Yarn end finding apparatus and method

A method of operating a yarn end feeding means of a yarn end finding aparatus in a yarn end finding operation comprising the method steps of:

• providing a yarn end finding apparatus with a yarn feeding means for feeding yarn from a bobbin having an outermost layer with a yarn end to a winder wherein said yarn feeding means includes an air current generating means for generating air current, an air current control means for directing said air current generated by said air current generating means to flow along a surface of said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin, said air current control means being a hollow tube-like cylinder having an outer configuration disposed on said yarn end finding apparatus so as to be movable up and down to at least partially surround said bobbin conveyed upright on a tray to a yarn end finding position during said yarn end finding operation, a yarn end finding sensor means for detecting said yarn end drawn out from said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin, and a means for dually controlling said air current control means by stopping said air current control means from moving down over said bobbin located on said yarn end finding position to at least partially surround said bobbin when said yarn end sensor has detected said yarn end and by repeatedly moving said air current control means up and down a predetermined number of times over said yarn end finding position to at least partially surround said bobbin depending on said configuration of said cylinder, until said yarn end sensor detects said yarn end has been drawn out from said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin and a cutter means for cutting a length of yarn from said yarn end which has been drawn out from said layers of yarn by said air current wherein said cutter means is mounted to said air current control means;
• generating said air current to flow toward a central longitudinal axis of said cylinder;
• and
• determining whether said yarn end finding sensor means has detected said yarn end.

In a yarn end finding operation using a yarn end finding apparatus having a yarn feeding means for feeding yarn from a bobbin, having an outermost layer of yarn with a yarn end, to a winder, said yarn feeding means comprising:

• a means for generating an air current;
• a means for controlling said air current, once generated, by directing said air current to flow along a surface of said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin, said air current control means located on said yarn end finding apparatus so that said air current control means moves downwardly with respect to a yarn end finding position into a position at least partially surrounding said bobbin and said air current control means moves upwardly with respect to a yarn end finding position into a position entirely above said bobbin;
• a yarn end sensor means for detecting said yarn end drawn out from said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin;
• and
• a means for dually functioning to control said air current control means by stopping said air current control means from moving downwardly over said bobbin located on said yarn end finding position when said yarn end sensor has detected that said yarn end has been drawn out and by repeatedly moving said air current control means downwardly and upwardly a predetermined number of times over said yarn end finding position to either partially or entirely surround said bobbin until said yarn end sensor detects said yarn end has been drawn out from said outermost layer of yarn of said bobbin.