Apparatus for Stopping Feed Material Supply in Spinning Frames in Response to
Yam Breakage
Field of the Invention
[001) The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for interrupting a rove
or sliver supply in a spinning frame, in response to breakage of the yarn.
Background
[002) Spinning apparatuses or spinning frames include a plurality of drafting assemblies
arranged in series along the machine. Each drafting assembly includes an arrangement of
paired rollers, through which the rove or sliver supply ("feed material'') is drawn. During
spinning, feed material is introduced between a pair of back rollers and thereafter passes
through one or more additional pairs of rollers successively positioned in front of the
pair of back rollers - fmally emerging from a pair of front rollers as a strand of yarn. The
emerging strand of yam is then twisted in accordance with methods well known in the
art- and is wound about a reel (or yarn package). An exemplary spinning apparatus of the
type relevant to the present invention is a ring frame spinning machine.
[003) Spinning frames additionally include a suction nozzle corresponding to each
drafting assembly - typically positioned in the vicinity of the pair of front rollers, and
which generates suction sufficient to draw feed material into a collection chamber. In the
ordinary course of spinning (i.e. while yarn strands emerging from a drafting assembly
remain intact) the integrity of the yam strand is sufficient to prevent feed material from
being drawn into the suction nozzle. However, in the event of breakage of the yarn
emerging from the front rollers, suction from the suction nozzle results in feed materials
being drawn into the collection chamber.
[004) In case of breakage, an operator is required to reset the connection of rove or
sliver feed with the spun yarn already wound on a reel. The process of resetting the
connection requires an operator to detect or be aware of the breakage, and to thereafter
attend to resetting. In an industrial plant having multiple spinning frames, each frame in
turn having multiple drafting assemblies, detection of breakage and resetting of the rove
or sliver feed can involve significant delays - during which feed material is continually
drawn by the suction nozzle into the collection chamber. Large quantities of feed
material drawn into a collection chamber results in operating losses, as well as
degradation of yam quality (in case of reworking of collected waste feed material). Post
breakage, unprocessed feed material may additionally lap around rollers within the
drafting assembly- resulting in damage to the rollers.
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[005] Prior art apparatuses have sought to address these problems by interrupting the
supply of feed material to drafting assemblies in case of breakage. Certain apparatuses
implement electronic sensors to detect breakage, but are expensive to manufacture and
maintain. Other prior art apparatuses involve mechanical arrangements to interrupt feed
material being drawn into drafting assemblies, but are difficult to implement within
existing spinning frame designs and require substantive modifications to the spinning
frames. These mechanical arrangements have also been found to interfere with operator
access to drafting assemblies.
[006] There is accordingly a need for a cost effective arrangement for interrupting
delivery of feed material to a corresponding drafting assembly within a spinning frame in
response to yarn or feed material breakage within the drafting assembly, which can be
implemented without modifying existing spinning frame designs or interfering with
operator access.
Summary
[007] The present invention provides an apparatus for stopping supply of feed material
to a spinning frame, in response to breakage of yarn.
[008] The spinning frame includes a drafting assembly configured to attenuate
incoming feed material into an output yarn. The drafting assembly comprises at least a
pair of front rollers and a pair of back rollers. Each pair of rollers comprises a top roller
and a bottom roller.
[009] The apparatus for stopping supply of feed material to the spinning frame in
response to yarn breakage comprises (i) a first arm and a second arm such that a
longitudinal axis of the first arm and a longitudinal axis of the second arm are at an angle
to each other, (ii) a pivoting coupler interconnecting the first arm and the second arm,
and configured to pivotably mount the apparatus within the spinning frame, such that
the first arm underlies one or more bottom rollers within the drafting assembly, (iii) a
yarn guide coupled to the first arm for receiving yarn from the pair of front rollers and
guiding the yarn on to a yarn package, (iv) a first interference member coupled to the
second arm, and (v) a resilient member configured to urge the apparatus from a first
pivoting position to a second pivoting position.
[0010] In the first pivoting position, the first interference member is separated from a
second interference member mounted on the spinning frame, by an interspace that
permits feed material to be drawn from a feed material source into the drafting assembly.
In the second pivoting position, the first interference member and the second
interference member are in interfering contact with the feed material.
[0011] In an apparatus embodiment, the yarn guide may comprise a rotating wheel. The
rotating wheel may be rotatably coupled to the ftrst arm by a connector.
