US2426168A - Winding machine - Google Patents

Description

8" E. J. ABBOTT ET AL. 2,426,168

V WINDING MACHINE j Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 jwerziarzs mama Jfl'a i fi'zZ/ZrapLEerfy ea o:

g- ,1 E. J. ABBOTT El AL 2,426,168

WINDING CHINE filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 llv I I I I l I I I I IV I I I jrzaerhfans' MM Jjflgi Why 194.1 6

Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed .Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jwenaori; wardxfla afiaf hZz'reZ/Erap Z Berg 7- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Odt. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 i w pl' E 17 J z- 1947- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 7- m my E F K 3 417K J i i jrzaerze'ars' M 4/2450 Aug. 26, 1947- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944' 9 Sheets-Sheet av 4M 26 1947". E. J. Mason E'TAL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheds-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Patented Aug. 26, 1947 WINDING MACHINE Edward J. Abbott and N. H.. assignors to Wilton,

Winthrop L. Perry, Abbott Machine Company, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Wilton,

Application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,737

(Cl. 242--3Z) 41 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic winding machines, and more especially to mechanism for automatically changing the winding bobbin and starting winding on a fresh bobbin.

The invention has various features that are of special utility in the automatic winding of filling wound bobbins, that is, bobbins on which the thread is laid in nested conical layers.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a more direct path for a thread which passes upwardly from a supply'p'ackage to the winding bobbin, to improve thethread guide mechanism and cause it to run more easily, to provide for a more positive control of the thread during the association of the thread with the fresh bobbin, and to secure these advantageous features in mechanism which will operate automatically to wind the bobbin, produce an open spiral of thread on the exterior of the bobbin extending from the last conical layer back toward the base of the bobbin, substitute ously wound bobbin and'begin winding the thread on the fresh bobbin.

A preferred form of the invention herein illustrated involves a winding unit tending mechanism to tend a plurality of winding units in succession, but it will be apparent that many features of the invention can be utilized in machines in which tending mechanism attends to the changing of bobbins only on a single winding unit or attends to the changing of bobbins on a plurality of winding units simultaneously.

Other objects of invention and features of advantage will be apparent from this specification and its drawings wherein the invention is explained by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one side of the frame and track of a traveling unit winding machine looking in the direction from which winding units approach the observer, showing one of the winding units of the machine and showing mechanism for supplying fresh bobbins to the winding units in succession and mechanism for associating the thread with a fresh bobbin;

Fig. 2 is a, diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the winding machine, showing a traveling winding unit at a position at which the last conical layer of thread on its bobbin has been wound, the winding stopped, and the thread extending upwardly to the thread guide about to encounter an inclined edge of a thread plow plate adapted to move this portion of the thread to tion of the machine a fresh bobbin for the previward the center for holding the base end of a bobbin;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pornext following that of Fig. 2, showing a winding unit in a position in which its thread guide has been shifted outwardly be-' yond the tip end of the'bobbin, the bobbin has been discharged from between the bobbin-holding centers of the unit and rests on the surface of." the thread plow plate, and the thread which extends .upwardly to the thread guide has been plowed over nearly to the outer face oi. the center for holding the base end of a bobbin;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the machine a little farther along th machine than Fig. 3, showing two positions of a winding unit, at which the axis oi the centers 01' the wind ing unit has reached respectively the lines "4" and 4 4. At the position I' -4 the thread guide of the winding unit has already been shifted to a position adjacent to .the center for holding the base end of the bobbin and lies between this center and mechanism for cutting and clamping the thread. In the position 4 4 the thread guide has been shifted still farther to a position beyond the plane of the outer face of the center, and the cutting and clamping mechanism has picked up the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and has raised this thread upwardly to a position above the center. At the position fl-J the centers of the winding unit are about to receive a fresh bobbin between them. and force the portion of thread that has been raised by the cutting and clamping mechanism against the center for holding the base endof the bobbin;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical section showing portions of the wlnding machineand 01' a. winding unit in the position of Fig. 2;

Fig, 6 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical section showing portions of the winding machine and of a winding unit in the position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan guide assembly and certain of its associated parts in the osition of Figs. 3 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary right side elevation of the thread guide assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic elevation taken from the right side 01' Fig. 4 showing Portions of the winding unit and the clamping and cutting mechanism in th position 4 4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical section similar .to Fig. 6, showing view of the thread portions of the winding unit and the clamping and cutting mechanism in full lines in their position l -4 of Fig. 4, and in broken lines in their position 4 -4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of the thread clamping and cutting bill, this view being taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 9 and showing the bill open;

Fig. 12 is a view similar bill closed;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 12 and showing also the clamped end of thread and the cut-off end of thread; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary right side elevation of a winding unit and parts of the winding-unit tending mechanism of a modified form of the invention, showing a portion of the track of the machine in cross-section and the bobbin-supplying mechanism being omitted for clarity of illustration;

to Fig, 11 showing the Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a front elevation of the winding unit of Fig. 14 at a position at which it has a stopped winding, and before reaching the winding-unit tending mechanism; and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammaticview in the nature of a vertical section of the winding unit and winding-unit tending mechanism of Fig. 14,

showi portions of the winding unit, the thread and the cutting and clamping mechanism in full lines at the position where the thread is about to be engaged by the cutting and clamping mechanism, and in broken lines at the position corresponding to the position of 4 -4 of Fig. 4 wherein the centers of the winding unit are about to receive a fresh bobbin between them and force the portion of thread that has been raised by the cutting and clamping mechanism against the center for holding the base end of the bobbin.

