Apparatus and process for forming a thread-reserve winding

A process for forming a thread-reserve winding on a bobbin tube having an inside diameter defiing an interior thereof and an associated bobbin plate with an integral centering shoulder which extends into said inside diameter, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing a thread draw-off pipe and thread suction device with said suction device in the vicinity of said bobbin plate, said pipe and said suction device defining a thread path therebetween;
• providing a thread-catching device associated wtih said bobbin plate, said thread-catching device including at least one slit formed between the periphery of said bobbin plate and said centering shoulder thereof;
• providing a thread severing device within said thread suction device;
• providing a thread guide fork positioned in said thread path and in the radial plane of said bobbin plate periphery;
• providing controllably movable first and second thread guide elements adjacent said thread path;
• providing thread in said thread path, guided by said thread guide fork, and extending into said thread suction device;
• controllably rotating the bobbin tube about its axis;
• simultaneously moving said first and second thread guide elements into said thread path so as to engage said thread to form a thread portion located between said thread guide elements;
• presenting said thread portion to said thread catching device in a disposition approximately parallel to the rotation axis of said bobbin tube;
• catching said thread portion by means of said slit and simultaneously severing with said thread severing device said thread extending into said thread suction device so as to form a free thread end hanging out from said slit;
• forming a thread-reserve winding by guiding said thread by moving said second thread guide element away from said bobbin plate and in a direction towards the bobbin tube center, while rotating said bobbin tube and plate;
• moving said second guide element back towards said bobbin plate while continuing said rotation of said bobbin tube and plate so as to wind thread over said thread-reserve winding;
• and
• drawing said thread caught in said slit to the bottom of said slit adjacent said centering shoulder and conveying said free thread end into said interior of said bobbin tube during winding of thread on said bobbin tube, whereby said thread end is reliably secured and protected within said bobbin tube.

An apparatus for forming a thread-reserve winding on a bobbin tube and reliably securing an end of such thread reserve, comprising:

• a bobbin tube having at least one end, and respective outside and inside diameters;
• a substantially circular bobbin plate having a radius greater than that of said bobbin tube outside diameter;
• means for generally engaging said bobbin plate with said bobbin tube end so as to permit slight relative rotation therebetween;
• means for rotating said bobbin plate and tube, with a resulting slight relative rotational movement therebetween, and with said plate leading said tube;
• and
• means, operative during rotation of said bobbin tube and plate, for receiving and drawing a thread end in between said bobbin plate and tube, and for further conveying said end, during relative rotation of said plate and bobbin, into an area within said tube inside diameter, where said end is reliably secured and protected for subsequent piecing to another thread end.