The unwinding of textile yarns from a wound package has traditionally created a number of problems due to the desire to have a simple, inexpensive support system which supports the yarn to be drawn over-end or from the side at a minimal and constant tension.

Unwinding from the side requires a revolving support. When the package diameter is relatively large the inertia of the revolving package is considerable and often requires the fitting of a braking system, to be applied when the winding process is interrupted. Otherwise the unwinding yarn would run on and become entangled around the unwinding package.

Unwinding over-end produces a tension variation due to the change in size of the unwinding balloon, leading to a greater tendency for breakage when the package diameter becomes smaller. Dyeing or bleaching of textile yarn requires penetration of the treatment liquor through yarn wound on a perforated support tube, such as a cone or cylindrical sleeve. It is common practice to use compressible support sleeves made from stainless steel wire or moulded plastic which can produce increased entanglement, snagging and breakage, particularly at smaller package diameters as explained above. Breakage of yarn downgrades the yarn, increases waste and cost, and decreases winding efficiency considerably. It is an object of this invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above stated disadvantages.

The present invention consists in a device for supporting a wound yarn package during the unwinding of yarn from said package, said device having a central axis

about which it is capable of rotation under a force resulting from yarn unwinding tension, said device having an elongated generally tubular sleeve supported on a central support adapted for attachment to a winding machine for free rotation about said axis, said central sleeve having locating means at each end, said locating means including low friction bearing means rotatably supporting said sleeve on said central support, retaining means mounted on said sleeve arranged to retain said yarn package against rotation in relation to said device under a force resulting from said unwinding tension, the device being of minimal weight whereby the inertia of the device and a wound yarn package thereon is overcome and rotation produced by a minimal yarn tension during unwinding of said yarn.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figs. 1 and 1A are perspective side views of a conventional arrangement for unwinding of yarn;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view depicting some components of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an assembled view of the components depicted in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective side view depicting some aspects of the present invention.

In Figs. 1 and 1A a tapered mandrel 1 is fixed to a base 2, which would be usually secured to a rail on a winding machine (not shown). In a conventional unwinding process a compressible cylindrical sleeve 3 with yarn layers 4 wound upon its surface, is pushed onto and frictionally engaged with a tapered mandrel 1, and yarn drawn off over-end as shown in Fig. 1A. A balloon pattern is formed by the movement of the yarn 5. This balloon becomes smaller as the amount of

yarn on the sleeve is reduced during the unwinding process. The tension formed in the yarn 5 is relatively high and can cause the yarn to break.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a base plate 7 which may be fixed by a threaded bolt to a rail on a winding machine (not shown) in a similar manner to the conventional system of Figs. 1 and 1A. Threaded bolt 8 is the lower portion of a shaped central spindle 9, constituting a central support, which has bearing surfaces 10, 11 and an upper threaded portion 12. An L-εhaped arm 13 is attached to baseplate 7 by welding or similar means and a pigtail with eyelet 14 extends from arm 13. A shaped wooden sleeve 15 is fitted with upper and lower annular retaining spring members 16 and 17 adapted to engage resiliently the interior of a sleeve on which yarn is wound, and upper and lower support bearings 18 and 19. Located cap 20 is internally threaded to match threaded portion 12 and screwed thereto to maintain the sleeve 15 on the central spindle 9 as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the wooden sleeve 15 mounted on spindle 9 and a cylindrical sleeve 3A with yarn layers 4A ready to be mounted onto the sleeve 15 and retained by retaining spring members 16 and 17.

Fig. 4 shows sleeve 3A with yarn layers 4A mounted on sleeve 15 and yarn 5A threaded through pigtail eyelet 14. The tension produced in the yarn as it is unwound rotates the assembly of yarn layers 4A, sleeve 3A, and wooden sleeve 15.

The hollow wooden sle*eve 15 is made with as thin a wall as possible in order to minimise weight. Other materials may be selected however the properties of minimum weight, robustness and ease of lubrication are most important.

These constructional features minimise the tension produced in the yarn which considerably reduces the number

of yarn breaks during unwinding. Complete unwinding of the yarn layers generally occurs, resulting in a significant improvement in winding efficiency when compared to the conventional system of Figs. 1 and 1A.