US3830440A

US3830440A - Winding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3830440A
Application number: US00402112A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Bense
Original assignee: Leesona Corp
Current assignee: Leesona Corp
Priority date: 1972-06-05
Filing date: 1973-10-01
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20

Abstract

Winding apparatus for concurrently winding a plurality of strands of yarn into separate take-up packages while continually monitoring the tension in each strand and compensating for variations therein to wind the take-up packages to be of substantially equal diameter is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced winding units each adapted to wind an individual strand of yarn into a take-up package. All of the winding units are driven with one common variably controlled motor. Further, each separate winding unit includes a rotatable package support and a separate package pressure roll for engagement with the periphery of an associated take-up package. Means are provided for applying a separate biasing force to each package support to control the pressure under which each said package support engages its associated pressure roll.

Description

United States Patent [191 Bense 41 WINDING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: William Malcolm Bense, Barrington,

[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, RI.

[22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,112

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 259,743, June 5,

1972, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 242/35.5 R, 242/45 [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/20, B65h 59/38 [58] Field of Search 242/35.5 R, 45, 18 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,355 8/1952 Bell et a1 242/45 3,036,784 5/1962 Schippers et al l l 242/35.5 R 3,350,022 10/1967 Bense 3,672,584 6/1972 Macedo et a1. 3,672,589 6/1972 Nakai et al. 242/45 [111 3,830,440 Aug. 20,1974

Primary Examiner Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlbert P. Davis; Burnett W. Norton 1 K ABSTRACT Winding apparatus for concurrently winding a plurality of strands of yarn into separate take-up packages while continually monitoring the tension in each strand and compensating for variations therein to wind the take-up packages to be of substantially equal diameter is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced winding units each adapted to wind an individual strand of yarn into a take-up package. All of the winding units are driven with one common variably controlled motor. Further, each separate winding unit includes a rotatable package support and a separate package pressure roll for engagement with the periphery of an associated take-up package. Means are provided for applying a separate biasing force to each package support to control the pressure under which each said package support engages its associated pressure roll.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIED mszmen sum 10E 2 FIG.1

PATENTEDmszmsn saw 2 or z' FIGZ FIG?) WINDING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending US. application Ser. No. 259,743 filed June 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to strand winding machines and relates, more particularly, to improved winding apparatus for winding a plurality of packages of yarn or other strandular material.

In the following specification and claims, the term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean the product of a winding machine, whatever its fonn.

Throughout the specification reference is made to first winding unit, second winding unit and similar terminology to indicate elements or strands in pairs. Although only two winding units are illustrated and described it is to be understood that the invention herein is not to be so limited, the number being adapted solely for convenience and ease of description. Thus, throughout the description, when referring to winding units, strands and associated elements the terminology first" and second may be construed as meaning plurality."

In the manufacture of strands that are being continuously advanced at a substantially constant rate of speed from a source of supply it is common to provide a takeup mechanism to wind up each strand at a rate of speed correlated with its rate of advance. An example of such an operation is winding the output from a synthetic yarn spinning machine or a spinning texturizing combination machine. In such a winding operation the yarn must be wound at the same speed that it is advanced by the spinning machine or other source of supply. Failure to do so would result in breaking the yarn if the winders were to operate at a higher speed than the source of supply. On the other hand, if the winders are operated at a lower speed than the supply source a slack yarn will result which forms an undesirable and unacceptable yarn tangle between the winder and the supply source. Heretofore, it has been customary to provide a series of independent take-up units of the type disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 2,752,105 issued June 26, 1956 to John V. Keith. These machines, commonly known in the trade as takeup units, may be arranged singularly at spaced apart locations on the floor of the plant adjacent to the spinning machine or other strand supply source. It is readily recognizable that such disposition of the take-up units results in uneconomical use of floor space. Thus, attempts have been made to gang a plurality of take-up units in order to accomplish savings in floor space and, coincidently, to effect savings in the cost of construction and operation of the ganged units. Such attempts have included stacking a pair of take-up units one on top of the other in vertical disposition, each unit being driven by its own motor and controlled by its own tension units. Another approach has been to lengthen the spindle of each take-up unit in order that two packages could be wound on a single spindle. In the cases where the take-up units have been arranged one on top of the other as just discussed, it has heretofore been necessary to develop rather complex thread lines to preclude interference between the strands being wound on the vertically arranged units. Furthermore, in view of the fact that each of the vertically arranged units requires its own power source and its own tension compensating unit, there are practically no savings in the economics of construction of these ganged units. In the case where the spindle of each unit has been lengthened to accommodate two packages the saving in floor space has been minimal since a take-up unit with a lengthened spindle obviously consumes more floor space. Furthermore, in this later instance the dimensions and weight of the packages wound on the take-up unit are necessarily restricted due to the fact that in these take-up units the spindle is supported and driven only at one end. Consequently, the cost savings effected by winding two packages on one spindle are outweighed by the package limitations presented.

