US3371877A - Method for packaging multistrand roving - Google Patents

Description

March s, lserV J. P. KLINK ETAL METHOD FOR PACKAGING MULTISTRAND ROVING Filed May 14, 1965 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTORS x/A @156 j EA Rs m l ,4r TOR/v5 Ks March 5, 1968 J. P. KLlNK ETAL 3,371,877

v METHOD Foa PACKAGING MULTISTRAND Rovmo Filed May 14, 1965 t9.1 1 @im I 5 5 Sheets-Sheeft 2 Arrow/frs March 5, 1968 .1. P. KLINK vETAl. 3,371,877

' :muon Foa noname MULTISTRAND Rovme Filed May 14, `1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 T TURA/E V5 United States Patent Oice 3,371,877 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,877 METHOD FOR PACKAGING MULTI- STRAND ROVING Jerome P. Klink, James C. Belue and James H. Sears, An-

derson, S.C., assignors to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 455,866 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a multistrand roving and to a method of and apparatus for forming and attenuating streams of mineral material into fibers, segregating the fibers into groups or strands and winding a roving comprising the groups `or strands in a package toprovide a package with ends in parallel planes normal to the axis of the package, the method including compacting the strands or groups at the package ends whereby the package is of cylindrical shape throughout its length.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for forming heat-softenable material to filaments and forming a novel roving of the filaments and packaging the roving, and more particularly to attenuating streams of heatsoftened material such as glass to filaments, forming strands of the filaments into a multistrand roving and packaging the roving.

Endeavors have been made to produce comparatively large wound packages of roving of newly formed filaments attenuated from glass streams. Difficulties have been encountered in forming large packages by winding the roving on a winding collet. Heretofore in forming wound packages of roving or a linear group of filaments of glass, it has been a practice to employ a -builder method or mechanism providing a tapered end package to prevent sloughing of the roving or linear group of filaments at the package ends, this method necessarily limiting the size of the package.

Heretofore it was deemed desirable to apply size or coating material to the lila-ments of the roving in order to establish some degree of integrity in the roving to facilitate further processing. The filaments forming the roving were attenuated at high linear speeds and the filaments being acted upon by an oscillator or traverse means at such high linear speeds and at high oscillator frequencies resulted in an excessive amount of fuzz which impaired the quality of the roving as a certain amount of fuzz is necessarily embodied in the wound package. Such method of packaging could not provide a finished package with square ends normal to the axis of the package or produce a package `of substantially uniform diameter throughout the length of a package. t

Roving formed of a single linear group of filaments of glass have been employed as reinforcement in articles or products formed of molded resinous material or plastic and in uses Where the roving is cut to short lengths for reinforcement, many of the groups of cut filaments are broken into subgroups, some having many filaments and others having only a few filaments. Such condition tends to promote non-uniformity of reinforcement in the end products.

The present invention embraces a method of attenuating streams of heat-softened` mineral material, such as glass, into continuous filaments, segregating the filaments into groups and Winding a roving comprising the groups of filaments into a package in a manner providing a substantially cylindrical package with square or planar ends in parallel planes normal to the axis lof the wound package whereby packages of roving of comparatively large size may be produced economically.

The invention embraces the provision of a method of producing substantially large packages of roving formed of strands of filaments wherein the roving is -traversed during winding of the package in a manner to produce a cylindrically shaped wound package with planar ends without use of support means for the ends ofthe package.

An object of theinvention embraces a novel roving product wherein a large number of streams of glass are attenuated to continuous filaments simultaneously, and the filaments segregate-d into a plurality of untwisted bundles or strands providing a multistrand roving Wherein the filaments of the strands are not adhered one to another by coating material.

An object of the invention resides in a provision of a wound package of roving comprising a plurality of strands of continuous filaments :and wherein the roving is traversed during package formation to effect collection of the strands of the roving in side-by-side relation in successive layers and wherein the pattern of deposition of the roving in each layer is maintained throughout the entire package by varying and correlating the rate of movement of the traverse proportional to the increasing size of the pack-age during its formation.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of winding a continuous filament, multiple strand roving into a package wherein the strands comprising the roving are traversed during collection to form successive layers of equal length, the method involving the step of corn.- pacting strands of the roving at the ends of the package by impinging the strands against abutments adjacent each end of the package `during traversing of the roving to prevent the formation of tapered end regions and to promote the formation of square ends for the package.

Another object of the invention embraces a method of guiding a multistrand roving onto a package with Ithe roving traverse guide close to the package and controlling the position of the guide as the package increases in size to continuously maint-ain the guide close to the peripheral surface of the package.