As illustrated. in the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in traveling multiple unit filling bobbin winding machines having many of the features'shown' in Reissue Patent No. 22,492, of Edward J. Abbott, in application Serial No. 386,- 136, of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, filed March 31, 1941, Patent No. 2,377,367, and in application Serial No. 526,016 of Edward J. Abbott, Winthrop L. Perry, and Joseph E. Ring, filed March 11, 1944, now Patent No. 2,395,028. In addition, the machines illustrated in the drawings include some of the features described and claimed in another application of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, for Winding machine, Serial No. 560,736, filed on the same date as this application, and for convenience numerous of the corresponding parts of the machines of this and said other application are designated by the same or similar reference characters.

The several winding units indicated generally by the reference character i are conveyed around a track comprised of upper and lower rails 2, 3 (shown in cross-section in Fig. l) by a suitable driven chain (not shown herein, but which may be the chain 4 shown in Fig. 9 of the other application of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry for Winding machine, filed on the same date as this application, Serial No. 560,736), through a closed path having straight and semicircular portions in the general manner described in the above reissue patent and applications.

In each winding unit the thread T from a supply package 6 carried near the bottom of the unit passes up through a suitable tension device I,

under the pivoted wire bail 8 of a thread detector, to a thread guideassembly indicated generally by the reference character 9 and shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive.

5), the thread can pass approximately in a straight .line to and through the thread guide and thence to the bobbin. The thread guide thus controls only the axial or back and forth movement of the thread running to the bobbin. This is advantageous in lessening the frictional effect of the thread guide on the thread, in reducing the pull of the thread on the thread guide assembly, and in causing the thread guide assembly to run more easily, especially at high speeds. Preferably the thread guide is disposed below the bobbin, the thread supply also being below the bobbin, so that the thread runs upwardly to the thread guide, upwardly through the thread guide and thence further upwardly to the bobbin.

The bobbin is held at its base end by a hollow changed, to hold the lever 34 inwardly and thushold the outer center 3| retracted to release the full bobbin and until the unit comes into position to grasp a fresh bobbin from the bobbinsupplying mechanism hereinafter described.

Each winding unit receives electric current from stationary rails 40, 4| by suitable brushes which are pressed down onto the rails at the place where winding starts, and are lifted up off the rails when the thread breaks or exhausts, or the winding bobbin is full, or the unit is about to reach the bobbin-changing position, controlling mechanism similar to that described in said application Serial No. 386,136 being employed for this purpose.

The brushes on each winding unit are connected to an electric motor 60 which is directly coupled to drive the inner hollow bobbin-holding center 30 and also coupled through suitable gearing to drive a traverse cam which in turn reciprocates the traverse rod 20, as described in said application Serial No. 386,136. The stroke of reciprocation of the traverse rod is relatively short, compared to the length of the bobbin, and the thread guide assembly 9, on the traverse rod, is progressively advanced along the traverse rod away from the base and toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in overlapped conical layers.

The thread guide assembly 9, shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, includes an upper plate 6i and a lower plate 62 connected by vertical end pieces 63, 64 of fiber-composition material which frictionally engage the reciprocating traverse rod 20. The thread guide assembly also includes a tubular element 65 of fiber-composition material also frictionally engaging the traverse rod between the two end pieces 63, 64. The engagement of the thread guide assembly with the travpreparation for beginning the winding of a fresh bobbin.

Thread T runs from the pivoted thread detector 8 (Fig. 2) up through a thread guide eye 68 shown as formed of a bent wire extending beneath the bobbin from the lower plate 6 2 of the thread guide assembly. From the thread guide eye 68 the thread run further upwardly onto the winding bobbin.

The thread passes through a slot or passage defined by the two parallel portions of the bent wire which constitutes the thread guide 68, andthis slot is preferably of sufficient length so that in running from the thread detector B'to either the large diameter portion or the small diameter portion of the winding there is, as viewed in the plane of Fig. 5, an approximately straight path for the thread to and through the thread guide and-thence to the bobbin.- The-thread of course, is necessarily deflected by the thread guide as viewed in planes such as there is of Figs. 1 and due to the windin of different axial portions of the winding package as the thread guide reciprocates.