[0012] At least one of the ftrst arm and the second arm of the apparatus may be
disengageably coupled with the pivoting coupler. The pivoting coupler may in an
embodiment comprise a ball bearing assembly conftgured to mount the pivoting coupler
on a shaft.
[0013] The length of the second arm of the apparatus may be greater than or equal to a
sum of diameter of a back bottom roller and diameter of a back top roller within the
drafting assembly. A shortest distance between a rotating axis of the rotating wheel and
the second arm may be greater than or equal to a sum of diameter of a back bottom
roller and diameter of a front bottom roller within the drafting assembly.
[0014] In another embodiment, a shortest distance between a rotating axis of the
rotating wheel and the second arm may be greater than or equal to a sum of diameters of
each bottom roller within the drafting assembly.
[0015] The invention additionally provides a spinning frame compnsmg (i) a feed
material source, (ii) a drafting assembly conftgured to attenuate incoming feed material
into an output yarn, said drafting assembly comprising at least a pair of front rollers and a
pair of back rollers, each pair of rollers comprising a top roller and a bottom roller, (iii) a
yam package positioned to receive yarn from the drafting assembly, and (iv) an apparatus
for stopping supply of feed material to the drafting assembly in response to breakage of
yarn.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
[0016] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary spinning frame having a plurality of drafting
assemblies.
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates a transverse view of the drafting assembly more generally
illustrated in Figure 1.
[0018] Figure 3 illustrates a pivoting member configured for installation within a
spinning frame.
[0019] Figure 4 illustrates a mounted pivoting member.
[0020] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a rotating member of the pivoting member.
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[0021) Figures 6 and 7 illustrate embodiments of the invention, wherein the pivoting
member has been incorporated within a spinning frame.
[0022) Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a second interference member
mounted within a spinning frame.
Detailed Description
[0023) The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0024] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary spinning frame 100 having a plurality of drafting
assemblies 102. For the present explanation, reference numerals have been provided only
in connection with one of the six illustrated drafting assemblies. However, it would be
understood that each of the remaining drafting assemblies that are illustrated may include
similar or identical arrangements. Drafting assembly 102 includes at least two roller pairs
(i.e. back roller pair 106 and front roller pair 108) through which feed material 104is
drawn, drafted and spun into yarn. Optionally, drafting assembly102 may include one or
more intermediate roller pairs positioned between back roller pair 106 and front roller
pair 108, for drafting the feed material. Drafting assembly102 receives feed material from
at least one source of feed material (such as one or more bobbins or packages suspended
in a creel section), which source is not separately illustrated in the Figure 1.
[0025] Feed material 104, such as rove or fibre slivers received from the feed material
source is drawn through back roller pair 106 to front roller pair 108and emerges as a
strand of yarn 110. The emerging strand of yarn 110 is thereafter twisted, using
arrangements well known in the art, such as for example a ring and traveller arrangement,
whereby yam 110 is twisted and wound on to reel 116. In case of breakage of yarn 110 or
of feed material 104, suction nozzle 118 draws feed material passing out of front roller
pair 108 in to a collection chamber (not illustrated).
[0026) Figure 2 illustrates a transverse view of the drafting assembly 102 more generally
illustrated in Figure 1. In the illustrated embodiment, drafting assembly 102 comprises a
back roller pair 106, a front roller pair 108 and an intermediate roller pair 107 positioned
therebetween. Each of roller pairs 106, 107 and 108 comprises a bottom roller 106b,
107b and 108b, and a corresponding top roller 106a, 107a and 108a.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, back roller pair 106 draws feed
material 104 (such as rove or fibre slivers) through a feed material guide 120. Feed'
material104 is passed between back roller pair 106, intermediate roller pair 107 and front
roller pair 108 and emerges as untwisted yam 110, whereafter the combination of ring
112 and traveller 114 serves to twist yam 110, which is subsequently wound onto reel
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116. While feed material guide 120 in the illustration of Figure 2 comprises a funnel or
channel like arrangement, it would be understood that the feed material guide can take
any one of a number of configurations that would be readily apparent to the skilled
person, and in certain embodiments may be done away with entirely.
