Process for operating an air-jet spinning device, yarn guide channel and air-jet spinning machine comprising such a yarn guide channel

Abstract

A yarn guide channel for arrangement between a spinning device and a winding device of a spinning machine producing a take-up package in which a yarn guide channel forms a passage channel for a yarn running between the spinning device and the winding device. The yarn guide channel has a plurality of pneumatically engageable channel sections coupled to each other, having at least a first channel section, a second channel section and a channel connection section disposed between the first and second channel sections, in which the channel connection section has a mouth for supplying compressed air into the yarn guide channel for generating a pneumatic overpressure in the first channel section associated with a pneumatic suction effect in the second channel section.

Claims

1. A yarn guide channel arranged between a spinning device and a winding device of a spinning machine producing a take-up package in which a yarn guide channel forms a passage channel for a yarn running between the spinning device and the winding device, the yarn guide channel comprising: a plurality of pneumatically engageable channel sections coupled to each other, comprising at least a first channel section, a second channel section and a channel connection section disposed between the first and second channel sections, in which the channel connection section has a mouth for supplying compressed air into the yarn guide channel for generating a pneumatic overpressure in the first channel section associated with a pneumatic suction effect in the second channel section.

2. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that yarn guide channel has a yarn deflecting section for deflecting the yarn.

3. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the channel connection section of the yarn guide channel has the yarn deflecting section for deflecting the yarn.

4. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that a passage axis of a mouth extends in parallel to a yarn guide axis of the first channel section and transversely to a yarn guide axis of the second channel section.

5. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 4, characterised in that the passage axis of the mouth extends congruently.

6. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the yarn guide channel has a fastening section for fastening the yarn guide channel to a housing or frame section of a workstation of the spinning machine.

7. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the fastening section forms a housing for receiving at least one yarn deflection section.

8. The yarn guide channel in accordance claim 1, characterised by a yarn end preparation device with at least one small holding and opening tube for preparing the yarn end, in which the small holding and opening tube is arranged or formed at one end of the yarn guide channel near the take-up package.

9. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the small holding and opening tube forms the second channel section.

10. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that an end of the yarn guide channel which is close to the spinning device is of nozzle-like construction or adjoins an element which is of nozzle-like construction.

11. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that a near end of the yarn guide channel or the nozzle-like element of the spinning device is arranged spaced apart from a funnel inlet of a yarn guide funnel leading to the spinning device, the spacing being selected such that a yarn end leaving the yarn end guide channel or the nozzle-like element close to the spinning device is guided at least into the funnel inlet by the compressed air generated in the channel connection section which is arranged spaced apart from the funnel inlet.

12. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that the spacing being selected such that a yarn end leaving the yarn end guide channel or the nozzle-like element close to the spinning device is guided at least into the funnel inlet by the compressed air generated in the channel connection section, and additionally into at least one yarn passage adjoining the funnel inlet, which is arranged spaced apart from the funnel inlet.

13. The yarn guide channel in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that the yarn end leaving the yarn end guide channel or the nozzle-like element close to the spinning device is guided at least into the funnel inlet by the compressed air generated in the channel connection section, and additionally into at least one yarn passage adjoining the funnel inlet, which is arranged spaced apart from the funnel inlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of an air-jet spinning machine with workstations each having a suction nozzle suitable for workstations and a yarn end preparation device for supplying its air-jet spinning device,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of an air-jet spinning machine with workstations which are supplied by a mobile service unit, in which the service unit has a suction nozzle for receiving a yarn accumulated on the cross-wound package and a yarn end preparation device,

(4) FIG. 3 shows schematically, in section, an air-jet spinning device during spinning operation,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the air-jet spinning device in accordance with FIG. 3 during the piecing process,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a yarn guide channel in accordance with an embodiment example which can be used with an air-jet spinning machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a yarn guide channel in accordance with an embodiment example in a cut perspective plan view,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the yarn guide channel shown in FIG. 6 in a cut perspective side view, and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a yarn guide channel as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 when mounted at a workstation of an air-jet spinning machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.