The upper plate Bl of the thread guide assembly is provided with a downturned portion 6| (Fig. carrying a roller HI extending loosely into a recess H in a horizontal bar 12 which constitutes a part ofthe frame of the winding unit.

The lower plate 62 of the thread guide assembly is provided with downturned portions 62, 62

which are slotted to receive a slidable feeler' member 15. The feeler' member is bent at its right end (Fig. 7) to provide an inclined portion I5 adapted to be engaged by the last-laid conical layer of thread on the bobbin, to push the feeler member toward the left, the feeler memher being yieldingly urged in the opposite direction toward the winding bobbin by means of a coil spring 16 which is compressed between a portion of the feeler member and the downturned portion 62 (Fig. 6).

The left end of the feeler member is out off on an angle in the form of a ratchet tooth 15", as shown in Fig. 7, and a stationary ratchet bar 18 carried by the bar 12 is adapted to be engaged by the tooth 15' when the feeler member' is pushed to the left an amount corresponding to the predetermined desired diameter of the wound bobbin. Engagement of the tooth W with the stationary ratchet bar 18, as the traverse rod moves rearwardly, detains the thread guide assembly, allowing the traverse rod to slide rearwardly with respect to the thread guide assembly and thus advancing the thread guide assembly progressively step by step along the traverse rod in accordance with the growth of the wound thread on the bobbin. 7

The thread guide assembly is provided with an upstanding pin 80 carrying a roller 8| at its upper end, this roller bein engageable by various devices as hereinafter described, to slide the thread guide assembly in either direction along the traverse rod after the completion of winding of theconical layers of thread on the bobbin. Each winding unit includes winding-stopping mechanism adapted to operate under various .cir-

- ping mechanism, which may if 6 position corresponding to the outermost conical layer of the wound bobbin.

This winding-stopdesired be constructed as described more fully in said other application of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, Serial No. 560,736, filed on the same date as this application and may include the features described in connection with Fig. 15 of this application, includes a rotatable rod 85 carrying an upstanding finger 86, normally in the position shown in Fig 5. A horizontal extension 62 of the downturned portion 62 of the thread guide assembly is provided with an inclined edge 62 adapted to strike the finger 86 and tilt it and the rod 85 in a counterclockwise direction to actuate the winding-stopping mechanism.

Following the completionof a filling wound bobbin on a winding unit and discharge of the wound bobbin from between the centers 3i], 3!- and following the positioning of the thread from the thread guide in position to be engaged by the fresh bobbin as hereinafter described. the winding unit, with its center 3| retracted, reaches a bobbin-supplying apparatus such as described in said application Serial No. 386,136, where the center 3| is allowed to close upon a fresh bobbin, and force it into the hollow center 30. As indicated in Fig. 1, the bobbin-supplying apparatus includes a hopper $0 from which empty bobbins are fed onto an inclined track consisting ofspaced rails 9|, .of which one is shown in Fig. 1'. The

' bobbins hang by their enlarged base portions from cumstances, among'which is that of the thread guide assembly reaching a predetermined/outer the rails 9i, and are released one at a time by means of pivoted stops 93, 94 which are actuated by means of a shaft 95, crank 95, lifter rod 91 and bell-crank 98 by a pin lflll on each passing winding unit. A bobbin discharged from the lower- Inost pivoted stop 93 slides off the rails 91 and enters between spaced plates I02, I02, of which one is shown in Fig l. The bobbinslides down the inclined upper edges of plates I02 suspended by its enlarged base portion similarly to its pa..- sage down the rails 9|, 9|, and is then detained and held horizontally by pivoted bobbin-holding fingers I05, H15 in position to be received, as described above, between the centers 30, 3| of a passing winding unit and withdrawn from these fingers.

A short distance below the level at which the thread guide eye 68 operates, a stationary horizontal plate 580 extends inwardly under the path of the bobbins of the winding units at the winding unit tending mechanism. Fig. 2 shows the end of the plate 500 which is first encountered by the traveling winding units and shows the inner cam-shaped edge 5M of this plate about to engage the portion of thread extending from the detector wire 8 to the thread guide eye 53.

This inner edge 50! is shaped to force the thread over in the direction of the basecenter 3d while at the same time causing the portion of thread riding along edge 50! to lag somewhat behind its former position in the winding unit (Fig. 3),

While the thread is thus being forced inwardly by edge 50!, a stationary cam lZO (Fig. 3) located above the path of travel of the winding units is adapted to engage the upstanding rollor ti on each thread guide assembly to slide the thread guide assembly along its traverse. rod and position it axially beyond the-wound bobbin at the position shown in Fig.3. It will be understood that the'thre'ad guide assembly will normally have tripped its stop mechanism as a consequence of the bobbin being fully wound, with the result of deenergizing the motor 60. and stopping rotation 7 of the bobbin and reciprocation of the thread guide assembly. The thread guide assembly will stop with its eye 68 somewhere within the zone defined by the length of the last conical layer' of thread on the bobbin, and in the event that the winding is stopped by the bobbin being fully wound, such last conical layer will extend to within a short distance from the tip of the bobbin, as shown in Fig. 2. If stoppage of winding is brought about by actuation of the thread detector.

