Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing an induced flow of particulate-bearing air traveling with a moving yarn sheet in a winding apparatus such as a textile warping machine. An air nozzle produces a thin sheet of air moving in a counterflow direction to the induced air flow, and located adjacent the carrier roll of the warper. The air sheet entrains a volume of ambient air for movement with the air sheet, and the mass flow of the counterflow-moving air is sufficient to redirect the induced air from the yarn sheet for removal from the warper. An optional second nozzle may provide additional air entrainment above the moving yarn sheet, upstream from the carrier roll, thereby entraining a flow of air moving through the yarn sheet to divert dust and other particulates traveling on or with the yarn sheet.

Abstract: An improved creel assembly for use with strand winding devices such as warpers or the like. The creel has modules supporting yarn packages on both an active side and an inactive side, and also has yarn tensioning devices separately associated with both sides of the modules. The modules and yarn tensioning devices rotate as an entire assembly. Fresh yarn packages thus can be preloaded on the inactive side of the creel, and prethreaded through the tensioning devices associated with the inactive side, before the creel modules are rotated to the active side of the creel. Also disclosed is an improved balloon guard having a yarn opening sufficiently large to accommodate a person's hand for threading yarn through the opening, yet which accomplishes the anti-ballooning function of the balloon guard.