Abstract: A spinning apparatus winds a strand onto a yarn package by relatively rotating a flyer and the yarn package about an upright axis so as to wind the strand in a succession of turns around the package by a flyer finger movable axially relative to the package. Each successive layer of turns is shorter than the preceding one so that the finished package has an axially upwardly tapered upper end. After substantially completely forming the package the rotation is generally stopped to leave the flyer in a position with the finger below the upper end of the last layer of turns formed on the package. Then the package and finger are relatively axially moved until the finger is generally at the upper end of the first layer of turns formed on the package. The flyer and package are then relatively rotated forward, that is in the same direction as when the package was being formed, through at least one half revolution about the axis so as to form a loop of the strand around the upper package end.

Abstract: A bobbin exchange apparatus for exchanging full bobbins for empty bobbins on a spinning machine. A bobbin exchange apparatus is mounted in a traveling service unit and includes a component for temporarily supporting a bobbin, a component for transferring a bobbin between and among the creel and the spare bobbin frame of the textile machine and the traveling service unit, and a component for displacing the end of the roving of a full bobbin temporarily supported on the temporary supporting device to an extending disposition ready for engagement for feeding to the drafting device of the textile machine. A suction applying device for applying the suction to engage the roving end is pivotally mounted to the temporary supporting component for pivoting about an axis parallel and offset from the axis of the temporarily supported full roving bobbin.

Abstract: A control system for a ring spinning machine and method wherein yarn is wound in cop-type manner on spinning tubes supported on spindles driven at relatively lower speeds during the beginning and ending stages of the winding operation and relatively greater speeds during the intervening stage of the winding operation. Yarn is applied to the spinning tubes by reciprocating a ring rail or other yarn-carrying member along the spinning tubes with the extent of the reciprocating motion of the ring rail being incrementally shifted along the spinning tubes over the course of the winding operation. The present control system performs the shifting of the ring rail in relatively shorter increments during the intervening stage of the winding operation when spindle speed is relatively increased than during the beginning and ending stages of the winding operation when spindle speed is relatively decreased, which maximizes the yarn capacity of the spinning tubes.

Abstract: A ring-spinning apparatus has a service carriage which can be positioned opposite a stationary waste-collection receptacle so that the mobile waste-collection receptacle of the carriage can be aligned therewith and shifted toward the stationary waste-collection receptable thereby coupling the doors of the receptacle. An actuator can simultaneously open the coupled doors to permit a pressure drop to draw lint and roving scraps collected in the receptacle of the carriage into the receptacle of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting spinning tubes mounted on peg trays for supply and removal of spinning tubes to and from a textile spinning machine comprises an endless upstanding conveyor belt to which a plurality of transport members are affixed at spacings therealong. Each transport member has a recess at its opposite leading and trailing sides such that the leading and trailing recesses of adjacent succeeding transport members are cooperative for receiving therebetween a peg tray. Each transport member also has a concave arcuate guide surface at its opposite leading and trailing sides such that the leading and trailing guide surfaces of adjacent succeeding transport members define an enclosure for securely positioning a peg tray therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting spinning tubes mounted on peg trays for supply and removal of spinning tubes to and from spinning positions at opposite sides of a double-sided spinning machine comprises an endless upstanding conveyor belt extending about the machine. A plurality of transport members are affixed along two spaced transport sections of the belt each of a length corresponding to the spinning stations at the opposite machine side, for carrying peg trays with spinning tubes thereon. Obstruction elements are similarly affixed at spacings along the remaining extents of the belt to prevent receipt of peg trays therealong, whereby only the number of peg trays and spinning tubes required to supply the spinning positions of the machine are carried by the transport apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging a bobbin on a bobbin holder of a spinning machine for a full bobbin stored on a spare bobbin frame of the spinning machine. The apparatus is in a service unit for the spinning machine and includes an intermediate support apparatus and a grip element movable between the bobbin holder, the spare bobbin frame and the supporting apparatus for sequentially transferring a full bobbin or a bobbin on the bobbin holder to the intermediate support apparatus, transferring a bobbin directly between the bobbin holder and the spare bobbin frame and transferring a bobbin on the intermediate support apparatus to the bobbin holder or the spare bobbin frame. The gripper element includes a vertically movable frame having a plurality of spindles for mounting bobbins thereon and the frame is rotatable in response to vertical movement thereof so the frame can be selectively moved along a path corresponding to the adjacent contour of the spinning machine.

