US2371638A - Apparatus for preparing yarn and thread packages for liquid treatment - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1945. H. J. M DERMbTT EI'AL 2,371,638

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TREATMENT Filed April 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 HENfiYJ. McDEPMu'fT .HUFFLFE F FF'YJE; ,7@% ATT Y.

March 20, 1945.

H. M DERMOTT ETAL APPARATUS FOR PREPARING YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TREATMENT Filed April 4, 1942 5 sheets-sneak 2 ATI'O March 20, 1945. H. J. M DERMOTT ETAL 2,371,533

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TREATMENT Filed April 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s Y INVENTOR. I'G'NFYJ. MEDEPMEITT BY HUF'HE'E' F F'F'YJH ATTOR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TREATMENT- 'March 20, 1945. H. J. MFDEIRMOTT ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4" Filed April 4; I942 P L U Mm m F w E A 5% H #7 NH F W.

March 20, 1945. 'H. J. MCDERMOTT ET AL 2,371,633

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TREATMENT Filed Api'il 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I IN VENTOR.

mm m F P .m E A C,.. M

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING- YARN AND THREAD PACKAGES FOR LIQUID TBEAT- MENT Henry J. McjDermott, Prospect Park, and Horace 1. Fry, Jr., Swartlimore, Pa., assign era to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, net; a

corporation of Delaware Application April 4.1942, Serial No. 431,728

(ems-1) 18 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for preparing yarn and thread packages. for liquid treatment. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus for preparing yarn and thread packages for liquid treatment, including means for strippingthe outer layers of thread or yarn from the packages, means for placing identification means on the packages, and means for applying protective covering means tothe packages.

In the liquid treatment of certain yarn thread packages, it is necessary to wrap the packages in protective covering members. This is particularly true where the yarn or thread is rayon in the annular form of package in which it iscollected in a spinning box rotating at high speed. Also where the outer layers of thread or yarn are apt to be damaged during the formation of the packages, it is necessary to strip them off before the covering means are applied. The present pro-' cedure for stripping oi the outer layers and applying protective covering means to yarn and thread packages requires considerable manipulation of the packages which is time consuming and often results indamage to the yarn or thread.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improvements in apparatus for stripping the outer layers from yarn and thread packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in apparatus for applying identification means to yarn and thread packages.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the unloading end of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the unloading end of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the units for applying protective covering means to yarn and thread packages.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of one of the units for applying protective covering means to yarn and thread packages taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

a strand of thread or yarn from-the package to a traveling tow to strip the outer layers from the packages. t Figure 8 is an elevational view'of' the means shown in Figure 7 as seen from the unloading end of the apparatus.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the means shown in Figure 'l as seen from the loading end of the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a plan view with parts broken away showing the interior of the means for applying identification means to the yarn and thread packages.

Figure 11 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing the interior of the means for applying identification means to the yarn and thread packages.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the means for cutting the strands of yarn or thread being stripped from the packages.

The apparatus as shown in the drawings comprises a plurality of yarn or thread package supporting units mounted on a conveyor whereby the packages may be moved to various positions in which identification means are applied to the packages, the outer layers of thread or yarn are stripped off andprotective covering means are applied to the ackages. While, the means for applying the identification means, thestripplng means, and the means for applying the protective covering means are coordinated with the conveyor and cooperate to prepare the-package for liquid treatment, any one or more of these operations may be omitted and the apparatus can carry out the remaining operations.

the sprocket wheels 6. Means which are not shown are provided for driving the sprocket. wheels. A-circular package supporting plate I, of slightly less diameter than the inside diameter of the sleeve-like-member, is centrally and rotatably mounted on the end of the shaft I which extends through the sleeve-like member and the axial bore in the hub member and carries fixedly secured thereto a racing plate la upon which the yarn or thread package actually rests. The