(11) Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a textile machine usually manufacturing a take-up package referred to as a cross-wound package 9, in this case an air-jet spinning machine 1.

(12) Such textile machines 1 have a large number of workstations 2 between machine frames 13A, 13B arranged at the machine end. These workstations 2, which are arranged in a row next to one another and are usually identically designed, are also known as spinning positions. A spinning can 3 is positioned at each of the workstations 2, which is provided with a supply of feed material, for example with sliver 25.

(13) Furthermore, the workstations 2 each have a drafting system 4, an air-jet spinning device 5, a yarn take-up device 6, a yarn clearer 7 and a yarn traversing device 8, which ensures that the yarn 36 spun or produced in the air-jet spinning device 5 from the sliver 25 is wound in crossing layers onto a take-up package 9. The so-called cross-wound package 9 produced during the spinning process is held, in the usual way, in a package cradle (not shown) and is rotated by a package drive (also not shown).

(14) Each of the workstations 2 is also equipped with a suction nozzle 39, which makes it possible to pick up a yarn end 37 of a finished yarn 36 which has run onto the cross-wound package 9 after a spinning interruption and to transfer it to a so-called yarn end preparation device 40 arranged in the area of the yarn take-up device 6.

(15) The only difference between the embodiment of an air-jet spinning machine 1 shown in FIG. 2 and the air-jet spinning machine in accordance with FIG. 1 is that the spinning positions 2 have neither their own suction nozzle nor their own yarn end preparation device, but that, after a spinning interruption, the workstations 2 are supplied by an automatically operating service unit 10, which is guided on rails 11, 12 and can be moved along the workstations 2. This means that in the event of a spinning interruption, the service unit 10 positions itself at the relevant workstation 2, uses its suction nozzle 39 to pick up the yarn end 37 of the yarn 36 accumulated on the cross-wound package 9 after the spinning interruption and transfers the picked-up yarn end 37 to a yarn end preparation device 40 belonging to the service unit. In the yarn end preparation device 40 of the service unit 10, the yarn end 37 of the yarn 36 is then prepared for a subsequent piecing operation.

(16) However, in other designs not shown in the embodiment examples, there may also be provision for the suction nozzle of the service unit to transfer the picked-up yarn to a yarn end preparation device at the workstation.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a side view and a larger scale of an air-jet spinning device 5 suitable for carrying out the process in accordance with a preferred embodiment example during the normal spinning process.

(18) As can be seen, the air-jet spinning device 5 shown in the section is preceded by a drafting system 4 for warping a sliver 25. A reversibly drivable yarn take-up device 6 driven by a single motor is installed behind the air-jet spinning device 5 in the direction R of the sliver run, which ensures that the produced yarn 36 can be conveyed in the direction of the take-up package 9 and in the opposite direction.

(19) In addition, a yarn preparation device 40, not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is arranged in the area of the yarn take-up device 6, which prepares the yarn end 37 of the finished yarn 36 brought back by the suction nozzle 39 for the subsequent piecing process.

(20) Such yarn end preparation devices 40 are known in principle and described in relative detail in DE 35 18 316 A1 or DE 102 02 781 A1, for example.

(21) As will be explained in more detail later on using FIG. 5, such a yarn end preparation device 40 has a pneumatically actuated small holding and opening tube 31.

(22) As shown in FIG. 3, the air-jet spinning device 5 essentially consists of a two-part outer housing 14, 15, an expansion housing 16, a nozzle block 17, a sliver guide 18 and a hollow spinning cone 19.

(23) The expansion housing 16 forms a front annular space 20 in connection with the front housing part 14 of the outer housing, which is connected via a pneumatic line 21 to an overpressure source 22 and in connection with the rear housing part 15 of the outer housing forms an expansion space 28.

(24) While the expansion chamber 28 is indirectly connected to the ambient atmosphere via an exhaust air duct 29, the annular space 20 is pneumatically connected to at least one blowing air nozzle 23, which is arranged in the nozzle block 17.

