Elastic covered yarn and method and apparatus for producing the same

Claim 1

A method of producing an elastic covered yarn capable of stretching and contracting from its stretched condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a non-elastic yarn at a constant speed in one direction as a core yarn over a straight portion of the length thereof while applying a predetermined tension force thereto; (b) at the same time, continuously wrapping an elastic yarn around said straight portion of said non-elastic yarn as said non-elastic yarn is fed thereover under a predetermined tension, and while applying a stretching force to the elastic yarn at said straight portion as it is being wrapped; and (c) releasing the tensioning force from the non-elastic yarn and the stretching force from the elastic yarn after they have been moved past said straight portion; (d) whereby to permit the covered yarn to contract after passing the straight portion so that the elastic yarn which when stretched was the cover yarn upon contraction becomes the core yarn and the non-elastic yarn which when tensioned was the core yarn upon release of tensioning becomes the cover yarn, softly and substantially covering the released elastic yarn, with no twist and with the non-elastic yarn being prevented from any substantially additional stretching.

Claim 2

A method of producing an elastic covered yarn capable of stretching and contracting from its stretched condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a non-elastic yarn at a constant speed in one direction as a core yarn over a straight portion of the length thereof while applying a predetermined tension force thereto; (b) at the same time, continuously wrapping an elastic yarn around said straight portion of said non-elastic yarn as said non-elastic yarn is fed thereover under a predetermined tension, and while applying a stretching force to the elastic yarn at said straight portion as it is being wrapped; and (c) releasing the tensioning force from the non-elastic yarn and the stretching force from the elastic yarn after they have been moved past said straight portion; (d) whereby to permit the covered yarn to contract after passing the straight portion so that the elastic yarn which when stretched was the cover yarn upon contraction becomes the core yarn and the non-elastic yarn which when tensioned was the core yarn upon release of tensioning becomes the cover yarn, softly and substantially covering the released elastic yarn, with no twist and with the non-elastic yarn being prevented from any substantially additional stretching.

Claim 6

An apparatus for producing an elastic covered composite yarn consisting of a non-elastic yarn and an elastic yarn, said apparatus comprising: (a) a non-elastic yarn supply section, (b) a composite yarn take-up section, (c) a stretch feeder for continuously pulling and feeding a non-elastic yarn in a straight run from said non-elastic yarn supply section to said take-up section, (d) an elastic yarn supply section, (i) said elastic yarn supply section comprising an elastic yarn bobbin having an elastic yarn wound thereon in such a manner that the amount of winding per course around said bobbin is substantially constant irrespective of changes in the winding diameter, (e) means for continuously wrapping the elastic yarn unwound from said elastic yarn supply section in a stretched condition around said run of tensioned non-elastic yarn at a position between said non-elastic yarn supply section and said stretch feeder, (i) said means for wrapping comprising a flyer supported substantially coaxially with said bobbin and (ii) a guide passage for running and guiding said non-elastic yarn in a direction extending substantially along the axis of said bobbin and said flyer, (iii) said flyer being capable of executing relative rotative motion at a constant speed relative to said bobbin so as to serve to guide a positive unwinding of said elastic yarn from said bobbin at a constant speed, (f) said composite yarn relaxing after passing the take-up section whereupon the elastic yarn which was stretched and when stretched was the cover yarn, upon relaxation contracts to become the core yarn and the non-elastic yarn about which the stretched elastic yarn was wrapped and which elastic yarn then was the core yarn upon relaxation becomes the cover yarn, and softly and substantially covers the released elastic yarn, being prevented from any substantially additional twisting.

Claim 7

An apparatus for producing an elastic covered composite yarn consisting of a non-elastic yarn and an elastic yarn, said apparatus comprising: (a) a non-elastic yarn supply section, (b) a composite yarn take-up section, (c) a stretch feeder for continuously pulling and feeding a non-elastic yarn in a straight run from said non-elastic yarn supply section to said take-up section, (d) an elastic yarn supply section, (i) said elastic yarn supply section comprising an elastic yarn bobbin having an elastic yarn wound thereon in such a manner that the amount of winding per course around said bobbin is substantially constant irrespective of changes in the winding diameter, (e) means for continuously wrapping the elastic yarn unwound from said elastic yarn supply section in a stretched condition around said run of tensioned non-elastic yarn at a position between said non-elastic yarn supply section and said stretch feeder, (i) said means for wrapping comprising a flyer supported substantially coaxially with said bobbin and (ii) a guide passage for running and guiding said non-elastic yarn in a direction extending substantially along the axis of said bobbin and said flyer, (iii) said flyer being capable of executing relative rotative motion at a constant speed relative to said bobbin so as to serve to guide a positive unwinding of said elastic yarn from said bobbin at a constant speed, (f) said composite yarn relaxing after passing the take-up section whereupon the elastic yarn which was stretched and when stretched was the cover yarn, upon relaxation contracts to become the core yarn and the non-elastic yarn about which the stretched elastic yarn was wrapped and which elastic yarn then was the core yarn upon relaxation becomes the cover yarn, and softly and substantially covers the released elastic yarn, being prevented from any substantially additional twisting.