Yarn control device

Claim 2

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than a selected rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool means and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn and thereby restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn to a rate no greater than said selected rate at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means; and said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn affecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn axially from the spool means.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said yarn control means includes a control member mounted for movement between said first and second positions, said control member including said restraint portion and when in said first position having the restraint portion thereof positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means and disposed in engagement with said yarn at said yarn control contact point, and said means including drive means for causing relative rotation between said spool means and said control member when said control member is in said first position whereby said control member limits the rate of yarn withdrawal from said spool means in correspondence to the relative rotation between said spool means and said control member, said restraint portion of said control member no longer engaging said yarn at said contact point when said control member is in said second position.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a lever-like control member mounted for pivotal movement between said first and second positions, the free end of said control member defining said restraint portion and being disposed for engaging the yarn at said contact point when said control member is in said first position.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is pivotally movable through an angle of approximately 90* when displaced between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of said spool means.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, wherein said control member is mounted for pivotal movement within a plane containing therein the longitudinal central axis of said spool means, and said control member when in said first position extending substantially radially relative tO the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6, wherein said control member is pivotally mounted directly adjacent one axial end of said spool means and is pivotally swingable from said first position wherein said control member extends substantially radially relative to the central axis of said spool means and said second position wherein said control member extends substantially axially of said spool means.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is stationarily mounted, and means mounting said control member for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is mounted for rotation about said central axis, and said control member is nonrotatably mounted in the circumferential direction on said spool means.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1, wherein the restraint portion of said control means in said first position is positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means for permitting withdrawal of yarn from the spool means in only a radial direction, and the restraint portion of said control means in said second position being aligned with said central axis for permitting said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 10, further including a stationary frame and said control means including a control member disposed adjacent said spool means and pivotally mounted relative to said frame for movement between said first and second positions, said spool means being mounted for rotation relative to said frame about a central axis, said restraint portion comprising guide means connected to said control member and movable therewith between said first and second positions, and said control member when in said first position having said guide means disposed radially of said central axis for engaging the withdrawn yarn and for restraining the withdrawal of yarn from said spool means as said spool means is rotated, and said guide means being disposed, at least substantially, on said central axis when said control member is in said second position.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1, wherein said restraint portion comprises yarn guide means engaging said yarn at said contact point when in said first position and being located radially outwardly of said central axis and being mounted to orbit said central axis relative to said spool means and permit withdrawal of yarn from said spool means in only a radial direction, and wherein in said second position of said control means said guide means is positioned, at least substantially, on said central axis to permit said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12, wherein when said control means is in said first position said guide means is spaced radially of said spool means and axially between planes defined by the ends of said spool means.

Claim 15

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a first control position and intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a second control position, said control means including a control portion which is movable relative to said spool body between said first and second positions, said control portion being disposed for coacting with the withdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; and second means for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be wound on the spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn when said cOntrol means is in said first position.

Claim 16

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a first control position and intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a second control position, said control means including a control portion which is movable relative to said spool body between said first and second positions, said control portion being disposed for coacting with the withdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; and second means for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be wound on the spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn when said cOntrol means is in said first position.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 14, wherein said second means includes sensing means coacting with the yarn reserve on said spool body for controlling the size thereof.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 15, wherein said spool body is mounted for rotation, said second means including means operatively associated with said first means for causing rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said second position and said sensing means indicates a reduction in the yarn reserve on said spool body beyond a predetermined lower limit, and said second means including means causing continuous rotation of said spool body when said control means is in said first position.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 14, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member disposed adjacent said spool body for rotation about an axis coaxial with said spool body, and said first means also including releasable coupling means coacting between said spool body and said drive member for permitting said spool body to be selectively drivingly coupled to said drive member, said coupling means being associated with and actuated by said second means for causing rotation of said spool body whenever said control means is in said first position.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 14, further including a frame and means stationarily mounting said spool body relative to said frame, and said first means including a driven yarn feeding member mounted for orbital movement around said spool body for winding yarn thereon.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 18, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member, and wherein said second means includes releasable coupling means for rotatably drivingly connecting said driven feeding member to said rotatable drive member, said coupling means causing continuous engagement between said driven feeding member and said rotatable drive member whenever said control means is in said first control position.

Claim 22

A device according to claim 14, wherein said control means includes a lever-like control member and means mounting said control member for pivotal movement between said first and second control positions relative to the longitudinal central axis of said spool body, said mounting means permitting said spool body to rotate relative to said control member, and said control member when in said first position having a portion thereof disposed radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool body for engaging the yarn at a contact point spaced radially from said central axis for restricting the withdrawal of yarn from said spool body in response to relative rotation between said spool body and said control member about said longitudinal central axis.

