Spool winding method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for enwrapping a spool with fabric issuing from a fabric producing source, said apparatus comprising means for maintaining a slackened displaceable loop in said fabric between said spool and said fabric source, means for displacing said loop between first and second positions, sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of said loop at said first and second positions, drive means for rotating said spool, and control means interposed between said drive means and said sensing means and responsive to said sensing means for controlling the rotation of said spool; said displaceable loop being constituted by a pair of opposing limbs, said means for displacing said loop including an elongate element carried by said loop between the limbs of the latter to maintain the configuration of said loop substantially constant and to exert a downwardly directed force on said loop; said sensing means including first and second switches at said first and second positions respectively, each operatively associated with said displaceable loop for activation and deactivation thereby, and third and fourth switches between which are interposed said first and second switches; said third and fourth switches constituting safety switches and operatively associated with said fabric source for deactivating the latter from producing fabric upon movement of said displaceable loop beyond said first or second positions into operative association with one or the other of said safety switches.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining the displaceable loop in the fabric includes a plurality of guiding surfaces interposed between the fabric and spool, said loop being loosely interposed between said guiding surfaces.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a further guiding surface, said loop being freely suspended for movement along said further guiding surface.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said further guiding surface is vertically disposed for guiding said loop vertically between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extent of said fabric between opposite edges thereof is less than the elongate length of said elongate element such that a portion of said elongate element is exposed, said switches being engageable by the exposed portion of said elongate element.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spool has an axis of rotation, said control means including supporT means for displacing said spool laterally of the axis of rotation thereof to selectively bring the periphery of the spool into and out of engagement with said drive means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes a friction roller and means for rotating the latter, the periphery of the friction roller being engageable by the periphery of the spool.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support means includes a lever having opposite ends and pivotally supported between the ends thereof, one end of said lever being engageable with the periphery of the spool, and power means for selectively displacing said lever pivotally to bring the periphery of the spool into and out of engagement with said friction roller.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said power means comprises a power cylinder including a displaceable member operatively associated with said lever.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including resilient means connected to said lever and acting on said lever in opposition to said power means.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a base, said base including opposite end portions, said friction roller being rotatably supported at one end portion of said base, said lever being interposed between said one end portion and the periphery of said spool, the other end portion of said base including a shoulder in constant contact with the periphery of said spool.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second switches are electrically coupled to one another, and wherein said third and fourth switches are electrically coupled to one another.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said fourth safety switch is electrically coupled with said fabric source.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including a fifth switch engageable by said control means for activation thereby and electrically coupled with said first and second switches, said fifth switch acting as an interlock upon activation thereof for controlling the rotation of said spool after deactivation of said first switch by said displaceable loop.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said control means includes a solenoid electrically coupled with said first and fifth switches.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and fifth switches are normally open, and said second, third and fourth switches are normally closed.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including a plurality of spools operatively supported on said base and operatively associated independently with a plurality of fabric producing sources respectively.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in combination with the fabric producing source, said source comprising a machine for manufacturing the fabric.

Claim 20

Apparatus for winding a fabric spool, said apparatus comprising drive means, and control means for selectively displacing said spool laterally of the axis of rotation thereof into and out of engagement with said drive means, said control means including a pivotally displaceable lever in contact with the periphery of said spool.

Claim 21

Apparatus for winding a fabric spool, said apparatus comprising drive means, and control means for selectively displacing said spool laterally of the axis of rotation thereof into and out of engagement with said drive means, said control means including a pivotally displaceable lever in contact with the periphery of said spool.

Claim 24

Apparatus for enwrapping a spool with fabric issuing from a fabric producing source, said apparatus comprising means for maintaining a slackened displaceable loop in said fabric between said spool and said fabric source, Means for displacing said loop between first and second positions, sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of said loop at said first and second positions, drive means for rotating said spool, and control means interposed between said drive means and said sensing means and responsive to said sensing means for controlling the rotation of said spool; said displaceable loop being constituted by a pair of opposing limbs, said means for displacing said loop including an elongate element carried by said loop between the limbs of the latter to maintain the configuration of said loop substantially constant and to exert a downwardly directed force on said loop, said sensing means including first and second electrical switches at said first and second positions respectively, said elongate element having a longitudinal extend which is greater than the lateral extent of the limbs of said loop so as to partially project axially from said loop and, thereby, have a partially exposed portion; said partially exposed portion of said elongate element being operatively associated with said first and second electrical switches for mechanically activating and deactivating the latter when said elongate element is carried into and out of engagement with said switches by said loop.

Claim 25

Apparatus for enwrapping a spool with fabric issuing from a fabric producing source, said apparatus comprising means for maintaining a slackened displaceable loop in said fabric between said spool and said fabric source, Means for displacing said loop between first and second positions, sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of said loop at said first and second positions, drive means for rotating said spool, and control means interposed between said drive means and said sensing means and responsive to said sensing means for controlling the rotation of said spool; said displaceable loop being constituted by a pair of opposing limbs, said means for displacing said loop including an elongate element carried by said loop between the limbs of the latter to maintain the configuration of said loop substantially constant and to exert a downwardly directed force on said loop, said sensing means including first and second electrical switches at said first and second positions respectively, said elongate element having a longitudinal extend which is greater than the lateral extent of the limbs of said loop so as to partially project axially from said loop and, thereby, have a partially exposed portion; said partially exposed portion of said elongate element being operatively associated with said first and second electrical switches for mechanically activating and deactivating the latter when said elongate element is carried into and out of engagement with said switches by said loop.