8 by breakage or exhaustion of the thread supply, then the last conical layer will be nearer to the base of the bobbin and the thread guide eye will accordingly stop in the zone of such last conical layer. Wherever stopped, the ,thread guide eye is moved axially of the bobbin to the tip end thereof and preferably somewhat beyond the tip end thereof (as shown in Fig. 3) by the action of the stationary cam I20 upon the roller As a result of the combined action on the cam edge M and the outward motion of the thread guide eye described above, both the thread and thread guide eye are removed from interfering with downward movement of the wound bobbin, and when as in Fig. 3 the outer center 3| is retracted, the wound bobbin is free to drop onto the plate 500.

The wound bobbin on the plate 500 is loosely confined between an arm 502 and rod 503 that extend out from the head of the winding unit, and is thus caused to roll along the plate with the winding unit. The thread from the thread guide is therefore wound slowly on the rolling bobbin.

With the bobbin displaced from its winding position, the thread guide assembly is now capable of being pushed rearwardly without its feeler I5 being forced into locked engagement with the ratchet bar 18.

As the bobbin thus rolls along the plate, th roller ill on the thread guide assembly encounters a stationary cam 3I0 (Figs. 3 and 4) and the thread guide assembly is thereby slid inwardly from the position of Fig. 3 to that of the line 4 4 of Fig. 4 wherein it lies adjacent to the base center 30 of the winding unit. This inward movement of the thread guide assembly and slow rotation of the bobbin wind the thread onto the outer surface of the bobbin in the form of an open spiral. The thread extending from the thread guide eye 68 to the wound bobbin is also brought into position to be received by the thread clamping and positioning mechanism now to be described.

While various forms of mechanism for positioning the thread for association with the new bobbin might be employed, it is preferred to employ mechanism employing certain of the features of such mechanism described and claimed in the said other application of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, Serial No. 560,736, filed on the same date as this application. More especially the thread positioning mechanism shown in Figs. 9 to 13 includes a combined clamp and cutter in the nature of a bill I50 adapted to cut and clamp the thread and move the clamped thread to the opposite side of the bobbin-holding center from the thread guide eye 68.

The bill I50 is mounted on a sleeve 530 (Figs. 9 and 10) which turns on a stationary shaft 53I, so as to move from the position of Fig. 9 and full line position of Fig. 10. to the upper broken line position of Fig. 10. v

As shown in more detail in Figs. 11 to 13, the

bill has at its outer end a fixed blade I5I having a clamping edge I52, has pivotaliy secured thereto at I53 a pivoted blade I54 having a cutting edge I 55, and has fixedly secured thereto a spring blade I51 having a cutting edge I58. An extension I56 of the pivoted blade I54 is adapted to open and close this pivoted blade.

Movement of the thread guide assembly to the position of Fig. 9 and rolling of the bobbin along the plate 500 brings the thread which extends from the thread guide eye 68 to the bobbin into position to be received by the open blades of the bill.

The bill I50 is urged toward its bottom position shown in full lines in Fig. 10 by a spiral spring 540 (Fig. 9) which is connected to the rotatable sleeve 530 and to the stationary shaft 53I. The sleeve 530 is provided with a crank arm 543 adapted to engage and be turned by each one of bars I00 that project upwardly from the respective traveling winding units, thus to raise the bill to the upper broken line position of Fig. 10 each time a winding unit reaches the bill.

The extension I56 of the pivoted blade I54 of the bill is connected to a lever 546 which is pivoted at 541 to an arm 548 on the sleeve 530. A coil spring 549 between the lever 546 and sleeve 530 acts on these parts to urge the pivoted blade of the bill to its open position shown in full lines in Fi 10.

Shortly after starting its upward swing, the bill receives between its blades the portion of the thread extending from the thread guide eye 68 to the wound bobbin. Then the bill is closed by the time it reaches the lower broken line position of Fig. 10, cutting ofi the end of thread leading to the wound bobbin and holding clamped the end of thread extending to the thread guide, the bill remaining closed during the remainder of its upward swing.

For controlling the closing of the blade, the lever 54'! is provided with a rearwardly extending .pin 55I adapted to be acted on by a cam surface 553 and a subsequent holding surface 554 on a stationary bracket 555.

When the winding unit center 30 and threadguide eye 68 reach their broken line-positions of Fig. 10, the thread between the thread guide eye 68 and bill I50 is thus held across the center 30 as shown in Fig. 10. At this stage the winding unit has reached the fresh bobbin which is held in the position 4 =4 of Fig. 4 by the magazine. The outer center 3| then closes upon this fresh bobbin, forcing its base end and the thread to enter the center 30 so that the thread is thus clamped between the bobbin and the center. The thread is thereby effectively secured to the fresh bobbin, for winding thereon, the thread end pulls out from'between the blades of the bill, and winding on the unit is started by the automatic starting mechanism.

