Bobbin processing

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing a bobbin including a wound body of yarn having an unwinding end, comprising means for receiving the bobbin and selectively rotating the bobbin in unwinding and winding directions, means for freeing the unwinding end of the yarn from the body of yarn, means for withdrawing a length of said unwinding end of yarn from said bobbin, means for positioning the withdrawn free end for winding onto a predetermined limited portion of the body of yarn when the receiving and rotating means is rotated in the winding direction, and end securing means to position a portion of the free end extending from said limited portion on said bobbin for retention thereon and subsequent retrieval of the free end.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the freeing means comprises means for brushing across the body of yarn to free the unwinding end.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the freeing means is opErable for moving the brushing means in engagement with the body of yarn and in a direction opposite said unwinding direction of said bobbin receiving and rotating means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the brushing means is operable to conform generally to the configuration of the body of yarn upon engagement with the body of yarn.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the brushing means includes a plurality of flexible fingers for so engaging and conforming to the configuration of the body of yarn on the bobbin.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said brushing means comprises bristles on said fingers to engage fibers.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said brushing means comprises small particles on said fingers to engage fibers.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the withdrawing means comprises an elongated passage for receiving said free end, said passage being curved axially for the passage of the free end about the curve, and suction means for providing a flow of air to draw the free end through said passage.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the withdrawing means is operable for effectively preventing fraying of the unwinding end and comprises an elongated passage for receiving said end, said passage being curved axially for the passage of the end about the curve, and suction means for providing a flow of air to draw the end through said passage.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said withdrawing means comprises a coiled tube defining at least the curve portion of said passage.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said bobbin receiving and rotating means comprises a spindle for receiving one of said bobbins, said spindle having its axis generally horizontally disposed.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a said bobbin receiving and rotating means comprises a spindle for receiving one of said bobbins, and means for depositing the bobbin on the receiving and rotating means and for depositing the bobbin on the receiving and rotating means and for removing the bobbin therefrom and including a bobbin handling member having opposed abutments, one for releasably engaging each of opposite ends of the bobbin, and means mounting said bobbin handling member for movement to and fro axially of said spindle for so depositing and removing the bobbin.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which the axis of said spindle is generally horizontal.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including control means for first operating the bobbin receiving and rotating means in the unwinding direction and operating the freeing means and the withdrawing means, to withdraw said unwinding end from said bobbin, and subsequently for operating the bobbin receiving and rotating means in the winding direction and operating the positioning means to wind a portion of the end onto said predetermined portion of the body of yarn.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for severing a portion of the unwinding end after rewinding onto the body of yarn to leave the end of a predetermined length.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said bobbin has a hollow core, said end securing means comprises means for applying vacuum to one end of said core to draw the unwinding end of yarn into said core.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said end securing means includes a yarn cutter downstream of the vacuum applying means for receiving and cutting the unwinding end of yarn.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the bobbin has a perforate member within the core, and the vacuum applying means is operable for drawing said unwinding end of yarn against said perforate member to form a yarn bunch thereon.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said bobbin has a hollow core, said end securing means comprises means for applying vacuum within said core and including a hollow plunger having a free end and a perforate member Across said free end, means for telescoping said plunger into and out of said core to draw the unwinding end of yarn onto said perforate member to form a yarn bunch thereon when the plunger is in said core.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the withdrawing means is operable for effectively preventing fraying of the unwinding end and comprises an elongated passage for receiving said end, said passage being curved axially for the passage of the end about the curve, and suction means for providing a flow of air to draw the end through said passage, said bobbin receiving and rotating means comprises a spindle for receiving one of said bobbins, and means for depositing the bobbin on the receiving and rotating means and for removing the bobbin therefrom and including a bobbin handling member having opposed abutments, one for releasably engaging each of opposite ends of the bobbin, and means mounting said bobbin handling member for movement to and fro axially of said spindle for so depositing and removing the bobbin, and control means for first operating the bobbin receiving and rotating means in the unwinding direction and operating the freeing means and the withdrawing means, to withdraw said unwinding end from said bobbin, and subsequently for operating the bobbin receiving and rotating means in the winding direction and operating the positioning means, to wind a portion of the end onto said predetermined portion of the body of yarn.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said withdrawing means comprises a coiled tube defining at least the curved portion of said passage, the axis of said spindle is generally horizontal, and means for severing a portion of the unwinding end after rewinding onto the body of yarn to leave the end of a predetermined length.

Claim 23

Apparatus for processing a bobbin including a wound body of yarn having an unwinding end, comprising means operable for freeing the unwinding end of the yarn from the bobbin and withdrawing a length of said unwinding end of yarn from said bobbin, and means for facilitating effectively free over end removal of the unwinding end from the bobbin and including means for positioning a portion of the withdrawn end about the body of yarn.

Claim 24

Apparatus for processing a bobbin including a wound body of yarn having an unwinding end, comprising means operable for freeing the unwinding end of the yarn from the bobbin and withdrawing a length of said unwinding end of yarn from said bobbin, and means for facilitating effectively free over end removal of the unwinding end from the bobbin and including means for positioning a portion of the withdrawn end about the body of yarn.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including means for positioning the unwinding end extending from the last said portion on said bobbin for retention thereon and subsequent retrieval thereof.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which the last said portion is wound about the body of yarn proximate the end of the bobbin over which the yarn is to be withdrawn.

Claim 27

Apparatus for processing a bobbin having an axis about which yarn is wound, comprising means for releasably supporting the bobbin with its axis generally horizontally disposed, means for rotating the bobbin with its axis generally horizontally disposed, means for moving said bobbin from the supporting means onto the rotating means and back onto said supporting means, means for releasing the bobbin from said supporting means after the bobbin has been moved from said rotating means back onto said supporting means, and means for receiving the bobbin as it is released from said supporting means and positioning the bobbin with its axis generally vertically disposed.

Claim 28

Apparatus for processing a bobbin having an axis about which yarn is wound, comprising means for releasably supporting the bobbin with its axis generally horizontally disposed, means for rotating the bobbin with its axis generally horizontally disposed, means for moving said bobbin from the supporting means onto the rotating means and back onto said supporting means, means for releasing the bobbin from said supporting means after the bobbin has been moved from said rotating means back onto said supporting means, and means for receiving the bobbin as it is released from said supporting means and positioning the bobbin with its axis generally vertically disposed.

Claim 29

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 in which the releasing means includes means mounting said supporting means for movement between a bobbin supporting position and a bobbin releasing position.

Claim 30

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 in which the releasing means includes means operable for moving said supporting means between said positions.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 in which said rotating means comprised a spindle for receiving the bobbin.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 in which the receiving means comprises a chute adjacent the supporting means.