Abstract: A receiver for supporting one end of a bobbin tube in a spinning or bobbin winding machine has a tube-engaging plate member with a nose member mounted on the plate member for movement between a normal resting position and an operating position A yarn delivery device guides the yarn into the range of movement of the nose member. A contoured yarn clamping surface and a contoured yarn guide surface are formed on the plate member. The nose member initially catches the yarn and clamps it on the clamping surface, drawing the yarn end out of the delivery device, and then guides the yarn via the yarn guide contour in the direction of the middle of the bobbin tube. The nose member is thereby surrounded by a loop of the yarn and extends over the foot end of the tube in the direction of lengthwise the middle of the tube to orient the yarn loop adjacent to the winding area for the yarn reserve windings.

Abstract: A transport system of the type having a plurality of tube support members for independent transport of yarn packages to and between locations on a textile machine or machines can readily accommodate tube support members supporting different kinds and sizes of yarn packages due to novel constructions of the tube support members in accordance with the present invention. Each tube support member includes a base component compatibly dimensioned with respect to the guiding and tube support driving components of the transport system, a post component for support of a yarn package thereon, and a bumper component for protecting a supported yarn package against undesirable collisions and other impacts with other yarn packages or objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting packages of textile material into predetermined individual orientations cooperates with a package delivery system which delivers packages in random orientations. The package orienting apparatus includes a device for classifying each package on the basis of a detectably different characteristic such as, for example, the characteristic that one respective end of the tube of the package has a larger diameter than the other tube end. A disposing device is operatively connected to the classifying device for moving each textile material package through a predetermined movement in response to the sensing of the detectably different characteristic to thereby bring the package into a predetermined individual orientation. The disposing device can include a drum having a pair of package receiving elements formed therein each along a respective radius of the drum and perpendicular to the other package receiving element.

Abstract: A transport system for transporting tube support members between textile machines includes a mobile transport unit having a plurality of superposed floorings each of which supports and guides several rows of the tube support members. An onsite transfer assembly adjacent each textile machine is operable to simultaneously load tube support members onto the parallel support paths of the mobile support unit while unloading tube support members from the parallel paths onto the textile machine. Each flooring of the mobile support unit includes a transverse support surfaces at each end of the parallel support paths onto which a newly loaded row of tube support members can be positioned for subsequent movement into the parallel support paths. Each flooring also includes an offload transverse support surface for supporting a row of the tube support members for transverse movement thereof onto an intermediate holding assembly of the onsite transfer apparatus (change assembly to apparatus above).

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying cops mounted upstanding on caddies, peg trays, or other carriers to the winding heads of an automatic bobbin winder has a cop distributing conveyor common to all winding heads, a main cop delivery conveyor parallel to the distributing conveyor, and plural secondary delivery conveyors branching from the main delivery conveyor to the distributing conveyor at infeed positions which are correspondingly spaced along the distributing conveyor. A first infeed position is located, in relation to the direction of travel of the distributing conveyor upstream of a first winding head, while the last infeed position is located upstream of a last group of the winding heads.

Abstract: A strand end preparation apparatus includes a suction applying housing having a longitudinal suction slot and a pair of suction assemblies, each communicated with the suction applying housing. Each suction assembly includes a suction blocking device for selectively blocking the flow of suction therethrough and a strand end cutting device for selectively cutting a strand end drawn into the suction assembly. In one variation of the strand end preparation apparatus, suction is applied simultaneously through both suction assemblies to draw a strand end off a yarn package through the suction slot and into a respective one of the suction assemblies. The drawn in strand end is then re-wound on the package of textile strand material at a preferred disposition thereon. The strand end preparation apparatus advantageously provides sufficient suction along the entire axial extent of the textile strand material of the package so that a strand end can be reliably drawn off during a strand end disposing operation.

