EP0127017A1 — Open-end yarn piecer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of piecing a machine of the type described by means of a travelling piecing apparatus, comprising the steps of - seperating said nip roll pair, threading a seed yarn with the nip roll pair, feeding the seed yarn back to the rotor to join with a fiber ring therein, and withdrawing the seed yarn and newly formed yarn pieced thereto by re-engaging said nip roll pair, said feeding and withdrawing steps being effected while the rotor is operated at or close to the selected operating speed.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of piecing a machine of the type described by means of a travelling piecing apparatus, comprising the steps of - seperating said nip roll pair, threading a seed yarn with the nip roll pair, feeding the seed yarn back to the rotor to join with a fiber ring therein, and withdrawing the seed yarn and newly formed yarn pieced thereto by re-engaging said nip roll pair, said feeding and withdrawing steps being effected while the rotor is operated at or close to the selected operating speed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seed yarn is provided by a broken yarn end on a package at said package forming means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said selected operating speed lies in the range 40'000 - 85'000 RPM, especially 60'000 - 85 1 000.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 34 words

A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 including the step of initiating withdrawal of the seed yarn upon expiry of a predetermined time interval measured from a predetermined start signal.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 33 words

A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 including the step of clamping the seed yarn at a location downstream from the nip rolls until re-engagement of said nip rolls.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 49 words

A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 including the step of forming a yarn reserve in said seed yarn, forming a prepared end on said seed yarn and prelocating said prepared end relative to the spinning unit prior to feeding back yarn from said reserve.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 44 words

A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising the step of creating relatively wide separation between said nip rolls for threading of said seed yarn therewith and maintaining a relatively small separation of said rolls during said back feed of the seed yarn.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 129 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising means for separating said nip rolls, means for forming a yarn reserve in a seed yarn and operable controllably to release said reserve for back feed into the spinning unit, means for initiating operation of said feed means, and control means responsive to the condition of the spinning unit and operable when the spinning unit is in a predetermined condition to initiate in a predetermined sequence - operation of the feed means, operation of said yarn reserve means to release said reserve and re-engagement of said nip rolls to effect withdrawal of seed yarn and newly spun yarn pieced thereto, said control means including timing means to time initiation of said re-engagement from a predetermined timing reference.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 129 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising means for separating said nip rolls, means for forming a yarn reserve in a seed yarn and operable controllably to release said reserve for back feed into the spinning unit, means for initiating operation of said feed means, and control means responsive to the condition of the spinning unit and operable when the spinning unit is in a predetermined condition to initiate in a predetermined sequence - operation of the feed means, operation of said yarn reserve means to release said reserve and re-engagement of said nip rolls to effect withdrawal of seed yarn and newly spun yarn pieced thereto, said control means including timing means to time initiation of said re-engagement from a predetermined timing reference.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said timing means is operable to time initiation of operation of the yarn reserve means from the same timing reference.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said control means is operable to initiate said sequence after the spinning unit has reached its selected operating speed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 wherein said separating means comprises releasable retaining means operable to retain said nip rolls in a separated condition against the effect of bias means urging the nip rolls towards the engaged condition.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said separating means comprises means operable to produce a relatively large spacing between the nip rolls for threading of a seed yarn therewith, said retaining means being operable to maintain a relatively small spacing between the nip rolls.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12 wherein said reserve means comprises biasing means urging release of yarn in the reserve and retaining means operable to retain the reserve against the effect of the biasing means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13 including means to define a predetermined length of seed yarn threaded with said nip rolls and with said reserve means and means to manipulate said seed yarn into the spinning unit, the reserve means being operable during manipulation of the seed yarn to maintain said length of yarn taut.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 61 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising means for controllably separating said nip roll pair, means for threading a seed yarn with the separated nip rolls and yarn clamp means operable to clamp the seed yarn at a location downstream from the nip rolls and to release the seed yarn upon re-engagement of the nip rolls.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 61 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising means for controllably separating said nip roll pair, means for threading a seed yarn with the separated nip rolls and yarn clamp means operable to clamp the seed yarn at a location downstream from the nip rolls and to release the seed yarn upon re-engagement of the nip rolls.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said location is adjacent said nip rolls.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 73 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising, means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn, means for forming a reserve for backfeed of seed yarn to the spinning unit, means to separate said nip rolls, and threading means movable on a predetermined path intersecting said accessible length of seed yarn to collect said seed yarn and thread it with the nip roll pair and reserve forming means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 73 words

A travelling piecing apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising, means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn, means for forming a reserve for backfeed of seed yarn to the spinning unit, means to separate said nip rolls, and threading means movable on a predetermined path intersecting said accessible length of seed yarn to collect said seed yarn and thread it with the nip roll pair and reserve forming means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn comprises end finding means for finding a broken end on a yarn wound up on said package forming means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 and further comprising means to form a predetermined end portion on said seed yarn, said threading means being operable to bring the seed yarn into operable relationship with said end forming means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19 wherein said means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn comprises yarn guide means movable across a predetermined zone in which said yarn could be located to collect said seed yarn and then movable to a predetermined position to hold said seed yarn for collection by said threading means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20 wherein said threading means comprises an elongate member extending cantilever-fashion from a movable mounting therefor, said member having a yarn guiding means adjacent its free end.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