The full bobbin, cut off by the bill, rolls along with the unit until it reaches the edge 560 of the plate 500, whereupon it drops onto any suitable slide or other receptacle.

As will be evident, the bill returns to its lower broken line position of Fig. 10 and opens to receive the thread of the next winding unit.

The modified form of mechanism shown in Figs. 14 to 16 includes many parts which are the same as or similar to those shown in the preceding figures, and such parts are designated by the same or similar reference characters in the two forms of the invention and their descriptions will not be repeated.

16 is movement of the thread guide, which is below the winding bobbin, rearwardly sufficiently tdprevent it from interfering with the subsequent-fall of the finished bobbin. Another feature is the winding of the open spiral of thread on the exterior of the wound bobbin, through the cooperation of the thread guide located below the bobbin, While the bobbin is still held in winding position.

In the machine of Figs. 14 to 16, the arm 502 and rod 503 on the winding unit and the stationary plate 500, employed in the mechanism of Figs. 1 to 13 to roll the wound bobbin during rearward movement of the thread guide, may be omitted.

In connection with the machine of Figs. 14 to 16, the winding-stopping and startingmechanism, previously briefly mentioned in connection with the machine of Figs. 1 to 13, will be described in more detail. Stopping and starting of the winding on each unit is accomplished by suitable electric switch mechanism, which for example may be similar to thatshown in Fig. 17 of said application Serial No. 386,136, which stops the Winding by allowing the brushes to rise out of contact with thestationary conductor rails, and starts the winding by pressing the brushes down into contact with the conductor rails after the unit has passed the bobbin-supplying mechanism.

The brushes thus move with a crank shaft 250 of the switch mechanism, this shaft having an arm 251 on the outer side of the head portion of the winding unit (Fig. 15) and being urged in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 15 by a coil spring25l (Figfl4). The brushes are permitted to rise out ofcontact with the conductor rails when the crankshaft 250 and arm 25! are allowed to turn counterclockwise to the position of arm 251 shown in Fig. 15. A boss 462 on the switch mechanism of the unit (Fig. 14) is adapted to be engaged by a stationary abutment I such as a stationary roller (not shown) to restore the brushes into contact with the conductor rails to start the winding. As the brushes are restored into contact with the conductor rails and Winding thereby started, the crank shaft 250 and arm 25] are thereby turned clockwise in Fig. 16. Rod 85 (referred to previously in connection with Fig. 5) carries a latch member 253 of Whicha notch 254 is adapted to receive and hold a projection 255 at the' top of arm 25I, thus latching the arm 25I in an upright position, and holding the switch mechanism closed..

When the latch 253 is raised 15, arm 25| is free to move counterclockwise to its position there shown and the switch mechanism thereby allowed to open to stop winding. Latch 253 may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 15 in either of two ways.

The thread guide assembly may reach. the projection Bi on rod 85 and the cam surface 62! (Fig 7) .tiltthe projection 86, thereby turning the rod 85 counterclockwise and raising the latch. V The thread detector 8, pivotally mounted in a bracket 260 isprovidedwith a crank arm 2G2 extendingrearwardlyunder a downturned portion 253 of latch 253. Thread detector 8 isnormally held up by the tension of the thread. However, when the thread reaks or exhausts,

as shown in Fig.

When the switch mechanism closes, in starting winding, the tension of the thread returns the thread detector'to a position in which the latch 253 can again hold the arm 25!, and thus hold the'switch mechanism closed.

In the device of Figs. 14 to 16, the ratchetbar 18, which cooperates with the thread guide assembly to advance the thread guide assembly progressively, is removed fromits normal position upon the completion of-the conical layers of winding, for the purpose of permitting the thread guide assembly to be moved backwardly over the full-diameter portion ofthe'wound' bobbin which is'still held in winding position. It will be observed that, during winding of the conical layers of thread, the ratchet bar 18 restrains the thread guide assembly, including its feeler, against movement from the zone of the last conical layer of wound yarn toward the base of the bobbin. Means for disabling the ratchet bar from so restraining the threaduguide assembly and feeler will now be described. The ratchet bar 18, instead of being in fixed relation to the supporting bar 12, as for instance in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, is mounted as shown in Fig. 15 on a plate 18 hinged at.l8 to the bar 12. A lever 300 on shaft 250and a link 3M connect the ratchet bar 18 to the shaft 250 .of the winding-stopping and starting mechanism so that when winding is stopped the ratchet bar is lowered out of the path of the tooth 15 of the feeler member of the thread guide assembly, as shown in Fig. 15. When winding begins, the ratchet bar 18 resumes its active position, similar to that shown .in Fig. 5. V v A stationary cam 31!], similar to the one described in connection with Figs. sand 4, engages the upstanding roller 8| of the thread guide assembly and plows the thread guide assembly from its outermost position over to its rearmost position where the thread guide eye 68 lies beneath the inner bobbin-holding center at or evensomewhat beyond the base end of the bobbin so a to clear a path for the bobbin tobe'dropped downwardly, in front ofthe thread guide eye, out from between the centers. v g