Figure 7 is a plan view of means for applying ll haft is adapted to be rotated and moved axially in the bore in the hub member. The package supporting plate is provided with a plurality of radially extending slots 9a. A scroll plate is fixed to the end .of the shaft beneath the package supporting plate and is provided with a plurality of scroll-like or spirally extending slots II. A roller or cam follower I2 is fixed to the end of the shaft. Also a pair of substantially diametrically opposed outwardly extending arms l3 and M are fixed to the shaft above the roller. A plurality of substantially L-shaped package gripping members I5 arranged for axialsliding I motion within guideways 9 formed in the facing plate la and having dependingportions iii are mounted on the package supporting plate with the depending portions passing through the slots in the package supporting plate and the scroll plate. The scroll plate is urged to rotate relative to the package supporting plate by the spring means ll attached at one end to a pin secured to the package supporting'plate and at the other end to a pin secured to the scroll plate. The spring is provided with a U-shaped member l8. intermediate its ends which straddles the shaft to permit the direction in which the spring exerts measuring means comprising a pair of intermeshing fluted rollers 21 which engage and feed .the colored yarn at a uniform rate. through the tube 28 to a severing means. The severing means comprises a stationary blade 29 and a movable blade 30 fixed at one end to the rotatable shaft 3!. The feeding and measuring means and the severing means are driven from the same drive shaft 32 so that they are coordinated. The operation of the colored yarn feeding and severing means is also coordinated with the movement of the package supporting units on the conveyor so that a length of colored yarn is dropped across each package supporting unit, asit passes under the colored yarn severing means.

Means are provided for stripping the outer layers from the package comprising a plurality of guide members 33 mounted on a continuous chain conveyor 34 positioned above and extending in the same direction as the package supporting unit conveyor. The conveyor for the guide members passes over sprocket wheels 35 mounted on horizontal axes and driven by means not shown so that the lower pass of the conveyor moves tion of force of the spring extends. The package supporting plate is provided with depending guide means 19 extending through guide holes 20 in the bottom of the sleeve-like member which permit axial movement but not rotary movement 4 of the package supporting plate relative to the sleeve-like member. A track 2| on which the roller 12 is adapted to roll is positioned below and extends in the direction of travel of the conveyor. The track is provided with a drop or lower section 22 which lowers the package supporting plate during a portion of the movement of the package supporting unit through the apparatus. Cam or deflecting members 23 and 24 are positioned above and on opposite sides of the track in the path of the outwardly extending arms l3 and I4 mounted on the shaft. Means are provided for rendering the unit inoperative comprising the annular plate member 10 rotatably supported on the bottom of the sleeve-like memher. The annular plate is provided with handle means H whereby it may be rotated relative to the sleeve-like member. about its axis. Guide holes 13 are'formed in the annular plate which are o the same size as the guideholes .20 in the bottom-of the sleeve-like member and are positioned so that they may be aligned with the guide holes in the sleeve-like member.

The cake-wrapping head in itself and the conveyor as so far described is the sole invention of Henry J. McDermott and is described and Q claimed in a separate co-pending application Serial No. 568,462, filed December 16, 1944, which is in part a continuation of application Serial No. 432,706, filed February 27, 1942. Y

The means for applying an identification means to the packages is indicated generally in Figures 1 and 2 by reference character 13. This means comprises a store of colored yarn or the like 25 and a yarn measuring and severing means positioned above the path of movement of the package supporting unit on the conveyor. The store of colored yarn 25 whichis used as the identification means is supported on a stand 25 and the colored yarn is directed to a feeding and in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as the conveyor for the package supporting units. The lower pass of the guide conveyor is arranged at two levels, with the portion adjacent the loading end of the machine at the lower level. The guide members comprise curved plates having an arcuate guiding surface 36 formed in their upper edge. The guide members are spaced apart substantially the same distance as the package supporting units on the conveyor. The yarn or thread being stripped from the packages is directed over the guide members in the upper level of the lower pass of the conveyor and the guide means BI and 82 to the drawing wheel 31 which is rotated by means not shown. A stream of liquid is directed against the drawing wheel by .the jet 33. The thread or yarn is removed from the drawing wheel and deposited in the .receptacle 38 by a doctor blade. Means generally indicated by reference character C are provided for applying to a traveling tow, strands of thread or yarn from the outer'layers of succeeding packages including means for first engaging and lifting the strands of yarn or thread to a position adjacent the traveling tow. These means are positioned between the guide members units. The strand engaging and lifting means as shown in Figure 9 comprises a lever 40 having a. strand engaging and guiding surface 42 at one end and pivotally connected at the other end to thefree end 43 of the lever 44 which is pivotally mounted on the housing of the drive means at 45. The lever 40 is urged upwardly by the spring 45 into engagement with the L-shaped lever 41 pivotally mounted at 48 on the housing. Cam

