Abstract: A chuck is adapted to be cantilever-mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof in a winding machine for threads, such as synthetic plastics filament, glass fiber strands and so forth. The chuck comprises a chuck member and an element movable radially thereat between retracted and extended positions under the action of centrifugal force when the chuck is rotated about its longitudinal axis at or above a predeterminate operating speed in use. The element has a head portion which projects radially outwardly from the bobbin tube receiving surface of the chuck member of the chuck when the element is in its extended position, and is located inwardly of such bobbin tube receiving surface when the element is in its retracted position.

Abstract: After winding of a thread into a package, the thread is severed and, in order to prevent whirling of the thread end around the package, the end portion is interlaced with the package surface during the braking phase of the package. Interlacing is performed by blowing pressure jet against the thread end and the package surface within an interlacing chamber defined by a pivotally mounted shoe from which the pressure jet is emitted.

Abstract: An actuating system for a bobbin tube gripper comprises resilient structure held in compression in order to create a force for urging tube gripping elements into engagement with a tube to be gripped. The resilient structure constitutes a body of a porous elastomer.

Abstract: A one piece supporting element has a pair of elongated strips to engage within a bobbin tube with a force sufficient to prevent dropping off of the tube during conveyance through a vertically dependent position. The supporting element is mounted in cantilever fashion via a cross-piece at the proximal end which fits into a recess of a carrier on a conveyor.

Abstract: A filament winder of the automatic exchange type in which chucks are brought successively into winding positions relative to a friction drive roller and thread is transferred from a package on an outgoing chuck to a bobbin on an incomming chuck. Each chuck moves along its own predetermined path towards and away from the friction drive roller. A free thread length is created between the friction drive roller and the outgoing chuck and this free thread length is intercepted by thread catching means on the incoming chuck.

Abstract: The cleaning apparatus for cleaning the set of flats of a revolving flats card has a shaft supported by a carrier. The shaft is pivotable about the lengthwise axis of the shaft together with a cleaning brush fixedly mounted on the shaft and extending over the width of the card. In accordance with the invention, the carrier is movably mounted on the card framework in such a manner that at the flats cleaning position the spacing of the path of movement of the cleaning brush from the set of flats is variable, whereby during the pivotal movement of the cleaning brush effecting cleaning of the flats clothing the spacing of the path of movement of the cleaning brush from the set of flats at the flats cleaning position is smaller than during the return movement of the cleaning brush. The cleaning apparatus affords the advantage of improved cleaning of the flats clothing.

Abstract: The method of, and apparatus for, producing a yarn using a friction spinning device comprising a perforated first friction spinning drum and a second friction spinning drum which can also be perforated. Two fiber feed passages project to the first friction spinning drum and are each supplied by opening assemblies which individualize or individually separate the fibers. The fibers are transported toward the first friction spinning drum using a feed air stream in the fiber feed passages. This feed air stream is produced by the first friction spinning drum which is maintained under sub-pressure. Advantageously, the fiber double-feed to the friction spinning drum permits supplying two different fiber types to the same yarn end. Also, different inclinations of the fibers at the friction spinning drum can be obtained by different inclinations of the fiber feed passages in order to produce yarns of different character.

Abstract: The winder is provided with thread divertor guides for both the upper and lower chucks with the angle of diversion not exceeding 120.degree.. The geometry of the winder is such that the respective chucks contact the contact member in separate sub-zones of the winding zone which are spaced apart by a narrow gap. The included angle between the imaginary lines joining the axis of each chuck in its respective rest position to the axis of the chuck when in contact with the contact member lies in a range of from 60.degree. to 175.degree.. The contact member when in the form of a friction drive roll has an external diameter of from 100 to 155 millimeters. When the contact member is in the form of a contact roll with each chuck having an independent drive, the roll may have a diameter in the range of from 60 to 80 millimeters.

Abstract: The thread winding machine includes a piston and cylinder unit, comprising a cylinder housing with first and second chambers and a dividing structure between said first and second chambers. A piston is movable longitudinally in the first chamber and a piston extension projects from said piston towards the second chamber. A port in the dividing structure receives the piston extension when the piston is near the dividing structure, thereby separating said first and second chambers. A thread guide is connected to the piston of the piston and cylinder unit for movement in combination therewith.

Abstract: The device for transporting fiber sliver cans employs pairs of rails for supporting a can during travel in a non-linear path. The pairs of rails are moved relative to each other in an endless path so that a can is supported on only one pair of rails during the forward movement of that pair of rails. No floor plate is required to support the cans. The straight rails of each set are interconnected by curved rails of an intermediate set of rails.

