Strand guide apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a hollow central region from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a strand guide surface defining an opening through which strand can travel as it leaves the package; tapered support means extending from the outside of the package with diminishing size to hold the opening generally along its axis within the hollow central region of the package without obstructing strand travel through the opening; and means for withdrawing strand from the interior of the package through the opening.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the tapered support means includes at least two opposing spaced apart members diverging outwardly from the opening to the outside of the package.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which the members are wires.

Claim 5

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a lengthwise passageway from which strand may be withdrawn comprising: a tapered strand guide member having a passageway extending therethrough in the direction of taper with a strand guide opening at the smaller end of the member; support means locating the tapered guide with its strand guide opening in the passageway of the package; and means for withdrawing strand from the interior of the package through the strand guide opening.

Claim 6

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a lengthwise passageway from which strand may be withdrawn comprising: a tapered strand guide member having a passageway extending therethrough in the direction of taper with a strand guide opening at the smaller end of the member; support means locating the tapered guide with its strand guide opening in the passageway of the package; and means for withdrawing strand from the interior of the package through the strand guide opening.

Claim 7

Apparatus of claim 4 in which the tapered strand guide is located with its strand guide opening at the mid-region of the package passageway.

Claim 8

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a lengthwise passageway from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a tapered strand guide member having a passageway extending therethrough in the direction of taper; support means locating the smaller end of the strand guide member in the passageway of the strand package; and means for advancing the strand from the strand package passageway through the passageway of the tapered strand guide member, the strand entering such guide passageway at the smaller end of the tapered strand guide member.

Claim 9

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a lengthwise passageway from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a tapered strand guide member having a passageway extending therethrough in the direction of taper; support means locating the smaller end of the strand guide member in the passageway of the strand package; and means for advancing the strand from the strand package passageway through the passageway of the tapered strand guide member, the strand entering such guide passageway at the smaller end of the tapered strand guide member.

Claim 10

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound strand package having an axial passageway from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a conical guide having an axial passageway extending therethrough; support means for locating the conical guide with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the wound package with the smaller end of the conical strand guide at substantially the mid-length of the strand package passageway; and means for advancing strand from the package passageway through the conical guide passageway from the smaller end of the conical guide.

Claim 11

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound strand package having an axial passageway from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a conical guide having an axial passageway extending therethrough; support means for locating the conical guide with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the wound package with the smaller end of the conical strand guide at substantially the mid-length of the strand package passageway; and means for advancing strand from the package passageway through the conical guide passageway from the smaller end of the conical guide.

Claim 12

Apparatus recited in claim 7 in which the conical guide passageway is conical, the taper of such conical passageway being in the same direction as the guide.

Claim 13

Apparatus recited in claim 8 in which the conical guide and its conical passageway have the same angle of taper.

