Abstract: A roving frame apparatus and method for winding roving upon bobbins (A) and doffing full packages directly upon a conveyor (F) wherein a spindle rail (C) is moved laterally beneath an overhead conveyor removing full packages therefrom and supplying empty bobbins thereto.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting breakage in a yarn strand being wound onto a yarn support member rotatably driven by a DC motor and having a closed-loop motor control system for maintaining a desired velocity of the motor and for signaling commutation of the phases of the motor during the yarn winding operation. The closed-loop motor control system monitors the signal conduction angles delivered to commutate the phase windings of the motor, detects a sudden minimum preestablished decrease in the monitored conduction angles, and generates a control signal in response to a sudden decrease in the conduction angle resulting from a yarn strand breakage. The control signal may be employed to stop current supply to the motor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for closed-loop microprocessor control of an electric motor having one or more phase windings and commutation of the phases by rotor/stator position sensors to provide improved efficiency in motor operation wherein the conduction angle of a phase energization of the motor at a given speed of operation is measured, the phase advance adjusted in a positive or negative direction to obtain a subsequent conduction angle, and the two sequential conduction angles compared. Based on the comparison, further phase advance and comparison of sequentially measured conduction angles is carried out, in positive or negative directions of phase advance, to maintain a minimum conduction angle and improve operating efficiency of the motor.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor-driven spindle assembly for a textile ring spinning frame wherein a shaft for rotatably supporting a bobbin for yarn collection is mounted for rotation about a central axis of rotation in a bolster section and, under certain conditions of operation, for rotation about axes which are incrementally angularly displaced from the central axis of rotation, and including rotor/stator position detecting elements comprising sensed elements mounted on the motor rotor for rotation therewith and sensing elements mounted in fixed position relative to the rotor and adjacent the path of movement of the sensed elements so as to maintain the same radial distance between the sensing elements and the sensed elements during incremental angular displacement of the axis of rotation of the shaft and motor rotor.

Abstract: A variable reluctance motor having improved means for detecting the relative position of the rotor and stator during rotation of the rotor whereby signals may be employed to commutate the motor, comprising sensed means on the rotor including four sets of elements, each set located within an arcuate length of 90.degree. and each set having two sensed portions with leading edges in the direction of rotation being separated by alternating arcuate lengths of 30.degree. and 60.degree.. Sensing means comprising two sensors arcuately separated by 30.degree. times n wherein n is 1, 2, 4, or 5 are located adjacent the path of rotation of the sensed elements. In a preferred embodiment, the sensed means is a permanent ring magnet having unequal alternating arcuate North and South pole lengths, and the sensing means are two Hall effect sensors. Commutation of a three-phase motor having four rotor poles and six stator poles can thus be effected with the use of only two sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting irregularities in a moving textile strand utilizes sensors B and C making measurements reflecting variations in capacitance of a moving textile strand, and a computer E supplying data reflecting the characteristics of the strand as a result of varying moisture content in a similar strand for reducing the effect of moisture contained in the strand upon the measurements and upon an autoleveller controlling the strand in response to said measurements.

Abstract: A tension compensator for a textile strand includes an electronic closed loop arrangement for use intermediate means delivering the strand which may be at constant speed and a take up or other consuming apparatus such as a package onto which the strand is being wound at a varying rate.

Abstract: A textile comber drawbox shut-off and method are disclosed for terminating the supply of suction air to the drawbox during doffing. Suction air shut-off assemblies B are placed in suction lines 56 leading to vacuum cleaning nozzles 50, 52 of the drawback which clean coiler units A during drawing off of combed sliver 48. Pivotal flapper valves C are tied together by air cylinder D for simultaneous operation. In accordance with the method, upon a prescribed amount of sliver being deposited in cans 26, the comber and supply of suction air are stopped. Following doffing of the full cans, the comber is restarted and the supply of suction air remains shut off by closed valves C. After approximately 60 seconds, of high operation speed, the closure valves C are simultaneously actuated to once again establish suction air in drawbox enclosure 28 for cleaning.

Abstract: A suspension assembly (A) for raising and lowering the ring rails (14, 14') of a textile yarn processing machine is disclosed. Vertical guide posts (18, 18') are disposed adjacent to each of the ring rails for guiding the ring rails as they reciprocate vertically. The opposed ring rails are connected by the suspension assembly which includes a parallelogram linkage comprised of a tension rod (24) pivotally connected to opposing bearing brackets (B, C) and a compression rod (26) which is pivotally connected to the opposing bearing brackets. Slide bearings (20, 20' and 22, 22') are carried by the bearing brackets (B, C) for bearing against the guide posts (18, 18'). The lengths of the compression rod and the tension rod are adjusted to bring the spaced slide bearings into light contact with an associated guide post so that the ring rails may be lifted by a lifter mechanism in unison without causing loads on the guide posts.

Abstract: An improved fiber control for an apron drafting system of a spinning frame is disclosed which includes a rear pair of rolls (3, 6) a middle pair of rolls (2, 5), and a front pair of rolls (1, 4). A silver guidance zone is formed between upper apron 8 and lower apron 11 around rolls 5 and 2, respectively by which sliver is guided in a prescribed path. The guidance path may be configured especially to the fiber type and length by transverse projection elements (17, 18, 19) which engage lower apron 11 and are displaceable. The projection elements are displaceable perpendicular to and along the length of the sliver guidance zone and may be made to contact lower apron 11 to provide a desired shape for control of the sliver.

