Systems and methods are disclosed for starting a strip material in a substrate processing machine wherein the machine is not stopped and/or operators do not have to reach into the running machine to start the strip material. Exemplary systems include a strip material guide apparatus including at least one guide arm and at least one gas stream generator configured to direct strip material from the guide arm into a substrate processing machine to join the strip material with one or more running substrates. The gas stream generator is operable to cause a leading end of a strip material dispensed from the guide arm to be conveyed via a gas stream toward the running substrates, such that the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine and the strip material joins with the running substrate.

Systems and methods are disclosed for starting a strip material in a substrate processing machine wherein the machine is not stopped and/or operators do not have to reach into the running machine to start the strip material. Exemplary systems include a strip material guide apparatus including at least one guide arm and at least one gas stream generator configured to direct strip material from the guide arm into a substrate processing machine to join the strip material with one or more running substrates. The gas stream generator is operable to cause a leading end of a strip material dispensed from the guide arm to be conveyed via a gas stream toward the running substrates, such that the leading end of the strip material becomes engaged by the substrate processing machine and the strip material joins with the running substrate.

A process for operating an air-jet spinning device after a spinning interruption, an air-jet spinning machine having a yarn guide channel and such a yarn guide channel. The air-jet spinning device is preceded in the direction of travel of the fibre web by a drafting system for warping a fibre web and a yarn take-up device, which is optionally driven individually by a motor, for taking off a yarn spun by the air-jet spinning device is connected downstream. After a spinning interruption, the yarn end of the spun yarn accumulated on a take-up package is picked up by a suction nozzle and transferred to a yarn end preparation device arranged downstream of the air-jet spinning device in the direction of the sliver run, the yarn end is processed in the yarn end preparation device and is then transferred to a first area of an outlet opening of the spinning cone, the yarn end is pneumatically transported to a second area of an inlet opening of the spinning cone and is positioned there within the air-jet spinning device at a distance in front of the inlet opening, the drafting system of the relevant workstation is raised and the sliver is conveyed through a sliver guide of the nozzle block into the second area of the inlet opening of the spinning cone and there spun onto the prepared yarn end of the spun yarn.

A yarn deflection unit for a textile machine, having a housing comprising a curved wall section for forming a radially outer wall section of a curved yarn deflection channel. The solution proposed by the invention is distinguished in that the curved wall section has a yarn guiding groove extending along the curvature for receiving and guiding a yarn.

An aspirator provides linear control over air flow for manipulation of extruded fibers. A distribution manifold has a barrel valve between first and second flow channels, enabling precise, linear control over air flowing from a charge conduit to a pressure chamber surrounding a discharge pipe. Plural orifices in the discharge pipe connect the pressure chamber to the interior thereof, which is configured as a Venturi tube. Discharge pipe surfaces that can contact filaments therein are of hardened material while non-contact surfaces are of lighter materials.

A proofing air jet having a hollow elongated body having an air outlet and a suction inlet, the air outlet opposing the suction inlet, a pressurized air inlet into the body between the air outlet and the suction inlet, the pressurized air inlet being angled with respect to the hollow elongated body to flow pressurized air in a direction from the pressurized air inlet to the air outlet and provide a suction at the suction inlet, the air outlet having an innerduct/microduct connector for connecting to an opening of the innerduct/microduct, and the suction inlet having a string inlet configured to accept string, and the method further comprising blowing air through the pressurized air inlet into the hollow elongated body and into the innerduct/microduct, wherein the air sucks the string through the string inlet and carries the string through the hollow elongated body and through the innerduct/microduct. A plurality of the proofing air jets can be connected to a manifold. A method of proofing an innerduct/microduct using the proofing air jet to blow a string through the innerduct/microduct.

A proofing air jet having a hollow elongated body having an air outlet and a suction inlet, the air outlet opposing the suction inlet, a pressurized air inlet into the body between the air outlet and the suction inlet, the pressurized air inlet being angled with respect to the hollow elongated body to flow pressurized air in a direction from the pressurized air inlet to the air outlet and provide a suction at the suction inlet, the air outlet having an innerduct/microduct connector for connecting to an opening of the innerduct/microduct, and the suction inlet having a string inlet configured to accept string, and the method further comprising blowing air through the pressurized air inlet into the hollow elongated body and into the innerduct/microduct, wherein the air sucks the string through the string inlet and carries the string through the hollow elongated body and through the innerduct/microduct. A plurality of the proofing air jets can be connected to a manifold. A method of proofing an innerduct/microduct using the proofing air jet to blow a string through the innerduct/microduct.

A system for handling yarn packages and empty cores. The system includes a winder, a creel and a gripper assembly. The winder is configured to receive an empty core and to wind a predetermined length of yarn onto the empty core to create a yarn package. The creel is configured to provide an array of creel positions for receiving a yarn package. The gripper assembly is configured to be moveable between the winder and the creel. The gripper assembly has a jaw adapted to grip a yarn package when delivering the yarn package from the winder to the creel and to grip an empty core when removing the empty core from the creel and delivering the empty core to the winder. Devices, systems and methods for controlling a yarn tail, loading a yarn spool into a creel, and feeding the yarn through the creel, are also disclosed.

A system for handling yarn packages and empty cores. The system includes a winder, a creel and a gripper assembly. The winder is configured to receive an empty core and to wind a predetermined length of yarn onto the empty core to create a yarn package. The creel is configured to provide an array of creel positions for receiving a yarn package. The gripper assembly is configured to be moveable between the winder and the creel. The gripper assembly has a jaw adapted to grip a yarn package when delivering the yarn package from the winder to the creel and to grip an empty core when removing the empty core from the creel and delivering the empty core to the winder. Devices, systems and methods for controlling a yarn tail, loading a yarn spool into a creel, and feeding the yarn through the creel, are also disclosed.

An aspirator provides linear control over air flow for manipulation of extruded fibers. A distribution manifold has a barrel valve between first and second flow channels, enabling precise, linear control over air flowing from a charge conduit to a pressure chamber surrounding a discharge pipe. Plural orifices in the discharge pipe connect the pressure chamber to the interior thereof, which is configured as a Venturi tube. Discharge pipe surfaces that can contact filaments therein are of hardened material while non-contact surfaces are of lighter materials.