The present invention is directed to take-up apparatus wherein a plurality of winding units are arranged in tandem, and desirably vertically, to be driven by a common drive means while each of the units winds up a separate advancing strand or strands. The apparatus includes unique tension regulating means in combination with the common drive means wherein the tension in each strand is continually monitored as it advances to its associated take-up unit. The tension regulating unit includes a freely pivotable arm for each winding unit, all of the arms being mounted on a common compensator shaft and each arm having a roller about which the strand or strands running to the winding unit associated with the particular arm are engaged. A lug is provided for each arm, the several lugs being fixed to the compensator shaft and being situated such that as the arm associated with each lug is raised the arm engages and bears on its lug. In operation the several arms remain in contact with their respective lugs by virtue of the fact that the yarn engaged about the roller on each arm urges the arm into engagement with its lug. In this position they share the total load of a biasing spring urging the several arms downwardly. Thus, the arms impart tension to their associated strands, the sum of the tension in all of the strands being generally equal to the force of the biasing spring. Now, if a given package begins to wind with a smaller diameter than its companion package or packages, the strand advancing to that smaller diameter package will begin to lessen its proportionate share of support of the biasing spring through its respective lug, and in consequence of which the load of the biasing spring will be assumed to a greater degree by the package of greater diameter. In an extreme circumstance wherein this system of control could become marginal due to the yarn size or denier, or the tensions realized from various unequal yarn contact points on guides in the two strands were varying to the limits intended to be handled, the strand advancing to the smaller diameter package could allow its arm to lower to a degree where it would drop away from contact with its lug. In this condition the tension in the strand would only be biased by the weight of the arm which would be the minimum tension possible in the strand going to the smaller package and the total biasing force of the spring would be applied to the larger package. Bearing in mind that the packages, being rotated by a common power source, are all driven at the same spindle speed, the tension in the strand advancing to the package of greater diameter rises. Accordingly, the package of greater diameter begins to wind more densely than the package of smaller diameter which is having. the strand advanced to it under comparatively lighter tension. This continues until the heretofore larger diameter package becomes, in fact, equal in diameter to its companion package, due to its being wound more densely.

At this point the proportional tension sharing will antomatically readjust to maintain a status-quo set of conditions to wind both packages at a constant rate provided the yarn size or denier remains at a constant value and the variables in the tensions due to guides remain constant. However, if a new variable occurs such as a small change in yarn size or denier, the tendancy for a change in growth rate will again take place and a consequent repeat of the sensed compensator arm tension will result in a new apportionment of applied tension to the arms with the tension lowering in the arm associated with the package tending to build slower and higher in the arm associated with the package tending to build faster. The interplay of rate of build and sensing and readjusting of tension in practice does not take place in step by step fashion as might be thought of in describing the actions but in fact takes place in minute sont n imssratin dsstsssan s eqia yfli most undisturbed stable processes, will seek" and maintain a The apparatus is economical in construction in that a single source of power is provided for all the winding units in the apparatus and, further, a common tension control means is provided for controlling the tension in each said strand. Additionally, significant savings in floor space and particularly height space are achieved with the present invention.