Abstract: The presence of residual yarn on textile bobbins is recognized by a device capable of optically sensing and distinguishing yarn from a supporting bobbin or tube, which device is movable lengthwise along the bobbin or tube to perform a sensing operation. The sensing device includes a light source, a transmitter lens for focusing the light rays onto the surface of the bobbin, and a photooptic detector having a receiver lens for receiving the light rays reflected off the bobbin surface. The transmitter and receiver lenses have respective optical axes which, during sensing movement, are oriented to intersect one another at the bobbin surface, are oriented relative to the bobbin such that a line bisecting the axes deviates from a line intersecting the vertex of the axes perpendicular to the bobbin surface by at least ten degrees (10.degree.), and also lie in a common plane oriented at an angle of at least about ninety degrees (90.degree.) relative to the path of movement of the sensing device.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has mutually independent pallets carrying bobbins or bobbin tubes and having base plates. A moving surface, such as a surface of a conveyor belt, imparts a slaving force to the base plates standing on the moving surface and slaves the base plates along a conveyor route by friction. A device acts upon unmoving pallets for briefly varying the slaving force of the moving surface.

Abstract: A textile production system utilizes a textile spinning machine and a textile winding machine and a transport assembly for transporting the support members between the machines. The transport assembly includes a container having a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel shelf members. Each shelf member includes a plurality of parallel guide channels for receiving tube support members in a row therein. A displacing device is operable to displace the tube support members from a respective shelf member onto the aligned guide channels of a lifting device positioned at an opposite side of the shelf member. The lifting device is operable to transfer the tube support members to a reorienting travel device which reorients multiple, parallel rows of the tube support members into a single row for feeding of the tube support members to the delivery device of the spinning or winding machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the yarn tension of yarn being cross-wound onto a bobbin on a textile winding machine. The amount of yarn on a supply package from which yarn is unwound is determined optoelectronically, gravimetrically or by measuring the yarn tension. The winding speed of the bobbin is adjusted in response to the determined yarn amount of the supply package so as to maintain the yarn tension substantially constant during unwinding. The winding speed of the bobbin can be controlled to follow a predetermined winding speed program which corresponds to the determined mass of the supply bobbin. To determine the yarn amount gravimetrically, the supply package is weighed by a balance device as it is conveyed thereover by a conveyor. The movement of the balance in response to the mass of the supply package can be electronically transmitted to a control device which prepositions a cam having a profile corresponding to the predetermined winding speed program.

Abstract: A method for checking operation of a pneumatic splicer for joining two yarn ends at a textile machine includes feeding splicing gas for a predetermined period of time to a splicer to be checked for splicing a particular yarn batch without having yarn ends laid in place in a splicing conduit of a splicer head of the splicer to be checked. At least one status variable of outflowing splicing gas is measured during the predetermined period of time at a given opening in the splicer head. A reference value is measured at another splicer producing replicable spliced joints meeting a previously defined quality and being identical to the splicer being checked, by feeding splicing gas to the other splicer without yarn ends being laid in place in the splicing conduit and measuring the reference value at a given opening in the splicer head. The at least one status variable is compared with the measured reference value and deviations are ascertained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a textile machine, such as an automatic bobbin winder or an automatic spinning machine, include subdividing a course of operation into individual operating steps; monitoring at least one of the operating steps with at least one sensor for detecting presence, absence or movement past the sensor of an article connected to the textile machine or success or failure of a provision or an operating step and tripping an automatic intervention into the course of operation as a function of the outcome of the detection. According to the method, the functional capability of the sensor is automatically monitored, and an automatic switch over takes place from the operating program to a prepared substitute program no longer requiring the sensor for continued operation of the textile machine after failure of the sensor.

Abstract: In a combined textile yarn spinning and winding system having a yarn spinning machine and a yarn winding machine, a transport system is provided for conveying spinning tubes mounted on tube support members between the spinning and winding machines. Separate respective sets of tube support members are provided in association with the spinning and winding machines and separate closed transport conveyor loops are provided in association with the machines for conveying their respective sets of tube support members. Tube transfer mechanisms are provided between the two transfer loops for transferring yarn-wound cops from tube support members in the spinning machine loop onto empty tube support members in the winding machine loop and for transferring empty spinning tubes from tube support members in the winding machine loop onto empty tube support members in the spinning machine loop.

Abstract: A textile winding machine is provided having an operator accommodating package readying assembly on which individual tube support members are supported at a convenient height to thereby provide an operator with ready access to the tubes or yarn packages supported on the tube support members. The textile winding machine includes a common exit path component along which tube support members are transported after unwinding of the feed packages supported thereon at the winding units of the textile winding machine and an entry conveyor device for raising the tube support members in spaced apart manner from the common exit path component with the tubes or yarn packages out of interference with one another to a feed package re-supply support assembly extending longitudinally along the textile winding machine at a height generally at the waist level of an average operator.

