Apparatus and method for interrupting textile yarn forming operations

Claim 2

Mounted within the casing 76 is a valving member 80 (FIG. 11) movable under impetus provided by a rotary solenoid 81 between a flow blocking position (solid lines in FIG. 11) and a flow permitting position (phanton lines in FIG. 11). By means of a suitable flexible conduit 82 and the depending member 71, the interior of the valve casing 76 operatively communicates with the fan housing 25 of the traveling cleaner 20 to receive air flowing under impetus provided by the fan impeller 24. By suitable operative interconnection of the solenoid 81 with circuitry responsive to the detection means mounted within the detector head 70, the rotary solenoid is energized with a pulse action upon a determination that an attenuated strand S is broken. Such energization of the solenoid 81 may be confirmed by observing an electrical lamp 83 connected therewith and mounted in the casing 76. Upon pulse energization of the solenoid 81, the valving member 80 is momentarily moved from the flow blocking to the flow permitting position, passing through the nozzle 78 and outlet slot 79 a mass of flowing air impelled by the fan impeller

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising counter means operatively connected with said strand interrupting means and responsive to actuation thereof for identifiably accumulating occurrences of supply strand interruption over an interval of time and for thereby facilitating identification of portions of the yarn forming machine requiring corrective maintenance.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said strand interrupting means comprises a plurality of members corresponding in number to the number of said drafting systems, each of said members being mounted for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding supply strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said supply strand.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said pivoted members has strand engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which said corresponding supply strand enters on movement of said pivoted member to said seconD position.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said pivoted members has a flag portion arranged to be disposed in a retracted position while said pivoted member is in said first position and to be disposed in an extended position upon said pivoted member moving to said second position, said flag portion when in the extended position being readily visible to an operator passing by the yarn forming machine for thereby directing the operator to a drafting system at which supply strand interruption has occurred.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said traveling cleaner means comprises fan impeller means for inducing a flow of air and fan housing means enclosing said impeller means for directing the induced flow of air and further wherein said air flow directing means comprises conduit means operatively communicating with said fan housing means for withdrawing a flow of air therefrom and valve means disposed in said conduit means and operatively communicating with said detecting means for selectively opening said conduit means and permitting air flow therethrough.

Claim 8

In combination with a textile yarn spinning machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of roving strands and delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of said drafting systems, each of said stop members being mounted on said spinning machine adjacent a corresponding drafting system for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which said corresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of said stop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of each of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of said drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from said drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of said drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being operable in response to detection of breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from one of said drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 9

In combination with a textile yarn spinning machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of roving strands and delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of said drafting systems, each of said stop members being mounted on said spinning machine adjacent a corresponding drafting system for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which said corresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of said stop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of each of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of said drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from said drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of said drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being operable in response to detection of breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from one of said drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said movement responsive means comprises a plurality of individually actuable counter means corresponding in number to the number of said stop members, each of said counter means being mounted adjacent a corresponding one of said stop members and being responsive to movement thereof for identifying an occurrence of roving strand interruption by said one stop member.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said counter means comprises a counter wheel member mounted for rotation and ratchet means for rotating said counter wheel member through a predetermined arc of rotation upon each occurrence of roving strand interruption by said one stop member.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said counter means comprises signaling means for indicating to an operator the relative number of occurrences of roving strand interruption accumulated over said interval of time.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said travleing unit means comprises a pneumatic cleaner for cleaning said spining machine and further wherein said detecting means is mounted on and moves with said traveling cleaner for periodically passing each of said drafting systems.

Claim 14

In combination with a textile yarn spinning machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of roving strands and normally delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: means mounted adjacent each of said drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 15

In combination with a textile yarn spinning machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of roving strands and normally delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: means mounted adjacent each of said drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 16

In combination with a textile yarn forming machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of supply strands and normally delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for interrupting feeding of a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising: strand interrupting means mounted adjacent each of said drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding supply strand and thereby for interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for directing flowing air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, monitoring means for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and including detector means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means and responsive to said monitoring means for directing a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means to flow toward a selected one of said strand interrupting means and thereby for actuating said selected one strand interrupting means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 17

