Apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist

Abstract

An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment of a twist yarn having a pre-existing twist in a manner which substantially preserves the pre-existing twist along a predetermined length of the thread segment in preparation for a selected thread or yarn joining operation is provided. The apparatus includes a stationary clamp surface member and a movable clamp surface member. The movable clamp surface member is movable relative to the stationary clamp surface member to form therewith a clamping extent in which the thread segment is clamped between the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member. The clamping extent is dimensioned in correspondence with the length of the thread segment and may have, for example, a length corresponding to one-half the length of the predetermined length of the thread segment or about 35 to about 40 mm.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment of a twist yarn having a pre-existing twist in a manner which substantially preserves the pre-existing twist along a predetermined length of the thread segment in preparation for a selected thread or yarn joining operation, comprising: 
 a stationary clamp surface member;    a movable clamp surface member, the movable clamp surface member being movable relative to the stationary clamp surface member to form therewith a clamping extent in which the one thread segment is clamped between the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member, the clamping extent being dimensioned in correspondence with the length of the thread segment.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 1   , wherein the clamping extent corresponds to one-half the length of the predetermined length of the thread segment.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 1   , wherein the clamping extent has a length of about 35 to about 40 mm.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 1   , wherein the movable clamp surface member is mounted in a floating manner and the apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist includes a magnet for facilitating the movement of the movable clamp surface member from a non-clamping position in which it is spaced from the stationary clamp surface member to a clamping position in which the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member clamp the thread segment therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 2   , and further comprising a permanent magnet disposed adjacent the stationary clamp surface members and the movable clamp surface member comprises magnetic material.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a preexisting twist according to    claim 1   , and further comprising a second movable clamp surface member and an angled block having two oppositely sloping surfaces, one sloping surface forming the stationary clamp surface member and the other sloping surface forming another stationary clamp surface member, each movable clamp surface member being mounted relative to a respective one of the stationary clamp surface member for movement relative thereto to effect clamping and release of a thread segment between the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 1   , and further comprising a tab connected to the movable clamp surface member, the tab having a pair of cut-ins each formed at one of the spaced apart ends of the tab at the transition location between the tab and the movable clamp surface member and an outwardly angled wing having an elongate, substantially right-angled cut-out, the tab of the movable clamp surface member extending into the cut-out of the wing and the movable clamp surface member being mounted in a hinge manner to the wing by its cut-ins.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment having a pre-existing twist according to    claim 1   , wherein the movable clamp surface member is resiliently biased toward its clamping position with the stationary clamp surface member.