[0028] In operation, feed material passes through feed material guide 120 (for example,
fed material may .be drawn in by back roller pair 106) and thereafter passed through roller
pairs 106 to 108. The combination of pressure exerted between top and bottom rollers of
each roller pair, and differing speeds of rotation of each roller pair causes attenuation of
the feed material into yarn strand 110. As would be understood from Figure 2, breakage
of the feed material 104 or of yam 110 at any point between feed material guide 120 and
reel 116 results in interruption of yarn being twisted and wound onto reel 116, despite
back roller pair 106 continuing to draw feed material into drafting assembly 102. The
feed material so drawn would either lap around rollers within drafting assembly 102 or
emerge from front roller pair 108 and be drawn into a collection chamber by a suction
nozzle.
[0029] Figures 3 to 8 illustrate an apparatus and components of an apparatus for
achieving feed material interruption in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention.
[0030] Figure 3 illustrates a pivoting member 302 configured for installation within a
spinning frame. Pivoting member 302 comprises first arm 304, second arm 306 and
pivoting coupler 308.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, first arm 304 comprises a substantially linear shaft
304a, a first end 304b and a second end 304c. Second end 304c may be disengageably
coupled with pivoting coupler 308 by first coupling member 310. In the illustrated
embodiment, first coupling member 310 is a nut configured to engage with screw threads
correspondingly provided at second end 304c. However, it would be understood that any
other means for disengageable coupling that would be apparent to the skilled person is
equally capable of being implemented, including without limitation interference couplers,
connectors, locking pins, screws and rivets.
[0032] Second arm 306 comprises a shaft 306a, first end 306b and second end 306c.
[0033] First end 306b may be disengageably coupled with pivoting coupler 308 by
second coupling member 312. In the illustrated embodiment, second coupling member
312 is a nut configured to engage with screw threads correspondingly provided at first
end 306b. However, it would be understood that any other means for disengageable
coupling that would be apparent to the skilled person would be equally capable of being
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implemented, including without limitation interference couplers, connectors, locking
pins, screws and rivets.
[0034] Second arm 306 is coupled to pivoting coupler 308 such that, shaft 306a is at an
angle to shaft 304a of first arm 304. In an embodiment of the invention, the angle
between a longitudinal axis of shaft 304a and a longitudinal axis of shaft 306a is selected
such that said shafts 304a and 306a are in a substantially L-shaped configuration. In an
embodiment of the invention, second arm 306 is coupled to pivoting coupler 308 such
that the angle between a longitudinal axis of shaft 306a and a longitudinal axis of shaft
304a is at least 90°.In an embodiment of the invention second arm 306 is a substantially
L-shaped arm, wherein shaft 306a comprises a longer arm of the L-shape, while shaft 318
comprises a shorter arm of the L-shape and interconnects shaft 306a with pivoting
coupler 308.
[0035] In an embodiment of the invention, third arm 314 is afflxed at second end 306c
of second arm 306, such that third arm 314 is at an angle to shaft 306a. The angle
between third arm 314 and shaft 306a may be selected such that said shafts 314 and 306a
are arranged in a substantially L-shaped configuration. In an embodiment of the
invention, third arm 314 is affixed at second end 306c of second arm 306 such that the
angle between a longitudinal axis of shaft 306a and a longitudinal axis of shaft 314 is at
least 45° (and preferably 90° or more). In a more preferred embodiment, third shaft 314
is affixed at second end 306c of second arm 306 such that the angle between a
longitudinal axis of shaft 306a and a longitudinal axis of shaft 314 is at least 45° (and
preferably 90°or more) while the angle between a longitudinal axis of shaft 314 and a
longitudinal axis of shaft 304 is also at least 45° (and preferably 90°or more). For the
purposes of the present invention said third arm may be interchangeably referred to as "a
first interference member".
[0036] In an embodiment of the invention, the length of shaft 306a is greater than or
equal to the sum of diameter of a back bottom roller 1 06b and diameter of a back top
roller 106a of a drawing assembly 102 within which pivoting member 302 is implemented
(or is intended to be implemented).
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, pivoting coupler 308 comprises a disc shaped
member that is disengageably coupled to first arm 304 and second arm 306. Pivoting
coupler 308 is provided with pivoting feature 308a that enables pivoting coupler 308 to
pivot about a central axis. In an embodiment, pivoting feature 308a may comprise a
recess, channel or aperture configured to enable pivoting coupler 308 to mount or mate
with a corresponding pivot pin. In another embodiment, pivoting feature 308a may
comprise a ball bearing assembly configured to enable pivoting coupler 308 to be
rotatably mounted on a shaft.
