Yarn transfer method in the windup operation

Claim 3

The method as claimed in l claim 1 further comprising the step of shifting the yarn laterally of the path along which it normally runs between the yarn source and the windup bobbin for passing an engaging and drawing means for carrying out the engaging and drawing step past said yarn where it is desired not to engage and draw said yarn.

Claim 4

A yarn windup apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting a plurality of windup bobbins, bobbins having yarn catching means on the ends thereof and supported in said supporting means, at least one traverse guide for guiding yarn back and forth along at least one bobbin in said bobbin supporting means, at least one yarn guide for guiding said yarn from a source of yarn to said traversing means, a traveling yarn guide, a flexible member extending in a loop and on which said traveling yarn guide is mounted, and drive means coupled to said flexible member for driving said flexible member, said flexible member extending in a path which crosses the path of the yarn coming to the said guide from the said yarn source transversely thereof and which extends past and adjacent the ends of the bobbins having the yarn catching means thereon, whereby when the flexible member is driven, the traveling yarn guide engages the yarn and draws it transversely and then past the end of an empty bobbin in the yarn supporting means, and when the bobbins are rotatably driven, the yarn is picked up by an empty bobbin.

Claim 5

A yarn windup apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting a plurality of windup bobbins, bobbins having yarn catching means on the ends thereof and supported in said supporting means, at least one traverse guide for guiding yarn back and forth along at least one bobbin in said bobbin supporting means, at least one yarn guide for guiding said yarn from a source of yarn to said traversing means, a traveling yarn guide, a flexible member extending in a loop and on which said traveling yarn guide is mounted, and drive means coupled to said flexible member for driving said flexible member, said flexible member extending in a path which crosses the path of the yarn coming to the said guide from the said yarn source transversely thereof and which extends past and adjacent the ends of the bobbins having the yarn catching means thereon, whereby when the flexible member is driven, the traveling yarn guide engages the yarn and draws it transversely and then past the end of an empty bobbin in the yarn supporting means, and when the bobbins are rotatably driven, the yarn is picked up by an empty bobbin.

Claim 6

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising at least one drive roll engaged with said bobbins and simultaneously surface driving said bobbins.

Claim 7

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the said yarn guide and traverse guide cooperate to guide the yarn in one plane and the flexible member lies in a second plane, said planes being at an angle to each other and intersecting adjacent said point where said traveling yarn guide engages the yarn, whereby the traveling yarn guide will not engage the yarn at any other points.

Claim 8

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising at least one movable yarn guide, and moving means on which said movable yarn guide is mounted, said moving means and movable yarn guide being mounted adjacent the path of said yarn and movable laterally of the path of said yarn and engageable with said yarn o for moving the yarn out of the path of the traveling yarn guide on said flexible member for permitting the traveling yarn guide to pass the yarn without engaging it.

Claim 9

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a yarn pressing and severing device adjacent the end of at least one empty bobbin in said bobbin supporting means and adjacent and movable into the path of the yarn drawn adjacent the end of the bobbin by said traveling yarn guide and movable to engage the yarn to move it into engagement with the yarn catching means on the empty bobbin and to sever tHe yarn.

Claim 10

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supporting means supports two bobbins one at a higher level than the other and on an axis parallel to the other, the lower being the windup bobbin and the upper being an empty bobbin in position to become a windup bobbin, and said yarn guide is a single fixed yarn guide.

Claim 11

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supporting means supports two bobbins side by side on the same axis and there are two yarn guides one above each bobbin, yarn guide moving means on which each of said yarn guides is mounted for moving said yarn guides transversely of the plane of the yarn, said flexible member extending in a closed loop above the bobbins and s downwardly between the bobbins, and actuating means coupled to said yarn guide moving means and positioned adjacent said flexible member and engaged by said traveling yarn guide for moving said yarn guides to permit said traveling yarn guide to move past said yarn without engaging it, and said flexible member drive means being reversible for driving said flexible member in either direction around said loop. 10 An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supporting means supports two bobbins on parallel axes, and said yarn guide is a fixed yarn guide, and further comprising two further yarn guides positioned side by side on a line generally parallel to the axis of the bobbins with at least one of the further yarn guides lying outside the ends of the bobbins, said flexible member extending in a path above the further yarn guides past the said at least one yarn guide and then downwardly past the end of the empty bobbin, further yarn guide moving means on which said further yarn guides are mounted and moving said further yarn guides transversely of the path along which said flexible member extends above said further yarn guides, and actuating means coupled to said further yarn guide moving means and positioned adjacent said flexible member and engaged by said traveling yarn guide for moving a said further yarn guides to permit the traveling yarn guide to move past the yarn without engaging it.