Abstract: A yarn tensioning unit for use in a textile machine that includes a shaft having a pulley mounted for rotation thereon over which yarn is conducted. A pneumatic cylinder is slidably mounted on the shaft which contains a piston that is affixed to the shaft to form an expandable chamber with one end wall of the cylinder. The opposite end wall of the housing is magnetically coupled to the pulley to establish a magnetic brake for the pulley. The spacing between the cylinder end wall and the pulley is adjusted by controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the expandable chamber to vary the magnetic braking force exerted upon the pulley.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided for splicing together two different threads. The machine includes a thread tree with a number of thread spools with each thread thereof being inserted through flexible plastic tubing. A movable carriage assembly locates the new thread to be spliced relative to a splicing device passageway that receives the new thread to be spliced along with the old thread. The splicing device includes a front air inlet for drawing the new thread into the passageway of the splicing device and a rear air inlet for creating air turbulence during the splicing operation. Also used in moving the new thread through the passageway is an insertion drive roller connected to a pivotal rocker. A thread clamp cover connected to the rocker cooperates with the trimmer blades to trim the old thread. A thread clamp and a thread clamp magnet cooperate to hold the old thread in a desired position during the insertion of the new thread into the splicing device.

Abstract: The arrangement controls thread tension in a spool creel with a brake rotor (brake drum 4) for each spool holder (1). A braking element (brake band 5) operates therewith and is biasable by a tensioning lever (8) which takes an angular setting dependent upon the thread tension and the force of gravity. A fluid pressure activated biasing arrangement 13 influences the tensioning lever 8 at each spool holder 1. The fluid pressure is commonly adjustable for all of the biasing arrangements 13. In this manner a general changing of the thread tension can be combined with control of individual thread tension.

Abstract: A magnetic rotary locking mechanism for locking a plate or sheet-like member by placing it in tension which may be adapted to provide a self-tensioning locking device for securing a printing plate to a printing cylinder in a rotary printing press. The base and rotatable bar each have formed therein a plurality of magnetic strips which generate a plurality of magnetic fields so that the bar magnetic fields are attracted to the base magnetic fields at a first angular position of the bar with respect to the base and are repelled by the base magnetic fields at a second angular position of the bar with respect to the base.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drag pad, particularly for providing all the drag force needed where slit ferrous strip is to be coiled at a coiling station, comprises a panel of drag friction material covering pole faces of an electromagnet which magnetically attracts the moving ferrous strip into frictional engagement with the panel of drag friction material thereby establishing a back tension to permit satisfactory formation of a stable coil of each strip at a coiling station; the electromagnet has a core comprising a multiplicity of elongated spaced apart substantially parallel pole elements defining therebetween gaps which accommodate an electric winding which is connected to a power supply (such as a low voltage DC high amperage supply) for energizing the electromagnet, the pole elements having respective pole faces which provide an alternating array of north and south poles.

Abstract: In an accumulator in a warping process, a plurality of tension sensors are mounted on a common support member such that adjustment of the support member simultaneously adjusts the release tension of all the tension sensors.

Abstract: A pre-take-up roller mechanism is provided for varying the tractive force and tension on running thread being wound by a take-up mechanism in a thread processing machine. The mechanism includes a variably driven rotating drive shaft carried by the machine, a thread pre-take-up roller rotatably mounted on the drive shaft for receiving the running thread on the surface thereof and for being driven by the running thread through adhesion, and an eddy current clutch or a combination eddy current and hysteresis clutch operatively connecting the drive shaft and the pre-take-up roller for varying the torque on the pre-take-up roller and thus the tractive force and tension on the running thread by varying the driven rotational speed of the drive shaft without affecting the constant winding speed of the running thread being wound by the take-up mechanism.

Abstract: A ring tenser for a twisting machine. The ring is loosely fitted from above a head portion of the tenser body having a shoulder formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof and is placed on the shoulder of the tenser body so that a yarn unwound from a package is passed between the ring and the shoulder. One of the head portion of the tenser body and the ring is made of a metal material while the other includes a magnet.

Abstract: An electromagnetic disc type tension control in which a spring-like member is located between the electromagnetic coil and the lower tension disc to urge the lower tension disc upward towards the upper tension disc when the electromagnet is being supplied low voltage in order to encourage rotation of the tension discs to enhance the removal of finish and foreign material accumulated therebetween.

Abstract: The yarn brake of this invention is useful in a textile yarn processing machine, such as a two-for-one twister, and includes a stationary permanent magnet arranged at one end of a brake housing and spaced from a fixed braking surface in the direction of movement of the yarn. A braking body is movably positioned within the housing between the braking surface and the permanent magnet, with the braking body including a permanent magnet having a magnetic polarization oriented in repelling relation to the stationary permanent magnet for thus biasing the braking body toward and into engagement with the braking surface to apply tension to a yarn passing therebetween. The magnetic repelling forces allow the braking body to be reliably moved out of engagement with the braking surface when necessary, as for example by a pneumatic flow applied to thread a yarn through the brake, or to accommodate knots or other variations in thickness in the yarn.

Abstract: A ball and funnel type yarn tension control apparatus for tensioning a running length of yarn such as textile yarn or the like, wherein a plurality of tensioning devices form a controlled channel and are controlled by an electronic control circuit having a manually adjustable tension setting potentiometer for adjusting a circuit to provide output voltages to the tension devices of the channel adding selecting tension values to the yarn. The tension control devices each comprise an electromagnet coil structure and associated core structure including pole pieces adjacent one or a pair of ball and funnel tensioning stations in each tension device to exert magnetic attractive forces on the ball member and vary tensioning of the yarn leaving the yarn tension device. Degaussing circuit means are also disclosed for applying intermittent negative going pulses to the electromagnet coils during downward adjustment of the tension setting potentiometer to minimize residual magnetic effects.

Abstract: A tensioning device is illustrated wherein a plurality of longitudinally aligned upright receptacles carry stacked rollers the lowermost of which is driven by the passage of yarn thereunder. A vertical yarn passageway is carried in at least one end of the housing forming an end receptacle to permit a change of direction in the yarn to cause up and down roller movement to compensate for changes in tension in the yarn as well as alternate yarn paths. Passageways are provided in the housing adjacent the pairs of rollers so as to permit expulsion of lint from the receptacles which is promoted by turning of the rolls. Magnetic means may be carried beneath the device for varying the force exerted by the rollers on the strand and the magnetic means may be varied for this purpose. Detector means such as photo-electric devices may be utilized for detecting variation in the turning of the rollers to act as a stop motion for the machine utilizing the tensioning device.