Another object of the invention resides in a sensing means which is engaged by the package of roving as the latter increases in size, the sensor effecting the operation of mechanism for moving the traverse guide imeans through incremental distances to maintain the traverse guide means close to the peripheral surface of the enlarging package.

Another object embraces a method of attenuating filaments of glass, segregating the filaments into bundles or strands to form a multistrand roving and packaging the roving wherein the quantity of the filaments and size of the filaments are such as to effect -a sufficiently high unit throughput of glass from a stream feeder and thereby secure economic advantages to an extent that the large number and size .of the filaments facilitates a comparatively slow linear rate of filament attenuation and slow traverse lof the roving during packaging to thereby substantially eliminate interabrasion of the filaments during collection providing a multistrand roving of high quality at reduced cost.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of collecting continuous-filament multiplestrand roving into a wound package without twist being imparted to the strands or the roving and wherein a durable package of roving may be formed without the application of coating or sizing materials other than water applied to the filaments.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus for winding continuous filament multiple strand roving into a package by winding the roving onto a rotating collector, the Iapparatus including guide means so positioned with respect to the package and the guide traversed in a manner to produce a package of substantially cylindrical shape with square ends.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a traverse means for traversing the roving during the winding of a package wherein the support means for the traverse is movable and its movement controlled with respect to the package by a package sensing means as the package increases in size so as to maintain the guide means for the roving as close as practicable to the region of collection of the roving on the package.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus for forming continuous attenuated laments of heatsoftenable material, such as glass, the apparatus embodying means for subdividing the filaments into strands to form a multistrand roving employing a sensing means responsive to the enlarging package for maintaining a traverse guide for the roving in close proximity to the surface of the package through the periodic repositioning of the guide as determined by the increasing size of the package.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sensing medium associated with a traverse guide for the roving wherein engagement of the periphery of the package being formed with the sensing medium actuates means for moving the traverse guide away from the package through successive small incremental distances to accommodate the enlarging package.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus for resetting the traverse guide for the roving at the completion of a package to a position for properly guiding the roving onto an empty collector at the start of a new package.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and t economies of manufacture and numerous 4other features as will be apparent from a consider-ation of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a semidiagrammatic front elevational View of an apparatus for carrying out the method of forming and packaging multistrand roving;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustra-ted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the package size sensor and traverse guide means for the roving;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the construction shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view showing a portion of an end of a package of roving illustrating the method of compacting the roving;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a complete package produced by the method and apparatus of the invention, and

FIGURE 8 is Ia schematic illustration of components of the apparatus for packaging the roving and controls therefor.

While the method and apparatus of the invention are particularly usable for forming filaments of heat-softened mineral material such as glass and producing multistrand roving of the filaments and packaging the roving, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus may be utilized for forming and packaging roving formed of other fiber-forming materials.

IReferring initially to FIGURES 1 -and 2 of the drawings there is illustrated a receptacle or feeder 18 containing a supply of heat-softened glass or other filamentforming material. Where the material is glass, the feeder 10 may be connected with a forehearth (not shown) supplied with softened glass from a furnace, or the glass may be reduced to heat-softened condition in a melter or other means connected with the feeder 10. The feeder or receptacle 10 is provided at i-ts ends with terminal lugs 12 adapted to be connected with a source of electric energy for supplying heat to the material in the receptacle to maintain the material at the proper temperature and viscosity for forming filaments.

The floor or tip section 14 of the feeder 10 is equipped with a large number of depending projections or tips 16, the tips having orifices therein for fiowing streams 18 of the glass or other filament-forming material from the feeder. The streams are attenuated into individual continuous filaments 20.

A feature of the invention involves forming a multistrand roving 24 by segregating filaments 20, attenuated directly from the glass streams 18, into untwisted strands or bundles 22. Each strand of the roving comprises about two hundred continuous filaments, all of the filaments of the several strands being simultaneously attenuated from streams of glass flowing from the feeder 10. The individual filaments are of diameters of twenty hundred thousandths of an inch or more. The large number of filaments making up the strands of the roving and the size of the filaments enables attenuation at comparatively slow linear speed of about four thousand feet per minute with a slow traverse of the roving during package formation. The high throughput of glass facilitates Production of the roving at low cost. The several strands comprising the roving are wound into a package.

Nozzles 25 may be provided for directing sprays of Water onto the newly formed filaments. It is found that a satisfactory package may be formed of filaments of glass wherein the only material delivered onto the filaments is water from the nozzles 25. However, it may sometimes be desirable to apply lubricants or other coating materials to the filaments for particular uses. For this purpose an applicator housing 26 supports an applicator 28 which, as shown in FIGURE 2, may be an endless belt partially immersed in coating material contained in the housing for transferring the coating material to the filaments through wiping action of the filaments engaging a film of coating material on the applicator belt 28.