In combination with a textile yarn forming machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series of supply strands and normally delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, apparatus for interrupting feeding of a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising: strand interrupting means mounted adjacent each of said drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding supply strand and thereby for interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for directing flowing air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, monitoring means for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and including detector means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means and responsive to said monitoring means for directing a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means to flow toward a selected one of said strand interrupting means and thereby for actuating said selected one strand interrupting means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 18

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a supply strand normally received by one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand delivered from the one drafting system and comprising: means for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, a plurality of strand interrupting means each selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding supply strand and thereby for interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with saId traveling cleaner means and responsive to said detecting means for redirecting a portion of the air flow induced by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said strand interrupting means and thereby for actuating said selected one strand interrupting means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 19

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a supply strand normally received by one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand delivered from the one drafting system and comprising: means for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, a plurality of strand interrupting means each selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding supply strand and thereby for interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with saId traveling cleaner means and responsive to said detecting means for redirecting a portion of the air flow induced by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said strand interrupting means and thereby for actuating said selected one strand interrupting means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising counter means operatively connected with said strand interrupting means and responsive to actuation thereof for identifiably accumulating occurrences of supply strand interruption over an interval of time and for thereby facilitating identification of portions of the yarn forming machine requiring corrective maintenance.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said traveling cleaner means comprises fan impeller means for inducing a flow of air and fan housing means enclosing said impeller means for directing the induced flow of air and further wherein said air flow directing means comprises conduit means operatively communicating with said fan housing means for withdrawing a flow of air therefrom and valve means disposed in said conduit means and operatively communicating with said detecting means for selectively opening said conduit means and permitting air flow therethrough.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said traveling cleaner means comprises fan impeller means for inducing a flow of air and fan housing means enclosing said impeller means for directing the induced flow of air and further wherein said air flow directing means comprises conduit means operatively communicating with said fan housing means for withdrawing a flow of air therefrom and valve means disposed in said conduit means and operatively communicating with said detecting means for selectively opening said conduit means and permitting air flow therethrough.

Claim 23

Apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system of a textile yarn spinning machine in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of drafting systems along the spinning machine, each of saidstop members being mounted for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with a corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which saidcorresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of saidstop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of eaCh of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing the spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing saidspinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being attenuated strand issuing from one of the drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 24

Apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system of a textile yarn spinning machine in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of drafting systems along the spinning machine, each of saidstop members being mounted for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with a corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which saidcorresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of saidstop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of eaCh of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing the spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing saidspinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being attenuated strand issuing from one of the drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 25

Apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system of a textile yarn spinning machine in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of drafting systems along the spinning machine, each of said stop members being mounted for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with a corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which said corresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of said stop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of each of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing the spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being operable in response to detection of breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from one of the drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 26

Apparatus for stopping feeding of a roving strand to a drafting system of a textile yarn spinning machine in the event of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom and for facilitating identification of drafting systems in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of roving feed stop members corresponding in number to the number of drafting systems along the spinning machine, each of said stop members being mounted for independent pivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from engagement with a corresponding roving strand and a second position intersecting and engaging said corresponding roving strand and further having roving engaging surfaces converging to define a cusp into which said corresponding roving strand enters on movement of said stop member to said second position, means responsive to movement of said stop members for identifiably accummulating over an interval of time occurrences of movement of each of said stop members to said second position, traveling unit means traversing the spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems, detecting means moving with said traveling unit means for monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, and means responsive to said detecting means and traversing said spinning machine for periodically passing each of the drafting systems and for remotely actuating said stop members, said remote actuation means being operable in response to detection of breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from one of the drafting systems for displacing the corresponding one of said stop members from said first position to said second position.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said movement responsive means comprises a plurality of individually actuable counter means corresponding in number to the number of said stop members, each of said counter means being mounted adjacent a corresponding one of said stop members and being responsive to movement thereof for identifying an occurrence of roving strand interruption by said one stop member.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said movement responsive means comprises a plurality of individually actuable counter means corresponding in number to the number of said stop members, each of said counter means being mounted adjacent a corresponding one of said stop members and being responive to movement thereof for identifying an occurrence of roving strand interruption by said one stop member.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said traveling unit means comprises a pneumatic cleaner for cleaning the spinning machine and further wherein said detecting means is mounted on and moves with said traveling cleaner for periodically passing each of the drafting systems.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said traveling unit means comprises a pneumatic cleaner for cleaning the spinning machine and further wherein said detecting means is mounted on and moves with said traveling cleaner for periodically passing each of the drafting systems.

