbin-holders for supporting the supply-cops or bobbins therein, and individual covers for the bobbins in the-tank, all combined in a unitary appliance. which may be employed as an attachment for various types Aof textile machines.

Other objectsof the improvement are Aset forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated 'by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a .well known type of winding machine, showin my improved moistening device as applie to use thereour yand need no` detailed explanation.

Fig. 2, an enlarged, detailed view of the immersion tankl of the device, showing the adjustable overliow drain, the socket in the edge of the tank for receiving the hingepivot or trunnion of the cover, and also the. stop-lug for the cover; and

Fig. 6, cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating a plurality of supply-bobbins supported in series on one of the covers of the immersion tank.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings,

I have preferred to herein illustrate my improved moistening or conditioning device as applied7 to use with a well known type of winding machine to moisten orIotherwise treat yarn or thread during the process of winding it into merchantable cops or packages, or for converting it to other processes in the textile arts. It is to be understood, however, that my improved apparatus is susceptible of adaptation to other uses and may be applied as an attachment to various other types of textile machines.

As herein shown the winding machine comprises a series of units or heads 2 mounted on a bed or table 3 which is supported from the floor on suitable legs 4. Only two winding units or heads 2 are herein illustrated, but usually they are arranged in gangs of six or more, spaced at a convenient distance apart on the bed 3. Each Winder comprises, essentially, a rotating windingsp'indle or mandrel 5 on whichl the vcop is wound; a reciprocating thread-guide 6 for traversing the yarn on the spindle; and a tension-device 7 for applying tension to .the yarn as it feeds to the guide. These several' elements of the winding-mechanism and the means for operating the same are well known tothoseversed in the art Suiice it to state that the yarn or thread y to be wound is supplied from any suitable form of cop or bobbin, usually arranged below the machine, and delivers therefrom to the tension-device 7 which, as herein illustrated, consists of a pair of opposite grids or plates 8 having cross-bars 9 for pressing against the yarn to apply resistance to its draft. The yarn g/ draws between ,the plates 8 and thence-leads through a slot or eye in th thread-guide 6 which directs it onto the spindle 5, and as the latter is rotated the yarn is deposited thereon in helical coils to form the layers of a conical or cylindrical package C. Suitable instrumentalities are provided for arresting the operation of the machine when the yarn or thread breaks or its supply is exhausted, and a starting lever 10, shown in Fig. l, is connected to start the winding operation after the end has been pieced up. y

In its present preferred form my improved moistening device comprises a relatively long, narrow and shallow tank or trough 11 having means for holding a series of supplycops` or bobbins B in horizontalv position therein with their under sides immersed in thefluidin the bottom of the tank. As a convenient arrangement, the trough 11 is supported from brackets 12 clamped tothe legs 4 of the winding or other machine, being rovided with depending `lugs 14 on its ttom which are slotted to receive the bolts 15 employed for clamping the brackets in place.

One improved feature of my invention consists in supporting the supply-bobbins on pivoted holders whereby they may be swung downwardly into horizontal position to immerse them in the fluid in the tank; or raised into vertical position to render them easily accessible for piecing up their yarns, and for dofling the empty bobbins and replacing them with fresh supplies. lVith this end is view, I preferably support the Y bobbins on holders 18 `mounted on hinged 23 of the tank 11, see Figs. 3 and 5.

Vcovers 20 which normally rest within the open top of the trough or tank 11 to close the space between its sides. Each cover 20 is of hollow, box-like construction and is provided with lateral pivots or trunnions 21 adapted to be received within recessed bearings or sockets 22 in the opposite sides At the rear of the trunnions the flat top of the cover 20 is formed with a right-'angled web or flange 24, to which is securedthe holder 18 for the bobbin B. As Vsho-wn more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the bobbin-holder 18 may consist of a short spindle or mandrel having a reduced, screw-threaded portion .25 inserted through a hole in the depending yflan e 24 on the cover 20 and secured therein y a nut 27. The spindle 18 is adapted for insertion into the butt end of the wooden yarn-carrier or bobbin-tube b, being usually provided with a plurality of liaaeas resilient splines or spring-fingers 28 for At the forward end of the cover 20 is i a depending web orflannfe 29 which is cut away'at its centersee ig. 2, to provide a `flaring opening 30 leading into a slit 31 through which the yarn y from the bobbinv B draws. The top of the cover 20 projects beyond the web 29 in an overhanging ledge or flap 32 which, when the cover is closed down between the sides of the tank, will overlap the rearward end of the next adjacent cover of the series as shown in Fig. 1. The flap 32 is also provided with a guiding slit 33 for the yarn, similar to the slit 31 in the web 29. It is to be understood that a separate cover is provided for each `bobbin in the tank and that` the number of bobbins used depends o-n the number of winding 4heads or other machine units to which the yarns are to be supplied. It is also brought to attention that if it is required;to deliver the yarns to the machine doubled,0r in multiple, a plurality of -bobbins may be held side by side on each cover with their several yarns drawing through the single slit 31 or through a plurality of such slits, see Fig. 6. Such an adaption of the device would require only slight modification in the structure and arrangement herein shown and would fall within the purview of the present invention.