With the foregoing in mind it is one object of the present invention to provide new and improved winding apparatus capable of winding simultaneously a plurality of continuously advancing strand of yarn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide winding apparatus which includes a plurality of strand winding units driven by a common source of power and provided with a' common tension unit for controlling the tension in each of the plurality of strands during its advance to its respective winding unit.

Still a further-object of the present invention is to provide winding apparatus which is economical to manufacture and simple and reliable in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide winding apparatus which includes a plurality of winding units, which said apparatus is of minimum height to fit conveniently under existing strand processing equipment.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic front elevational of the winding apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of mechanism for controlling tension in the strands advancing from a supply source to the takeup units; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the tension controlling apparatus of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawing and, in the first instance, to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a mounting pedestal or frame for supporting a pair of generally vertically arranged winding units or take-up

units

12 and 14, the winding

units

12 and 14 being offset from precise vertical alignment with each other, as seen in FIG. 1, so that the threadline to the upper unit 14 runs clear of lower unit 12 by reason of its passing through guide eye 15. Further, guide eye 15 is so positioned that the fanning angle of the strand passing from guide eye 15 to take-up unit 14 is essentially the same as that of the strand advancing from the compensator arm (to be described later) to the lower winding unit 12 as the strands are traversed on their packages. Each of the winding

units

12 and 14 is of the type known in the art as a precision winder wherein the number of rotations of the respective spindles l6 and 18 to each reciprocation of a related strand guide 20 and 22 is fixed relative to each other from the start of the winding operation until the associated package P or P being wound thereby is completed. Each winding

spindle

16 and 18 is rotatably journaled at one of its ends in suitable bearings (not illustrated) which are seated in the upper end of a respective

spindle carrying frame

24, 26. In turn, each

frame

24, 26 is pivotably mounted adjacent its lower end to an associated

base

28, 30 by means of a

respective stub shaft

32, 34. By this construction each of the

spindles

16 and 18 are permitted to swing toward and away from its associated strand guide 20, 22 as the winding cycle progresses. Each of the strand guides 20, 22 is reciprocated by known means such as an associated barrel cam (not shown). Thus, the barrel cam which operates guide 20 is rotatably joumaled interiorly of a housing 36 fixed by means of an upstanding support 38 to a horizontal platform 40 which, in turn, is fixed on frame 10. Similarly, the barrel cam which operates guide 22 is journaled for rotation in suitable bearings within a housing 42. In turn, housing 42 is mounted at the upper end of a support 44. Support 44 is fixed on a horizontal platform 46 extending from frame 10. As is readily apparent in FIG.

I 1, each of the spaced

platforms

40 and 46 also provides a support for a respective one of the

bases

28 and 30. The platforms are sufficiently long so that winding unit 14 can be offset rightwardly from the vertical relative to winding unit 12 as seen in FIG. 1. In this manner traversal of the strand extending from the region below winding unit 12 to winding unit 14 proceeds unhampered by interference with unit 12, all by virtue of this offset coupled with the strand being guided through guide 15.

Viewing FIG. 1 it will be seen that a roller bail 48 is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 50 at the upper end of housing 36 and in a position to engage peripherally with package P during winding of that package. Likewise, a roller bail 52 is mounted in bearings 54 in the upper portion of housing 42 whereby said bail 52 may engage peripherally with the package P supported on spindle 18. Roll bails 48 and 52 are elongated to span the full width of the associated packages P and P, thereby providing a pressure surface against which said packages are urged under controlled pressure during winding thereof. Such controlled pressure may be provided by means including an array of

springs

56, 58, for each unit in the manner as fully explained in copending, commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 3,672,584 issued June 27, I972.