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[0038] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein pivoting member
308 is pivotably mounted about pivot or shaft 320, thereby enabling pivoting member
308 to pivot about a central axis (i.e. around said pivot or shaft 320). In a particular
embodiment, shaft 320 comprises a shaft or rod already forming part of a spinning frame
design and that is located in the vicinity of the back bottom roller 106b, preferably
underlying back bottom roller 106b. In a more specific embodiment, shaft 320 is a
stripper rod provided adjacent to and underlying back bottom roller 106b for removing
feed material, roving or fibre slivers that may have lapped the rollers.
[0039] Returning to Figure 2, pivoting member 302 additionally comprises rotating
member 322 affixed to first end 304b of first arm 304. In an embodiment, rotating
member 322 comprises a rotating wheel afflxed to first end 304b of first arm 304 by
means of support member 324. Support member 324 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid
wire or shaft that interconnects rotating member 322 with first end 304b of first arm 304,
in a manner that enables rotating member 322 to rotate about its own axis. In an
embodiment where support member 324 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid wire or shaft,
such rotation may be achieved by passing support member 322 through the central axis
of rotating member 322 to achieve a rotatable mounting.
[0040] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of rotating member 322, wherein rotatable
mounting is achieved by passing support member 324 through axis A of rotating
member 322, thereby enabling rotating member 322 to rotate about said support
member 324. In the illustrated embodiment, rotating member 322 is a rotating wheel
having a groove or contour 326, which groove or contour 324 acts as a guide for yarn
emerging from a drafting assembly.
[0041] Returning again to the illustration in Figure 2, in an embodiment of the
invention, a shortest distance d between a rotating axis A of rotating member 322 and
shaft 306a of second arm 306 is greater than or equal to a sum of diameter of a back
bottom roller 1 06b and diameter of a front bottom roller 1 08b housed within a drafting
assembly 102 within which pivoting member 302 is implemented (or is intended to be
implemented). In an embodiment, the shortest distance d between a rotating axis A of
rotating member 322 and shaft 306a of second arm 306 is greater than or equal to a sum
of diameters of each bottom roller housed within a drafting assembly 102 within which
pivoting member 302 is implemented (or is intended to be implemented).
[0042] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, wherein pivoting
member 302 has been implemented within drafting assembly 102 of spinning frame 100.
[0043] As illustrated in Figure 6, spinning frame 100 may include second interference
member 504. Spinning frame 100 may additionally include support member 506, which
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support member may comprise a bracket, brace or other rigid support within spinning
frame 100.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, pivoting member 302 is pivotably mounted about
shaft 320, by means of pivoting coupler 308 as described above. Pivoting member 302 is
mounted within spinning frame 100 in a manner described in more detail below, so as to
enable said pivoting member 302 to move between at least a ftrst pivoting position and a
second pivoting position.
[0045] The ftrst pivoting position is illustrated in Figure 6, and is the posltlon of
pivoting member 302 during normal operation of spinning frame 100, wherein feed
material 104 received from a feed material source emerges without breakage from
drafting assembly 102 as untwisted yarn 110, and is twisted and wound onto reel116. In
this ftrst pivoting position, the path followed by feed material drawn by back rollers 106
from a feed material source into drafting assembly 102 passes through an interspace
between third arm 314 of pivoting member 302 and second interference member 504,
without interference from either of said third arm 314 (i.e. the ftrst interference member)
and second interference member 504. Additionally in said fust pivoting position, ftrst
arm 304 is positioned to underly one or more bottom rollers within drafting assembly
102, such that yarn 110 emerging from front roller pair 108 of drafting assembly 102 is in
contact with and guided by rotating member 322 through ring 112 and traveller 114 onto
reel116. In an embodiment of the invention, rotating member 322 is the rotating wheel
illustrated in Figure 5, and channel 326 of said rotating wheel is in contact with and
guides yarn 110 emerging from front rollers 108 of drafting assembly 102 through ring
112 and traveller 114 on to reel 116.
[0046] It has been discovered that having rotating member 322 contact and guide yarn
110 onto reel 116 results in significantly less friction than a non-rotating yarn guide,
thereby reducing hairiness and improving quality of yam 110 that is wound onto reel116.
