Automatic supply package indexing mechanism for winding machines

Claim 1

IN AN AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE INCLUDING MEANS FOR ROTATING A DELIVERY PACKAGE TO WIND YARN THEREON, MEANS FOR DETECTING AN INTERRUPTION IN THE YARN BEING DELIVERED TO SAID DELIVERY PACKAGE, MEANS ACTUATED IN RESPONSE TO SAID DETECTING MEANS FOR LOCATING AND REUNITING THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE INTERRUPTED YARN, SAID LOCATING AND REUNITING MEANS INCLUDING AN END LOCATING MEMBER PIVOTING IN A PREDETERMINED ARC DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID MEANS, AN AUTOMATIC PACKAGE REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR PRESENTING A FRESH SUPPLY PACKAGE OF YARN TO ACTIVE POSITION FOR WINDING ON SAID DELIVERY PACKAGE UPON EXHAUSTION OF ONE SUPPLY PACKAGE, CONTROL MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID REPLENISHING MECHANISM TO BRING SAID FRESH PACKAGE TO ACTIVE UNWINDING POSITION, AN ACTUATING MEMBER FOR SAID CONTROL MEANS MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID END LOCATING MEMBER AND MOVABLE THEREWITH THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATH, SAID REPLENISHING MECHANISM CONTROL MEANS BEING ENGAGED AND ACTUATED BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF, MEANS FOR SENSING THE PRESENCE OF YARN AT A POINT BETWEEN THE SUPPLY PACKAGE IN ACTIVE POSITION AND SAID INITIAL DETECTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEANS BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER WHEREBY OPERATION OF THE PACKAGE REPLENISHING MECHANISM IS AVOIDED IF THE YARN IS BROKEN BETWEEN THE SENSING MEANS AND THE DELIVERY PACKAGE BUT IS PERMITTED IF THE YARN IS ABSENT AT THE SENSING MEANS.