Claim 14

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a hollow central region from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a strand guide surface defining an opening through which strand leaving the package can travel; support means extending from outside the package locating the opening interiorly of the package, the support means flaring outwardly in all directions from the opening obliquely of the axis of the package; and means for withdrawing strand from the interior of the package through the opening. of the invention in a glass roving operation. The apparatus withdraws continuous glass filament strands from the inside of wound serving packages Having hollow central regions. A shown, individual glass strands 10 travel from one end of individual serving packages 12 that have axial passageways or hollow central regions 14 extending therethorugh. The packages 12 are held in a creel 16. Each of the strands 10 travels through a strand withdrawal guide 18 that includes a hollow tapered portion 20 having an opening 21 at its smaller end 22. The creel mounting for the strand withdrawal guide 18 positions the guide with the smaller end 22 and opening 21 of the hollow tapered portion 20 in the passageway 14. From the guides 18 the strands 10 advance through separate external strand guides 24 spaced from the creel 16. A guide 26 beyond the individual guides 24 combines the individual strands 10 in a roving 30. Acommercially available take-up machine 40 is shown collecting the roving 30 into a wound package 42. The machine 40 includes a variable speed drive 44 for rotating a package collecting spool 46, a strand traversing guide 48, a pair of constant speed feed rolls 50 and a pivotally mounted speed control arm 52 and pulley 54 rotatably mounted on the arm 52. The roving 30 advances between the driven rolls 50 downwardly to the pulley 54 on the end of the pivotally mounted speed control arm 52 andupwardly to collect on the driven spool 46. The strand traversing guide 48 engages the roving 30 to reciprocate it lengthwise of the collecting spool 46 during collection of the roving. The take-up machine 40 is responsive to tension in the advancing roving 30. The rolls 50 advance the roving 30 to the collecting spindle 46 via the speed control arm 52 and pulley 54. The arm 52, through electro-mechanical devices within the variable speed drive 44, controls the rotational speed of the spool 46 to keep a substantially constant tension in the traveling roving 30. A spring 56 introduces a selected tension to the roving 30 between the driven rolls and the collecting spool 46. FIGS. 2 and 3 more clearly show one of the strand withdrawal guides 18 and the relationship between the guides 18 and their supply packages 12 as generally illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown the package 12 rests in a cradle 60 on a horizontal support or shelf 62 ofthe creel 16. Hence, the package 12 has its longitudinal axis horizontally disposed; the dashed line denoted by the reference numeral 64 indicates the horizontal axis of the package 12. The strand withdrawal guide 18 includes the hollow tapered portion 20 and a flange 66 at the larger end of the hollow tapered portion 20. The hollow tapered portion 20 is shown is generally a hollow cone with the strand entrance opening 21 at its smaller end 22. In the arrangement of FIGS. 1 through 3, the opening 21 is on the axis of the guide 18. The smaller end 22 flares outwardly away from the opening 21 in all directions obliquely of the axis 64 of the package 12 towards the strand exit end of the package 12. Hence, the opening 21 is at an externally convex surface. A CERAMIC INSERT &) AT THE SMALLER END PROVIDES A GUIDE SURFACE DEFINING THE OPENING @-. In practice a ceramic guide like insert 70 is used with glass strand and roving to reduce abrasion damage to the glass filaments. The flange 66 extends laterally from the base or larger end of the hollow tapered portion 20; the flange 66 is shown normal to the axis of the guide 18. The flange 66 includes a lip 74 at its outer circumferential region that curves gently towards the smaller end 22 of the tapered portion 20 for a short distance and turns again to extend outwardly of the tapered portion 20. The flange 66 contains any tendency of a withdrawing strand to balloon from the exit end of a serving package. A BRACKET &" JOINS THE GUIDE -* WITH THE CREEL -" TO POSITION THE GUIDE -*. The strand withdrawal guide 18 is a one piece guide as show; normally the guide 18 is a mded plastic article. In practice good results have been obtained by molding the guide 18 from plastics suCh as methyl acrylate (plexiglas) and vinyl. The guide 18 is often transparent. The guide 18 is mounted for close association at one end of the package 12 and for positioning the smaller end 22 (opening 21) of the hollow taperred portion 20 in the passageway 14. As shown the axis of the guide 18 is coincident with the axis of the package

