High speed winding machine

Claim 2

In a high speed winding machine including a rotating spindle for winding a strand into a package, and yarn engaging means arranged adjacent one end of said spindle for rotation therewith, said yarn engaging means being adapted to engage a strand delivered thereto to initiate winding of the strand upon the spindle, an improved mechanism for delivering the strand comprising means for retaining an end of said strand, support means for said retaining means mounted for movement between an inoperative position maintaining the retaining means remote from said spindle to an operative position maintaining said retaining means adjacent said spindle with the strands in contact with the spindle periphery, means operative when said support means is in said operative position to impart limited axial movement thereto to register said retaining means with said yarn engaging means, strand detent means having an operative position to restrain the strands from moving with said retaining means and an inoperative position releasing the strand for such movement, control means for said detent means responsive to the completion by said retaining means of said limited axial movement to move said detent means to its inoperative position whereby said strand is displaced axially of the spindle into engagement with said yarn engaging means, and strand releasing means operative when the strand begins to wind upon the spindle to release the strand from said retaining means.

Claim 3

The improvements of claim 1 wherein said strand is continuously advancing and said retaining means is adapted to collect the advancing strand.

Claim 4

The improvements of claim 2 wherein said retaining means is an aspirator nozzle.

Claim 5

The improvements of claim 1 wherein said detent means has two axially speed detent surfaces thereon arranged for engagement with the strand in succession, said first surface coinciding generally with the initial axial position of the retaining means and the second with the axial locus of the strand engaging hook, whereby said strand is positively directed to the vicinity of the hook.

Claim 6

The improvements of claim 1 wherein said detent means includes a third detent surface spaced from the said two surfaces axially inwardly of the spindle and engaging the strand after release from the previous two surfaces, said third detent surface having a locus axially intermediate the hook and the adjacent limit of the package and being effective to produce a preliminary bunch of winding coils on said spindle.

Claim 7

The improvements of claim 1 including a core adapted to slideably fit on said spindle to receive said package, said core leaving exposed the end portion of said spindle carrying said hook.

Claim 8

The improvements of claim 6 wherein core is formed with an axially directed shoulder in the annular end face thereof to facilitate passage of the strand from the spindle periphery to the core periphery.

Claim 9

The improvements of claim 4 wherein said first surface is provided with means for vibrating the strand thereon to thereby reduce yarn friction therewith.

Claim 10

The improvements of claim 3 wherein said support means includes a socket for detachably holding said aspirator nozzle.

Claim 11

The improvements of claim 3 wherein said strand releasing means is a strand cutter assembly, said assembly being mounted on said support means for movement integrally with said aspirator.

Claim 12

The improvements of claim 10 wherein support means includes a positioning rod for displacing said cutter assembly away from said nozzle when said support means are in inoperative position.

Claim 13

In a high speed winDing machine for continuous filamentary strands including a rotating spindle for receiving a package core thereon with a section of the spindle periphery adjacent one core end exposed, drive means for rotating said spindle, a strand tension sensing means in advance of said spindle, and a speed control for said drive means responsive to said strand tension sensing means, the improvement of a mechanism for automatically attaching a running strand to said spindle comprising a fixed hook on the exposed section of the package periphery, said hook being adapted to engage a strand delivery into contact therewith, a strand aspirator for receiving the running strand from said tension sensing means prior to attachment to the package, support means for said aspirator movable from a preliminary position to a threading position delivering the strand along a path extending generally transverse to the spindle axis and contacting an arc of the exposed spindle periphery at a locus spaced axially from said fixed hook, means for moving said aspirator axially past the end of the package core, strand detent means on the strand path adjacent to and upstream from said spindle periphery, said detent means having a first detent position in transverse registration with the first position of said aspirator and a second detent position in transverse registration with the location of said hook, and means synchronized with the axial movement of said aspirator to move said detent means from said first to said second position to positively deliver said strand into engagement with said hook and thereafter release the strand from the detent means to permit the engaged strand to begin winding upon said core, and means operative when the strand is tensioned by said hook to release the strand from the aspirator.

Claim 14

In a high speed winDing machine for continuous filamentary strands including a rotating spindle for receiving a package core thereon with a section of the spindle periphery adjacent one core end exposed, drive means for rotating said spindle, a strand tension sensing means in advance of said spindle, and a speed control for said drive means responsive to said strand tension sensing means, the improvement of a mechanism for automatically attaching a running strand to said spindle comprising a fixed hook on the exposed section of the package periphery, said hook being adapted to engage a strand delivery into contact therewith, a strand aspirator for receiving the running strand from said tension sensing means prior to attachment to the package, support means for said aspirator movable from a preliminary position to a threading position delivering the strand along a path extending generally transverse to the spindle axis and contacting an arc of the exposed spindle periphery at a locus spaced axially from said fixed hook, means for moving said aspirator axially past the end of the package core, strand detent means on the strand path adjacent to and upstream from said spindle periphery, said detent means having a first detent position in transverse registration with the first position of said aspirator and a second detent position in transverse registration with the location of said hook, and means synchronized with the axial movement of said aspirator to move said detent means from said first to said second position to positively deliver said strand into engagement with said hook and thereafter release the strand from the detent means to permit the engaged strand to begin winding upon said core, and means operative when the strand is tensioned by said hook to release the strand from the aspirator.