Abstract: The problem of sliver slingover encountered when starting up a coiler of a high speed drawframe or the like at full production rates can be obviated through this invention wherein for an initial interval the rotational axes of the can and its platform and of the fixed coiler tube are brought closer together than one would require to fill the can to maximum capacity from side to side so that the inertial momentum of the spewing sliver is insufficient to over extend the sliver beyond the can's rim; this condition in filling is maintained until a measured amount of sliver sufficient to produce a firm abutting of the topmost coils with the exit of the coiler tube and thus sufficient resistance to the then spewing sliver therefrom to contain the coils within the side to side extent of the can is attained, whereupon through a shifting mechanism, which may be pneumatically operable, the can platform and its axis are shifted a prescribed distance of greater separation away from the fixed coiler tube axis for the rema

Abstract: Method and means for providing assemblages of fully opened and combed fibers for intimate blending with other staple fibers of a diverse type are disclosed, wherein combed tufts detached from preceding and succeeding tufts are moved in an air stream under subatmospheric pressure to a collection chamber. Movement by such an air stream assures that the parallelized fibers of the tuft are not disturbed but remain in a fully opened and combed condition for subsequent intimate blending. This method and means assure that the fibers are not bent, compressed or otherwise changed from their fully opened and combed state.

Abstract: Means and method are disclosed to clean the fiber collection groove of an open end rotor's cup by use of a flexible member rotated about the groove and counterrotated in the opposite rotational sense, it being the changeovers or reversals in rotational directions which apply through the tip of the flexible member the cleaning force at the points of changeover at the groove which effect the cleaning of accumulations of foreign matter. These changeovers are effected by changing relative rotation and counter rotation between the rotor cup and the flexible end member, and are controlled by a programmable control means which may include a microprocessor working through one or more motors, one of which may be a stepped motor of high torque values and occupying but little space.

Abstract: A method of open-end spinning a yarn formed of two different types of fibers of staple fiber and a yarn formed thereby in which most of the outer fibers are formed of one type of fiber and most of the inner fibers are formed of the other component. The types of fibers are integrally linked by orienting and distributing the fibers as they approach the open end such that they lie substantially parallel to the open end and overlapping whereby part of some of the fibers of the inner type of fiber wrap around some of the fibers of the outer type of fiber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding, weighing and releasing a predetermined quantity of fiber in reoccurring cycles for use in a fiber blending operation or the like whereby the quantity of fiber released in each cycle is maintained at an essentially constant and preselected level, which includes means for sensing the actual weight of fiber dumped from a weigh pan or container, comparing such weight with a constant preset desired weight setting, and varying the weight of fiber delivered during the next cycle to compensate for any differences between the preset weight and the actual weight dumped during the preceding cycle.

Abstract: In opening and cleaning fibers an improved method to increase the proportion of usable fibers in processable textile fiber stock using a plurality of bale opening machines feeding fiber to a line of fiber cleaning and mixing machines, following which the fibers are fed to a plurality of carding machines. At least some of the machines settings are adjusted to remove a higher level of waste, including trash and good fiber, than would conventionally be acceptable. The waste from the machines is centrally collected and passed to a fiber retriever which removes good fibers to return them into the line of cleaning and mixing machines.

Abstract: A friction spinning apparatus comprises an opening roller system for feeding fibres in a feed duct to the throat formed between the adjacent peripheral surfaces of two parallel drums rotating in the same direction. Yarn formed at the throat, by frictional contact between the fed fibres and the surfaces, is withdrawn along the throat. The fibre feed duct is arranged to feed the fibres in an airstream having a direction inclined to the yarn axis and providing a component of fiber movement opposite to the direction of yarn withdrawal. A suction opening in the duct wall facing away from the drums causes an additional airstream across the duct parallel to the yarn axis to turn the fibres from the direction of inclination to a direction more nearly parallel to the yarn axis as they approach the throat. One of the drums is perforated for suction through its surface, the other is imperforate and formed with a resilient surface of a rubber material.

Abstract: A carding machine for textile material has a taker-in cylinder, a main cylinder and a doffing cylinder supported by a frame comprising of two frame side members. The frame side members are costructed from sheet steel and are interconnected by two sheet steel cross-members of hollow cross section the ends of which are welded to the inwardly facing surfaces of the frame side members.Preferably, the frame further includes a base member welded along the bottom of the inwardly facing surfaces of the frame side members.

Abstract: The servicing apparatus is mounted for running movement along, and for pivotal movement laterally of, a path of travel having a first section extending adjacent spinning units of the spinning machine and a second section extending adjacent an end cabinet of the spinning machine. During movement of the apparatus from the first and to the second section of its path of travel, it is pivoted laterally of such path to provide clearance between interfering components of the apparatus and the cabinet of the machine that would otherwise preclude movement of the apparatus along the second section of its path of travel. Pivotal movement of the apparatus is realized by a cam means so located as to not impede traffic adjacent the machine or access to the interior of its end cabinet, and as to minimize the magnitude of the force required to produce the aforesaid pivotal movement.

Abstract: During servicing of a spinning machine station by the piecing apparatus, the yarn positioning means establishes a generally U-shaped yarn line and brings the lowermost bight section of such line into desired association with the yarn delivery rolls at the spinning machine station. Rotatable members form the bight section of the yarn line and then transport the same, while the members occupy rotative positions effective to prevent lateral movement of the bight section, to a location closely adjacent the delivery rolls. The members then are rotated to other positions wherein they permit and guide lateral movement of the bight section toward a free end of one of the delivery rolls. When a piecing-aid device is present at the spinning machine station, the piecing apparatus includes a mechanism for imparting movement to a movable component of the device, and the positioning means of the apparatus includes means for associating parts of the U-shaped yarn line with the foregoing and other components of the device.