Yarn feeding apparatus

Abstract

A high speed yarn feeding apparatus for feeding yarn from a yarn supply source to a yarn take-up apparatus is disclosed which is capable of being threaded by conventionally employed suction nozzles. The yarn feeding apparatus employs at least one stepped godet roller having a small diameter portion on which the travelling yarn is initially threaded. A yarn hooking means is provided on the peripheral surface of the stepped side of the large diameter portion of the stepped roller. Means is provided upstream of the stepped roller for shifting the travelling yarn from a position aligned with the small diameter portion to a position aligned with the large diameter portion of the stepped roller. The yarn hooking means can take various conformations and more than one hooking means can be provided on a single stepped godet roller. At least portions of the surface of the small diameter portion of the stepped roller can be configured to lower the frictional forces active on the yarn when in contact with that portion of the surface. The yarn feeding apparatus of the present design can be employed with non-stepped rollers or with a plurality of stepped rollers in either drawing or non-drawing operations. The particular advantages of the yarn feeding apparatus becomes significant where the peripheral speed of the large diameter portion of the stepped roller is equal to or greater than 3,500 m/min. and is particularly successful at speeds of 6,000 m/min. or more.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.