It will be noticedthat the feeler 15 of each winding unit is adapted to move outwardly away from the axis of the wound bobbin to at least the largest diameter of the body of thread wound on the bobbin, so that the feeler and the thread guide assembly can be moved in the direction;

. of the base of the bobbin while'the wound bobbin tending mechanism. Simultaneously with this movement of the thread guide assembly, the bobbin is slowly rotated so that the thread from detector 8. can drop, raisi g its rearwardly extending crank arm 262, and accordingly raising the latch 253 i l the threadguide is wound on the bobbin in the form of an open spiral, as shown in Fig. 14.

' The means for causing this slow rotation of the bobbin preferably comprises "a smooth pulley 1H2 on the inner end of the motor shaft 313 that rotates the hollow center 30, and a stationary friction surface consisting of a strip of cork or the like-3,15, disposed along the path of travel of thewinding units. 1

With the. thread guide assembly positioned as shown in Fig. 14; the thread extending from the eye 68 of the thread guide to the spiral on the bobbin is brought into the open blades of a cutting and clamping bill Bill 150 is simi-' lar to bill I50 of Figs. 1 to l3 but faces to the left, as shown in Fig. 16, insteadsof-to the right as the bill. I50 of Fig.110, and is curved as shown in Fig. 16 so as to clear a fully wound bobbin that is held between the centers of the winding unit. Moreover, the blades of the bill are located so that in the thread-receiving position shown in full lines in Fig. 16, the blades are above the lower portion of the thread guide eye 63 so as to receive the thread extending therefrom to thebobbin.

Bill I5!) is mounted to turn with an inner sleeve 530 which turns on a stationary shaft 53I, the inner sleeve and bill being yieldingly urged to the full line position of Fig. 16 by the spiral spring 540 (Fig. 14). Inner sleeve 530 is provided with a crank arm 543 adapted to engage and be turned by the bars I on the respective winding units, in the manner of the mechanism of Figs. 1 to 13.

An outer sleeve 53C! rotatable on the inner sleeve 53!) carries a crank arm 5M5 fast thereon and connected by a link I62 to the extension I56 of the pivoted blade [54. These parts are yieldingly urged to the open-bill position of Fig. 16 by a coil spring 549 In this position, a further crank arm 543 fast on the outer sleeve 530 is located somewhat more to the left (Fig. 16) than the crank arm 543, and likewise in position to engage and be turned by the bars lllll of the winding units. Thus, when the bar Hill of a winding unit first encounters the bill-operating mechanism, the crank arm 543 outer sleeve 530 arm 546 link I62 and blade extension I56 are first moved to close the pivoted blade I54, cutting and 'clamping the thread. The spring 549 between arm 546 and the'bill ofiers less resistance than the coil spring between the bill-carrying inner sleeve 530 and the fixed shaft 53l, so as to permit this closure of the bill before rotation of the bill about the fixed shaft. Thereupon, with the bill closed, the bar llll'l engages and turns the crank arm 543, inner sleeve 530 and bill, to bring the bill to the broken line position of Fig. 16. In this position the thread is in position to line across the center 30 of the winding unit in its broken line position of Fig. 16. It will be noticed that the first part of the movement of the bill from its full line position of Fig. 16 removes the bill from beneath the full bobbin, thus avoiding interference between the bill and the bobbin as the bobbin is then dropped out from between its centers'30 and 3|.

A stationary abutment 35, similar to the one previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 13, but shorter in length, is located to press the lever 34 of the unit inwardly to retract the outer center 3| as the bobbin passes over a stationary inclined chute 31, thus dropping the bobbin into this chute. The stationary abutment 36 terminates at a point uch that the outer center 3| closes upon a fresh bobbin in the magazine at the broken line position of the center 30 in Fig. 16, forcing the base end of the bobbin and the thread into the center and thus securing the thread to the fresh bobbin for winding thereon. The thread end then pulls out from between the blades of the bill, and the bill returns to its full line position of Fig. 16.

The mechanism of this invention can be simplified by eliminating the feeler I5 and the cooperating ratchet bar 18 and causing the progression of the zone of traverse of the thread guide toward the tip of the bobbin by a cam-like abutment extending around the machine as disclosed in the application Serial No. 488,872 of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, filed May 28,

1943. Such abutment may for example take the form of the pair of flanges indicated at 600 and 6M in said application Serial No. 488,872, now Patent No. 2,362,455, the roller 8| of the thread guide assembly herein shown moving back and forth between these flanges, 600 and 60!, which are spaced apart a distance such that travel of the roller 8| of the thread guide assembly from one such flange to the other will produce the desired length of stroke of the thread guide assembly.