Abstract: The fiber sliver can transporting device uses rails which are driven in an alternating manner to lift and roll a can along a horizontal guide plate in a step-wise manner with the can being guided by the vertical boards through a non-linear path.

Abstract: The can transporting device transports the cans by using rails which are driven synchronously by crank drives. In one embodiment, the cans rest on a floorplate while the rails are moved so as to transport the cans in a forward step-wise manner along the floorplate. In non-linear arrangements, straight rails are jointed to each other by curved rails. In this embodiment, an additional crank drive is provided to support the outer curved rail for vertical movement. The transport direction of the cans can be selected through selection of the direction of rotation of a gear motor which drives the transmission for the crank drives.

Abstract: Logic signals corresponding to a detected thread break and/or thread loop in a package being wound on a bobbin are evaluated within a logic circuit to communicate the quality of a thread package. The logic signals can be processed in various ways.In one embodiment, discrimination is made of repeated logic signals produced by a single thread break.In another embodiment, the total number of logic signals are counted.Blocking arrangements can be provided to block logic signals caused by the same thread break or thread loop.

Abstract: The winder is provided with a screen which is movable into a screening position over the lower chuck when a changeover to the upper chuck is to be performed. The screen carries a pivotally mounted guide element at the end which is pivotable into a thread guiding position to divert the thread towards the upper chuck as well as into a lowered position out of the path of the thread to screen the package on the lower chuck and particularly a trailing end of a thread from entangling with the thread on the upper chuck.

Abstract: The yarn reserve forming device is constructed and operated to release a yarn loop for uncontrolled movement from a deflected yarn path into a normal yarn path for return to the withdrawal tube of the spinning machine. The yarn reserve forming device includes a yarn retainer which can be pivoted to release the yarn loop for immediate return to the withdrawal tube.

Abstract: Each of the operating stations is provided with a locating element while the service tender carries a sensor for aligning the service tender with a selected operating stations. The sensor includes a rotatable member on which a pair of rollers is mounted and from which a leaf extends to cooperate with various photodetectors. With the sensor in an operative position, the rollers sequentially contact the locating element of a selected operating station and by pivoting cause the leaf to cooperate with the photodetectors to generate a sequence of signals. This sequence of signals is used to slow the service tender and to thereafter brake the service tender to a halt in alignment with the selected operating station.Should the service tender overrun the locating element, signals are also generated to reverse the direction of movement of the service tender in order to effect alignment.

Abstract: The starting or re-piecing of a yarn in an open end spinning machine is accomplished during full speed rotation of the spinning unit. A travelling piecer provides a fixed length of yarn to be back-fed into the spinning unit. A control which is responsive to the speed of rotation of the spinning unit causes the nip rolls to close together in order to deliver the new yarn from the spinning unit at the operating speed of the spinning unit.

Abstract: Each of the spinning stations is provided with a profile locating element or marker as well as a signal lamp for indicating a disturbance in a spinning unit. The service tender carries a locating device which includes a spring biased body which is capable of moving perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the service tender towards a spinning unit to which the service tender has been called. The body carries a pair of rollers which are mounted on a pivotable turntable so as to be pivoted when passing over a locating element of a spinning station.The locating device serves to generate signals for braking the service tender to a halt in alignment with a selected spinning station.The service tender also carries an anchoring system which uses a plate coated with a layer of friction material for engaging a rail on which the service tender moves for securing the tender in an aligned position with a spinning station.

Abstract: The travelling piecer carries a lever to separate the nip rollers, a yarn reserve forming device to receive the yarn and a threading device for threading a broken yarn from a package between the nip rolls and through the yarn reserve forming device. The piecer also has a control which effects a piecing operation in which a clutch is actuated to feed fiber into the spinning unit while yarn is back-fed into the unit from the yarn reserve. At the completion of a predetermined time period (T) the nip rolls are re-engaged to withdraw the re-pieced yarn.

Abstract: The monitor is spaced a small distance from the curved path of the travelling thread to sense defects in the thread. In one embodiment, the monitoring means is spaced from the winding surface of a chuck to sense broken threads or an accurate build-up of the thread package. The monitoring means includes a detector head with a charge collector rod for sensing changes in electrical potential of the rod due to contact with a travelling thread part. The monitoring means can be moved away from the chuck to maintain a constant distance from the thread package being wound on a bobbin tube on the chuck.