(25) The blowing air nozzle 23 is directed tangentially at the head 24 of the spinning cone 19 in the area of the inlet opening 35 of the spinning cone 19 in such a way that a rotating air flow is generated. The spinning cone 19 is preferably made of a highly wear-resistant material, for example a technical ceramic material.

(26) To control the compressed air supply, pneumatic line 21 is equipped with a valve 32, which is preferably actuated by a control device 38 belonging to the spinning position, which is connected to the valve via corresponding control lines.

(27) During the normal, previously disclosed spinning process shown in FIG. 3, each sliver 25 stored in a spinning can 3 first passes through the drafting system 4 on its way to the cross-wound package 9, where it is strongly warped. The pair of outlet rollers 26 of drafting system 4 then transfer the warped sliver 25 to the area of the inlet opening 27 of the air-jet spinning device 5 where it is sucked into the air-jet spinning device 5 under the influence of a vacuum flow present there. Inside the air-jet spinning device 5, the warped sliver 25 passes over the sliver guide 18 and the nozzle block 17 to the inlet opening 35 of the hollow spinning cone 19 and is pulled into the spinning cone 19 by the yarn 36 forming inside the spinning cone 19. The sliver 25 is exposed to the influence of a rotational flow in the area of the head 24 of the spinning cone 19, which is generated by the air flow emerging from nozzle block 17.

(28) The valve 32 is open for the defined supply of this air flow initiated by compressed air source 22 to nozzle block 17. A valve 34 connected to the control device 38 via a corresponding control line is open to allow the air flow flowing in via nozzle block 17 to flow out through the exhaust air duct 29 during the spinning process to the ambient atmosphere or to an extraction system belonging to the machine.

(29) During the spinning process, due to the continuous movement of the sliver 25 in the sliver run direction R, the sliver 25 is continuously drawn into the hollow spinning cone 19, in which case the edge fibres are helically looped around the core fibres of the sliver 25. The yarn 36 produced in this way is pulled out of the air-spinning device 5 by means of the yarn take-up device 6 and then wound into a cross-wound package 9.

(30) If a spinning interruption occurs during the spinning process, for example due to a break in the sliver 25 or due to a controlled cut of the already spun yarn 36 by yarn clearer 7, a piecing process must first be carried out before restarting the spinning process.

(31) To carry out a piecing process, the warped sliver 25 is required on the one hand and the yarn 36, which has already been spun onto the cross-wound package 9, on the other.

(32) In the process in accordance with the present invention with an embodiment example, the yarn end 37 of the already completed yarn 36 is first retrieved from the cross-wound package 9 after a spinning interruption, e.g. by a suction nozzle 39 of the workstation concerned 2, and is transferred to a yarn end preparation device 40 equipped with a small holding and opening tube 31, and is preferably connected downstream of the air-jet spinning device 5 in the sliver run direction R, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 5 to 8. In the small holding and opening tube 31, the yarn end 37 is largely freed of twist and loose fibres.

(33) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the yarn end preparation device 40 is equipped with a small holding and opening tube 31 arranged in an accommodation housing 47. The housing 47 has an annular space 46, to which a compressed air source 42 is connected via a pneumatic line 41. A valve 43 is connected to pneumatic line 41, which is connected via control line 44 for example to the control unit 38 of workstation 2 (not shown in FIGS. 5 to 7). The small holding and opening tube 31 is equipped with at least one blowing nozzle 45, which is connected to the annular space 46.

(34) As is known, a yarn must first be inserted into a small holding and opening tube 31 to prepare its yarn end for a yarn joining process. This means that the yarn 36 brought back by a suction nozzle 39 from a cross-wound package 9 is provided by the suction nozzle 39 at the yarn end preparation device 40 in such a way that it can be pneumatically threaded into the small holding and opening tube 31. For this purpose, the yarn end preparation device 40 can work together with at least one cutting device 50, which cuts the recovered yarn 36 to the required length, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 as an example. During the cutting process, the valve 43 is actuated and compressed air is blown into the small holding and opening tube 31 via the blowing nozzle 45 in order to pneumatically thread or suck in the cut yarn end 37 into the small holding and opening tube 31. The threaded-in yarn end 37 is freed from twist and loose fibres in the small holding and opening tube. If necessary, a clamping device can also be provided which clamps the yarn in the known manner before the cutting process. The clamping device can be combined with the cutting device in a further preferred way.

