Abstract: A simple yarn unwinding apparatus which enables smooth and regular yarn unwinding of bobbins and thereby reduces yarn breakage. The apparatus comprises a bobbin of yarn mounted on a frame, a yarn take-up device for pulling the yarn from said bobbin. A light yarn guide is rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the bobbin and substantially frictionless upon rotation. The yarn guide is provided with a yarn passage along its axis of rotation and terminating short of the side of the bobbin opening on the yarn to gradually radially displace the yarn from the bobbin and to convey it to said yarn take-up device, while converting the motion from rotational into translational and dampening of abrupt motions of the yarn leaving the bobbin.

Abstract: A wire pay-off cap assembly for use with wire-filled, flanged spools for controlling the unreeling of wire past the ends thereof, comprising a support member carried by the spool, a stationary circular tension brush mounted on the support member, and a freely rotatable wheel carried by a ball bearing assemblage on the member. The wheel is constituted as two separate pieces, one piece comprising a disk-like body mounted at its center on the bearing, and the other piece comprising an annular wheel flange having a concave cross-section providing a curved exterior surface for sliding contact with a strand of the wire being unreeled. Co-operable means are provided on the body and flange for releasably securing the two together such that the flange, when worn or damaged, can be readily replaced without removing the body from the support member.

Abstract: A tension brush assembly for facilitating the unreeling of wire from a wire-carrying spool, comprising a support body constituted of two annular members which are disposed broadside and in axial alignment with one another, and a plurality of flexible and resilient nylon tines which are clamped between the members with their outer ends being free and unattached, and which extend radially with respect to the body beyond outer peripheral edge portions thereof. The annular members are secured to one another by stitching which extends around the edge portions. Means are provided on the body to enable it to be mounted on one end of a spool, whereby the free ends of the tines extend beyond the spool flange portions. The arrangement is such that the tines prevent the wire from unravelling when the take-off speed is reduced or when the wire is halted. During normal take-off or unreeling, the wire sweeps past the flexible tines as the tension is either maintained constant or increased.

Abstract: A quick-connect pay-off cap assembly facilitating the dereeling of wire from a spool. The assembly includes a support member which carries a freely rotatable, flanged take-off wheel and a stationary circular tension brush having multiple tines extending past the wheel periphery and adapted to be brushed by the wire as it passes the flange of the wheel. The support member includes a radially expansible friction locking part which is insertable into either the bore of the spool or a hollow part of the support spindle which carries the spool. Manually operable means are provided on the support member for actuating the friction locking part. The arrangement is such that it enables an especially quick installation of the cap assembly to a particular spool or its spindle, all without the need for special tools or equipment.

Abstract: There is disclosed an intermediate yarn feeding and control device having a storage member adapted to have yarn wound thereabout adjacent one end thereof to form yarn windings which advance toward the other end thereof. Yarn guide means located adjacent the other end of the storage member is adapted to guide the yarn, selectively, into one of two separate paths of yarn travel. A restraining element restrains the yarn withdrawal to a preselected rate when the yarn is guided through one of the paths but is clear of the yarn travel when the yarn is guided through the other of said paths for permitting the yarn to be withdrawn from the storage member at any desired rate. The yarn guide means includes a plurality of outwardly extending resilient fingers whose free ends support an outer ring so that when the withdrawn yarn is guided through the one path which is inwardly of the outer ring, it flexes successive resilient fingers which impart thereto a preselected tension.

Abstract: A spool-handling dolly consisting of a simple U-shaped chassis mounted on wheels and arranged to be wheeled over a floor surface. The chassis has an upright post and slide, along which there is movable a carrige that is raised and lowered by a drive means comprising a vertical screw and a handwheel. The wheel has a lifting shoulder or projection which is adapted to be inserted in the bore of a filled spool that is positioned with both its flanges resting on the floor surface. The carriage also has a clamp jaw adapted to cooperate with the lifting shoulder in a manner to clamp an upper portion of one of the spool flanges securely to the carriage. A guide means on the carriage enables the clamp jaw to be vertically adjusted for this purpose. There is a second drive means on the carriage, engaged with the clamp jaw for moving the same along the guide means in its vertical travel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for interrupting and holding a running textile yarn unwound over-end from a yarn supply. The invention may be combined with yarn break detectors for use with synthetic yarn drawtwist machines.

Abstract: A yarn package is supported on a horizontal spindle in a thread-supply apparatus and the thread is drawn horizontally away from the package. A flexible belt is hung from one end on a support rod displaceable toward and away from the spindle and extending parallel to the spindle. This belt is provided with a weight at its other end and is wrapped around the package completely with the weight hanging down past the support. This belt forms a thread-brake that ensures even tension in the filament being pulled from the package.

Abstract: A wire reel for dispensing wire from coils or cartons including rotatable means for paying out the wire without twists or kinking, means to retard the rotation of the reel when wire is being withdrawn therethrough, means for quick disconnect of the suspending lines for the base plate from the plate and means for secure assembly of the disconnect means from the suspending means.

Abstract: A take-off device for unreeling wire from a spool with a minimum of looseness and kinking, comprising a support, means for mounting the support at one end of a wire-carrying spool, a take-off wheel rotatably carried for free turning by the support and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spool, a tension brush assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending tines disposed adjacent a peripheral flange of the wheel and adapted to be engaged and flexed by a strand of wire as it unreels from the spool, and cooperable braking means on the support and wheel for imparting a drag force to the latter as it rotates under the action of the unreeling wire. The support includes a spindle, which in turn carries a ball bearing having inner and outer races. The inner race remains stationary with the spindle while the outer race is secured to the hub of the wheel to enable the latter to have rotation about the spindle axis.

Abstract: A method of feeding coiled line to an operation at a rate matching that at which the operation can accommodate the line, including the steps of situating a lead coil of the line on a spiral table, sensing the diameter of the lead coil on the table, and rotating the coiled line to pay off line to the operation, the rotating being increased or decreased in response to decreases or increases in the lead coil diameter sensed in the step of sensing, wherein the improvement comprises turning the spiral table against the lead coil to situate the lead coil on the spiral table.An apparatus including a spiral table and means for sensing the diameter of a lead coil on the table, wherein the improvement comprises means for rotating the table about its axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for withdrawing wire in an axial direction from a coil, with rotary counter-twist means which is capable of adjustment during operation to vary the ratio of its speed to that of the wire, and which includes a set of bending rolls with combined straightening and back-tension functions.