Automatic knot-tying machine

Abstract

A knot-tying machine, including a package support for holding a package having a supply of a strand material with an exposed free end wound onto an outer surface of the package, a strand gripper for releasably gripping and holding a length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand, a loop-forming assembly for forming a loop in the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand and intermediate the gripper and the package, the package support and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotational movement relative to each other for forming the loop in the strand, and a knot-forming assembly for forming a slip-knot in the loop of the strand formed by the loop-forming assembly adjacent the free end thereof, the slip-knot being adapted to be subsequently removed when desired by pulling on the free end of the strand. The package support may be stationarily mounted and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotation around the periphery of the package support for capturing the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand for forming a loop therein.

Description

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from provisional application Serial No. 60 / 242,785, filed Oct. 24, 2000.TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] This invention relates to an automatic knot-tying machine, otherwise referred to in this application as a "package knotter." One application for the machine is for use in various textile or other strand producing processes, hereinafter referred to as "textile" processes. The invention is specifically intended to tie a slip knot in a single strand. Many textile machines, for example, spinning frames, winders and the like employ automated machines to tie two yarn ends together. This often happens when supply packages are exchanged. In effect, tying the two ends together permits the process to continue as if the yarn were a single continuous strand instead of two end-to-end strands connected together with a knot. As is apparent, the principal criteria for such a knot-tying machine is to quickly tie a knot w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0057] Then, the entire case of packages is sent at one time to packing. The entire process is sufficiently rapid that the knotter can process an entire doff of, for example, 36 to 48 packages, while yarn is being wound onto the next batch of packages.

Problems solved by technology

This process presents the possibility of damage to the yarn by the needle or tangling of the doubled yarn, particularly if it is pushed too far into the package.

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