To sustain the covers 20 in horizontal po-l sition. closed down between the sides of the tank 11, I may employ any suitable stoplug or rest such as the extension or ear 34 projecting from the side of each cover at its forward end, see Fig. 2. The ear 34 is adapted to rest across the top ofthe forward side of the tank 11 when the cover is closed and serves as a convenient finger-grip for lifting the cover to erect kposition as illustrated at the right in Fig. 1. On one side of the trough 1l. is a lug'or abutment 35 which acts as a stop to hold the cover 20 in its upright position.

At one end of the tank or trough 11 is a fluid-leveling overflow or `outlet. 36 which may be connected to a pipe 37 leading to a suitable drain in the floor. The overflow nipple 36 is screwed through a -hole in the bottom of the tank 11 and secured in place by' a check-nut 38 tightened against a washer 39. By loosening the nut 38 the nipple 36 may be adjusted with its upper end at the pro-per height above the bottom of the tank to regulate the depth of the fluid therein, any excess fluid overflowing through the drain; and in this way the depth of immersion of the bobbin may be varied in ac cordance with any particular requirement. A suitable cock or faucet 40 connected with a water supply may be arranged above the opening4 at the end of the first cover 20,

- for til see Fi 1, uto' provide a convenient means ling the tank. v

Having now described the structure and1 arrangement of a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, its method of operation will next be explained. In preparlng the winding machine for operation the supply-bobbins B are placed on their holders 18 on the covers 20 the covers bein raised' or tilted into upright position fo 1` t 1s p urpose as shown at the right inFig. 1. The yarn y from each bobbin 1s then led through the guiding slits 31 and 33 at `the forward end of the cover, thence drawn throu h the tension-device 7 to the slot in the t readguide 6 and its end fastened to the cop-tube on the winding-spindle 5.

The tank or trough 11 is filled with liquid until it overflows throu h the outlet nipple 36, a suitable emulsion uid being employed if desired in accordance with any preferred method of conditioning or treatln the material. When it is simply require to moisten or dampen the yarn, water may e'used as the conditioning a ent and in some cases it is softened with so uble oils or emulsiied with soap. It has been explained that the overflow nipple 36 is adjustable with respect to the bottom of the tank 11 so that the level of the tiuid may be regulated to determine the degree of submersion to which the'bob- *bins are subjected after the covers have been closed down between the sides of the tank. In Fig. 1 the fluid is illustrated at a'level substantially coincident with the axes of the bobbins so that the latter are one-half submerged in the bath; lbut it is obvious that a greater or less degree of saturation of the material on the bobbin may be obtained by raising or lowering the level of the fluid.

After Athe height of the fluid in the tank has been regulated as required, and the covers 11 closed down to bring the bobbins in horizontal position with their sides immersed in the bath, the winding machine is started to operate in a well known manner to build up the cops or packa es on the spindle 5. As the yarn y is ta en up by the winding operation it draws od from the supply bobbins B through the guiding slits 31 andV 33, and any excess fluid clinging to its surface is scraped o. From the tank 11 the yarn passes between the grids S of the tension-device 7 whose cross-bars will further act to scrape oil the excess Huid. As the yarn y feeds through the threadguide 6 to the winding-spindle b it isl deposited thereon in layers to build up the cop C while being kept moistened to the required degree to facilitate its proper handling and to prepare or condition it for further processes of manufacture.

It has been determined in practice that my improved method of immersing -or submerging only a portion of the yarn on the along supply bobbin in the bath results in a more even and uniform distribution of the treating fluid throughout-the fibers of the mate-A rial. I have found that 'the yarn mass on the bobbin will take u only such a sli ht content fof moisture trat no apprecia le amount ofexcess'liquid will cling tothe surface of the yarnand be carried along to the winding* or other operation. Stated briefly, as the yarn draws offrfrom the bobbin it will be moistened at different points its length with substantially dry portions intervening between the damp stretches. The moisture in the damp patches is, however. eventually distributed over the whole length of yarn bythe action of ca illary, attraction.V In other words, the uid spreads or creeps along the dry portions of the yarn between the moist patches' and is taken up by the ibers to saturate the whole structure'. In this way I am enabled to dampen or condition the yarn withjust the right content of moisture without causing it to carry an excess of the liquid liable to be thrown od to s atter on the machinery and cause rust and) corrosion of the metal parts thereof. Y

With my improved device the dampening or conditioning of the yarn may be regulated to give any desired degree of moisture and no excess fluid is carried along to be thrown od' or spattered about; yet the conplies and piecing up the ends, while also protecting the bath from dirt, dust and lint in the air. After the yarn on a bobbin is ex hausted it is an easy and simple matter to raise the lid or cover on which it is supported and the empty tube can then be conveniently removed and a full bobbin applied in its. place. The ineans for regulating the level of the fiuid inthe bath provides for maintaining the bobbins immersed to the desired degree at all times, and the device is extremely simple and economical to manufacture while taking up but little space and being adapted for setting in convenient position within easy reach of the o erator.