members 49 and 50 are mounted on the shaft 5| and rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 9. The cam member 43 actuates the L-shaped lever 41 which in turn actuates the lever 40 and the cam 50 actuates the lever 44 to move thev strand engaging and guiding surface in the closed pathshown by the dotted lines in Figure 9. The means for combining with the tow, a strand of yarn or thread being stripped from the package as shown in Figure 8 comprises the lever 52 having the thread engaging member 53 positioned at one end. The lever 52 is supported at its other end by the levers 54 and 55 pivotally mounted on the housing 58. The lever 32 is oscillated by the link 51 connected to the crank direction as shown in Figure 8. The thread engaging member 53 is v-shaped and one of the surfaces is grooved to form a channel for the flow of liquid. 'Liquid is suppliedto the grooved surface by the tube 59 and is withdrawn by the tube 60. The thread-engaging member moves in the path shown by the dotted lines in Figure 8.

The means for cutting the strand of yarn or thread after a suflicient amount has been drawn from the package is indicated generally by reference character D which comprises a stationary member 6| having a V-shaped strand receiving notch 62. The'member is positioned above and in line with the package supporting members. A cutting blade 63 having a strand receiving notch is mounted on the stationary member and arranged for reciprocation across the apex of the Figures 1 and 2. ,The uppermost end portions of the cover members are then placed over the tops of the gripping members and are inserted or tucked into the cup-like hollow spaceformed between the gripping members I? above the center of the package supporting units. As the package supporting units to which the cover members have been applied pass under the means for applying the identification, lengths of colored yarn are dropped on them. The colored yarn is of sufficient length that it will extend beyond the overlapping end portion of the cover member when the package is wrapped. Annular yarn or thread packages are'then placed on the package a ertness under the means the lever member 40 having the thread engaging surface 42 moves into en- 38 on the shaft 5! rotating in a counterclockwise gagement with the free end of the strand and raises it to a position adjacent to'the traveling tow. .The means for applying the strand of yarn to the tow comprising the lever 52 having the strand guiding and, engaging surface 53 is raised substantially immediately after guide 33 passes over it and engages a portion of -the strand extending between the surface 42 of the lever 40 and the stripping guide 33 on the conveyor to which the strand has been applied and thereby places the strand in contact with the traveling tow. The'liquid which is continually being applied to the surface 53 of the strand applying means causes the strand to adhere to the tow and tobe carried along therewith. Theouter layers of yarn continue to be stripped from the package until the package passes, beneath the cutting means indicated generally by reference character D. When the strand of yarn being stripped from the package passes through the V-shaped'notch in the stationary member, it is cut or severed by the movable blade. The member 65 limits the size of the balloon of the yarn being withdrawn from the package and prevents the cut end from engaging i other yarn package. The fr end of the cover member isthen withdrawn from the space formed within the upper portions of the gripping members I?) at the center of the packaging supporting unit and is placed over the outside of the upper portion of the package. As the package supporting unit passes over the drop or lower portion 22 of the track section, the roller l2 rolling on the track permits the shaft 8 and package supporting plate 1 to be lowered relative to the sleeve member 2. This axial movement of' the 5 package supporting plate and the package car ried thereon relative to the sleeve'member causes the portion of the covering member that has been placed on the sleeve to be applied to the lower portion of the package and in overlapping rel'ationto the other end portion of the cover memsupporting units over the gripping members 15 l and the cover members applied thereto. .As the package supporting move along with the conveyor the arm 13 on the shaft 8 strikes the cam or deflecting member 23. This rotates the shaft 8 in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5. The rotation of the shaft and the scroll plate in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5 urges the package gripping membersoutwardly. With this motion, the direction in which the spring extends is moved to the. other side of the shaft. The spring thereby continues to urge the scroll plate and shaft in a clockwise direction and the gripping members radially outward. This operation centers the package on the package supber. passed over the drop or lower portion'of the track, the package supportin unit passes by the deflecting member 26 which is positioned on the side of the track opposite to the side which the deflecting member 23 is positioned. The outwardly extending arm M fixed to the shaft 8 of the package supporting unit strikes the deflecting member 2d causing the shaft and the scroll porting unit and retains it in position. The free end of the yarn or thread on the outside of the package is passed over the leading edge of the stripping guide 33 above the package.

