Abstract: The invention provides spinning rings for textile spinning processes having an improved bearing surface formed of a coating of hard nodular chromium which is applied by an electrodeposition process. The spinning rings of the invention can increase the life of travelers that ride on the spinning ring and can provide for high productivity spinning processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying travelers to a ring of a fiber processing machine. A traveler applicator includes a traveler rail on which travelers are urged by a pusher towards a reciprocating traveler tooth. Actuation of a trigger causes the traveler tooth to engage a traveler from the traveler rail and to advance it outwardly for attachment to a ring. Release of the trigger causes the tooth to retract and allows clearance between the tooth and the next traveler positioned on the traveler rail for dispensing. Upon full retraction of the tooth, the tooth advances inwardly to engage the next traveler on the traveler rail. A spring-biased engagement member contacts the traveler to secure it on the tooth. A cartridge having a plurality of traveler-holding rails about its periphery feeds travelers to the traveler rail. Once a cartridge rail is depleted of travelers, the cartridge is rotated such that the next rail having travelers is presented to the traveler rail for dispensing.

Abstract: A yarn carrier apparatus particularly suited for use in braiding machinery or the like due to its capability of continuous yarn feeding and retraction of long lengths of yarn. The yarn carrier apparatus comprises a yarn supply spool which is rotatably mounted within the housing, a spring motor also mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the yarn supply spool through a mechanical transmission assembly which is adapted to multiply rotational movement between the first element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the spring motor and the final element of the gear assembly operatively connected to the yarn supply spool. The spring motor is adapted to tension the yarn during both feeding and retraction thereof, and it is further adapted to periodically rotatably slip within the housing and partially unwind so as to allow for continuous withdrawal of a long length of yarn without the spring motor becoming fully wound and preventing further yarn retraction.