Claim 31

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn spinning machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand normally delivered from the one drafting syStem and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: means mounted adjacent each of the drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 32

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn spinning machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand normally delivered from the one drafting syStem and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in need of maintenance, the apparatus comprising: means mounted adjacent each of the drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of said drafting systems.

Claim 33

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn spinning machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand normally delivered from the one drafting system and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in needof mainenance, the apparatus comprising: s means mounted adjacent each of the drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of saiddrafting systems.

Claim 34

Apparatus for interrupting feeding of a roving strand into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn spinning machine upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand normally delivered from the one drafting system and for facilitating identification of portions of the spinning machine in needof mainenance, the apparatus comprising: s means mounted adjacent each of the drafting systems and selectively actuable by impingement of flowing air thereagainst for engaging and restraining a corresponding roving strand, for interrupting passage of the restrained roving strand into the corresponding drafting system, and for identifiably accumulating occurrences of roving strand interruption over an interval of time, traveling cleaner means traversing the machine for inducing flow of air against portions thereof and for thereby cleaning the machine, and means moving with said traveling cleaner means along the series of drafting systems for detecting breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems and for redirecting a portion of the flowing air delivered by said traveling cleaner means toward a selected one of said first named means and thereby for actuating said selected one means upon detection of breakage of the attenuated strand issuing from the corresponding one of saiddrafting systems.

Claim 35

In the formation of a series of attenuated strands from a corresponding series of supply strands by passing each of the supply strands into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn forming machine, a method of interrupting a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising the steps of: moving an attenuated strand detector along the series of drafting systems while monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, inducing flow of air and traveling an induced flowing stream of air along the textile yarn forming machine while directing the flowing air thereagainst and cleaning the machine, responding to monitored breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from a drafting system by redirecting a portion of the induced flowing stream of air toward a corresponding one of a plurality of strand interrupting members each mounted adjacent one of the drafting systems and thereby actuating the selected one strand interrupting member to engage and restrain the corresponding supply strand, and interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system.

Claim 36

In the formation of a series of attenuated strands from a corresponding series of supply strands by passing each of the supply strands into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn forming machine, a method of interrupting a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising the steps of: moving an attenuated strand detector along the series of drafting systems while monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, inducing flow of air and traveling an induced flowing stream of air along the textile yarn forming machine while directing the flowing air thereagainst and cleaning the machine, responding to monitored breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from a drafting system by redirecting a portion of the induced flowing stream of air toward a corresponding one of a plurality of strand interrupting members each mounted adjacent one of the drafting systems and thereby actuating the selected one strand interrupting member to engage and restrain the corresponding supply strand, and interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system.

Claim 37

In the formation of a series of attenuated strands from a corresponding series of supply strands by passing each of the supply strands into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn forming machine, a method of interrupting a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising the steps of: moving an attenuated strand detector along the series of drafting systems while monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, inducing flow of air and traveling an induced flowing stream of air along the textile yarn forming machine while directing the flowing air thereagainst and cleaning the machine, responding to monitored breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from a drafting system by redirecting a portion of the induced flowing stream of air toward a corresponding one of a plurality of strand interrupting members each mounted adjacent one of the drafting systems and thereby actuating the selected one strand interrupting member to engage and restrain the corresponding supply strand, and interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system.

Claim 38

In the formation of a series of attenuated strands from a corresponding series of supply strands by passing each of the supply strands into a corresponding one of a plurality of drafting systems arranged in a series along a textile yarn forming machine, a method of interrupting a supply strand upon breakage of a corresponding attenuated strand and comprising the steps of: moving an attenuated strand detector along the series of drafting systems while monitoring breakage of the attenuated strands issuing from the drafting systems, inducing flow of air and traveling an induced flowing stream of air along the textile yarn forming machine while directing the flowing air thereagainst and cleaning the machine, responding to monitored breakage of an attenuated strand issuing from a drafting system by redirecting a portion of the induced flowing stream of air toward a corresponding one of a plurality of strand interrupting members each mounted adjacent one of the drafting systems and thereby actuating the selected one strand interrupting member to engage and restrain the corresponding supply strand, and interrupting passage of the restrained supply strand into the corresponding drafting system.