Claim 15

Apparatus for withdrawing strand from a wound package having a hollow central region from which strand can be withdrawn comprising: a strand guide surface defining an opening through which strand leaving the package can travel; support means extending from outside the package locating the opening interiorly of the package, the support means flaring outwardly in all directions from the opening obliquely of the axis of the package; and means for withdrawing strand from the interior of the package through the opening. of the invention in a glass roving operation. The apparatus withdraws continuous glass filament strands from the inside of wound serving packages Having hollow central regions. A shown, individual glass strands 10 travel from one end of individual serving packages 12 that have axial passageways or hollow central regions 14 extending therethorugh. The packages 12 are held in a creel 16. Each of the strands 10 travels through a strand withdrawal guide 18 that includes a hollow tapered portion 20 having an opening 21 at its smaller end 22. The creel mounting for the strand withdrawal guide 18 positions the guide with the smaller end 22 and opening 21 of the hollow tapered portion 20 in the passageway 14. From the guides 18 the strands 10 advance through separate external strand guides 24 spaced from the creel 16. A guide 26 beyond the individual guides 24 combines the individual strands 10 in a roving 30. Acommercially available take-up machine 40 is shown collecting the roving 30 into a wound package 42. The machine 40 includes a variable speed drive 44 for rotating a package collecting spool 46, a strand traversing guide 48, a pair of constant speed feed rolls 50 and a pivotally mounted speed control arm 52 and pulley 54 rotatably mounted on the arm 52. The roving 30 advances between the driven rolls 50 downwardly to the pulley 54 on the end of the pivotally mounted speed control arm 52 andupwardly to collect on the driven spool 46. The strand traversing guide 48 engages the roving 30 to reciprocate it lengthwise of the collecting spool 46 during collection of the roving. The take-up machine 40 is responsive to tension in the advancing roving 30. The rolls 50 advance the roving 30 to the collecting spindle 46 via the speed control arm 52 and pulley 54. The arm 52, through electro-mechanical devices within the variable speed drive 44, controls the rotational speed of the spool 46 to keep a substantially constant tension in the traveling roving 30. A spring 56 introduces a selected tension to the roving 30 between the driven rolls and the collecting spool 46. FIGS. 2 and 3 more clearly show one of the strand withdrawal guides 18 and the relationship between the guides 18 and their supply packages 12 as generally illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown the package 12 rests in a cradle 60 on a horizontal support or shelf 62 ofthe creel 16. Hence, the package 12 has its longitudinal axis horizontally disposed; the dashed line denoted by the reference numeral 64 indicates the horizontal axis of the package 12. The strand withdrawal guide 18 includes the hollow tapered portion 20 and a flange 66 at the larger end of the hollow tapered portion 20. The hollow tapered portion 20 is shown is generally a hollow cone with the strand entrance opening 21 at its smaller end 22. In the arrangement of FIGS. 1 through 3, the opening 21 is on the axis of the guide 18. The smaller end 22 flares outwardly away from the opening 21 in all directions obliquely of the axis 64 of the package 12 towards the strand exit end of the package 12. Hence, the opening 21 is at an externally convex surface. A CERAMIC INSERT &) AT THE SMALLER END PROVIDES A GUIDE SURFACE DEFINING THE OPENING @-. In practice a ceramic guide like insert 70 is used with glass strand and roving to reduce abrasion damage to the glass filaments. The flange 66 extends laterally from the base or larger end of the hollow tapered portion 20; the flange 66 is shown normal to the axis of the guide 18. The flange 66 includes a lip 74 at its outer circumferential region that curves gently towards the smaller end 22 of the tapered portion 20 for a short distance and turns again to extend outwardly of the tapered portion 20. The flange 66 contains any tendency of a withdrawing strand to balloon from the exit end of a serving package. A BRACKET &" JOINS THE GUIDE -* WITH THE CREEL -" TO POSITION THE GUIDE -*. The strand withdrawal guide 18 is a one piece guide as show; normally the guide 18 is a mded plastic article. In practice good results have been obtained by molding the guide 18 from plastics suCh as methyl acrylate (plexiglas) and vinyl. The guide 18 is often transparent. The guide 18 is mounted for close association at one end of the package 12 and for positioning the smaller end 22 (opening 21) of the hollow taperred portion 20 in the passageway 14. As shown the axis of the guide 18 is coincident with the axis of the package