Claim 23

A device according to claim 20, wherein the free end of said control member is disposed at said contact point located radially outwardly of the axis of said spool body when said control member is in said first position, and the free end of said control member being spaced from said contact point when said control member is in said second position, said control member in said second position imposing no restraint on the axial withdrawal of yarn from said spool body.

Claim 24

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve therein; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than that at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means, said yarn control means including a restraint portion located at a first point spaced radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being disposed for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from said spool means; said control means also including means for causing said restraint portion when located at Said first point to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraint portion restrains the rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means; and means coacting with said control means for deactivating same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate, said deactivating means permitting said restraint portion to be moved to a second point spaced from said first point, said restraint portion when located at said second point no longer restraining the axial withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means.

Claim 25

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve therein; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than that at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means, said yarn control means including a restraint portion located at a first point spaced radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being disposed for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from said spool means; said control means also including means for causing said restraint portion when located at Said first point to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a relative velocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraint portion restrains the rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means; and means coacting with said control means for deactivating same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate, said deactivating means permitting said restraint portion to be moved to a second point spaced from said first point, said restraint portion when located at said second point no longer restraining the axial withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means.

Claim 26

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling the withdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarn guide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from said spool means, said control means including mounting means coacting between the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relative movement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarn guide portion when in said first position being spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool means for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when in said second position being spaced from said first position so as to exert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spool means; and means for causing relative rotation between said guide portion and said spool means for effecting relative orbiting of said guide portion about said central axial when said guide portion is in said first position at a second velocity at least substantially equal to the first velocity.

Claim 27

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling the withdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarn guide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from said spool means, said control means including mounting means coacting between the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relative movement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarn guide portion when in said first position being spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool means for contacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when in said second position being spaced from said first position so as to exert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spool means; and means for causing relative rotation between said guide portion and said spool means for effecting relative orbiting of said guide portion about said central axial when said guide portion is in said first position at a second velocity at least substantially equal to the first velocity.

Claim 28

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body, said yarn control means including a control portion disposed in a first position wherein said control portion is adapted to engage the yarn as withdrawn from said spool body, said control portion when in said first position being disposed radially outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of said spool body, and mounting means coacting between said control portion and said spool body for permitting relative rotation therebetween about said central axis; second means operatively interconnected between said yarn control means and said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn from said spool body when said control portion is in said first location; and third means associated with said control means for permitting deactivation of same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool body intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said third means including means permitting said control portion to be moved relative to said spool body from said first portion to a second position wherein said control portion exerts no restraint on the yarn controlling the axial withdrawal rate thereof.

Claim 29

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a predetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body, said yarn control means including a control portion disposed in a first position wherein said control portion is adapted to engage the yarn as withdrawn from said spool body, said control portion when in said first position being disposed radially outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of said spool body, and mounting means coacting between said control portion and said spool body for permitting relative rotation therebetween about said central axis; second means operatively interconnected between said yarn control means and said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn from said spool body when said control portion is in said first location; and third means associated with said control means for permitting deactivation of same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool body intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said third means including means permitting said control portion to be moved relative to said spool body from said first portion to a second position wherein said control portion exerts no restraint on the yarn controlling the axial withdrawal rate thereof.

Claim 30

In combination with a textile machine having means associated therewith for withdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn from the source to the textile machine, said yarn control device including a spool body and first means coacting with the spool body for causing yarn to be wound on the spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supply source being wound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of said yarn reserve, and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacent the other axial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textile machine, comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control device includes: yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said control means including restraining means disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarn withdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is no greater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body; second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in said location; and means for deactivating said restraining means for enabling yarn to be withdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired as determined by the operation of the textile machine.

Claim 31

In combination with a textile machine having means associated therewith for withdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn from the source to the textile machine, said yarn control device including a spool body and first means coacting with the spool body for causing yarn to be wound on the spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supply source being wound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of said yarn reserve, and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacent the other axial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textile machine, comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control device includes: yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool body, said control means including restraining means disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the central axis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarn withdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is no greater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body; second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in said location; and means for deactivating said restraining means for enabling yarn to be withdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired as determined by the operation of the textile machine.

Claim 32

The combination according to claim 25 wherein the deactivating means enables said restraining means to be moved to a second location which is spaced from said first-mentioned location wherein the restraining means no longer restricts the axial withdrawal of yarn from the spool body by the textile machine.

Claim 33

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a preselected rate and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity corresponding to said preselected rate; and said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn from the spool means.

Claim 34

A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectively operable between a first position for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a preselected rate and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means in said first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relative velocity corresponding to said preselected rate; and said yarn control means in said second position inactivating said restraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn from the spool means.