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 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: 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: The apparatus includes a plurality of bobbin transporting members for transporting bobbins from supply sources to belt-like conveyors extending along opposite sides of a spinning machine with which the apparatus is associated. During normal operation of the apparatus, oscillatorily-movable drive means imparts continuous, synchronous oscillatory movement to the bobbin transporting members. The stop-motion promptly halts operation of the apparatus in response to significant variation in regular oscillatory movement of any of the bobbin transporting members, which variation might be caused by a bobbin-jam within the apparatus. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the various switch elements of the stop-motion circuit are all mounted by a single bracket member for convenient positional adjustment and installation in an area of the apparatus distal from the paths of travel of the bobbins transported through the apparatus.

Abstract: The doffing apparatus services a textile machine having a row of bobbin-receiving spindles extending in its length direction, and includes an elongate bobbin grasper member which projects generally parallel to the row of spindles and is movable relative thereto between elevated and lowered positions for the purpose of transporting bobbins to and from the spindles. The stop motion device is actuable by impedence of the aforesaid movement of the bobbin-grasper member, as reflected by relative movement that then transpires between components which support such member.

Abstract: A freely-rotatable fluted roll compressively engages the sliver projecting upwardly from a sliver can as such can is doffed from a textile sliver coiling apparatus. The roll exerts compressive and snubbing forces upon the sliver strand extending between the sliver can and the coiler head of the apparatus, causing separation of such strand during and in response to the can changing movement of the can away from the coiler head. Also disclosed are a preferred design of, and a preferred mounting arrangement for a sliver-separating roll usable for the foregoing purpose.

Abstract: Resilient mounting means for a traveler cleaner fixed to a textile ring holder includes a resilient member, formed from a vibration damping material such as rubber, fixed into or integral with a textile ring holder formed either of such material itself, or of metal, or of a combination sandwich type construction in the region in which the cleaner is to be fixed to the ring, and having embedded within and bonded thereto a threaded sleeve or stud to receive the cleaner. This mounting means permits the traveler cleaner to be resiliently restored to its aligned position relative a spinning or twisting ring and its traveler following accidental impact.

Abstract: In a textile yarn twister, means for mounting idler pulleys and the drive tape tensioner spring transversely across the width of the twister between its opposing spindle rails resiliently. The pulleys are rigidly supported by and are interconnected with a transverse beam positioned between a pair of opposing spindle assemblies, the beam being vertically interconnected with each of the spindle rails by a resilient, vibration damping, isolation mount. Shock absorber elements are horizontally interposed between the transverse beam and the spindle rails to prevent shearing of the isolation mounts upon start-up or stoppage of the twister. Adjacent transverse beams are rigidly interconnected by elongate rigid members spaced away from the spindle rails to provide, in all, transverse and longitudinal stability of a plurality of the present mounting means relative the spindle assemblies associated therewith.

Abstract: Spindle units adjacent each side of a textile twisting machine are mounted, for noise abatement purposes, in vibration insulated relationship to the frame of the machine, to all spindle units adjacent the other side of the machine, and preferably also to other spindle units adjacent the same side of the machine. The spindle units are so mounted by a plurality of rigidly constructed but resiliently supported mounting assemblies. Each assembly includes an elongate spindle supporting member extending longitudinally of the twisting machine adjacent one or the other side thereof, and at least one transverse stabilizing member extending laterally inwardly therefrom toward, but terminating short of, the opposite side of the machine.