Claim 39

A methoD according to claim 21 further comprising the step of identifiably accummulating occurrences of supply strand interruption over an interval of time so as to facilitate identification of a portion of the yarn forming machine requiring corrective mainenance.

Claim 40

A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of identifiably accummulating occurrences of supply strand interruption over an interval of time so as to facilitate identification of a portion of the yarn forming machine requiring corrective maintenace.

Claim 41

A method according to claim 21 wherein the actuation of the supply strand interrupting member comprises pivoting the selected member from a first position withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding supply strand to a second position intersecting and engaging the supply strand.

Claim 42

A method according to claim 21 wherein the actuation of the supply strand interrupting member comprises pivoting the selected member from a first position withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding supply strand to a second position intersecting and engaging the supply strand.

Claim 43

A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of restraining the supply strand comprises entrapping the supply strand within a cusp defined by strand engaging surfaces of the pivoted member as the member moves to said second position.

Claim 44

Due to a slight trailing relation (FIG. 13) between the direction of the ''''air bullet'''' thus released and the field of view of the detection means (in the direction of the movement of the traveling cleaner 20), flow of the air toward the selected one of the strand interrupting means is assured. Typically, the interval of time within which the flow must be started and stopped, to actuate only one stop member 38, is approximately 1/5 second. FIG. 13 illustrates a circumstance in which the attenuated strand would have been broken at the location just traversed by the monitoring means and air flow directing means, with the corresponding stop member having been actuated in movement toward the second position. It is to be noted that the generally vertical extension of the opening 79 through which air flows toward the strand interrupting means assures confinement of the flow to a relatively narrow field and thereby facilitates actuation of only a selected one strand interrupting means. Further, such actuation occurs even in the event that operators or equipment such as bobbin boxes left in the aisle adjacent the textile machine 21 may cause some vertical osillatory movement of the depending valve casing 76 and detector head 70. Such redirection of air flow induced by the traveling cleaner 20 uses to advantage several characteristics of the combination of this invention. First, the traveling cleaner 20 serves as a source of a relatively unlimited supply of relatively clean air. Air in the mill rOom induced to flow through the traveling cleaner has lint and the like removed therefrom, to reduce the likelihood of stoppage of the air flow passages. Second, the large flow induced by the fan impeller 24, only a portion of which is redirected, permits use of such a large volume or mass of air as the ''''air bullet'''' that the opening 79 through which the air flows may be relatively large and sufficient momentum to actuate the stop members 38 may be developed without requiring high velocities. Accordingly there is no need for compressors to produce high pressure air and the difficulties of maintenance and reliable operation caused by compressors are avoided. In practicing the method of this invention using the illustrated apparatus, each drafting system is monitored for breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom as the traveling cleaner 20 moves along the track 22. In a typical installation, each drafting system will be scanned once in each eight to ten minutes. Upon detection of breakage of the strand issuing from a drafting system, the corresponding stop member 38 is actuated by direction of a blast of air toward the target portion 42 thereof. The member 38 then falls toward the second position and intersects the supply strand R. With continuing movement of the supply strand R, the supply strand is drawn into the cusp 41 formed by the converging surfaces 39, 40, so the supply strand is gripped and held adjacent the trumpet 35. The pull of the drafting rolls 30, 31, 32 then separates the supply strand between the rear-most pair of rolls 32 and the trumpet 35. The supply strand R continues to be held by the stop member 38 until an operator removes the roving from the cusp 41, resets the stop member 38 in the first position and rethreads roving into the drafting system in preparation to reinstituting the production of yarn at the drafting system. As described above, the flag portion 48 of the stop member 38 comes into ready view when the stop member is moved to the second position, and thereby serves as a signal to an operator to accommodate either assignment of an operator to patrolling in cross alleys or the use of power driven carts to speed up movement of operators within the mill room. Direction of operators by reliance on the flag portions will permit increased speed of movement of an operator on foot or on a cart and thereby increase the potential area covered by the operator by relieving the operator of the tedious task of closely examining attenuated strands to discover those which are broken. The number of times the stop member 38 has been actuated is recorded by the counter wheel 50 facilitating the identification of improperly operating portions of the textile machine 21. As a result of this method of operation, vacuum end collection waste is reduced in that the supply strand R continues to feed for only a small portion of the time that the attenuated strand S may continue to be broken. With monitoring of attenuated strands every 8 minutes on an average, the supply strand will continue feeding only four minutes on an average after the attenuated strand is broken. With such reduction of vacuum end collection waste, the labor incidental to reworking such waste and the percentage of reprocessed stock included in the textile material being worked are reduced. Additionally, the longer that an attenuated strand is permitted to run into a vacuum end collection system, the greater the likelihood of a lapup of textile material about the drafting rolls. Promptly stopping the supply strand will substantially reduce the number and severity of lap-ups and thereby facilitate reduction in non-reworkable waste and damage to components of the textile machine. By identifying locations requiring corrective maintenance, the efficiency of maintenance workers will be improved at the same time that the machine operating condition and efficiency are also improved. Operation in accordance with this invention is compatible with three distinct approaches to mill operation; namely, the continuation of existing practices in which operators known as ''''spinners'''' patrol preassigned paths adjacent a number of machines, the reassignment of operators to patrol on a random basis by observing the flag portions 48 of stop members 38, and the elimination of substantial operator time through adoption of a ''''no-spinner'''' concept. In this latter approach, the supply strand R would be permitted to remain interrupted during the interval of time from actuation of the corresponding stop member 38 until removal of formed packages from the textile machine. Thus, the normal walking time of an operator assinged to spinning patrol duties would be eliminated. Further, the quality of yarn produced would be improved in that those defective positions most likely to result in the production of inferior yarn are also most likely to result in attenuated strand breakage early in the cycle of package forming. It is expected that a position which would otherwise repeatedly interrupt will be actuated only once during a cycle of package building with the total number of strand breakages thus being less than with an operator patrolling quite frequently. Finally, yarn produced under the ''''no-spinner'''' concept is free of slubs and the like otherwise possibly resulting from an operator''s repair or piecing up of a broken strand. In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. rThat which is claimed is:

