Method of and apparatus for ending the broken yarn in an open-end spinning system

Claim 3

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the introduction of separated fibers into the rotor is stopped prior to the taking out of the pieced up spun yarn from the rotor and started again with the starting of the taking out of the pieced up yarn.

Claim 4

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined tension in the broken yarn end after reinsertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor and subsequently on sensing of additional tension in the yarn end fed into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced-up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined tension in the broken yarn end after reinsertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor and subsequently on sensing of additional tension in the yarn end fed into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced-up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 6

Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein two separate means are provided for sensing tension in the yarn being removed from the rotor whereby initial breakage of the yarn and tension in the reinserted broken yarn end are sensed separately.

Claim 7

Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the take-up clutch comprises a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, and fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.

Claim 8

Take-up clutch structure comprising a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, and fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.

Claim 9

Take-up clutch structure comprising a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, and fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.

Claim 12

The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the introduction of separated fibers into the rotor is stopped prior to the taking out of the pieced up spun yarn from the rotor and started again with the starting of the taking out of the pieced up yarn.

Claim 15

The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the introduction of separated fibers into the rotor is stopped prior to the taking out of the pieced up spun yarn from the rotor and started again with the starting of the taking out of the pieced up yarn.

Claim 18

The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the introduction of separated fibers into the rotor is stopped prior to the taking out of the pieced up spun yarn from the rotor and started again with the starting of the taking out of the pieced up yarn.

Claim 19

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined tension after insertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of additional tension in the yarn end fed into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 20

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined tension after insertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of additional tension in the yarn end fed into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 21

Structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein two separate means are provided for sensing tension in the yarn being removed from the rotor whereby initial breakage of the yarn and tension in the reinserted broken yarn end are sensed separately.

Claim 22

Structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein the take-up clutch comprises a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, and fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.

Claim 23

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing a predetermined tension in the broken yarn end after reinsertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of a further time after insertion of the yarn end into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 24

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing a predetermined tension in the broken yarn end after reinsertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of a further time after insertion of the yarn end into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 25

Structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein two separate means are provided for sensing tension in the yarn being removed from the rotor whereby initial breakage of the yarn and tension in the reinserted broken yarn end are sensed separately.

Claim 26

Structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein the take-up clutch comprises a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, the fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.

Claim 27

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined time after insertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of a further time after insertion of the yarn end into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take up pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 28

Apparatus for piecing up broken yarn ends in an open-end spinning machine including a rotor, means for feeding separated fibers to the rotor and means for withdrawing spun yarn from the rotor, comprising a feed clutch operable to start and stop feeding of separate fibers to the rotor, a winding drum having a take-up clutch associated therewith operable to start and stop taking out of spun yarn from the rotor, at least one tension sensing means for sensing the tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor, a timer for timing intervals since insertion of a broken yarn end into the rotor and an electric circuit for receiving signals from the tension sensing means and the timer and for providing control signals to the feed clutch and take-up clutch, whereby on sensing tension in the yarn taken out of the rotor indicating a broken yarn end, the feed clutch and take-up clutch are disengaged to prevent feeding of separated fibers to the rotor and taking out of spun yarn from the rotor and on sensing of a predetermined time after insertion of the broken yarn end into the rotor, the feed clutch is actuated to pass separated fibers into the rotor, and subsequently on sensing of a further time after insertion of the yarn end into the rotor, the take-up clutch is actuated to take up pieced up spun yarn out of the rotor.

Claim 29

Structure as set forth in claim 19, wherein two separate means are provided for sensing tension in the yarn being removed from the rotor whereby initial breakage of the yarn and tension in the reinserted broken yarn end are sensed separately.

Claim 30

Structure as set forth in claim 19, wherein the take-up clutch comprises a drum body rotatably mounted on a drum shaft, a drum tube secured to the drum body for rotation therewith, an electrically actuated solenoid secured in a fixed position at one end of the brake drum, an annular armature mounted on the drum shaft for axial movement relative thereto on actuation of the solenoid and engaged with the drum tube for rotation therewith, a clutch disc secured to the drum shaft for rotation therewith and axial movement therealong having friction plates on both sides thereof between the one end of the drum body and the armature, resilient means biasing the armature into engagement with a friction surface on one side of the clutch disc urging the friction plate on the other side of the clutch disc into engagement with a friction surface on the one end of the drum to effectively engage the drum body with the drum shaft with the solenoid unactuated, and fixed friction means at the opposite side of the armature between the drum body and solenoid for stopping rotation of the armature, drum tube and drum body on actuation of the solenoid to cause disengagement of the armature and drum body from the clutch disc.