The roving 24 of a plurality of strands 22 is collected into a package 35 by a winding machine or apparatus 32, the roving being wound onto a collector, such as a collector tube or sleeve 34, telescoped onto a rotatable collet 36.

The winding of the roving into a package attenuates the glass streams 18 to filaments 20. The winding collet 36 is rotated by an electrically energizable motor 38 contained within a housing 40 of the winding machine.

The speed of the motor 38 is varied in a manner hereinafter explained to reduce the rotational speed of the winding collet 36 as the package of roving 35 increases in size so as to maintain substantially constant the linear speed of the filaments to attenuate filaments of uniform size.

The roving 24 produced according to the method and by the apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of strands 22 or groups of filaments -which are collected in side-'by-side relation in the package 35 in successive layers in a manner to form a square end package, as shown in lFIGURE 7.

In forming the multistrand roving, the filaments 20 drawn or attenuated from the streams 18 are subdivided or separated into strands 22 or groups of filaments shown in FIGURE 1. The filaments are oriented into groups or strands by a guide 48 resembling a comb having a plurality of projections or teeth 49 separating the strands. The strand separating means or comb 48 is mounted upon a support 50 and is preferably removable from the support to enable the operator to engage the strands in the grooves provided by the projections 49 and segregate groups of the advancing filaments into strands.

Disposed below the guide 48 and offset from the median path of the strands is a second comb or strand guide member 54 provided with teeth or projections 55 spaced to accommodate the strands 22. The comb 54 is mounted upon a support 56 and is preferably removable to enable the operator to thread the strands between pairs of projections on the comb. The comb or strand guide 54 is disposed, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to divert the strands through substantially 90, one of the purposes being to reduce the tendency of the strands to whip under the influence of traverse movements thereof.

An important feature of the invention resides in the method and arrangement for guiding and traversing the roving as it is Wound into a package wherein the traverse guide for the roving is maintained at all times close to the package in order that the strands of the roving be collected in the package in side-by-side relation and such orientation maintained during traverse of the roving throughout the package.

The method involves the step of compacting the roving at the package ends, viz. at the region of reversal of the traverse means to provide support for each preceding layer to assure the formation of a square end package eliminating a stair-step or tapering effect and consequently any tendency for the roving to Slough at the package ends, the package ends being formed without lateral sup port. The traverse guide means for the roving is mounted by an arm 60, shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, which is of hollow conguration to accommodate a traverse drive means.

The arm is provided with a hollow or tubular horizontal section 62 in which a traverse actuating means or member 64 is journally mounted for rotation. The member 64 is of cylindrical shape fashioned with a multiple return -groove or cam 66 for reciprocating a traverse member 68. The axis of the traverse actuator 6.4 is parallel with the axis of the winding collet 36. The traverse member 68, which may be of metal or plastic, is provided with grooves 7&1, thev grooves accommodating ways 72 provided on the member 62 and which are parallel with the axis of the traverse actuator 64 providing for reciprocable movement of the traverse 68 along the ways 72.

The traverse 68 is equipped with a cam follower 74 of arcuate shape tting in the groove 66. The follower 74 is formed with a tenon -portion 76 which is journaled for pivotal movement in the traverse member 68, as shown in FIGURE 4, to accommodate swivel or pivotal movement lof the Vfollower 74 at the reversal regions 66 of the multiple return groove 66.

The traverse member is equipped with a traverse guide means 78 for the roving. The guide means 78 for the roving is inclusive of a comb 79 having spaced projections 80 which provide recesses 81, the number of recesses being equivalent to the number of strands 22 of the roving so that each strand is accommodated in a recess 81. The projections 80 are as thin as practicable so that the strands in the recesses 81 are in close relation, the strands of the roving converging from the comb guide 54 to the comb-like guide 79 on the traverse block 68.

The guide 79 is removably sup-ported on the traverse block '68 by a clamp Imeans 84 to enable the operator to thread the strands into the recesses 8'1 with the guide 78 removed .from the traverse. After the operator threads the strand-s 22 of the roving into the recesses, the guide 79 ris afxed to the traverse 68 and clamp means 84 manipulated to hold the guide 79 to the traverse 68. In order to retain the strands in the recesses 81 a removable clamp bar 86 is disposed forwardly of and adjacent the strands `and is held in such position by spring clamp means 88.

