Method and apparatus for controlling the rejoining of thread in an open ended spinning machine

Claim 3

The method of controlling the rejoinder operation of a plurality of spinning units according to claim 1 including the steps of providing said control mechanism with means for receiving said signals from each of said units and means for controlling the operation of each of said units individually, cyclically scanning said receiving means for said signals and initiating and maintaining said sequence of operation for rejoinder.

Claim 4

An open end spinning machine comprising frame, a housing pivotally mounted on said frame having means for automatically moving said housing between a closed working position and at least a partially open position, a spinning unit located in said frame comprising a rotatable turbine and a rotatable means for feeding fibers to said turbine to be spun into a continuous thread, a tangential belt drive means mounted on said frame for rotating each of said turbine and feed means, said turbine and said feed means having a drive shaft extending therefrom engageable and disengageable with said belt drive means on closing and at least partially opening of said housing with respect to said frame, means for sensing the continuity of said spun thread, means for sensing a fault in the operation of each of said turbine and feed means, said sensing means respectively producing a continuity of signals on interruption of said spun thread, and a fault signal on determining a fault in said turbine and on determining a fault in said feed means, control means responsive to each of said signals to actuate said means for moving said housing to disengage the shaft of said turbine and feed means from said tangential belt to interrupt the spinning of said fibers.

Claim 5

An open end spinning machine comprising frame, a housing pivotally mounted on said frame having means for automatically moving said housing between a closed working position and at least a partially open position, a spinning unit located in said frame comprising a rotatable turbine and a rotatable means for feeding fibers to said turbine to be spun into a continuous thread, a tangential belt drive means mounted on said frame for rotating each of said turbine and feed means, said turbine and said feed means having a drive shaft extending therefrom engageable and disengageable with said belt drive means on closing and at least partially opening of said housing with respect to said frame, means for sensing the continuity of said spun thread, means for sensing a fault in the operation of each of said turbine and feed means, said sensing means respectively producing a continuity of signals on interruption of said spun thread, and a fault signal on determining a fault in said turbine and on determining a fault in said feed means, control means responsive to each of said signals to actuate said means for moving said housing to disengage the shaft of said turbine and feed means from said tangential belt to interrupt the spinning of said fibers.

Claim 6

The machine according to claim 3 wherein said sensing means for said turbine and feed means is responsive to predetermined levels in speed of rotation and the temperature of said turbine and feed means.

Claim 7

The machine according to claim 3 including means for withdrawing said spun thread from said spinning unit, said control means being operable after interruption of the spinning of said fibers, to cause said means for withdrawing saId thread to reverse the thread, and to actuate said means for moving said housing to close said housing with respect to said frame and thus cause the shafts of said turbine and feed means to engage said tangential belt and effect rejoinder of said thread with the spun thread.

Claim 8

The machine according to claim 3 including circuit means for feeding the continuity signal to said control means in priority to the fault signal.

Claim 9

The machine according to claim 3 including spring means for normally biasing said housing in closed condition.

Claim 10

The machine according to claim 7 including a cover secured to said housing over said turbine and feed means and conjointly movable therewith.

Claim 11

The machine according to claim 7 wherein said cover is pivotably hinged with respect to the housing and includes a coupling connecting said housing and cover, said coupling having means causing pivoting of said housing with respect to said frame to engage and disengage said turbine with the tangential belt on corresponding pivoting of said cover.

Claim 12

The machine according to claim 3 including switch means actuable on movement of said housing to the open position producing a signal responsive thereto and means for feeding said signal to said control means for terminating operation of said machine.

Claim 13

A spindleless spinning machine assembly comprising a plurality of spinning machines according to claim 3, wherein said control means is common to all said spinning units, said control means having means for receiving said signals from each of said spinning units, including a timing network, switch means and indicating devices associated with each spinning unit which in response to a given signal initially disengage the corresponding turbine from its drive means and initiate, effect and terminate in a predetermined sequence of operation of the corresponding spinning unit to effect rejoinder of said thread on receipt of said signal.

Claim 14

The machine according to claim 10 wherein said control mechanism includes a number of set timing networks, switch means, and indicating devices corresponding to the number of spinning units connected simultaneously thereto, and means for integrating each of said sets to selectively control the operation of several units simultaneously.

Claim 15

The machine according to claim 11 wherein said control mechanism includes a measuring point scanner, means connecting the output signal of said spinning unit individually to said scanner, said scanner cyclically scanning each of said output signals as a function of a timing pulse and producing a scanned output signal, a timer for producing said timing pulse, logic circuits responsive to the scanned output signal for interrupting the continued scanning of said measuring point scanner and for initiating the operation of series of timing relays and switch devices for performing the rejoinder operation of the correspondingly spinning unit from which said signal is derived.

Claim 16

The machine according to claim 12 wherein said logic circuit including means for preventing subsequent output signals from a given spinning unit from being scanned by said measuring point scanner during the rejoinder operation initiated by a previous output signal.

Claim 17

The machine according to claim 13 including means for interrupting the scanning of said measuring point scanner in the event a predetermined number of spinning units are subject to a rejoinder operation.