scroll plate in a counterclockwise direction retracts the gripping members moving them radially inward. As the direction in which the spring member extends passes to the other side of the shaft, the spring member urges the scroll plate to continue to rotate in a counter clockwise direction which retains the gripping members'in retracted position. The wrapped package may then be readily removed from the packag supporting unit by hand. If for any reason it is desired not to complete the application of the covering means to a certain package, the covering applying means for the unit supporting this package may be made inoperative. This is accomplished by rotating the plate 10 attached to this unit so that the holes 13 are out of alignment with the depending guide members 19. The plate member in this position prevents the package supporting plate from' moving in an axial direction relative to the. sleeve member'as the the balloon of an- After the package supporting unit has" While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for preparing a yarn package and the like for liquid treatment comprising package engaging and supporting means, means for stripping the outer layers from the package and means for applying protective covering means to the package.

2. Apparatus for preparing a yarn package and the like for liquid treatment comprising package engaging and supporting means, means for stripping the outer layers from the package, means for applying protective covering means to the package and means for transporting the package to the stripping means and the protective covering applying means.

3. Apparatus for preparing a yarn package and the like for liquid treatment comprising package engaging and supporting means, conveyor means engaging and supporting means, means for stripping the outer layers from the package, means for transporting the package relative to the stripping means, said stripping means being operative while the package is being transported, and means cooperating with the package engaging and supporting means for applying a protective covering means to the package.

5. Apparatus for preparing a yarn package and the like for liquid treatment comprising package engaging and supporting means, means for stripping the outer layers from the package, means for transporting the package relative to the stripping means, means cooperating with the package engaging and supporting means for applying a protective covering to the package, said stripping means and means for applying a protective covering to the package being operative while the package is being transported.

6. Apparatus for preparing a yam package and the like for liquid treatment comprising package engaging and supporting means, means for stripping the outer layers from the package, means for severing the strand being stripped from the package and means for applying protective covering means to the package.

'7. Apparatus for handling yarn packages and the like comprising a package supportingmember, means at a higher level than the member for continuously feeding a flexible strand arranged to permit the strand to follow a downwardly extending path, means for imparting relative motion between the member and feeding means to cause the strand to be laid on the member and means arranged between the feeding means and the member for severing a predetermined length from the leading end of the strand.

8. Apparatus for handling yarn packages and the like comprising a conveyor, a plurality of spaced package supports on the conveyor, means above the conveyor for continuously feeding a flexible strand arranged to permit the strand to follow a downwardly extending path to cause the strand to be laid across the supports in the general direction of travel or the conveyor and means for intermittently severing predetermined lengths from the leading end of the strand.

9. Apparatus for handling yarn packages and the like comprising a conveyor, a plurality of spaced package supports on the conveyor, means above the conveyor for continuously feeding a flexible strand arranged to permit the strand to follow a downwardly extending path to cause the strand to be laid across the supports in the general direction of travel of the conveyor and means for intermittently severing predetermined lengths from the leading end of the strand, the severing means being synchronized with the motion of the conveyor so that cutting occurs at the intervals when the spaces between the supports are below the cutting means.

