Apparatus and methods for splicing silvers of yarn during yarn formation and processing

An apparatus for splicing selected portions of sliver, the apparatus comprising:

• a needle carrying member having a plurality of needles to engage sliver when positioned adjacent thereto;
• a needle engaging member positioned to underlie the needle carrying member and to receive the plurality of needles from the first needle carrying member;
• and
• hand-activated needle actuation means connected to the needle carrying member and the needle engaging member to position the needle carrying member in an open position to allow sliver to be spliced to be readily positioned therebetween and responsive to closing at least portions of the hand of a user for actuating the engaging of the needle carrying member with the sliver and the needle engaging member so that the engaging of plurality of needles of the needle carrying member with the needle engaging member thereby defines a closed position.

An apparatus for splicing sliver, the apparatus comprising:

• a first handle portion having at least one sliver engaging member, the at least one sliver engaging member including a plurality of needles;
• a second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member in a closed position, the first and second handle portions in combination defining a hand-activated needle actuation device;
• a pivot member associated with the first and second handle portions to allow either the first or second handle portions to pivot about the pivot member between respective open and closed positions, the open position being defined by portions of the first handle member having the at least one sliver engaging member being spaced-apart from portions of the second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member and the closed position being defined by the at least one sliver engaging member of the first handle portion being received by the portions of the second handle member when positioned closely adjacent thereto, the hand-activated needle actuation device being responsive to grippingly closing at least portions of the hand of a user to actuate the engaging of the plurality of needles with the sliver to be spliced and the portions of the second handle portion when the sliver is positioned between the plurality of needles and the portions of the second handle portion so that the engaging of plurality of needles with the portions of the second handle portion thereby further defines the closed position;
• and
• a biasing member associated with the pivot member and positioned to bias either the first or the second handle portions in a preselected biased position.

An apparatus for splicing sliver, the apparatus comprising:

• a first handle portion having a handle body and at least one sliver engaging member detachably connected to the handle body to thereby define a cartridge member;
• a second handle portion pivotally connected to and positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member and pivot between open and closed positions, the open position being defined by the at least one sliver engaging member being spaced-apart from portions of the second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member and the closed position being defined by the at least one sliver engaging member of the first handle portion being received by the portions of the second handle portion when positioned closely adjacent thereto;
• and
• a biasing member positioned to bias either the first or the second handle portions in a preselected biased position.

An apparatus for splicing sliver, the apparatus comprising:

• a first handle portion having at least one sliver engaging member;
• a second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member in a closed position;
• a pivot member associated with the first and second handle portions to allow either the first or second handle portions to pivot about the pivot member between respective open and closed positions, the open position being defined by portions of the first handle member having the at least one sliver engaging member being spaced-apart from portions of the second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member and the closed position being defined by the at least one sliver engaging member of the first handle portion being received by the portions of the second handle member when positioned closely adjacent thereto;
• and
• a biasing member connected to the pivot member and positioned to bias the first handle portions in an open.

An apparatus for splicing sliver, the apparatus comprising:

• a first handle portion having at least one sliver engaging member, the at least one sliver engaging member being detachably connected to the first handle portion and defining a cartridge member to readily be removed from the first handle portion;
• a second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member in a closed position;
• a pivot member associated with the first and second handle portions to allow either the first or second handle portions to pivot about the pivot member between respective open and closed positions, the open position being defined by portions of the first handle member having the at least one sliver engaging member being spaced-apart from portions of the second handle portion positioned to receive the at least one sliver engaging member and the closed position being defined by the at least one sliver engaging member of the first handle portion being received by the portions of the second handle member when positioned closely adjacent thereto;
• and
• a biasing member associated with the pivot member and positioned to bias either the first or the second handle portions in a preselected biased position.