System for cutting roving in a spinning machine

A method of operating a spinning apparatus for winding a strand onto a yarn package wherein the yarn package is rotated in a forward direction about an upright axis and the strand is wound in a succession of turns around the package from the radial innermost first layer to a radial outermost last layer by a flyer finger movable axially relative to the package and wherein each successive layer of turns is shorter than the preceding one and has an upper end so that the finished package has an axially upwardly tapered upper end and the upper end of the last layer is below the upper end of the first layer, the method comprising the steps after substantially completely forming the package of sequentially:

• a) stopping the drive for the yarn package and allowing same to generally stop rotating in a position with the finger close underneath the upper end of the last layer of turns formed on the package;
• b) relatively axially moving the package and the finger until the finger is close underneath the upper end of the first layer of the turns formed on the package and above the upper end of the last layer of the turns;
• c) rotating the package in the forward direction through at least one half revolution about the axis and thereby forming a loop of the strand around the upper package end above the upper end of the last layer of turns;
• d) creating slack in the strand upstream of the package;
• e) downwardly moving the finger;
• and
• f) cutting the strand below the level of the upper end of the last layer of turns.

An apparatus for winding a strand onto a yarn package, the apparatus comprising:

• a flyer centered on an upright axis above a yarn package and having a finer through which the strand is fed to the package;
• drive means for relatively rotating the package and the flyer forward about the axis and thereby forming a succession of turns of the strand on the package from a radial innermost first layer to a radial outermost last layer with each layer having an upper end;
• means for axially moving the finger relative to the package in vertical strokes of decreasing length to wind on the package successively shorter layer of turns and to impart to the package an axially upwardly tapered upper end with the upper end of the last layer below the upper end of the first layer;
• and control means for
• a) stopping the drive means or the package and allowing same to generally stop rotating in a position with the finger underneath the upper end of the last layer of turns formed on the package;
• b) relatively axially moving the package and the finger until the finger is at the upper end of the first layer of turns formed on the package and above the upper end of the last layer of turns;
• c) rotating the package forward through at least one half revolution about the axis and thereby forming a loop on the upper package end above the upper end of the last layer of turns;
• d) creating slack in the strand upstream of the package;
• and
• e) downwardly moving the finger.