Abstract: Servicing apparatus, such as rotor cleaning and yarn piecing apparatus, for servicing individual spinning assemblies of open-end spinning machines is provided. In order to accommodate usage of a single servicing instrument for several different spinning machines, operating at different conditions for producing different yarns, program control apparatus, including a plurality of control programs which are distinguished from one another as the sequence and timing of servicing operations, is provided. In preferred embodiments, the spinning machines include switch setting apparatus for switching the servicing instrument to the proper program in response to movement of the servicing instrument adjacent the spinning machine to be serviced.

Abstract: In order to be able to call a maintenance unit to a spinning point requiring maintenance in an open-end spinning machine comprising a plurality of spinning points, this spinning point provides a signal which can be recognized by a detector of the maintenance unit. The signal transmitter required herefor is connected with the sliver supply means, which are stopped in the event of a malfunction at the spinning point requiring maintenance. The signal transmitter therefore indicates the stopped condition of these means, which is recognized by the detector.

Abstract: In order to reduce the noise generated by the bearing means for a spinning rotor in which the spinning rotor is mounted in a wedge formed by supporting rings and driven by a tangential belt, one common pillow block is provided for all of the supporting rings of a spinning unit, whereby the pillow block is supported in an elastic manner. The bearing conditions do not change in spite of the resiliency, as the individual members do not perform any relative motions one to the other. In order to further preclude the formation of undesired axial forces as a result of the movement of the shaft of the spinning rotor relative to the tangential belt, the elastic supporting means permit movements in only one specific direction, thereby preventing alteration of the axial force between tangential belt and spinning rotor.

Abstract: In order to clean the fibrous material supplied to the spinning rotors of open-end spinning units, removal openings for impurities are arranged in the area of the opener roller. These removal openings lead to collection chambers for the impurities. In order to permit these impurities to be removed from these collection chambers without any additional constructional effort for transport means having to be provided for each spinning unit and without this removal being able to have an unfavorable effect on the spinning process, this removal of impurities is handled by a travelling maintenance unit which removes the impurities from the collection chambers of the individual spinning units from time to time.

Abstract: In order to provide effective cleaning of the opened fibrous material to be supplied to a spinning rotor, the fiber tuft projects into a removal opening opposite the opener roller, thereby permitting the impurities to be beaten out of the fibers, clamped between supply roller and supply table, by the clothing on the opener roller. They then fall directly into the removal opening without having to rebound from a wall.

Abstract: A fiber supply duct for an open-end spinning unit of the type having an opening device, such as an opening roller, for the opening of continuously fed fiber material. The fiber supply duct extends from the opening device and terminates in a spinning rotor with an air current effecting a conveyance of the fibers being generated in the fiber supply duct by means of a negative pressure ambient produced in the zone of the spinning rotor. The fiber supply duct is provided with a steadily widening flaring mouth section in the zone of the spinning rotor.

Abstract: A drawing system arrangement for spinning machines, in which there are at least two dies for holding the bottom rollers of the drawing system and the dies are connected by a carrying rod. In the new embodiment, the carrying rod is at least twice as long as the distance between two adjacent dies; the carrying rod is attached directly to the machine frame and supports the dies attached to it in addition to the top roller carrying and loading arm.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for folding material, particularly bulky textile material and the like which is to be packaged. A plurality of pivotal folding flap plates are provided for sequentially applying folds to the material. In order to prevent unfolding or undesired shifting of the material during the folding operation, gripping devices are provided at several of the movable folding plates, which gripping devices are movable between a position gripping the material against the respective folding plate and a non-gripping position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gripping members are constructed as C-shaped fingerlike elastic elements mounted on rotatable gripper shafts, which gripper shafts are connected to rotatable flexible shafts and a control mechanism for sequentially controlling the rotation of the flexible shaft. A cam, lever, and gear arrangement is provided for rotating the flexible shaft in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: Spinning machine apparatus including a plurality of open-end spinning units arranged side-by-side and having running rails adjacent thereto for accommodating a mobile servicing device, which device effects servicing operations at individual spinning units. In order to provide accurate adjustment of the servicing device with respect to the individual spinning units, horizontally adjustable supporting elements are provided for adjusting the lateral position of the servicing device with respect to the individual spinning units.

Abstract: An open-end spinning machine contains fiber guide surfaces, which are associated to the opener roll, between the means for supplying a sliver to an opener roll and a fiber supply channel leading to a spinning rotor. These fiber guide surfaces contain a removal opening, through which the impurities from the open sliver are removed. Inserted in this removal opening, which begins directly at the means for supplying the sliver, is a conveyor belt, which replaces a portion of the fiber guide surfaces. This increases the cleaning effect and prevents air from infiltrating.

Abstract: A start-spinning apparatus which travels along an open-end spinning machine has means which lift a winding cone of an open-end spinning unit away from its drive means, which pick up an end of the thread from the winding cone and which return said end to a spinning rotor of the open-end spinning unit again for start spinning, and which finally withdraw the thread therefrom again. In order to produce precise operating conditions, the return of the end of the thread to the spinning rotor and drawing off of the thread again are controlled by a separate pair of trapping rollers after the end of the thread, which has been trimmed to a certain length, has been transferred to a yarn removal channel leading to the spinning rotor by a transfer trapper.

Abstract: Located in the path of transport for the fibres in an apparatus for supplying separated fibres to a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning unit is a removal opening, from which the impurities contained in the fibrous material are removed. In order to be able to provide mechanical conveying means, which do not disturb the pneumatic fibre transport, behind the removal opening and at a relatively great distance therefrom, the removal opening is designed in such a manner that it serves as a type of air buffer and impairs the formation of a strong air flow.

Abstract: The spinning rotors of the individual spinning units of an open-end spinning machine have shafts with which they are mounted in bearings. The end of each shaft is in an axial supporting relationship with a freely rotatable ball, whereby the holder is designed in such a manner that it can be caused to oscillate or vibrate through the oscillation of the machine, etc.

Abstract: To start-spin a thread with open-end spinning, the end of the thread is inserted back into the spinning rotor against the normal direction of draw and placed on a ring of separated fibres. In order to simplify placing the thread on the ring and to improve the strength of the start-spinning point in the thread, before being placed on the ring of fibres, the returned end is freed of the twist in the thread produced during spinning, causing this end to be in a condition which corresponds generally to the condition of the ring of separated fibres.