The guide comb 79 is disposed as close as practicable to the periphery of the package of roving being formed on the collet 36 s-o as to efect the deposition or collection of roving on the package with the strands thereof in side-by-side relation. In winding the multistrand roving into a package, one essential factor is to maintain the strands vin side-by-side relation in order to properly form a cylindrically shaped package.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the rotatable traverse cam 64 journaled in the horizontal section 62 of the arm 6|) has a shaft portion equipped with a sprocket 92 connected by a nonslipping belt 94 with `a sprocket '98, the latter being mounted on a shaft 99 which is driven through suitable transmission gearing 100 -fro-m an electrically energizable motor 102, or connected through a nonslipping means from shaft 90 to motor 38 to positively maintain constant ratio.

The traverse guide is reciprocated at a comparatively slow speed as filament attenuation is carried on at a comparatively slow speed. These characteristics substantially eliminate abrasion or impairment of the roving by the traverse guide.

The shaft 99 extends through a hollow portion 104 of the arm 60 extending into and journaled in `bearings (not shown) mounted within the winding machine housing 40. In this manner the traversing cam 64 is rotated by the motor 102, or through other mechanical means, inde pendently of the relative position of the arm 60.

The method of the invention involves maintaining the traverse guide means close to the package and includes a sensing means responsive to the increase in size of the package for moving the traverse support arm 60` to accommodate the enlarging package while maintaining the traverse guide in substantially the same relative position vclose or adjacent to the periphery of the package throughout package formation.

The arrangement includes means for moving the arm y60 and the traverse guide for the roving away from the package as the package increases in size. As shown in FIGURE 2, the journal portion `104 of the arm 60 is connected by power transmission mechanism 106 including s'peed reducing mechanism 108 with a motor 110. The motor 110 is of a slow speed synchronous type rotating at yabout 70 rpm. The power transmission mechanism and speed reducing gearing may be of the planetary type although any suitable Imechanism may be used to effect a high ratio speed reduction between the motor 110 and the arm 60.

The motor 110, for shifting the position of the traverse support arm 60, is -in circuit with means for energizing and controlling the operation of the motor 1'10 through a sensing means responsive to increase in the size of the package of roving.

Mounted `on the traverse block 68, shown in FIGURE 4, is a relatively movable member or plunger Il1112 having a combined traverse guide and package size sensing means 114. A coil spring or similar means 116 normally biases the ymember 112 in a left-hand direction as viewed in FIGUR-E 4 toward the package, `a suitable stop means such as a washer 117 pinned on the .plunger being provided to limit the left-hand movement of member 112 and package sensing portion 114 preferably formed of resinous material such as Micarta.

Mounted on the traverse block l68 is a microswitch 118, the operating plunger 120 of the microswitch being aligned with 4the plunger or member 112. The member 114 is provided with a T-shaped slot 11'5` to receive the multistrand roving from the comb guide 79 t-o properly guide the roving ont-o the package. The slot 115 in member 114 is of a width to accommodate the several strands 22 of the .roving in sidebyside relation so that the strands of the roving in the package lie in side-by-side relation.

The member 114 is adapted to be engaged by the package as the package increases in size and provides a sensor to initiate the operation of means for repositioning the arm 60 and the traverse mechanism carried thereby. The enlarging package engages the sensor and Iroving guide member compressing the spring 116 to engage the rod or plunger 112 with the rod or plunger 120 to close the microswitch 118 and energizes the circuit of the motor 110 to effect a very slight rotation of the arm 60 laterally away from the package.

A timer or time delay relay 122 (shown in FIGURE 8) regulates the duration of rotation of the motor 110 to move the traverse guide 78 and the sensor 114 a very slight ldistance away from the package in increments, each increment of movement taking place With each engagement of the sensor or member 114 with the periphery of the package of roving which is continuously increasing in diameter.

It is preferable that the package size sensor circuit be rendered operative when `the sensor 114 carried by the traverse 68 is adjacent an end region of the package. The circuit through the microswitch 1118 includes a spring contact member 124 which is adapted for engage-ment with a contact 1126 mounted adjacent the region of reversal 66 at one end of the cam 64, the contact 126 being insulated from the horizontal section 62 of the traverse support means.

Through this arrangement the contact 124 engages the contact 126 through a short distance of traverse of the member 68 at one region of reversal of movement. Thus while a sensor 114 may at times be engaged by peripheral regions of the package 'being formed, the sensor 114 is rendered effective when the traverse member `68 is in a position engaging contact 124 with contact 1126. A second set of contacts (not shown) similar to contacts 124 and 1126 is provided for the other current conductor connected with the microswitch 118.