Abstract: A rotation preventing apparatus presents rotation of the spindles of a textile machine due to the rotative forces applied by yarn tension during de-actuation of the drive motors of the spindles. The rotation preventing apparatus includes a reciprocable member supporting a plurality of brake shoe components adjacent the spindles and a commonly actuating assembly including pneumatic cylinder and piston members for reciprocably moving the reciprocable member between a position in which the brake shoe components brakingly contact the spindles and a position in which the brake shoe components are displaced from the spindles to permit normal rotation thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention, a contoured plate member is substituted for the brake shoe components. According to another aspect of the present invention, an expandable elastomeric member is supported adjacent the spindles and is selectively expandable to brake the rotation of the spindles.

Abstract: A gripper assembly having a plurality of tube gripping apparatus is provided for transferring full and empty bobbins between the bobbin bank of a textile fly frame and a supply creel. The gripper assembly is mounted on a traveling service unit and includes a drive device for commonly driving the tube gripping apparatus to synchronously grip and release tubes to be transferred. Each tube gripping apparatus includes an axially movable tube engaging member having gripping portions for compressively gripping a tube, a gripping portion drive member pivotally supported in a housing, and a pivot movement converting device for converting pivoting of the gripping portion drive member into axial movement of the tube engaging member. The gripping portion drive member is operatively connected to a common drive shaft of the gripper assembly for driving pivoting thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a yarn package for a subsequent yarn restarting operation are provided. The apparatus includes an air jet for directing a tangential stream of pressurized air against a yarn package to effect loosening of a length of auxiliary yarn which has been wound on the yarn package during a prior unsuccessful yarn restarting operation in which the auxiliary yarn length failed to piece with the yarn still to be wound onto the yarn package. The air jet operates in cooperation with a suction conduit to completely unwind the unsuccessfully pieced auxiliary yarn length from the yarn package to thereby prepare the yarn package for receiving another length of auxiliary yarn during a subsequent yarn restarting operation.

Abstract: Empty and full containers are moved from and to a spinning apparatus having an input side having a waiting station for a full container, a working station for a container from which filament is withdrawn, and a takeoff station for an emptied container and an output side having a waiting station for an empty container, a working station where a container is filled with spun filament, and a takeoff station for full containers awaiting transport away. A sensor monitors the fullness of the container or containers at the input-side working station and generates an input-side working-station priority signal when the respective container is nearly empty and another sensor monitors the fullness of the container or containers at the output-side working station and generates an output-side working-station priority signal when the respective container is nearly full.

Abstract: A system for preparing for transport roving bobbins having a multiplicity of roving windings and a free end carried on an elongated bobbin core comprises a holder engageable with the windings for retaining the free end tightly against the windings. This holder can be an annular element or elastically deformable ring engaged at least partially around the windings on the bobbin and made of a durable synthetic resin. The ring can be discontinuous, formed with a crosswise throughgoing slot and of arcuate outwardly concave section. The outwardly concave shape is useful for engagement by an automatic handling fork.

