Traveler application system

A device for applying a traveler to a ring of a textile fiber processing machine, the device comprising:

• a body member;
• a traveler rail connected to said body member adapted for carrying a plurality of travelers for sliding movement thereon, said traveler rail having a free end for dispensing travelers;
• a tooth carried by said body member moveable between a retracted position adjacent said free end of said traveler rail and an extended position extending beyond said free end of said traveler rail;
• transfer means associated with said tooth for moving said tooth between said engagement position and said extended position;
• and
• said tooth being adapted to engage a traveler on said traveler rail when in said retracted position, and said tooth being adapted to remove the traveler from said free end of said traveler rail and to hold the traveler and transport the traveler away from said free end of said traveler rail as said tooth moves from said retracted position to said extended position, whereby the traveler becomes attachable on a ring of the textile fiber processing machine while held by said tooth in said extended position.

A device for applying a traveler to a ring of a textile fiber processing machine, the device comprising:

• a body member, said body member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said body member defining a traveler receiving compartment, said traveler receiving compartment being open to said first and second ends of said body member;
• a cartridge carried in said traveler receiving compartment, said cartridge defining a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis within said traveler receiving compartment;
• said cartridge having a plurality of cartridge rails, each of said plurality of cartridge rails being adapted for carrying plurality of travelers thereon;
• a transport rail having a first end next to at least one of said cartridge rails and a second end next to said second end of said traveler receiving compartment;
• a spring-biased pusher carried for movement adjacent at least one of said cartridge rails for pushing a traveler from said cartridge rail towards said transport rail;
• and
• a tooth connected to said body member, said tooth being movable between a retracted position adjacent said second end of said transport rail and an extended position extending beyond said second end of said traveler rail, said tooth being adapted to remove a traveler on said second end of said transport rail when in said retracted position and to hold the traveler for placement of a traveler on a ring of the textile fiber processing machine when in said extended position and while held by said tooth.

A method of providing travelers in a traveler dispensing apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing a traveler holder having a first end and having a plurality of longitudinally extending rails, each of said plurality of rails being adapted for slidingly carrying a plurality of travelers thereon and for dispensing the travelers to a traveler rail of the traveler dispensing apparatus;
• providing a traveler retainer carried on said first end of said traveler holder for rotation relative to said traveler holder for allowing travelers to be removed from only one of said plurality of rails at a time;
• and
• dispensing travelers one at a time from one of said longitudinally extending rails of said traveler holder through an opening defined by said traveler retainer into the traveler dispensing apparatus.

A method of applying a traveler to a ring of a fiber processing machine, the method comprising:

• providing a traveler applicator having a transport rail for carrying a plurality of travelers and a cartridge adjacent to said transport rail, said cartridge having a plurality of rails each carrying a plurality of travelers;
• transferring a traveler from at least one of said rails of said cartridge to said transport rail;
• moving the traveler transferred to said transport rail to the end of said transport rail;
• providing a moveable tooth for engaging the traveler at said end of said transport rail;
• removing the traveler from said end of said transport rail with said moveable tooth;
• simultaneously holding and transporting said traveler outwardly from said end of said transport rail with said moveable tooth;
• and
• applying the traveler from said moveable tooth onto the ring of the fiber processing machine while the traveler is held by said tooth.