Yarn processing machine and creel assembly

A combination ring twister machine or like yarn processing machine and overhead creel assembly for holding a plurality of creel bobbins of yarn or other yarn packages from which yarn can be drawn from the creel assembly into the twister machine, said combination comprising:

• a yarn processing machine base structure;
• creel structure positioned on top of said base structure;
• a plurality of spindles located on each of two opposite sides of said base structure;
• a pull roll assembly associated with said spindles;
• a bobbin carriage including an arcuate creel arm associated with each of said spindles, each said creel arm being suspended from said creel structure by a swinging bar pivotable about a first stationary horizontal axis mounted to said creel structure, and each said creel arm being capable of holding a plurality of yarn packages, said bobbin carriage being movable through a circular arc about said horizontal axis as defined by the movement of said swinging bar from a first up position to a second down position;
• spring biasing means for biasing said bobbin carriage toward said up position and for holding said bobbin carriage in said down position;
• and
• means for maintaining the length of the yarn path along which yarn must extend from yarn packages in said bobbin carriage to said pull roll assembly with said bobbin carriage in said up position approximately equal to the length of said yarn path with said bobbin carriage in said down position,
• whereby said pull rolls can be operated to draw yarn from the yarn packages with said carriage in any position between and including said up position and said down position;
• further provided that said biasing means include,
• a rocker pivotable about a second stationary horizontal axis positioned on said creel structure;
• a link attached at one of its ends to said swinging bar at a first hinge point and at its other end to said rocker at a second hinge point,
• a spring means for attaching at one of its ends to said rocker at a spring attachment point, said second horizontal axis acting as a fulcrum relative to said spring attachment point and said second hinge point,
• whereby said spring means pulls continually said rocker to pivot said rocker about said second horizontal axis thus pulling on said link to draw said swinging bar upward and to thus draw said bobbin carriage to said up position.

A creel assembly comprising:

• a first stationary horizontal axis for mounting above a yarn processing machine;
• a support framework for supporting said stationary axis above the yarn processing machine;
• a creel arm assembly suspended from said first stationary horizontal axis and below said axis, said creel arm assembly being pivotable through a circular arc about said stationary axis;
• yarn guide means disposed adjacent said first stationary horizontal axis for guiding yarn from said yarn packages to said yarn processing machine;
• and
• counterbalancing means for limiting the pivotable movement of said creel arm assembly to movement between an up position and a down position and for holding said creel arm assembly in said up position and also in said down position, including
• a rocker pivotable about a second stationary horizontal axis;
• a spring means attached at one of its ends to said rocker at a spring attachment point for exerting a spring force on said rocker at said spring attachment point;
• and
• an overcenter linkage attached at one of its ends to said bobbin carriage at a first hinge point and at its other end to said rocker at a second hinge point, said overcenter linkage being shaped so as to locate said first hinge point to one side of a line drawn between said second hinge point and said first stationary horizontal axis when said bobbin carriage is in said down position and to locate said first hinge point on the other side of said line when said carriage moves out of said down position,
• whereby said spring pulls on said rocker to pivot said rocker about said second horizontal axis thus pulling on said overcenter linkage to draw said bobbin carriage to said up position, and the pulling on said overcenter linkage by said rocker also holds said bobbin carriage in said down position.

A creel assembly comprising:

• a first stationary horizontal axis for mounting above a yarn processing machine;
• a support framework for supporting said stationary axis above the yarn processing machine;
• a creel arm assembly suspended from said axis, said creel arm assembly being configured for carrying a plurality of yarn packages and being pivotable through a circular arc about said axis;
• yarn guide means disposed adjacent said axis for guiding yarn from said yarn packages to said yarn processing machine;
• and
• counterbalancing means for resiliently holding said creel arm assembly at each of the terminal positions of said arc, including a counterbalancing overcenter linkage.