A rotor for a rotor spinning machine of the type described, said rotor having a floor portion provided with a ring of markings adapted to modulate reflection of a light beam falling thereon, said markings comprising alternate regions of reflective and non-reflective surface finish, said non-reflective surface finish being produced by etching or eroding said floor portion surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 58 words

A rotor for a rotor spinning machine of the type described, said rotor having a floor portion provided with a ring of markings adapted to modulate reflection of a light beam falling thereon, said markings comprising alternate regions of reflective and non-reflective surface finish, said non-reflective surface finish being produced by etching or eroding said floor portion surface.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of piecing a machine of the type described by means of a travelling piecing apparatus comprising the steps of - separating said nip roll pair, threading a seed yarn with the nip roll pair, forming a reserve in said seed yarn, feeding seed yarn_from said reserve back to the rotor to join with a fiber ring therein, withdrawing the seed yarn and newly formed yarn pieced thereto by re-engaging said nip roll pair, and defining a predetermined time period during which said backfeed of seed yarn occurs and at the expiry of which withdrawal of seed yarn is commenced.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of piecing a machine of the type described by means of a travelling piecing apparatus comprising the steps of - separating said nip roll pair, threading a seed yarn with the nip roll pair, forming a reserve in said seed yarn, feeding seed yarn_from said reserve back to the rotor to join with a fiber ring therein, withdrawing the seed yarn and newly formed yarn pieced thereto by re-engaging said nip roll pair, and defining a predetermined time period during which said backfeed of seed yarn occurs and at the expiry of which withdrawal of seed yarn is commenced.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as claimed in claim 23 including the step of maintaining the speed of the spinning unit constant during said period.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the spinning unit is operated at its selected operating speed during said period.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 including means for forming a yarn reserve in said seed yarn, means for defining a predetermined length of seed yarn extending from said yarn clamp means, and means to manipulate said length of seed yarn into the spinning unit, the reserve means being operable during manipulation of the seed yarn to maintain said length of yarn taut.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 72 words

Servicing equipment for a yarn processing machine having a plurality of operating stations, said equipment comprising means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn in a predetermined zone, yarn guide means and moving means therefor operable to sweep the guide means across said zone and to locate the guide means in a predetermined position after said sweep so that said accessible length of seed yarn is held in a predetermined orientation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 72 words

Servicing equipment for a yarn processing machine having a plurality of operating stations, said equipment comprising means for forming an accessible length of seed yarn in a predetermined zone, yarn guide means and moving means therefor operable to sweep the guide means across said zone and to locate the guide means in a predetermined position after said sweep so that said accessible length of seed yarn is held in a predetermined orientation.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said guide means is adapted to hold the yarn inclined to a predetermined path.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 37 words

Service equipment as claimed in claim 27 wherein the guide means is operable to locate the guide means in a second predetermined position so that the accessible length of yarn is held in a second predetermined orientation.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 59 words

Equipment as claimed in claim 27 wherein the second said position is such that the yarn in said second orientation will be intercepted by a threading element moving along a predetermined path, and the first said position is such that the yarn held in the first said orientation will not be intercepted by said element moving along said path.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

Equipment according to claim 27, characterized in that said yarn guide means comprises a pair of guide elements adapted to sweep across said zone from opposite sides thereof.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 68 words

A travelling servicing apparatus for a yarn handling machine comprising, means to receive an auxiliary supply of yarn, forwarding means operable to forward yarn from said supply when the latter is present, threading means operable to thread yarn provided by a broken end in said machine, and yarn manipulating means operable to take yarn from said forwarding means and present it to said threading means for co-operation therewith.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 68 words

A travelling servicing apparatus for a yarn handling machine comprising, means to receive an auxiliary supply of yarn, forwarding means operable to forward yarn from said supply when the latter is present, threading means operable to thread yarn provided by a broken end in said machine, and yarn manipulating means operable to take yarn from said forwarding means and present it to said threading means for co-operation therewith.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said threading means comprises yarn presenting means for providing an accessible length of yarn to a threading element and said manipulating means is operable to bring said auxiliary yarn into co-operative relationship with said presenting means.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein said yarn presenting means includes a suction operated yarn end finder and an aligning means for aligning a found end, said manipulating means being operable to bring the auxiliary eed yarn into co-operative relationship with the aligning means and the aligning means being operable to bring the auxiliary yarn into co-operative relationship with the end finder.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 34 comprising means selectively operable to cut the auxiliary yarn between the yarn forwarding means and the end finder.

Open-end yarn piecer

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