Method and device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread

Abstract

Method for joining an upper thread with a lower thread, which includes moving at least one thread regulator from a thread receiving position to a thread delivery position, inserting the threads with the at least one thread regulator into a longitudinal groove formed in a splicing chamber, automatically admitting compressed air laterally into the splicing chamber for splicing the threads, automatically separating the ends of the upper and lower threads and blowing compressed air into the splicing chamber in dependence on the position of the at least one thread regulator, separating the threads to form new shorter thread ends, sucking up the newly-formed shorter thread ends with an air stream, and securing the newly-formed shorter thread ends and device for performing the method.

There are claimed: 
     
       1. Method for joining an upper thread with a lower thread, which comprises .[.moving at least one thread regulator from a thread receiving position to a thread delivery position,.]. inserting the threads .[.with the at least one thread regulator.]. into a longitudinal groove formed in a splicing chamber, .[.automatically admitting compressed air laterally into the splicing chamber for splicing the threads, automatically separating.]. .Iadd.cutting .Iaddend.the ends of the upper and lower threads .[.and.]. .Iadd.to form new shorter thread ends, .Iaddend.blowing compressed air .Iadd.laterally .Iaddend.into the splicing chamber .[.in dependence on the position of the at least one thread regulator, separating the threads to form new shorter thread ends,.]. .Iadd.for splicing the threads, .Iaddend.sucking up and securing the newly-formed shorter thread ends with an air stream above and below said splicing chamber, .[.interchanging.]. .Iadd.selectively disposing exchangable .Iaddend.twisting nozzles above and below the splicing chamber for directing the air stream along the newly-formed shorter thread ends in the form of a twisting flow above and below the splicing chamber against the direction of twist of the particular threads being joined, and coordinating the strength and duration of the air stream with the strength, type and condition of the threads to be joined together. 
     
     
       2. Method according to claim 1, which comprises closing the splicing chamber with a cover .[.in dependence on the position of the at least one thread regulator.].. 
     
     
       3. Device for .[.performing the method of.]. joining an upper thread with a lower thread .[.according to claim 1.]., comprising a splicing chamber having a longitudinal groove formed therein for receiving and connecting the threads, .[.an openable cover covering said groove,.]. a compressed air channel connected to said splicing chamber, at least one thread regulator .[.being movable from a thread receiving to a thread delivery position.]. for inserting the threads into said groove, thread cutting means for separating ends of the upper and lower threads to form shortened thread ends of the upper and lower threads, a controllable and adjustable metering valve connected to said compressed air channel, .[.each of said cover, thread cutting means and metering valve being controllable in dependence on the position of said at least one thread regulator,.]. first pneumatic means disposed above said splicing chamber in the form of a first interchangeable twisting nozzle for receiving said shortened thread end of the lower thread, .Iadd.said first twisting nozzle .Iaddend.having first twisting .[. elements directed.]. .Iadd.means for directing an air stream .Iaddend.against the direction of twist of the lower thread, second pneumatic means disposed below said splicing chamber in the form of a second interchangeable twisting nozzle for receiving said shortened thread end of the upper thread, .Iadd.said second twisting nozzle .Iaddend.having second twisting .[.elements directed.]. .Iadd.means for directing another air stream .Iaddend.against the direction of twist of the upper thread, and a controllable .[.suction.]. air .Iadd.stream .Iaddend.metering .[.element.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.connected to said twisting nozzles. 
     
     
       4. Device according to claim 3, including a common line connected to said thread twisting nozzles. 
     
     
       5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said thread cutting means are in the form of a thread cutting mechanism for each of said pneumatic means, and each of said thread twisting nozzles are disposed between said splicing chamber and one of said thread cutting mechanisms. 
     
     
       6. Device according to claim 3, including a fixed proximity switch for controlling said air .[.suction.]. .Iadd.stream .Iaddend.metering .[.element.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.in response to motion of said at least one thread regulator, and a timing circuit for simultaneously controlling and setting said air .[.suction.]. .Iadd.stream .Iaddend.metering .[.element.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       7. Device according to claim 3, including an adjustable proximity switch for controlling said air .[.suction.]. .Iadd.stream .Iaddend.metering .[.elements.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.in response to motion of said at least one thread regulator, and a timing circuit for simultaneously controlling and setting said air .[.suction.]. .Iadd.stream .Iaddend.metering .[.element.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       8. Method according to claim 1, which comprises .[.initiating the step of.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.sucking up and securing the newly-formed shorter thread ends during the splicing step. 
     
     
       9. Device according to claim 3, wherein .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said pneumatic means include means for securing said shortened thread ends. 
     