In operation of the traverse member 68 the member reciprocates full length of the cam groove 66 in one direction and at the region of reversal 66 reverses its direction and travels uninterrupted in the opposite direction until its reversal at the opposite end of the cam groove 66. Through this method of traverse the successive wraps or convolutions of strands of the roving are not in crossing relation but are collected in successive layers in which the convolutions of strands of roving in a layer are wound in the same direction with the wraps or convolutions of strands of the roving in adjacent layers wound in a different direction to form a wound package, the strands of the roving being collected in side-by-side relation.

The method of the invention includes a step of impinging the multistrand roving at each region of reversal of the traverse guide means against an abutment or surface for compacting the strands of the roving at the package ends and axially or lengthwise f the package to promote the formation of a square edge package as shown in FIGURE 8. In winding a wound package of multistrand roving, it has been found that the roving adjacent the package ends would normally form a package with tapered end regions and such build-up or pattern formation fosters sloughing off of roving at the package ends.

By compacting the strands of the roving axially of the package at the regions of reversal of transverse of the roving, the ends of the package are formed in parallel planes normal to the axis of the package as square ends illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Mounted on projections 128 on the horizontal section 62 of the traverse arm 60 adjacent each end of the normal distance of travel of the traverse comb guide 79 are pins or abutments 130 adjustably supported by the projections 128i, the abutments disposed in positions so that the roving impinges against the abutments adjacent the package ends.

FIGURE 6 illustrates, in enlarged detail, the cornpaction of the strands of the roving when impinged against the abutment or member 130 at one end of the package. From FIGURE `6 it will be seen that the strands 22 of the roving nearest the abutment 13:0 are compacted lengthwise of the package, preventing a tapering of the pattern of collection of the roving at the ends of the package and providing an orientation that resists Sloughing of the roving at the package ends. Through this arrangement, a wound package is produced having square ends and is Wound without support at the ends.

With the form of package produced by the method and apparatus of the invention, the package is selfsupporting and upon removal of the completed package 35 and collector 34, the collector or thin walled tube, may be collapsed and removed from the interior of the package so that the roving may be withdrawn from the inside of the package for further processing.

The arrangement incluudes means for moving the traverse arm 60 and traverse guide away from the package at its completion in order to facilitates removing or -doing the completed package from the collet 36, and for resetting or repositioning the traverse guide close to an empty collector telescoped onto the winding collet 36 upon which a new package is to be formed.

Mounted within the housing 40 is a cylinder 134, shown in broken lines in FIGURES l and 2, in Which is disposed a piston 13S attached to a piston rod 136, the piston rod being connected as at 138 with a member 140 secured to an extending portion 142 of the traverse arm construction 60. The cylinder 134 is equipped with fluid conveying tubes 144 and 146 to convey fluid such as compressed air, into the cylinder to move the piston rod in either direction for moving the traverse arm portion 62 toward or away from the winding collet 36.

Means is also provided for releasing a planetary ring of the speed reduction mechanism 103 arranged between the motor and the drive shaft 99 for driving the traverse cam 64. In the embodiment illustrated, a cylinder is provided with a piston and piston rod for actuating a lclutch means (not shown) for engagement and disengagement with a planetary ring of the mechanism 108 to render ineffective the planetary speed reducing mechanism between the motor 110' and the arm 60 to enable fluid under pressure such as compressed air introduced into the cylinder 134 to move the traverse arm 60 independently of the drive motor 110 and the speed reducing mechanism 108.

A roving take-up or pull roll is journaled in bearings (not shown) contained within the housing 40, the roll being driven by a motor 161, shown in FIGURE 8. The purpose of the roving take-up roll 160 is to effect substantially continuous attenuation of the filaments forming the roving during the period of initial start-up and during the period in which the completed package is brought to rest, removed from the collet and an empty `collector placed upon the collet preaparatory to forming a new package. Through this arrangement attenuation of the streams to filaments is maintained substantially continuous so as not to appreciably impair or affect the thermal conditions in the feeder 10 during transfer of the roving onto an empty collector.

The circuits and programmer for controlling the several motors to accomplish the performance of method steps in Winding packages of roving are schematically illustrated in FIGURE 8. The programmer 1615 is for varying the speed of the collet drive motor 38 and varying the speed of the traverse drive motor 102 and for conveying current to the traverse arm actuating motor 110. The programmer is of the character disclosed and described in Smith Patent 3,109,602 wherein the speed of the collet driving motor 38 is gradually reduced as the package of roving increases in size and the speed of the traverse drive motor 102 is gradually reduced in order to maintain uniform the pattern of orientation of the roving in the package.