Claim 16

Moreover, the opening 21 is at the mid-length of the passageway 1. The best strand withdrawal results occur with the guide 18 positioned with the opening 21 at the central region of the passageway 14; preferably the opening 21 is on the axis of the package 12 and at the mid-length of the passageway 14. However, one can move the guide 18 to locate the opening 21 nearer the exit end of the package 12. Also, the length of the hollow tapered portion 20 ay be proportioed with respect to the legth f the serving package t lace the penig 21 earer the ther ed of the passageway 14. Preferably the opening 21 is substantially on the axis of the package 12. Te reducing cross section fthe hollw taere portion 20 provides a surface along whihc a strand temporarily engagin th rti 20 ca sli tars thi 21 ri stra ithraal. t tsi al tar r th tar rti 20 ca ary; this al is sh as al ''a'''' i i. 2. i ractic, a al ''a'''' r 2* t 3* has i cllt stra ithraal rslts. th isi al tar ca ary; this al is sh as ''b'''' i i. 2. i ractic al ''b'''' is rally qal t al ''a''''. bt al ''b'''' ca b irt r al ''a''''. i rati th stra 10 las th itrir srac 8 th acka 12 a aacs thrh th i srac ii th i 21 a thc tars th it th acka 12. bcas th stra is r th itrir th acka 12, th stra ctisly las th acka r irt lcatis th itrir srac 8 ar th ais . hc, th stra 10 ts t ball tarly ithi th assaay, th balli ts t bc sallr as th stras 10 arachs th i 21. th stra ts t ball ly slihtly i th iri it assaay 80 th hll rti 20 as th stra trals tarly tars th trir stra is 2. th ash li ii. 2 iicats a ral stra ath ri ithraal. is. a sh athr stra ithraal i 118 r s lik i 18. ,9 i 118 icls a tar rti 120 ith a i 121 at its sallr 122. a craic isrt 12 i a sha ic 12 ris a i srac ii th i 121. irs 128 cct th sha ic 12 a a alar i bas 130. th irs 128 ir r th ic 12 t th bas 130 t r a isctis tar srac t th tar rti 120. th i 118 is s lik th i 18 as sh i is. 1 thrh 3. is. a sh athr stra ithraal i 218; th i icls a tar rti 220 ith a i 221 at th sallr 222 th tar rti 220. a isrt 22 i a br 22 ris a i srac ii a al i 221. irs 228 t r th ri 22 al iri aths. th irs 228 is bt t ha a tarly ti rti 230 r s i jii th i 218 ith a crl lik crl 1 sh i i. 1. ,10 i clai; ,11 1. aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a hll ctral ri r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a stra i srac ii a i thrh hich stra ca tral as it las th acka; ''tar srrt as ti r th tsi th acka ith iiishi siz t hl th i arally al its ais ithi th hll ctral ri th acka itht bstrcti stra tral thrh th i; a ''as r ithrai stra r th itrir th acka thrh th i. 2. t aarats clai 1 i hich th tar srt as icls at last t si sac aart brs iri tarly r th i t th tsi th acka. 3. th aarats clai 2 i hich th brs ar irs. . aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a lthis assaay r hich stra ay b ithra crisi; ''a tar stra i br hai a assaay ti thrthrh i th ircti tar ith a stra i i at th sallr th br; ''srt as lcati th tar i ith its stra i i i th assaay th acka; a ''as r ithrai stras r th itrir th acka thrh th stra i i. ,12 . aarats clai i hich th tar stra i is lcat ith its stra i i at th i1ri th acka assaay. . aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a lthis assaay r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a tar stra i br hai a assaay ti thrthrh i th ircti tar; ''srt as lcati th sallr th stra i br i th assaay th stra acka; a ''as r aaci th stra r th stra acka assaay thrh th assaay th tar stra i br, th stra tri sch i assaay at th sallr th tar stra i br. . aarats r ithrai stra r a stra acka hai a aial assaay r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a cical i hai a aial assasay ti thrthrh; ''srt as r lcati th cical i ith its ais sbstatially cicit ith th ais th acka ith th sallr th cical stra i at sbstatially th i1lth th stra acka assaay; a ''as r aaci stra r th acka assaay thrh th cical i assaay r th sallr th cical i.