Abstract: A transport system for transporting independently movable tube support members between the winding stations of a textile winding machine and a manual re-supply location is provided. The transport system includes a plurality of individual exit paths, each extending past a winding station and leading to a discharge path along which the tube support members are discharged to the manual re-supply location, and a delivery path for delivering the tube support members from the manual re-supply location to the winding stations. Also, the transport system includes a manual re-supply assisting assembly for assisting an operator with a manual re-supply operation in which full yarn packages are manually loaded onto empty tube support members., The assisting assembly preferably includes a loading guide device for guiding full yarn packages during downward travel thereof onto empty tube support members.

Abstract: A spinning machine includes a yarn draw-off apparatus having a pair of rollers including a draw-off roller being continuously rotatable in a draw-off direction and a shiftable contact roller to be pressed against the draw-off roller for clamping a spun yarn in a gap between the rollers and transporting the yarn. A method and apparatus for drawing-off a yarn produced in the spinning machine include driving the contact roller at a predeterminable circumferential speed prior to beginning drawing-off yarn while the gap between the rollers is open, before pressing the contact roller against the draw-off roller for drawing-off the yarn and closing the gap between the rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing yarn carriers in a textile machine, particularly a ring spinning machine, funnel spinning machine or ring twisting machine, includes a revolver having an axis, a pair of spindles being disposed on the revolver symmetrically to the revolver axis and having axes, and the spindles of the pair being rotatable in mutual alternation between a spinning position and an unwinding or disposal position. According to one embodiment, the axes of the spindles of the pair are inclined relative to the revolver axis by an acute angle and diverge in a direction toward the free ends of the spindles. According to another embodiment, at least two pairs of spindles are disposed on the revolver for serving at least two adjacent spinning or twisting stations of the textile machine, and each two adjacent spindle axes are mutually parallel at a given spacing.

Abstract: A method for cleaning the measuring chamber of a contactlessly operating scanner head of an apparatus for monitoring yarns on a textile machine includes bringing a cleaning tool formed of an elastic material from a waiting position into an operating position. The cleaning tool is mechanically brought to walls of the measuring chamber for a cleaning operation. The elastic material cleaning tool is adapted to the contour of the measuring chamber during the cleaning operation by positioning the cleaning tool. The measuring chamber is mechanically cleaned without yarn being disposed in the measuring chamber. The cleaning tool is taken out of operation and returned to the waiting position after the cleaning operation. An apparatus for cleaning the measuring chamber includes a mechanically operating cleaning tool being formed of an elastic material and having a contour.

Abstract: A method for transferring a yarn after a yarn break to a normal yarn travel position at a textile machine winding station including making a yarn connection between a yarn supply point and a takeup bobbin and subsequently transferring the yarn to the normal yarn travel position at a transfer point at the reciprocating yarn guide with a tranfer motion of a yarn transfer device of a device that re-establishes yarn travel. The chronological course of the making of the yarn connection and the transverse motion of the yarn guide are monitored. The tranfer motion of the yarn transfer device and the transverse motion of the yarn guide are adapted to one another as a function of the chronological course for causing the yarn and the yarn guide to substantially simultaneously arriving at the transfer point. An apparatus for performing the method includes a first device for monitoring reciprocation of the yarn guide to a yarn tranfer point.

Abstract: The method and apparatus optically scan the size of a yarn package of a spinning bobbin with a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers and derive defined control processes in accordance with the ascertained size. Bobbins with yarn packages are moved in a given direction of motion at a predetermined speed between a plurality of paired and mutually opposite light transmitters and light receivers disposed one above the other with respect to the given direction of motion for placing at least some of the light receivers into a shadow. At least one of the light transmitters and light receivers are switched on and off in cycles at a predetermined rhythm, order and duration. A signal is delivered to a computer from each of the light receivers placed into a shadow in each cycle by the bobbin. The volume of the applicable bobbin is calculated with the computer from a given time required for scanning one bobbin and from the signals from the shadowed light receivers delivered during the given time.