These are important factors in winding a satisfactory package of roving. The rate of progressive decrease in speed of the collet motor 38 is programmed to maintain substantially constant the speed of the laments being attenuated in order that the filaments be of uniform size, and the traverse rotor is proportionately reduced in speed to facilitate the formation of a cylindrically shaped package of roving having square ends.

The cycle of operations and sequence of method steps in forming a roving package is as follows: During formation of a package on the rotating collet 36 the advancing strands of the roving are being traversed by the traverse guide comb 79 and the guide member 114 which are reciprocated lengthwise of the package through the drive transmitted by the multiple return groove or cam 66 on the rotating traverse drive member 64 communicated to the traverse block 68 through the cam follower 74 engaged in the groove 66.

The multistrand roving is traversed throughout the full length of the package at each reciprocation of the traverse block 68 so that the successive wraps of roving are in wound relation as the individual strands 22 of the roving occupy the recesses 81 provided by the projections 80 of the comb-like member 79. The several strands of the roving 24 are deposited or collected on the package in sideby-side relation, as shown in FIGURE 6.

It is essential that strand tension be maintained between the comb guide 79 and the guide bar 114 so as to maintain the strands of the roving in proper spaced relation as they are wound into the package.

As the traverse guide means 79 and 114 guide the several strands adjacent the ends of the package, the pins or abutments 130 are adjusted to positions whereby the outermost strands 22 are impinged against the abutments. This action compacts some of the strands of the roving lengthwise of the package in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. This compacting action on the strands of the roving at the ends of the package prevents formation of a tapered end package and promotes the formation of a cylindrically shaped package having square ends by building up a region of compacted strands at the package ends during each reversal of the traverse guide 78.

In order to properly guide the multiple strands of the roving into proper side-by-side relation on the package, the roving guide means should be substantially continuously maintained as close as practicable to the package. During formation, the package is progressively enlarging in diameter and the sensor arrangement for maintaining the traverse guide means close to the package functions in the following manner: When the enlarging package engages the sensor and roving guide member or bar 114, the package moves the sensor member 114 and the supporting plunger 112 in a right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 compressing the spring 116.

As a succeeding few layers of roving are laid on the enlarging package the plunger 112 is thus moved to engage the operative member 120 of the microswitch 118 to close the switch.

With the mcroswitch closed, the contact brush 124 engages the contact member 126 carried by the traverse support 62 completes a circuit through the time delay relay 122 to energize the motor 110.

The rotation of the motor 110 through the planetary speed reducing mechanism 108 effects a slight rotation of the arm 60 about the axis of the shaft 99 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to move the sensor member and guide 114 and the comb-like traverse guide 78 a slight distance away from the periphery of the package. The time delay relay 122, shown in FIGURE 8, is of a character to maintain the motor 110 energized for a period of time required to move the sensor member 114 out of engagement with the package. As it is important to maintain the several strands of the roving 24 close to the region of collection on the package, the traverse support is preferably moved just sufficient to disengage the sensor bar 114 from the package surface and not more than about 1/32 of an inch from the surface.

Package winding continues with the arm 60 and section 62 in the readjusted position until the enlarging package again engages the sensor member 114, compressing the spring 116 and bringing the plunger 112 into contact with the actuating element 120 of the microswitch 118, this operation again closing the circuit of the motor 110 to again reposition the traverse support arm 60, the sensor member 114 and the comb guide 79.

Repetitive repositioning of the traverse block 68, roving guide and sensor means continues to the completion of the package to maintain the sensor and guide member 114 in engagement with or close to the package.

When the package is completed, the operator depresses a stop switch button 167, deenergizing through the programmer, the collet motor 38 and the traverse drive motor 102, and energizes the motor 161 to rotate the pull roll or standby collector roll 160. When the stop button is actuated to deenergize the collet drive motor 38, the motor 38 is dynamically reduced in speed by electric energy in a conventional well known method.

The actuation of the stop button 167 actuates solenoid actuated valve means (not shown) to direct compressed air to the cylinder (shown in FIGURE 2) to release the `planetary gearing 108 from the motor 110 and concomitantly direct compressed air to the cylinder 134, through the tube 146, shown in FIGURE 1, moving the piston 134 to the left, which effects counterclockwise movement of the traverse arm 6i) swinging the arm to a position withdrawing the sensor member 114, traverse member 68 and roving guide comb 78 to a maximum distance away from the completed package.

The operator then manually fractures the several strands of the roving and snubs the strands onto the rotating pull roll 168 whereby attenuation of all of the laments is continued. With the traverse arm in retracted position, the operator doffs or removes the completed package 35 from the collet and telescopes an empty tube 34 onto the collet 36 preparatory to winding a new package.