Abstract: An electric motor drive for rotatably driving a spindle of a spinning machines has a resilient member positioned between an interconnecting member and a sleeve mounted to the spindle bank of the spinning machine. The resilient member is partially received in a recess in the interconnecting member, the sleeve or both to facilitate the distribution of forces exerted on the resilient member.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the lateral disposition of a guide roller of a traveling service unit on a textile machine is provided. The apparatus includes a first support wheel rotatably mounted on the traveling service unit and an adjustable wheel assembly. The adjustable wheel assembly includes a second support wheel laterally spaced from the first support wheel, a device for rotatably mounting the second wheel to the traveling service unit and a device for selectively adjusting the vertical displacement of the second wheel relative to the traveling service unit to maintain the guide roller at a predetermined disposition relative to a guide surface of the textile machine. The device for selectively adjusting the vertical displacement of the second wheel includes, in one aspect of the invention, a cylinder and piston assembly and, in another aspect of the invention, a pair of bell cranks interconnected to one another by a cylinder and piston assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping tubes of yarn packages in a textile machine includes a pressurized fluid drive member. The pressurized fluid drive member is fixedly mounted to a support frame and, in one aspect of the invention, extends interiorly of a generally cylindrical fixed component having a pair of diametrically opposed projections formed on its outer surface. A movable component comprising a tube receiving housing for receiving a yarn package tube therein has a pair of detents compatibly configured with the projections on the fixed component for releasably securing the tube receiving housing to the fixed component. In the event of a collision between the tube gripping apparatus and another object, the movable component is non-destructively released from its normal operating position, thereby minimizing the risk that potentially damaging forces will be transmitted to the pressurized fluid member.

Abstract: A rotation preventing apparatus prevents rotation of the spindles of a textile machine due to the rotative forces applied by yarn tension during de-actuation of the drive motors of the spindles. The rotation preventing apparatus includes a reciprocable member supporting a plurality of brake shoe components adjacent the spindles and a commonly actuating assembly including pneumatic cylinder and piston members for reciprocably moving the reciprocable member between a position in which the brake shoe components brakingly contact the spindles and a position in which the brake shoe components are displaced from the spindles to permit normal rotation thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention, a contoured plate member is substituted for the brake shoe components. According to another aspect of the present invention, an expandable elastomeric member is supported adjacent the spindles and is selectively expandable to brake the rotation of the spindles.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating the drafting roller carrier of a textile machine includes a handle for selectively maintaining the drafting roller carrier in an operative position in which the upper drafting rollers on the carrier are in nip engagement with the lower drafting rollers. The apparatus additionally includes an assembly for interconnecting the handle and the carrier for selected coordinated movement of the carrier and the handle upon manipulation of the handle between a handle operating position and a raised position. An operating stop device and a raised position stop device each include a concave surface and the handle includes a nesting member compatibly configured with the concave surfces to nest therein to prevent movement of the carrier from its respective operating or raised position.

Abstract: A roving bobbin creel for use in a textile ring spinning machine includes upright stanchions spaced along the length of the machine at its center, mounting elements affixed to the upright stanchions, support elements affixed to the mounting elements to extend transversely outwardly therefrom, and an elongate carrier element affixed to the underside of the support elements to extend longitudinally with respect to the spinning machine for supporting a plurality of roving bobbins in depending fashion from the elongate carrier element. Each mounting element includes a tongue portion projecting transversely outwardly with respect to the spinning machine and each support element defines an interior receiving area for insertion of the tongue portion for simple yet secure affixation of the supporting elements on the mounting elements.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transporting textile laps to a comber, wherein the apparatus includes a bridge structure for traveling movement between a lap storage station and the comber, a trolley movable along the bridge structure, and a lap gripping mechanism suspended from the trolley by an elevating mechanism, sensors are provided for detecting the presence of a lap at the lap storage station and detecting the central supporting tube of the lap for precisely positioning the gripping mechanism at a lowered position at the lap storage station to engage a full replacement lap. A controller is associated with the sensors for controlling subsequent lowering of the gripping mechanism at the comber by the same distance the gripping mechanism was lowered at the storage station to initially receive the replacement lap, thereby to insure that the lap is deposited at the comber safely and gently without damage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the proper grasping and release of yarn tubes by an automatic bobbin changer in removing fully-wound yarn tubes from, and placing empty replacement yarn tubes onto, the spindles of an associated ring spinning machine or ring twisting machine. After an operation of the bobbin changer for either grasping or releasing yarn tubes, a light beam is directed through an area previously occupied by the tubes, a determination is made whether the light beam is interrupted by any tube which the bobbin changer failed to grasp or release, and if so, a failure signal is generated to interrupt continued operation of the bobbin changer.