[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, pivoting member 302 is coupled with
resilient member 510 -which resilient member 510 resiliently urges third arm 314 into
contact with feed material 104. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, resilient
member 510 is a helical spring having a ftrst end coupled to support member 506 and a
second end coupled to second arm 306, so as to resiliently urge second arm 306 towards
support member 506 and thereby urge third arm 314 into contact with feed material104
or into the feed material path between the feed material source and back rollers 106 of
drafting assembly 102. It will however be understood that any other embodiment or
configuration for a resilient member may be adopted, with a view to ensure that said
resilient member 508 resiliently urges third arm 314 into contact with feed material104
or into the feed material path between the feed material source and back rollers 106 of
drafting assembly 102. In the fust pivoting position illustrated in Figure 6, despite force
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applied by resilient member 508, third arm 314 is prevented from contacting feed
material 104 because of yarn 110, which prevents movement of rotating member 322 in
an upward direction, thereby also preventing movement of first arm 304 towards one or
more bottom rollers within drafting assembly 102. This restriction of movement of first
arm 304 towards bottom rollers in drafting assembly 102 correspondingly prevents
pivoting movement of pivoting coupler 308, which in tum inhibits third arm 314 from
moving towards or into contact with feed material104.
[0048] Figure 7 illustrates the spinning frame wherein pivoting member 302 moves from
the f1rst pivoting position of Figure 6 to a second pivoting position. For the purposes of
understanding Figure 7 and the nature of movement of pivoting member 302 from the
first pivoting position to the second pivoting position, phantom lines (dashed lines) have
been included to illustrate pivoting member 302 in its first pivoting position (as
illustrated in Figure 6), while solid lines illustrate pivoting member 302 in its second
pivoting position. As illustrated in Figure 7, upon breakage of feed material 104 within
drafting assembly 102 or of yam 110 after it emerges from front rollers 108, rotating
member 322 is no longer prevented (by yarn 110) from moving in an upward direction.
As a consequence, resilient force applied by resilient member 510 urges second arm 306
towards support member 506 and I or third arm 314 into contact with feed material104,
thereby causing pivoting member 302 to move from its f1rst pivoting position to its
second pivoting position. In the second pivoting position of pivoting member 302, third
arm 314 is in contact with feed material 104 and applies a downward and I or rearward
force (or tension) on said feed material 104, which simultaneously forces feed material
104 into contact with second interference member 504. It will be noted that in said
second pivoting position, feed material is simultaneously in contact with back rollers 106,
second interference member 504 and third arm 314. Further, in the second pivoting
position, each of back rollers 106, second interference member 504, third arm 314 and
the feed material source, apply force (or tension) on feed material 104 in a different
direction (i.e. back rollers 106 apply tension along a forward direction vector, second
interference member 504 applies tension along an upward direction vector, third arm 314
applies tension along a downward and I or backward direction vector, while the feed
material source applies tension along an upward and I or backward direction vector), the
combination of which results in trapping of feed material 104 and preventing further
feed material 104 from being drawn into drafting assembly 102. In the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 7, it will be noted that in the second pivoting position, each of third
arm 314 and second interference member 504 are in interfering contact (i.e. frictional or
movement restricting contact) with feed material 104, while avoiding contact with each
other.
[0049] By configuring and locating pivoting member 302 within drafting assembly 102
to switch from a first pivoting position to a second pivoting position in response to
breakage of feed material 104 passing into drafting assembly 102 or in response to
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breakage of yam 110 emerging from front roller 108, the present invention enables a feed
material blocking mechanism to be triggered without human intervention and without
implementation of electronic sensors. Additionally, since pivoting member 302 of the
present invention is located beneath the bottom rollers of drafting assembly 102, it does
not interfere with operator access to said drafting assembly 102, nor does it require
extensive modifications to existing spinning frame designs. The ability of pivoting
coupler 308 to be mounted on existing shafts or pivot points within a spinning frame
(such as on a stripper rod) further ensures implementability without the need for
redesign.
[0050] While in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, second interference
member 504 is positioned between back rollers 106 and second arm 306 of pivoting
member 302, it will be understood that second interference member 504 may be located
in any other position suitable to ensure that in the second pivoting position (of pivoting
member 302), third arm 314 urges feed material104 into interfering contact with second
interference member 504.