The operator leads the advancing roving partially around the empty collector tube on the collet and depresses a foot-operated switch 170. Depression of the switch actuates solenoid controlled valve means (not shown) to direct compressed air through tube 144 into the left-hand end of cylinder 134 to move the piston 135 in a right-hand direction to swing the traverse arm 60 in a clockwise direction to move the traverse sensor and guide member 114 close to the empty collector tube on the collet 36. The arm 60, on reaching its innermost position, initiates operation of valve means (not shown) to release air pressure in cylinder 150 to reestablish the drive connection of the speed reducing mechanism 108 with the motor 110.

The operator engages the strands of the roving in the T-shaped slot in the sensor and guide member 114 while the roving is still passing partially around the collet 36 and is being wound up on the pull roll 168'. The operator removes the traverse guide comb 78 from the traverse block 68 and threads the projection of the comb 79 between pairs of strands 22 of the roving to space the strands as they are delivered onto the package. With the comb guide 79 engaged with the several strands, the operator replaces the comb guide on the traverse block 68 and locks the same in position by the clip 84, the strands now being in side-by-side relation in the T-shaped slot 115.

The operator releases the foot switch 170, which energizes the motor 138 to rotate the collet .36 and simultaneously deenergizes the motor driving the pull roll 160. As the pull roll speed is reduced, slack is formed in the strands of the roving between the collector on the collet 36 and the pull roll 160, causing the strands of the roving to lick or adhere to the empty collector 34 to initiate winding of a new package. The snubbing of the slack strands of the roving on the empty collector 34 causes the strands to be fractured automatically between the empty collector and the pull roll 160.

The collet motor 38 rotates the collet 36 at a speed to attenuate the streams 16 to continuous filaments of desired size. As the package increases in size` the programmer progressively reduces the speed of the collet drive motor 38 so as to maintain substantially constant the linear travel of the filaments so that the filaments throughout the packages are of uniform size and progressively reduces the speed of the traverse drive motor HB2 to maintain the same pattern of orientation of the strands of the roving throughout the package.

During the formation of the package, at each region of the reversal of the traverse member or block 68, the outermost strands 22 of the roving are impinged against the abutment or pins 1.30 to compact some of the strands lengthwise of the package, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The method of forming and packaging the multifilament roving substantially eliminates the so-called catenary effect heretofore encountered in forming roving, a condition usually resulting from unequal tension of the filaments.

By partially compacting the strands of the roving at the ends of the package, the roving at such regions provides for increased density at the package ends so as to form a cylindrically shaped package with square ends as shown in FIGURE 7. The step of compacting the strands at the package ends maintains a circular cylindrical shape to the package without any taper adjacent the ends. While the roving 24 illustrated comprises seven strands 22, it is to be understood that the roving `may be fashioned of a greater or lesser number of strands.

The package of roving wound according to the method of and by the apparatus of the invention has equare ends, that is, the planes of the ends are in substantial parallelism. The method of formation of the package enables the production of comparatively large packages of roving containing upwards of ninety pounds of roving in a single package. The package of roving may be readily processed through a drying operation or the package impregnated with coating material if desired. In withdrawing the roving from the package the several strands forming the roving are withdrawn simultaneously. The method and apparatus for guiding the strands of the roving onto the package by guide means disposed close to the package enables its formation wherein the strands are under control of the traverse guide to effect an unvarying pattern of orientation of the strands in each layer of roving in the package to promote uniform tension throughout the package.

The use of the method of the invention results in a novel roving of strands of glass filaments wherein the filaments are directly attenuated from glass streams and the multistrand roving collected in comparatively large packages and at low cost rendering the method commercially economical.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

l. A method of packaging a roving comprising a plurality of strands of fibers including advancing the strands while maintaining the strands in spaced relation, winding the roving of strands upon a rotating collector into a package, traversing the roving while rmaintaining the strands of the roving in spaced relation to distribute the roving lengthwise of the package with successive layers of equal length and with the strands in each layer in side-by-side noncrossing relation to provide a wound package, and engaging the roving at the ends of each layer with nontraversing surfaces to compact the strands of the roving of each layer at the ends of the package.

2. A method of packaging a bulk strand product including advancing a group of strands of glass fibers with the strands in spaced relation, winding the groups of strands into a package while maintaining the strands in side-by-side relation, traversing the group of strands lengthwise of the package during winding in successive layers of equal length and with the strands in side-by-side noncrossing relation, and engaging strands of the group with nontraversng abutments adjacent the ends of each layer as the package is being formed for compacting strands of the group at said ends during reversal of direction of movement of the traverse.