In particular such simplification and use of the aforesaid abutment is advantageous in conjunction with the mechanism of l4, l5, and I6 of this application in providing a simple construction permitting the winding of the open spiral of thread on the exterior of the bobbin while the bobbin is still retained by the bobbin holding centers of the winding unit.

We claim:

1. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide having during winding a path of movement located On the same side of the bobbin from which the thread runs in approaching the thread guide, means for discharging the bobbin from said holding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, a clamp engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin, and means for moving the clamp and clamped thread from the side of said holding means at which the thread guide has its said path of movement to another generally opposite side of said holding means.

2. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide having during winding a path of movement located on the same side of the bobbin from which the thread runs in approaching thethread guide, means for discharging the bobbin from said holding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin, and means for moving the combinedclamp and cutter and clamped thread from the side of said holding means at which the thread guide has its said path of movement to another generally opposite side of said holding means.

3. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin to cause the thread to approach the winding bobb'in by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for discharging the wound bobbin from said holding means, meansv for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and means for moving from below said holding means upwardly to said holding means a portion of thread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

below said holding means to above of the thread between said center and said fresh bobbin.

5. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for discharging the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and a clamp engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin, and means for moving the clamp and clamped thread from said holding means. 6. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly frombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for discharging the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin, and means for moving the combined clamp and cutter and clamped thread from below said holding means to above said holding means. '7. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located below'the winding bobbin to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to' said holding means, and means for moving from below said holding means upwardly to said holding means a portion of thread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

8. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for holding the base end of the bobbin, a thread guide located to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for shifting the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, means acting while the thread guide is beyond said end of the bobbin for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardly, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said center, and means for holding the thread for engagement between said fresh bobbin and said center including means for positioning above and adjacent to said center a portion of thread that has passed the thread guide and means for shifting said thread guide to a position adjacent to said center.

9. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for holding the base end of the bobbin, a'thread guide located to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for discharging the bobbin from said center after the Winding of the last conical layer, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said center, and means for holding the thread for engagement between said fresh bobbin and said center including a clamp engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin and means for moving the 'clamp and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

10. An automatic Winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for automatically moving the thread-guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completion of windin of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for discharging said bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

11. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread-guidemovable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for automatically moving the thread-guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completion of windin of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for discharging said bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including means engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin for carrying the thread into position for association with a fresh bobbin.

12. An automatic winding machine comprising means including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for automatically moving the threadguide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completion of winding of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for discharging said bobbin from said, holding means downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including a clamp enga'geable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving the clamp and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

13. An automatic winding machine comprising means including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path-of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for automatically moving the threadguide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completion of winding of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for discharging said bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving the clamp and cutter and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

14. An automatic winding machine compris-. ing means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically movin the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last sad conical layer of thread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide. I

15. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of thebobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for impartingto the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbinso as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for autoi matically moving the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine-including means engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin for carrying the thread into position for association with a fresh bobbin.

16. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holdingfmeans including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a pathof movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in the direction of an end. of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including a clamp engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving the clamp and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

17. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a, center for .the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for auto,- matieally moving the thread guide in the direc tion of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving the clamp and cutter and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

18. A travelin winding unit for an automatic winding machine, including centers for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said centers being adapted to open to discharge the bobbin downwardly, and means for mounting the thread guide for movement beneath said winding bobbin during winding and also for movement out of its winding position to permit the discharged bobbin to pass through the path of movement of the thread guide.

19. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a. winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for automatically removing the threadguide from beneath the bobbin, and means for dropping the bobbin downwardly from said holding means.

20. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically removing the thread guide from beneath the bobbin after the winding of the last conical layer of thread, and means for dropping the bobbin downwardly from said center.

21. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin,

each winding unit includin a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including mechanism acting on the threads of the several units in succession-to hold a portion of the thread above the level of the bobbin-holding means of the unit.

22. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including mechanism acting on the threads of the several units in succession to hold a portion of the thread above and adjacent to the said center of the unit.

23. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including means for supplying fresh bobbins to the centers of said winding units, thread-positioning means adapted to engage the threads of the several units in succession between the thread guide and wound bobbin of the unit and carry the thread upwardly into position for engagement between the center and the fresh bobbin.

24. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge the wound bobbin from said holding means, and means for shifting each thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin.

25. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along thebobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for shifting each thread guide in the direction of the tip end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin, means for rotating each bobbin following such discharge, and means acting to lead each thread back toward the base of the bobbin during such rotation following discharge of the bobbin, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

26. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for shifting each thread guide in the direction of the tip end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin, means for rotating each bobbin following such discharge, and means for shifting each thread guide toward the base end of the bobbin during such rotation, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

27. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units and means for moving said units in a procession around the machine, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for discharging each bobbin from its holding means downwardly through the path of its thread guide, a support along which said discharged bobbins roll with their respective winding units, and means for leading the threads extending to the rolling bobbins toward the base end of such bobbin, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

28. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units and means for moving said units in a procession around the machine, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for discharging each bobbin from its holding means downwardly through the path of its thread guide, a support along which said discharged bobbins roll with their respective winding units, and means for shifting each thread guide toward the base end of its discharged bobbin as such bobbin rolls, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

29. A traveling winding unit for an automatic winding machine including centers for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide having a path of movement beneath said winding bobbin, said centers being adapted to open to discharge the bobbin downwardly, and the thread guide being movable out of its winding position to permit the discharged bobbin to pass through the path of movement of the thread guide, and means below the path of movement of the thread guide for constraining the discharged bobbin to rolling movement with the winding unit.

30. A multiple unit winding machine including a plurality of Winding units and winding unit tending mechanism, with relative movement between the winding units and the tending mechanism to bring the tending mechanism into cooperative relation to the winding units in succession, the winding units including means for holding winding bobbins with their axes transverse to the direction of such relative movement, and the tending mechanism including a movable thread clamp adapted to engage the thread of a winding unit and thereupon having one component of motion upwardly from beneath the bobbin-holding means to above the bobbin-holding means of the winding unit, and another component of motion in the direction of the relative motion of the winding unit with respect to the tending mechanism.

31. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layer on the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin, means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and means for moving from below said holding means upwardly to said holding means a portion of the thread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

32. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin to cause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its 19 a zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layer on the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin, means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back, thereby to Wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and threadpositioning means engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and movable from below said holding means upwardly to said holding means, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

33. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement located below the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completion of winding of a body of thread on the bobbin, means for discharging said bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, means for leading the thread back toward the base of the bobbin, means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and means for positioning above said holding means a portion of the thread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

34. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a ,winding bobbin, a thread guide, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layer on the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin, means for applying a rolling action to the bobbin during such leading of the thread back, thereby to wind the thread in 'the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, a thread clamp located to receive the thread extending from the thread guide to said spiral on the bobbin, means for severing the thread extending from the clamp to the bobbin, and means for moving said clamp to carry the thread into position to be associated with a fresh bobbin.

35. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layer on the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin, means for applying a rolling action to the bobbin during such leading of the thread back, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, a combined clamp and cutter comprising clamping and cutting elements adapted to clamp the thread and cut the thread between the clamped portion and the bobbin,

said combined clamp and cutter being located to receive the thread extending to said spiral adjacent to the base portion of wound thread on the bobbin, and means for moving said combined clamp and cutter to carry the thread clamped thereby into position to be associated with a fresh bobbin.

36. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means fordischarging the bobbin downwardly from its holding means to a position below the path of the thread guide, means acting after such discharge of the bobbin to move the thread guide back above the bobbin toward the position of winding of the base portion of thread of the bobbin, means for applying a rolling action to the discharged bobbin during such backward movement of the thread guide, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin, a clamp positioned to receive the run of thread extending from the thread guide to said spiral on the discharged bobbin, means for severing the thread extending from the clamp to the bobbin, and means for moving said clamp to carry the thread into position to be associated with a fresh bobbin.

37. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during the winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a. progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin awayfrom the base and toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in the direction of the'base end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, and means for discharging said bobbin downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

38. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin away from the base and toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means for stopping said progressive advance of the zone of traverse of the thread guide, means for automatically moving .the thread guide adjacent to said center for the base of the bobbin while said bobbin is held by said center, means for discharging said bobbin downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, and means for moving upwardly to said center a portion of thread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of the thread with said center.

39. An automatic winding machine comprising means for holding a rotatable winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a pro- 21 gressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distn'butethe thread in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end, elements adapted to clamp the thread between them, means for operating said elements to clamp the thread at a place between the wound bobbin and the thread guide while the bobbin is held by said center, and means for thereafter discharging the bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

40. An automatic winding machine comprising means for holding a rotatable winding bobbin,

said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a, path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in thedirection of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end, a combined clamp and cutter, means for operating said combined clamp and cutter to clamp the thread at a place between the wound bobbin and the thread guide and cut the thread extending to the bobbin while the bobbin is held by said center, and means for thereafter discharging the bobbin from said center downwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

41. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of winding units each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin and a thread guide movable in a path extending beneath said winding bobbin, the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for shifting each thread guide in the direction of the base end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin, and means for rotating each bobbin during such shift of the thread guide, ther,eby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

EDWARD J. ABBO'I'I.

WINTHROP L. PERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,103 Hooper Dec. 15, 1914 2,075,544 Reiners et al Mar. 30, 1937 2,302,715 Reynolds et a] Nov. 24, 1942 2,361,813 Beckman Oct. 31, 1944

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