Ralph Samuel Jenkins

US Patent:

6345491, Feb 12, 2002

Filed:

Apr 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/549747

Inventors:

Kevin E. Moran - Belmont NC
Kurt Willy Niederer - Charlotte NC
Robert Edward Taylor - Columbia SC
Ralph Samuel Jenkins - Gastonia NC
Jeffrey Todd Rhyne - Belmont NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Co., Inc. - Mount Holly NC

International Classification:

D01H 1326

US Classification:

57333, 57282, 57284, 57289, 57293, 57294, 57304, 57305, 57332, 57350, 57351, 57908

Abstract:

An apparatus for inserting twist into a moving strand, including a first body including an orifice extending therethrough for permitting passage of a moving yarn. An air channel extends therethrough and communicates with the orifice. The air channel communicates with the orifice at a tangentially-offset angle to the path of the yarn through the orifice to create a cyclonic air circulation pattern in the orifice to insert a predetermined direction of twist into the yarn as the yarn passes through the orifice. The first body is adapted for being inverted relative to, and placed in overlying registration with, a second like body whereby the air channel of the first body inserts one predetermined direction of twist into the yarn and the air channel of the second body inserts another predetermined direction of twist into the yarn.

US Patent:

6419283, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Oct 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/982041

Inventors:

Jay Dee Thomas - Charlotte NC
Ralph S. Jenkins - Gastonia NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Company - Mt. Holly NC

International Classification:

A01D 5904

US Classification:

289 2, 289 12, 289 15

Abstract:

A knot-tying machine, including a package support for holding a package having a supply of a strand material with an exposed free end wound onto an outer surface of the package, a strand gripper for releasably gripping and holding a length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand, a loop-forming assembly for forming a loop in the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand and intermediate the gripper and the package, the package support and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotational movement relative to each other for forming the loop in the strand, and a knot-forming assembly for forming a slip-knot in the loop of the strand formed by the loop-forming assembly adjacent the free end thereof, the slip-knot being adapted to be subsequently removed when desired by pulling on the free end of the strand. The package support may be stationarily mounted and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotation around the periphery of the package support for capturing the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand for forming a loop therein.

US Patent:

6641181, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Jul 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/192063

Inventors:

Jay Dee Thomas - Charlotte NC
Ralph S. Jenkins - Gastonia NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Co., Inc. - Mount Holly NC

International Classification:

A01D 5904

US Classification:

289 2, 289 12, 289 15

Abstract:

A knot-tying machine, including a package support for holding a package having a supply of a strand material with an exposed free end wound onto an outer surface of the package, a strand gripper for releasably gripping and holding a length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand, a loop-forming assembly for forming a loop in the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand and intermediate the gripper and the package, the package support and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotational movement relative to each other for forming the loop in the strand, and a knot-forming assembly for forming a slip-knot in the loop of the strand formed by the loop-forming assembly adjacent the free end thereof, the slip-knot being adapted to be subsequently removed when desired by pulling on the free end of the strand. The package support may be stationarily mounted and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotation around the periphery of the package support for capturing the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand for forming a loop therein.

US Patent:

61959758, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Jun 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/327846

Inventors:

Edward Lowe Hand - late of Belmont NC
Kurt Willy Niederer - Charlotte NC
Robert Edward Taylor - Columbia SC
Ralph Samuel Jenkins - Gastonia NC
Jeffrey Todd Rhyne - Belmont NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Co., Inc. - Mount Holly NC

International Classification:

D01H 1326

US Classification:

57293

Abstract:

A process of producing an assembled yarn, including the steps of providing two or more yarns moving downstream from a supply to a take-up, inserting alternating-direction zones of twist into at least one of the yarns, the at least one yarn having an area of zero twist between said alternating direction zones of twist, combining the at least two yarns to form a single, integrated yarn strand, and intermittently exposing the yarn strand to an air blast to create a zone of intermingled yarns at spaced-apart points along the length of the yarn strand to prevent torsional movement of one yarn relative to the other yarn. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of exposing the yarn strand to an air blast includes the step of intermingling the yarns at the areas of zero twist.

US Patent:

60890096, Jul 18, 2000

Filed:

Apr 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/058010

Inventors:

Edward Lowe Hand - late of Belmont NC
Kurt Willy Niederer - Charlotte NC
Robert Edward Taylor - Columbia SC
Ralph Samuel Jenkins - Gastonia NC
Jeffrey Todd Rhyne - Belmont NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Co., Inc. - Mt. Holly NC

International Classification:

D01H 1326

US Classification:

57282

Abstract:

A process of producing an assembled yarn, including the steps of providing two or more yarns moving downstream from a supply to a take-up, inserting alternating-direction zones of twist into at least one of the yarns, the at least one yarn having an area of zero twist between said alternating direction zones of twist, combining the at least two yarns to form a single, integrated yarn strand, and intermittently exposing the yarn strand to an air blast to create a zone of intermingled yarns at spaced-apart points along the length of the yarn strand to prevent torsional movement of one yarn relative to the other yarn. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of exposing the yarn strand to an air blast includes the step of intermingling the yarns at the areas of zero twist.

US Patent:

60529830, Apr 25, 2000

Filed:

Jun 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/103947

Inventors:

Kevin E. Moran - Belmont NC
Kurt Willy Niederer - Charlotte NC
Robert Edward Taylor - Columbia SC
Ralph Samuel Jenkins - Gastonia NC
Jeffrey Todd Rhyne - Belmont NC

Assignee:

Belmont Textile Machinery Co., Inc. - Mount Holly NC

International Classification:

B01H 500

US Classification:

57293

Abstract:

An apparatus for inserting twist into a moving strand, including a first body including an orifice extending therethrough for permitting passage of a moving yarn. An air channel extends therethrough and communicates with the orifice. The air channel communicates with the orifice at a tangentially-offset angle to the path of the yarn through the orifice to create a cyclonic air circulation pattern in the orifice to insert a predetermined direction of twist into the yarn as the yarn passes through the orifice. The first body is adapted for being inverted relative to, and placed in overlying registration with, a second like body whereby the air channel of the first body inserts one predetermined direction of twist into the yarn and the air channel of the second body inserts another predetermined direction of twist into the yarn.