Claim 45

A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of restraining the supply strand comprises entrapping the supply strand within a cusp defined by strand engaging surfaces of the pivoted member as the member moves to said second position.

Claim 46

Due to a slight trailing relation (FIG. 13) between the direction of the ''''air bullet'''' thus released and the field of view of the detection means (in the direction of the movement of the traveling cleaner 20), flow of the air toward the selected one of the strand interrupting means is assured. Typically, the interval of time within which the flow must be started and stopped, to actuate only one stop member 38, is approximately 1/5 second. FIG. 13 illustrates a circumstance in which the attenuated strand would have been broken at the location just traversed by the monitoring means and air flow directing means, with the corresponding stop member having been actuated in movement toward the second position. It is to be noted that the generally vertical extension of the opening 79 through which air flows toward the strand interrupting means assures confinement of the flow to a relatively narrow field and thereby facilitates actuation of only a selected one strand interrupting means. Further, such actuation occurs even in the event that operators or equipment such as bobbin boxes left in the aisle adjacent the textile machine 21 may cause some vertical osillatory movement of the depending valve casing 76 and detector head 70. Such redirection of air flow induced by the traveling cleaner 20 uses to advantage several characteristics of the combination of this invention. First, the traveling cleaner 20 serves as a source of a relatively unlimited supply of relatively clean air. Air in the mill rOom induced to flow through the traveling cleaner has lint and the like removed therefrom, to reduce the likelihood of stoppage of the air flow passages. Second, the large flow induced by the fan impeller 24, only a portion of which is redirected, permits use of such a large volume or mass of air as the ''''air bullet'''' that the opening 79 through which the air flows may be relatively large and sufficient momentum to actuate the stop members 38 may be developed without requiring high velocities. Accordingly there is no need for compressors to produce high pressure air and the difficulties of maintenance and reliable operation caused by compressors are avoided. In practicing the method of this invention using the illustrated apparatus, each drafting system is monitored for breakage of the attenuated strand issuing therefrom as the traveling cleaner 20 moves along the track 22. In a typical installation, each drafting system will be scanned once in each eight to ten minutes. Upon detection of breakage of the strand issuing from a drafting system, the corresponding stop member 38 is actuated by direction of a blast of air toward the target portion 42 thereof. The member 38 then falls toward the second position and intersects the supply strand R. With continuing movement of the supply strand R, the supply strand is drawn into the cusp 41 formed by the converging surfaces 39, 40, so the supply strand is gripped and held adjacent the trumpet 35. The pull of the drafting rolls 30, 31, 32 then separates the supply strand between the rear-most pair of rolls 32 and the trumpet 35. The supply strand R continues to be held by the stop member 38 until an operator removes the roving from the cusp 41, resets the stop member 38 in the first position and rethreads roving into the drafting system in preparation to reinstituting the production of yarn at the drafting system. As described above, the flag portion 48 of the stop member 38 comes into ready view when the stop member is moved to the second position, and thereby serves as a signal to an operator to accommodate either assignment of an operator to patrolling in cross alleys or the use of power driven carts to speed up movement of operators within the mill room. Direction of operators by reliance on the flag portions will permit increased speed of movement of an operator on foot or on a cart and thereby increase the potential area covered by the operator by relieving the operator of the tedious task of closely examining attenuated strands to discover those which are broken. The number of times the stop member 38 has been actuated is recorded by the counter wheel 50 facilitating