3. A method for producing and packaging a bulk strand product including tiowing streams of heat-softened glass from a supply, attenuating the streams into continuous filaments, segregating the filaments into individual groups, simultaneously winding the groups of filaments in successive layers into a package while maintaining the groups of filaments in side-by-side noncrossing relation in each layer, traversing the groups of laments lengthwise of the package during winding whereby the successive layers of groups of filaments are of equal length, and engaging the groups at the end regions of each layer with nontraversing surfaces for compacting the groups to form a cylindrically shaped wound package having ends in parallel planes.

4. A method of packaging a roving comprising a plurality of strands of bers including rotating a collector, winding the strands of the roving on the collector into a package, traversing the strands of the roving lengthwise of the package by a guide with the strands maintained in side-by-side noncrossing relation in each of successive layers of the roving of equal length in the package, sensing enlargement of the package by a sensor responsive to the enlarging package, and repositioning the guide under the influence of the sensor to maintain the guide close to but out of contact with the periphery of the package throughout the formation of the package.

5. A method of producing and packaging a bulk strand product including flowing streams of heat-softened glass from a supply, attenuating the streams into continuous laments, segregating the filaments into ya group of strands, simultaneously winding the group of strands in successive layers into ya package while traversing the group of strands lengthwise of the package during Winding in successive layers of equal length and with the strands in side-by-side noncrossing relation in each layer, and impinging strands of the group against nontraversng surfaces adjacent the ends of the package for compacting strands of the group at said ends during reversal of direction of movement of the traverse to form a wound package of cylindrical shape with square ends.

6. A method of producing and packaging a roving comprising untwisted strands of continuous filaments including flowing streams of heat-softened glass from a supply, attenuating the streams into continuous filaments, segregating the filaments into strands, winding the roving of strands into a package upon a rotating collector, engaging the advancing roving with a traverse guide close to the package at the region of collection of the roving in the package, reciprocating the traverse guide to distribute the roving lengthwise of the package in successive layers of roving of equal length and with the strands in each layer in side-by-side noncrossing relation, sensing the enlarging package by pressure of the package on the guide, and successively repositioning the guide radially outwardly of the package responsive to the senor to maintain the guide close to but out of contact with the package at the region of collection of the roving on the package throughout formation of the package.

7. A method of producing and packaging a bulk strand product including flowing streams of heat-softened glass from a supply, attenuating the streams into continuous filaments, subdividing the filaments into individual groups, simultaneously winding the groups of filaments in successive layers into a package while maintaining the groups of filaments in side-by-side noncrossing relation, traversing the groups of filaments lengthwise of the package during winding whereby the convolutions of one layer of groups of filaments are in crossing relation with the convolutions of an adjacent layer, and engaging advancing groups of the filaments with a nontraversng surface adjacent each end region of the package to compact the 13 groups of filaments in each layer at said ends to increase the density of the end regions of the package.

8. A method of producing and packaging a roving of strands of continuous filaments including owing streams of heatsoftened glass from a supply, attenauting the streams to continuous filaments, subdividing the advancing tilarnents into a plurality of strands, converging the strands into a roving with the strands in side-by-side relation, Winding the roving of strands into a package on a rotating collector, traversing a `guide engaging the roving close to the package to distribute the roving lengthwise of the package in successive layers with the strands in each layer in side-by-side noncrossing relation in the package, repositioning the guide radially outwardly of the package as the package increases in diameter to continuously maintain the guide close to but out of contact with the package, varying the speed of the collector to maintain constant the linear speed of the filaments to produce filaments of substantially uniform size, concomitantly varying the speed of traverse of the guide to maintain uniform the orientation of the roving throughout the package, and engaging the advancing roving of each layer adjacent each end of the package with a nontraversing surface to compact the ends of the layers for building a cylindrically-shaped wound package having ends in parallel planes.

9. A method of packaging linear bundles of fibers including rotating a collector, winding the linear bundles on the collector into a package, traversing the bundles lengthwise of the package by a guide close to but out of contact with the periphery of the package to effect collection of the linear bundles in dened orientation in the package, sensing enlargement of the package by a sensor responsive to the enlarging package, and inter mittently moving the guide relative to the axis of the package to maintain the guide close to but out of contact with the periphery of the package under the influence ofthe sensor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,345,538 3/ 1944 Lewis 242-42 2,345,544 3/ 1944 Worthington 242-42 2,363,205 11/1944 Smith 242-42 XR 2,3 86,158 10/ 1945 Collins 242--42 3,109,602 1l/1963 Smit-l1 242-18 3,249,312 5/1966 Current 242-42 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

Images