     
       10. Device according to claim 3, including means for .[.initiating operation of.]. .Iadd.operating .Iaddend.said first and second pneumatic means during splicing. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A method of joining an upper thread to a lower thread in a splicing chamber having a longitudinal groove therein, said method comprising: (a) Inserting said upper thread and said lower thread oppositely in said longitudinal groove in said splicing chamber;   (b) clamping said upper thread above said splicing chamber and clamping said lower thread below said splicing chamber;   (c) cutting said upper thread below said splicing chamber to form an end of said upper thread and cutting said lower thread above said splicing chamber to form an end of said lower thread; and   (d) while said clamping said upper and said lower thread: (i) pneumatically holding and pneumatically untwisting each said thread end by directing compressed air onto each said thread end, and   (ii) blowing compressed air into said splicing chamber for joining said upper thread and said lower thread in a splice thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 11 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting comprises     
     
     
        removing fibers from said thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 12 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting comprises applying suction to each said thread end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 12 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting comprises blowing compressed air against said thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 12 and characterized further by selectively disposing exchangeable untwisting nozzles above and below said splicing chamber adapted to produce swirling air flows for performing said pneumatically untwisting. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 11 and characterized further by, while said blowing, drawing each said thread end away from the location of its said air stream applying for exposing the thread ends to said blowing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 11 and characterized further by coordinating the duration of said blowing compressed air with the strength, type and condition of said threads. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A method of joining one thread to another according to claim 11 and characterized further by providing at least one movable thread regulator for performing said inserting said threads, and conducting said pneumatically holding and untwisting and said blowing in 
     
     
        relation to the movement of said thread regulator. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  A device for joining one thread to another thread, comprising: (a) means for arranging respective end portions of said threads adjacent each other;   (b) means for clamping each said thread at a spacing from its said end;   (c) means for cutting the ends of said threads to form new shorter thread ends;   (d) means for applying an air stream to each said new shorter thread end;   (e) means for blowing compressed air onto said adjacent thread end portions for joining them in a splice; and   (f) control means for actuating said arranging means, said clamping means, said cutting means, said blowing means and said air stream applying means, said control means being operative for actuating said air stream applying means and said blowing means during actuation of said clamping means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A device for joining one thread to another thread according to claim 19 and characterized further in that said air stream applying means comprises means for pneumatically untwisting and removing fibers from each said new shorter thread end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A device for joining one thread to another thread according to claim 20 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting means comprises means for applying suction to said new shorter thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A device for joining one thread to another thread according to claim 20 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting means comprises means for blowing compressed air against said   
     
     
        new shorter thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread, comprising: (a) a splicing chamber having a longitudinal groove therein and a compressed air inlet channel opening into said groove;   (b) means for inserting said upper thread and said lower thread oppositely in said longitudinal groove in said splicing chamber;   (c) means for clamping said upper thread above said splicing chamber;   (d) means for clamping said lower thread below said splicing chamber;   (e) means for cutting said upper thread below said splicing chamber to form an end of said upper thread;   (f) means for cutting said lower thread above said splicing chamber to form an end of said lower thread;   (g) means for applying an air stream to said ends of said threads;   (h) means for directing compressed air into said compressed air inlet channel for blowing in said longitudinal groove against said threads to join them in a splice; and   (i) control means for actuating each said clamping means, each said cutting means, said air stream applying means and said compressed air directing means, said control means being operative for actuating said air stream applying means and said compressed air directing means during actuation of said clamping means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A device for joining one thread to another according to claim 23 and characterized further in that said air stream applying means comprises means for pneumatically untwisting and removing fibers from said thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 24 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting means comprises means for applying suction to said thread ends. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd. 6.  A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 24 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting means comprises means for blowing compressed air against said thread ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 24 and characterized further in that said pneumatically untwisting means comprises exchangeable untwisting nozzles above and below said splicing chamber adapted for producing swirling air flows. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 23 and characterized further in that said thread inserting means comprises at least one thread regulator means movable for inserting said threads in said longitudinal groove, said control means being operative to actuate each said clamping means, each said cutting means, said air stream applying means, and said compressed air directing means in relation to the movement of said thread regulator means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 28 and characterized further in that said control means comprises proximity switch means selectively arranged adjacent the path of movement of said thread regulator means for detecting the presence thereof and actuating said air stream applying means and said compressed air directing means thereupon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 23 and characterized further in that said control means is arranged for actuating said air stream applying means and said compressed air directing means during movement of said thread regulator means, said thread regulator means operating for drawing each said thread end away from said air stream applying means for exposing said thread ends to said compressed air of 
     
     
        said compressed air directing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  A device for joining an upper thread to a lower thread according to claim 23 and characterized further in that said control means comprises valve means associated with said compressed air directing means for coordinating the duration of said compressed air with the strength, type and condition of said threads. .Iaddend.