Common drive means for each of the

spindles

16 and 18 and each of the strand guides 20 and 22 is provided by an electric motor which is mounted on lower platform 40 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Motor 70 has a drive shaft 72 to which a timing pulley 74 is fastened. A timing belt 76 is engaged on timing pulley 74 and is also engaged on a further timing drive pulley 78 fastened on a stub shaft 80 which is mounted for rotation in a bearing block 86. In turn, bearing block 86 is secured to lower platform 40. A timing belt 88 encircles a first timing pulley 90 secured on shaft 80 and said belt 88 also passes around a timing pulley 92 carried on stub shaft 32 for rotation. As previously noted, stub shaft 32 is mounted in a seat within frame 24 and base 28. A timing belt 96 passes around second rotatable timing pulley 98 mounted on shaft 32 integral with pulley 92 and belt 96 also passes around a further timing pulley 100 which is secured fast on spindle 16. Consequently, as motor 70 is energized spindle 16 is rotated through the power train just described. Coincidently therewith yarn guide 20 is caused to reciprocate via motive force produced as a further timing belt 102 is driven from a timing pulley 103 mounted on the opposite end of motor drive shaft 72 from pulley 74. Belt 102 also engages around a timing pulley 104 which is connected via a shaft 106 with the afore-mentioned barrel cam for motivating yarn guide 20.

Ganged on stub shaft 80 with the previously mentioned pulleys is a further timing pulley 108 which serves to engage and drive a timing belt 110. A stepped timing pulley 112 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 115 which, in turn, is mounted in a plate 116 secured in vertical orientation on the side of platform 46. A timing belt 117 passes around pulley 1'14, mounted on shaft 115, and is engaged with another stepped timing pulley 118 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 120 secured in the upper region of plate 116. A timing belt 122 leads around pulley 119 and also passes around pulley 124- supported for rotation on shaft 34 affixed to frame 26 and base 30. A further timing belt 128 engages with timing pulley 127 and with a timing pulley 130 on one end of spindle 18. Additionally, a timing belt 132 is connected between timing pulley 133 and a timing pulley 134. In turn, pulley 134 is secured to the end of a shaft 136 which is joined with the afore-mentioned barrel cam for operating strand guide 22. Accordingly, as a further incident of the operation of motor 70 spindle 18 is rotated and strand guide 22 is driven by the power train just described and is also operated simultaneously and in unison with the operation of unit 12 as described earlier.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the winding apparatus of the present invention includes structure for controlling the tension in each of the supply strands S and S as they are advanced from their source to the take-up units. Such structure includes a tension compensating arrangement of the general type, for example, described in commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 2,752,105 which operates to wind up a strand at a constant or gradually decreasing tension as the take-up package increases in diameter and which is further operable to continuously sense the tension in the advancing strand and, as a result of such sensing, to control the speed at which the strand is wound. The patented apparatus includes the provision of a shaft 140 which is rotatably journaled in a plate 142 secured to frame 10 of the winding apparatus. The patented structure is modified herein to the extent that a pair of

compensator arms

144, 146 are loosely mounted to be freely pivotable on shaft 140 through means of respective bearing blocks 148, 150. A spring 151 is provided which is fastened to shaft 140 in a manner to impart a torsional force in shaft 140 to urge

arms

144, 146 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) to impart a desired tension in strands S and S The outer end of each

arm

144, 146 carries a

rotatable strand roller

152, 154, respectively. Each of the

arms

144, 146 is operable to transmit its rocking motion to shaft 140 through an associated

clamp

156, 158, as best shown in FIG. 3, the pair of clamps being secured fast on shaft 140 and each having a

lug

160, 162 integrally formed therewith. The

lugs

160, 162 extend tangentially from shaft 140 in a common plane. Each of the bearing blocks 148, has

projections

164, 166 integrally fabricated therewith, the projections extending in a plane to'engage with the associated one of the

lugs

160, 162 when the bearing block and compensator arm with which the pin is associated is rocked or elevated clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Excessive rocking motion of the

arms

144, 146 is precluded by a stop 170 mounted on plate 142 and situated to engage and thus prevent the arms from swinging more than about forty degrees above or below the horizontal.