(35) As is further shown with FIGS. 5 to 8, the yarn end preparation device 40 is coupled to a yarn guide channel 60 for passing through the yarn 36, the yarn guide channel 60 being arranged directly adjacent to the yarn end preparation device 40 between the air-jet spinning device 5 and the yarn end preparation device 40 in the sliver run direction R. The sliver run direction R is identical to the direction of travel of the yarn in the spinning operation of the air-jet spinning machine, in which the yarn 36 is spun by means of the air-jet spinning device 5.

(36) The yarn guide channel 60 in accordance with the embodiment example shown in FIG. 5 comprises a first channel section 62 and a second channel section 64 with a channel connection section 66 in an intermediate position. The first channel section 62 and the channel connection section 66 are accommodated by a housing 70. The housing 70 has a fastening section not shown for fastening the yarn guide channel 60 to a frame or housing 100 of a workstation 2 of the air-jet spinning machine 1, as shown as an example in FIG. 8. A first end 64A of the second channel section 64 ends in the housing 70 with a sealing effect, in which case an O-ring 80 is in an intermediate position. A second end 64B of the second channel section 64 ends with a sealing effect in the accommodating housing 47 of the yarn end preparation device 40 with another O-ring 80 in an intermediate position in accordance with the embodiment example shown in FIG. 5, in which case the second end 64B lies directly against the associated end of the small holding and opening tube 31 and forms a common channel passage for the yarn 36 and the yarn end 37 respectively.

(37) The channel connection section 66 comprises a yarn deflecting section 67 for deflecting the yarn 36 between the first 62 and second channel sections 64. The yarn deflection section 67 is embodies with a circular arc cross-section, the end 64A of the second channel section 64 projecting into the housing 70 and connected to the channel connection section 66 is coupled via the circular arc-shaped yarn deflection section 67 to a first end 62A of the first channel section 62 connected to the channel connection section 66 for passing the yarn 36 between the air-jet spinning device 5 and the yarn end preparation device 40. The yarn guide channel 60 thus forms a section that partially encloses the yarn travel. In addition, an angle of less than 180° is formed between the first 62 and second channel section 64; in the embodiment example shown this is less than 90°. The yarn guide channel 60 can consequently be designed compactly. The fastening section can be provided on one side of the yarn guide channel 60 without difficulties, this facing away from the side enclosing the angle.

(38) The housing 70 also comprises a receptacle for a compressed air connection 72, for example in the form of an injector, via which compressed air can be supplied via a mouth 68, also referred to herein as an orifice, into the first channel section 62 for generating pneumatic overpressure, in which case a suction effect is simultaneously produced in the second channel section 64. The mouth 68 adjoins the first end 62A of the first channel section 62 and supplies the compressed air in parallel, in particular congruently, to a yarn guide axis of the first channel section 62 and transverse to a yarn guide axis of the second channel section 64. The yarn guide axis is the axis along which the yarn is guided in the yarn guide channel 60 or in the respective channel sections 62, 64, 66.