Claim 17

Moreover, the opening 21 is at the mid-length of the passageway 1. The best strand withdrawal results occur with the guide 18 positioned with the opening 21 at the central region of the passageway 14; preferably the opening 21 is on the axis of the package 12 and at the mid-length of the passageway 14. However, one can move the guide 18 to locate the opening 21 nearer the exit end of the package 12. Also, the length of the hollow tapered portion 20 ay be proportioed with respect to the legth f the serving package t lace the penig 21 earer the ther ed of the passageway 14. Preferably the opening 21 is substantially on the axis of the package 12. Te reducing cross section fthe hollw taere portion 20 provides a surface along whihc a strand temporarily engagin th rti 20 ca sli tars thi 21 ri stra ithraal. t tsi al tar r th tar rti 20 ca ary; this al is sh as al ''a'''' i i. 2. i ractic, a al ''a'''' r 2* t 3* has i cllt stra ithraal rslts. th isi al tar ca ary; this al is sh as ''b'''' i i. 2. i ractic al ''b'''' is rally qal t al ''a''''. bt al ''b'''' ca b irt r al ''a''''. i rati th stra 10 las th itrir srac 8 th acka 12 a aacs thrh th i srac ii th i 21 a thc tars th it th acka 12. bcas th stra is r th itrir th acka 12, th stra ctisly las th acka r irt lcatis th itrir srac 8 ar th ais . hc, th stra 10 ts t ball tarly ithi th assaay, th balli ts t bc sallr as th stras 10 arachs th i 21. th stra ts t ball ly slihtly i th iri it assaay 80 th hll rti 20 as th stra trals tarly tars th trir stra is 2. th ash li ii. 2 iicats a ral stra ath ri ithraal. is. a sh athr stra ithraal i 118 r s lik i 18. ,9 i 118 icls a tar rti 120 ith a i 121 at its sallr 122. a craic isrt 12 i a sha ic 12 ris a i srac ii th i 121. irs 128 cct th sha ic 12 a a alar i bas 130. th irs 128 ir r th ic 12 t th bas 130 t r a isctis tar srac t th tar rti 120. th i 118 is s lik th i 18 as sh i is. 1 thrh 3. is. a sh athr stra ithraal i 218; th i icls a tar rti 220 ith a i 221 at th sallr 222 th tar rti 220. a isrt 22 i a br 22 ris a i srac ii a al i 221. irs 228 t r th ri 22 al iri aths. th irs 228 is bt t ha a tarly ti rti 230 r s i jii th i 218 ith a crl lik crl 1 sh i i. 1. ,10 i clai; ,11 1. aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a hll ctral ri r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a stra i srac ii a i thrh hich stra ca tral as it las th acka; ''tar srrt as ti r th tsi th acka ith iiishi siz t hl th i arally al its ais ithi th hll ctral ri th acka itht bstrcti stra tral thrh th i; a ''as r ithrai stra r th itrir th acka thrh th i. 2. t aarats clai 1 i hich th tar srt as icls at last t si sac aart brs iri tarly r th i t th tsi th acka. 3. th aarats clai 2 i hich th brs ar irs. . aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a lthis assaay r hich stra ay b ithra crisi; ''a tar stra i br hai a assaay ti thrthrh i th ircti tar ith a stra i i at th sallr th br; ''srt as lcati th tar i ith its stra i i i th assaay th acka; a ''as r ithrai stras r th itrir th acka thrh th stra i i. ,12 . aarats clai i hich th tar stra i is lcat ith its stra i i at th i1ri th acka assaay. . aarats r ithrai stra r a acka hai a lthis assaay r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a tar stra i br hai a assaay ti thrthrh i th ircti tar; ''srt as lcati th sallr th stra i br i th assaay th stra acka; a ''as r aaci th stra r th stra acka assaay thrh th assaay th tar stra i br, th stra tri sch i assaay at th sallr th tar stra i br. . aarats r ithrai stra r a stra acka hai a aial assaay r hich stra ca b ithra crisi; ''a cical i hai a aial assasay ti thrthrh; ''srt as r lcati th cical i ith its ais sbstatially cicit ith th ais th acka ith th sallr th cical stra i at sbstatially th i1lth th stra acka assaay; a ''as r aaci stra r th acka assaay thrh th cical i assaay r th sallr th cical i.