As is fully explained in the prior cited patent, shaft 140 is connected with mechanism for altering the speed of motor 70 in response to package growth and to tension variations in the advancing strands. With regard to package growth, the spindle speed of each winding

unit

12 and 14 is reduced progressively to cause succeeding layers of strands S and S, respectively, in each package to be wound with either constant or progressively less tension. The progressively less tension mode of winding is accomplished through linkage, a portion of which is shown at 172, connected to lower winding unit 12 and operating to control motor 70which operates both

units

12 and 14. Thus, winding unit 14 is a slave which is slowed concurrently with winding unit 12 due to overall package growth.

In operation a pair of strands S and S of substantially equal denier are continuously advanced from a source of supply above

strand rollers

152, 154. Each strand S and S is looped downwardly around its

respective roll

152 or 154, then upwardly to be threaded through an associated guide 20 or 22, then onto a core C or C secured on the

appropriate spindle

16 or 18. As previously discussed, strand S is also guided through guide eye 15. The apparatus is activated through energization of motor 70 in consequence of which the strands are traversed onto cores C and C to form packages P and P. Electric mechanisms not herein illustrated are set to cause

spindles

16 and 18 to initially wind up the strands at a rate which will cause

compensator arms

144 and 146 to assume an essentially horizontal attitude. Thus, coincident downward disposition of

compensator arms

144 and 146 will cause spindles l6 and 18 to speed up synchronously and thereby wind strands S and S at a rate faster than the preset winding rate programmed into the control mechanism when the arms are in their horizontal positions. Similarly, coincident upward disposition of

arms

144 and 146 will cause the spindles to slow down synchronously and thereby wind strands S and S at a slower rate than that obtained when the arms are horizontally disposed.

Now, let it be assumed that spring 151 is set to impart a total load of, say 60 grams tension into the strands being wound and, further, let it be assumed that there are two strands being taken up, one strand on unit 12 and the other on unit 14. Further, let it be assumed that the conditions are such that the strand S and S, in engagement with their

respective rollers

152 and 154, follow similar threadlines and share the tension load from spring 151 equally so that, in fact, for present purposes it can be assumed that each strand has thirty grams tension introduced to it by its engagement with its respective roller. Thus, during this phase of operation the compensator arms maintain their essentially horizontal attitudes and the strands continue to advance to their respective take-up

units

12 and 14, each presumed to be under 30 grams tension.

lf denier and tension additions realized from strands passing through various guides remain equal and strand feed remains constant the shared load of spring 151 on strands S and S would remain constant. However, in a normal winding cycle variables are introduced as, for example, when the denier of one strand varies even slightly, say in the order of one percent, from the other. Such a denier difference might occur by a missing filament in one of the strands. While this condition might be permissible insofar as the quality of the strand is concerned, the result in winding will be that the strand of lesser denier will result in the winding of a package of smaller diameter. Likewise, presuming the denier of the two strands remained exactly alike, but one strand passed through a guide with more bend than the other resulting in higher tension while being directed to the takeup from the source or process, the result in winding will be that the strand with this higher tension will re suit in the winding of a package of smaller diameter. in operation with the-present invention, assoon as the package to which the lighter denier strand or the higher tension strand is advanced begins to wind smaller in diameter, the compensator arm around which the lighter denier yarn is engaged begins to lessen its share of the total biasing spring load while the lessened load share is automatically transposed to the arm and strand associated with the larger diameter package. This occurs, obviously, by reason of the total tensions in the two strands having to always be a numerical force sum equal to the force of the single biasing spring. ln general, the force is gradually removed due to an infinitesimally small reduction in tension in the strand which is being wound on the smaller diameter package and the compensator arm does not necessarily fall away from contact with its

