Method and assembly for forming thread reserve on spool tube in thread winding apparatus

An assembly for forming a thread reserve winding when spooling a thread onto a rotatably mounted spool tube in a thread winding apparatus, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a spool pin, a pressure roller and reverse thread roller device located with respect to each other to form said thread winding apparatus,
• (b) the spool pin including means for carrying the spool tube;
• a motor connected to rotate the spool tube,
• (c) means mounting said spool tube to swing in a direction toward the pressure roller disposed adjacent the spool pin to effect a thread winding function upon operation of the reverse thread roller device,
• (d) said spool tube including a smooth peripheral surface at least in the area of the thread reserve winding,
• (e) said pressure roller having a thread entry end;
• a thread blocking device being disposed at said entry end of the pressure roller for holding back the thread from being introduced to the reverse thread roller device until the thread reserve winding has been wound onto the spool tube, and
• (f) thread directing means for directing an incoming thread to-and-fro over a length of the spool tube defining the breadth of the thread reserve winding being formed,
• (g) said thread directing means being located ahead of the spool tube when viewing the assembly in the direction of the course of the thread through the thread winding apparatus,
• (h) said thread directing means including a slide mechanism located adjacent the pressure roller for moving the incoming thread back-and-forth along a delimited length of the pressure roller,
• (i) the slide mechanism including means for moving a slide member back-and-forth within slide member guiding means,
• (j) said slide member including thread engaging means which engage the incoming thread while the thread reserve winding is being formed as the slide member moves back-and-forth,
• (k) the thread engaging means including two pins laterally displaced with respect to each other on the slide member to define therebetween a passageway through which the incoming thread moves from the thread blocking device past the pressure roller onto the spool tube.

A method for forming a thread reserve when winding a thread onto a spool tube in a thread winding apparatus having a spool pin, pressure roller and a reverse thread roller device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a spool tube having a smooth peripheral surface at least in the area of the thread reserve winding,
• (b) rotating the spool tube carried by the spool pin,
• (c) providing a thread blocking device at an entry end of the pressure roller to hold back the thread from being introduced to the reverse thread roller until the thread reserve winding has been would onto the spool tube,
• (d) providing a thread directing means for directing an incoming thread to-and-fro over a length of the spool tube defining the breadth of the thread reserve being formed,
• (e) disposing the thread directing means ahead of the spool tube when viewing the assembly in the directing of the course of the thread through the thread winding apparatus,
• (f) grasping an end portion of the thread and introducing the incoming thread in front of the thread blocking device and into the thread directing means before the pressure roller is in peripheral contact with the spool tube,
• (g) allowing the incoming thread to wind around the smooth surface of the rotating spool tube to securely place the thread thereon,
• (h) cutting the thread to separate the end portion thereof once the thread is secured to the thread reserve length of the spool tube and then allowing the thread to be moved back-and-forth by the thread directing means to form the thread reserve winding on the spool tube, and
• (i) upon completion of the thread reserve winding, releasing the thread from the thread blocking device to allow the thread to be introduced into the reverse thread roller device.