While I have herein illustrate my improved moistening device as applied to use on a winding machine it isobvious that it may be adapted for various other types of textile machinery as employed in the manufacturingarts. It is` also to'be understood that while I havev herein shown and described a preferred arrangement of the device, various modiications may be made in details of construction without departing as ex. ressed in the 'appended claims. I c aim:

, 1. In a device for moistening or condi-v titioing textile fibers, the combination with a bath of iluidof means for maintaining a` cop or bobbin non-rotatable and partly immersed in the bath whereby the mass of material thereon will ,.absorb onlya predetermined content of the fluid which will be eventually uniformly distributed throughout its fibers without any excessmoisture carried thereby.

2. In a device for moistening or conditioning textile fibers, the combination with a bath of fluid, of means for holdin a. cop or bobbin non-rotatable with one side only immersed in the hath to adapt the yarn or thread to absorb a content of fluid at spaced intervals along its lengt-h alternating with intervening dry portions which finally absorb the fluid to provide for a. uniform condition of moisture throughout all of the fibers. A

3. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a bath of conditioning Huid, of means for holding a cop or bobbin of yarn or thread non-rotatable in horizontal posii tion with its side immersed in the Huid, and means to regulate the degree of immersion of the bobbin in the bath to control the amount of Huid taken up by the material to provide for the proper saturation of the 5 fibers without excess moisture carriedtherey4. In a device of the class specified, the

combination with a tank for the condition ing fluid, of means for holding a cop or bobbin of yarn or thread in horizontal position and non-rotatable in the tank with its side immersed in the fiuid, and means to adjust the level of the Huid in the tank to regulate the degree of immersion of the bobbin to control the amount of content of fiuid absorbed by the material thereon. p

5. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a tank for a bath of conditioning fluid, and means for pivotally supporting cops or bobbins non-rotatable in the tank to adapt them to be partly immersed in the fluid and to be raised away from the bath to facilitate the doiiing and replacing of the bobbins and the manipulation of the yarns or threads delivering therefrom.

6. In a device of the type specified. the

combination of a tank for a bath of conditioning liuid, and pivoted cop or bobbinholders adapted to support the bobbins in horizontal position and non-rotatable inthe tank with their sides immersed in the fiuid and to be tilted into substantially upright position to raise the bobbins out of the bath to facilitate the dofiing and replacing thereof and the mani ulation of the yarns or threads leading t erefrom.

tioning fiuid, a

'bobbin-holders images 7. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a tank fora bath. of condiplurality of covers pivoted to the sides of the tank to close its top, and carried by the covers to adapt them to bobbins with their sides immersed in the fluid when the covers are closed and to raise the bobbins out of the bath when the covers are opened.` l Y 8. In adevice of the typespeciied, the combination of a trough-like tank for a bath of conditioning' fiuid, a series of covers hinged toythe tank to adapt them lto close its top, and means for supporting cops or bobbins non-rotatable on the under side of the covers to adapt them to be held with their sides immersed in the bath when the covers are closed andfto be raisedout of the bath when the covers are opened.

9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a trough-like tank having sockets arranged along its sides, a plurality of covers provided with trunnions sea-ted in the sockets on the tank to adapt the covers to close down across its top, 'said covers formed with depending iianges at their rearward ends and overhanging flaps at their forward ends, bobbin-holders projecting at" right-angles from the depending anges on the covers and adap support the bobbins to hold them partly immersed in the tank, means for supportin the covers in closed relation on the tank, and means for holding the covers in erect position above the tank.

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination with a trough-like tank for a bath of conditioning fiuid, means for supporting bobbins non-rotatable in horizontalposition in the tank with their sides immersed in the bath, and an overflow device in the tank adapted for adjustment to control the depth of the fluid to regulate the degree of immersion of the bobbins.

-1l. In a device'of the type specified, the combination with a trough-like tank, of a series of box-like covers pivoted to. close within the sides of the tank and provided with forwardly projecting fiaps lfor closing the spaces between the covers, and means for holding cops or bobbins non-rotatable on the under side of the covers to adapt them to be immersed in the fiuid in the tank or to be raised out of the bath.

12. In a device of the type specified,- the combination with a tank, of box-like covers hinged to the tank to close down between its' sides, bobbin-holders supported on the rearward depending side of the covers, and means for guiding the yarns from the bobbins through the forward side and up through the top of the covers.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

' ERNEST R. SWANSON.

ted to non-'rotatablyy non-rotatably support the

Images