the identification of improperly operating portions of the textile machine 21. As a result of this method of operation, vacuum end collection waste is reduced in that the supply strand R continues to feed for only a small portion of the time that the attenuated strand S may continue to be broken. With monitoring of attenuated strands every 8 minutes on an average, the supply strand will continue feeding only four minutes on an average after the attenuated strand is broken. With such reduction of vacuum end collection waste, the labor incidental to reworking such waste and the percentage of reprocessed stock included in the textile material being worked are reduced. Additionally, the longer that an attenuated strand is permitted to run into a vacuum end collection system, the greater the likelihood of a lapup of textile material about the drafting rolls. Promptly stopping the supply strand will substantially reduce the number and severity of lap-ups and thereby facilitate reduction in non-reworkable waste and damage to components of the textile machine. By identifying locations requiring corrective maintenance, the efficiency of maintenance workers will be improved at the same time that the machine operating condition and efficiency are also improved. Operation in accordance with this invention is compatible with three distinct approaches to mill operation; namely, the continuation of existing practices in which operators known as ''''spinners'''' patrol preassigned paths adjacent a number of machines, the reassignment of operators to patrol on a random basis by observing the flag portions 48 of stop members 38, and the elimination of substantial operator time through adoption of a ''''no-spinner'''' concept. In this latter approach, the supply strand R would be permitted to remain interrupted during the interval of time from actuation of the corresponding stop member 38 until removal of formed packages from the textile machine. Thus, the normal walking time of an operator assinged to spinning patrol duties would be eliminated. Further, the quality of yarn produced would be improved in that those defective positions most likely to result in the production of inferior yarn are also most likely to result in attenuated strand breakage early in the cycle of package forming. It is expected that a position which would otherwise repeatedly interrupt will be actuated only once during a cycle of package building with the total number of strand breakages thus being less than with an operator patrolling quite frequently. Finally, yarn produced under the ''''no-spinner'''' concept is free of slubs and the like otherwise possibly resulting from an operator''s repair or piecing up of a broken strand. In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. That which is claimed is:

Claim 47

A method according to claim 23 further comprising directing the attention of an operator to a drafting system at which supply strand interruption has occurred by moving a flag portion of the pivoted member at an extended position upon said pivoted member moving to said second position.

Claim 48

A method according to claim 23 further comprising directing the attention of an operator to a drafting system at which supply strand interruption has occurred by moving a flag portion of the pivoted member at an extended position upon said pivoted member moving to said second position.

Claim 49

A method according to claim 21 wherein the induction of a flow of air includes impelling flow through a fan housing and further wherein the redirection of a portion of the air flow comprises responding to detection of a broken attenuated strand by selectively withdrawing a flow of air from the fan housing.

Claim 50

A method according to claim 21 wherein the induction of a flow of air includes impelling flow through a fan housing and further wherein the redirection of a portion of the air flow comprises responding to detection of a broken attenuated strand by selectively withdrawing a flow of air from the fan housing.

Claim 55

A method according to claim 27 wherein the identifiable accumulation comprises counting each occurrence of movement of each pivoted member from the first position to the second position.

Claim 56

A method according to claim 27 wherein the identifiable accumulation comprises counting each occurrence of movement of each pivoted member from the first position to the second position.