lug

160 or 162. Rather, the minute release in tension on the compensator arm causes a proportional shift in the load sharing distribution of the two strands relative to spring 151. That is to say, where in the cited example, the two strands S and S were deemed to be sharing the sixty gram load of spring 151 equally, the tendency of one arm to shift minutely away from engagement with its lug may result in, say, the arm which is tending to lower taking only grams of the spring load while the other strand must then assume the remaining 45 grams of the load. The reduction of the tension in the one strand will cause the smaller diameter package to grow at a faster rate due to its being wound less densely and, concurrently, the heavier tension on the strand delivering to the larger package will cause it to increase in diameter at a slower rate than when the tension load was shared equally by the strands. This condition will continue until a state of equilibrium is attained again where the two strands may share the tension load of spring 151 equally, or may remain out of equilibrium throughout the winding in the event that deniers remain slightly unequal or tensions applied by guides directing the yarn from source or process remain slightly. unequal, and such equal or unequal conditions will be achieved when the diameters of the two packages are equal. Thereafter, the above described cycle will be repeated as conditions between the two strands vary so that as final products of the winding cycle a pair of packages are produced which are of substantially the same diameter and, while each package may vary in density at portions therein, nevertheless package are produced which are structured well within commercially acceptable limits.

In extreme conditions wherein the denier variation or the tension variation resulting from dissimilar guide arrangements, not shown, directing the yarn from process to the takeups are excessive, the strand being wound on the smaller package could reduce in tension to the point where the arm could lower out of contact with its respective lug or 162. Under this extreme condition and wherein the aforementioned sixty gram load of spring 151 were used as an example, the result would be the biasing of the full sixty grams to the arm associated with the larger diameter package and no spring biasing to the arm associated with the smaller diameter package and the only tension remaining in the smaller diameter package strand would result from the weight of the arm alone. If the resulting maximum differences in tension as described in these aforementioned extreme conditions do not correct the non equal building of the two packages and the arm which has lost contact with its associated lug does not recontact the lug by reason of equalizing the building of the packages, but in fact, continues to lower progressively away from the lug, it is an indication that the degree of variations in denier and guide applied tensions are excessive and, in practice, would result in unacceptable product quaiity.

' each strand advancing to its respective winding unit.

While the present invention is shown and described herein as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the elements thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Winding apparatus comprising, a first winding unit arranged to wind a first advancing strand into a first package, a second winding unit displaced from alignment with said first winding unit and arranged to wind a second advancing strand into a second package, a separate pressure roll for engagement with the periphery of each said package, separate means for urging each said pressure roll against its associated package under controlled pressure throughout the winding of each said package, common drive means for operating said first and second winding units simultaneously for concurrent winding of said first and second strands, means for imparting a predetermined total tension into the aggregate of said first and second strands including means for sensing the tension in each of said first and second strands during advance of the strands to their respective packages and for varying the tension imparted to each said strand by said tension imparting means in response to variations in the relative increases in size of said first and second packages, whereby the predetermined total tension inparted into the aggregate of the first and second strands is maintained.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I wherein said ten sion sensing means includes first and second independently movable members for engaging respectively said first and second strands.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tension imparting means includes biasing means operable to urge each of said first and second members into engagement with its respective strand.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim ll wherein said first and second winding units are positioned at fixed loci, said first winding unit being disposed in vertical and horizontal planes offset from said second winding unit.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including common control means for regulating said drive means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first winding unit is disposed in vertical and horizontal planes offset from said second winding unit.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said independently movable members are mounted on a common shaft for rocking movement thereon.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tension imparting means includes biasing means connected with said shaft and operable to rock said shaft in a direction to urge said movable members into engagement with their associated strands.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including lug means mounted on said shaft and engageable with said members.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including guide means for guiding the strand advancing to the uppermost of said first and second units in a path remote from the lowermost of said units.

Claims

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tension sensing means includes first and second independently movable members for engaging respectively said first and second strands.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second winding units are positioned at fixed loci, said first winding unit being disposed in vertical and horizontal planes offset from said second winding unit.