Method and aparatus for transferring yarn on a nearly full package to an

Abstract

The yarn to be transferred is fed at high speed through a traverse mechanism and between a drive roll and a bobbin mounted on a first chuck and rotated by the drive roll to cross-wind a yarn package. An empty bobbin is mounted on a second chuck parallel to the first chuck. When the package is substantially full wound, the empty bobbin is engaged with the drive roll and the yarn package is retracted to provide a clearance space between the package and the drive roll. A transfer rod on the free end of an arm pivoted on the traverse mechanism, and extending parallel to the drive roll, is swung through the clearance space to engage the yarn and draw a loop to toward the rotating empty bobbin, and the package is then reengaged by the drive roll for continued high speed rotation to maintain tension on the drawn loop while the transfer rod draws the yarn loop against and beyond the empty bobbin. A yarn pickup and transfer device disengages the fed yarn from the traverse mechanism and moves the yarn axially of the transfer rod and into a slot therein aligned with the starting end of the empty bobbin, for catching and severing of the yarn by a hook with the yarn clamped to the second chuck. The full package is retracted from the drive roll and the transfer rod is swung back into its inactive position, with the pickup and transfer device effecting reengagement of the yarn in the traverse mechanism for cross-winding on the empty chuck. The pivoted arms are operated by rotary actuators and the transfer rods engage respective stops at the ends of their yarn drawing movements. The pickup and transfer device is operated by a fluid pressure linear actuator but may be operated by an electric stepping motor supplied by an adjustable inverter, and such an arrangement may also be used to swing the transfer rods. The chucks may be rotated by fluid pressure operated turbines.