(39) The second end 62B of the first channel section 62 adjoins a nozzle insert 74 accommodated in the housing 70, which is preferably non-destructively replaceable and removable. Via this nozzle insert 74, the yarn end 37, which is guided with compressed air from the first channel section 62, is blown in the direction of a funnel inlet 76, which is located at a distance from the outlet of nozzle insert 74. In accordance with an embodiment example, the distance between the outlet of nozzle insert 74 and the funnel inlet 76 cannot be changed relative to one another but can be adjusted variably in accordance with a further embodiment example, in which case a reduction in the intensity of the compressed air conducting the yarn end can be achieved in each case. In other words, a proportion of the compressed air conducting the yarn end 37 can escape in the space formed between the outlet of the nozzle insert 74 and the funnel inlet 76, while the remaining proportion conducts the yarn end 37 into the funnel inlet 76. The funnel inlet 76 is followed by two further yarn passes 77, 78 in the direction of the air-jet spinning device 5 in accordance with this embodiment example, between each of which further spaces are formed for the escape of a defined proportion of compressed air before the yarn end 37 can enter the air-jet spinning device 5 against the yarn sliver or yarn run direction R. The funnel inlet 76 with the intermediate yarn passages 77, 78 is held between the housing 70 and the air-jet spinning device 5 by means of fastening screws 79. The air-jet spinning device 5 and the housing 70 are coupled together by means of the fastening screws 79. In particular, in accordance with a further embodiment example, a position of the funnel inlet 76 and/or the intermediate yarn passages 77, 78 can be variably adjusted along the fastening screws as required in order to be able to adjust the proportion of compressed air escaping in the individual sections. By arranging the yarn or the prepared yarn end 37 in accordance with one of these embodiment examples, it can be gently guided to the air-jet spinning device 5. The yarn end 37, prepared as above and transferred to the air-jet spinning device 5, is then connected to the sliver 25 fed by the drafting system 4.

(40) The feeding of the prepared yarn end 37 ends when the prepared yarn end 37, as shown in FIG. 4, is positioned at somewhat of a distance in front of the spinning cone 19 inlet opening 35 within the air-jet spinning device 5. To ensure that the yarn end 37 is always correctly positioned, the yarn take-up device 6 is driven by a single motor, e.g. a stepper motor, which is controlled in such a way that by detecting the number of steps of the stepper motor, the yarn takeup device 6 is driven reversibly, i.e. against the yarn take-up direction prevailing in spinning operation, in order to be able to effect a defined demand-oriented return of the yarn end 37 accompanied by the air flow prevailing in the yarn guide channel 60 along the direction pointing from the yarn take-up device 6 to the air-jet spinning device 5 until the predetermined position is reached. Preferably, a sensor connected to the control device 38 can be provided in the area of the nozzle block 17 and the inlet opening 35 of the spinning cone 19, by means of which the correct positioning of the yarn end 37 can also be confirmed.

(41) As soon as the yarn end 37 has reached its predetermined position, the control device 38 causes the valves 32 and 34 to switch over in such a way that compressed air is applied to nozzle block 17 again. At the same time, the individually motor-driven drafting system 4 and the yarn take-up device 6 are controlled in such a way that a free end of the sliver 25 initially comes into contact with the prepared yarn end 37 of yarn 36, the sliver 25 swirls with the prepared yarn end 37 of yarn 36 and they are connected to one another in such a way that a new draw-off yarn is produced which can be drawn off from the air-jet spinning device 5 in a defined manner by means of the yarn take-up device 6. The piecing process thus transitions into the normal spinning process.

(42) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a yarn guide channel 90 in accordance with a further embodiment example. This yarn guide channel 90 differs in design from the yarn guide channel 60 shown in FIG. 5 essentially in the location of the mouth 98. In detail, in comparison with the yarn guide channel 60 shown in FIG. 5, the mouth 98 is arranged in a section upstream of the small holding and opening tube 31 in the yarn run direction R. The mouth 98 is designed in the form of an annular gap directed against the yarn run direction R in order to introduce the compressed air to be blown in into the yarn guide channel 60 in the direction of the air-jet spinning device 5 or in a direction opposite the yarn run direction R. In the sense of the present invention, the channel section comprising the mouth 98 forms the channel connection section 96 of the yarn guide channel 90. The channel connection section 96 comprises a further annular space 97, which is coupled to the mouth 98 for supplying the compressed air. The annular space 97 is coupled via an opening 48 formed in the accommodation housing 47 to another pneumatic line 92, which ends in a receptacle 49 of the accommodation housing adjacent to opening 48.

(43) In this embodiment example, the channel connection section 96 is located near the small holding and opening tube 31 with the second channel section 94 in an intermediate position. In this embodiment example, the second channel section 94 is coupled to the small holding and opening tube 31 for passing through the yarn end 37 via a nozzle element 93 arranged between them.