[0051] Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of second interference member
504 - wherein said interference member is in the form of a comb assembly 800 having
teeth or bristles 802 located at the position where feed material 104 is urged into contact
with said comb assembly (by third arm 314) in the second pivoting position of pivoting
member 302. Interference contact between said feed material 104 and teeth or bristles
802 of comb assembly 800 results in the feed material being immovably retained
therebetween, and preventing further feed material from being drawing into drafting
assembly 102 until the connection between feed material 104 and reel 116 is reset by an
operator and pivoting member 302 is reset from its second pivoting position to its first
pivoting position.
[0052] The comb assembly 800 as illustrated in Figure 8 may additionally include means
804 for coupling or affixing said comb assembly 800 to any part of spinning frame 100.
Any means for coupling that would be apparent to the skilled person is capable of being
used for this purpose, including without limitation screws, staples, nails, locking pins and
rivets.
[0053] It would be understood that the examples and embodiment discussed in the
present specification are illustrative only. Those skilled in the art would immediately
appreciate that various modifications in form and detail may be made without departing
from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.

We claim:
1. An apparatus for stopping supply of feed material to a spinning frame in
response to breakage of yarn, the spinning frame including a drafting assembly
configured to attenuate incoming feed material into an output yam, said drafting
assembly comprising at least a pair of front rollers and a pair of back rollers, each pair of
rollers comprising a top roller and a bottom roller,
the apparatus comprising:
a first arm and a second arm, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first arm and a
longitudinal axis of the second arm are at an angle to each other;
a pivoting coupler interconnecting the first arm and the second arm, and
configured to pivotably mount the apparatus within the spinning frame, such that the
first arm underlies one or more bottom rollers within the drafting assembly;
a yarn guide coupled to the first arm for receiving yam from the pair of front
rollers and guiding the yarn on to a yam package;
a first interference member coupled to the second arm; and
a resilient member configured to urge the apparatus from a first pivoting position
to a second pivoting position, wherein:
in the first pivoting position, the first interference member is separated from a
second interference member mounted on the spinning frame by an interspace
that permits feed material to be drawn from a feed material source into the
drafting assembly; and
in the second pivoting position, the first interference member and the second
interference member are in interfering contact with the feed material.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the yam guide comprises a
rotating wheel.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotating wheel is rotatably
coupled to the first arm by a connector.
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4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first arm and
the second arm is disengageably coupled with the pivoting coupler.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting coupler comprises a
ball bearing assembly configured to mount the pivoting coupler on a shaft.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the second arm is
greater than or equal to a sum of diameter of a back bottom roller and diameter of a back
top roller within the drafting assembly.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a shortest distance between a
rotating axis of the rotating wheel and the second arm is greater than or equal to a sum
of diameter of a back bottom roller and diameter of a front bottom roller within the
drafting assembly.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a shortest distance between a
rotating axis of the rotating wheel and the second arm is greater than or equal to a sum
of diameters of each bottom roller within the drafting assembly.
9. A spinning frame comprising:
a feed material source;
a drafting assembly configured to attenuate incoming feed material into an output
yam, said drafting assembly comprising at least a pair of front rollers and a pair of back
rollers, each pair of rollers comprising a top roller and a bottom roller;
a yarn package positioned to receive yarn from the drafting assembly; and
an apparatus for stopping supply of feed material to the drafting assembly in
response to breakage of yarn, the apparatus comprising:
a first arm and a second arm, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first arm
and a longitudinal axis of the second arm are at an angle to each other;
a pivoting coupler interconnecting the first arm and the second arm, and
configured to pivotably mount the apparatus within the spinning frame, such that
the first arm underlies one or more bottom rollers within the drafting assembly;
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a yarn guide coupled to the fl.rst arm for .receiving yarn from the pair of
front .rollers and guiding the yarn on to the yarn package;
a fl.rst interference member coupled to the second arm; and
a .resilient member conflgu.red to urge the apparatus from a fl.rst pivoting
position to a second pivoting position, wherein:
in the fl.rst pivoting position, the fl.rst interference member is separated
from a second interference member mounted on the spinning frame by
an interspace that permits feed material to be drawn from the feed
material source into the drafting assembly; and
in the second pivoting position, the fl.rst interference member and the
second interference member are in interfering contact with the feed
material.
10. The spinning frame as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second interference
member comprises a comb assembly.