10. Apparatus for handling annularly wound yarn packages and the like comprising a member for supporting the package on one of its ends, a yarn guide above the member, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarn about the guide from the package, means for moving the member and the guide simultaneously in the same general direction. away from the withdrawing means.

11. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and the like comprising a plurality o2 spaced members for supporting each of the packages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides above corresponding members, means located in a fixed position-for withdrawing yarns as a tow about the several guides from the packages, means for moving the members and the guides simultaneously in the same general direction away from the withdrawing means.

12. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and the like comprising a plurality of spaced members for supporting each of the packages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides above corresponding members, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarns as a'tow about the several guides from the packages, means for moving the members and the guides simultaneously in the same general direction away from the withdrawing means and means for combining any loose yarn ends deending from the rear of the guides with the tow.

13. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and the like comprising a plurality of spaced members for supporting each of the packages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides above corresponding members, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarns as a tow about the several guides from the packages, means for moving the members and the guides simultaneously in the same general direction away from the withdrawing means and means for combining any loose yarn ends depending from the rear of the guides with the tow, said combining means comprising a movable element disposed along the path of the guides and means for intermittently swinging the elemerit into the path of any depending loose end shortly after each successive guide passes the element.

14. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and the like comprising a plurality of spaced members for supporting each of the packages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides above corresponding members, means located in a. fixed position for withdrawing yarns as a tow about the several guides from the packages, means for moving the members and the 15. Apparatus for handling annularly wound yarn packages and the like comprising a member for supporting the package on one of its ends, a yarn guide above the member, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarn about the as a towabout the several guides from the packages, means for moving themeinbers and the guides simultaneously in the same general direction away from the withdrawing means and means for combining any loose yarn ends de-- pending from the rear of the guides with the tow, said combining means comprising a movable element disposed along the path of the guides, means for intermittently swinging the element into the path of an depending loose end shortly after each successive guide passes the element, a

liquid-applying element, and means for intermittently swinging the liquid-applying element up into contact with the loose yarn end and tow and means disposed just above the path of the member for cutting the unwinding yarn after ,a predetermined travel of the member.

guidefrom the package, means for moving the member and the guide simultaneously in the same general direction away from the withdrawing means and means disposed just above the path of the member for cutting the unwind ing yarnafter a predetermined travel of the member. f

16. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and thelike comprising a plurality of spaced members for supporting each or the packages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides above corresponding members, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarns for as a tow about the several guides from the packages, means for moving the members and the guides simultaneously in the same general direc tion away from the withdrawing means and means for combining any loose yarn ends de- I pending from the rear of the guides with the tow, and means disposed just above the path of the member for cutting the unwinding yarn after a predetermined travel of the member.

17. Apparatus for handling annularly wound packages and the like comprising a plurality, of spaced members for supporting each of the p'ackages on one of its ends, a plurality of spaced yarn guides abovecorresponding members, means located in a fixed position for withdrawing yarns 18. Apparatus for preparing annular yarn packages and the like for liquid treatment comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced package supports each comprising an annular base and a central structure upstanding therefrom adapted toreceive a flexible tubular pro-' I tective covering, means at a higher level than the members for continuously feeding a flexible strand downwardly across the supports, means intermittently severing predetermined lengths from the leading end of the strand, a

conveyor above the path of the members carry-V ing a. plurality of spaced yarn guides,.means located in a fixed position for withdrawing'the yarns as a tow about the several guides from the packages, means for operating the conveyors to move the guides and'supports simultaneously at substantially the same speed away from the withdrawing means, meansfor combining any loose yarn ends depending from the rear of the guides with the tow, means disposed just above the path of the supports for cutting in succession the yarn unwinding from the packages on the several'sup ports after a predetermined travel of the supports.

' HENRY J. MCDERMOTT.

HORACE P. FRY, JR.

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