(44) The channel connection section 96 adjoins the first channel section 92 on a side facing away from the second channel section 94. The design of the first channel section 92 in this embodiment example is therefore identical to the design of the second channel section 64 of the yarn guide channel 60 described in FIG. 5. in accordance with a further embodiment example which is not shown, the first channel section 92 can alternatively be designed as one piece with the channel connection section 96.

(45) The first channel section 92 is followed in the direction of the air-jet spinning device 5 by a housing 70, which is approximately identical to the housing 70 described in conjunction with FIG. 5 with the yarn deflection section 67 and the nozzle insert 74 but without the mouth 68 and the injector 72 leading to the mouth 68. In this context, with regard to the design of the housing 70 and the nozzle insert 74 in accordance with this embodiment example, reference is made to the above description in conjunction with the following description.

(46) As explicitly shown in FIG. 6, a passage closed by a cover element 71 leads to the yarn deflection section 67, via which the yarn deflection section 67 and thus the yarn deflection are accessible. Depending on the type of yarn to be processed, differently designed yarn deflection sections 67 can be inserted into the housing 70 or can be exchanged for the housing 70 via the passage. In accordance with a further embodiment example, the yarn deflection section 67 can be fixed in the housing 70 by means of the cover element 71.

(47) In this embodiment example, the yarn deflection section 67 is essentially biconical, also known as diabolo form. The design of this specifically biconical as well as any other form of the yarn deflection section 67 can be suitably selected in accordance with the type of yarn to be guided. For example, the side surfaces of the biconical shape leading to the yarn guiding surface section can have a concave or convex curvature in cross-section, depending on the yarn requirement, or alternatively they may continue to be straight in cross-section. The width of the yarn guide surface section running perpendicular to the yarn deflection direction can be selected to suit the yarn type to be processed. The radius of the yarn deflection can also be selected to suit the yarn type.

(48) Furthermore, the nozzle insert 74, the funnel inlet 76 and the further yarn passages 77, 78 follow the housing 70 in the direction of the air-jet spinning device 5 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 and in connection with this manner as is described and referred to.

(49) FIG. 8 shows an example of a yarn guide channel 60 as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 when mounted at a workstation 2 of air-jet spinning machine 1. In particular, it is made clear that the deflected configuration of the yarn guide channel 60 can be placed between the other devices arranged at workstation 2 in a space-saving manner in accordance with this embodiment example.

(50) The yarn guide channel can be configured even more compactly in accordance with an embodiment example that is not shown, for example, the second channel section can be combined with the small holding and opening tube in such a way that the small holding and opening tube forms the second channel section, in which case the mouth is positioned, for example, in the form of an annular gap at the end of the small holding and opening tube or is formed in the end area of the small holding and opening tube. This allows compressed air to be supplied via the mouth in order to suck in the yarn end fed by means of the suction nozzle 39 and to immediately prepare or open the yarn end 37 and to pneumatically guide the prepared yarn end 37 in the yarn guide channel 60. This allows a gentle or less aggressive preparation of the yarn end 37. In addition, it is possible to dispense with a compressed air connection to be provided only for the opening of the yarn end 37.

(51) The described embodiment examples shown in the figures are only selected by way of example. Different example embodiments can be combined with one another completely or with regard to individual characteristics. Also, an example embodiment can be supplemented by characteristics of a further example embodiment. For example, the housing can be designed as a swivel joint so that the angle enclosed by the yarn deflection section can be changed as required at the installation site and/or during the installation process. Alternatively, the mouth or, in addition, another mouth in the area of the first channel section can be arranged and designed in such a way that the compressed air is supplied transversely to the yarn guide axis of the first channel section. Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment example, the first and second channel sections can run on different levels in order to ensure reliable, unhindered passage of the suction nozzle past the drafting system and the second channel section for feeding the caught yarn end into the area of the yarn end preparation device.

(52) If an example embodiment has an “and/or” link between an initial characteristic and a second characteristic, this can be read in such a way that the example embodiment in accordance with an embodiment type possesses both the first characteristic and the second characteristic and, in accordance with a further embodiment type, possesses either only the first characteristic or only the second characteristic.

(53) It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.