Roger Neil Saunders

US Patent:

57617724, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Jul 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/684037

Inventors:

Timothy G. Clapp - New Hill NC
Jon P. Rust - Raleigh NC
Carlos Farrington - Guatemala, GT
Dale Thomas Bowen - Timberlake NC
Roger Neil Saunders - Yadkinville NC
Matthew Myers Thomas - Lewisville NC

Assignee:

North Carolina State University - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D01H 574

US Classification:

19260

Abstract:

An automated drafting system particularly suitable for drafting textile strands of sliver is provided. The automated drafting system includes a synchronous drive sliver drafting roller system utilizing toothed gears in the preferred embodiment operatively connecting a pair of drafting rollers with one of the rollers being directly driven by a motor to thereby cause identical rotation of both rollers. The automated drafting system also includes a system for securing and pressuring together upper and lower sliver drafting rollers wherein the lower roller of a pair of drafting rollers is preferably maintained in a fixed but rotational position while the upper roller of the pair is pressured towards the lower roller and controllably restricted as to both horizontal and vertical movement during the drafting process. A sliver autoleveling system using tongue and groove drafting rollers to sense sliver uniformity is also included in the automated drafting system utilizing linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) to monitor vertical displacement of the upper roller of a roller pair relative to the lower roller. The automated drafting system further provides a feed-forward and feed-back autoleveling system for control of sliver drafting rollers utilizing an input sliver sensor and an output sliver sensor communicating with a computer to facilitate sliver uniformity.

US Patent:

54904013, Feb 13, 1996

Filed:

Aug 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/284305

Inventors:

Gordon A. Wise - Statesville NC
Roger N. Saunders - Yadkinville NC
Matthew M. Thomas - Reidsville NC
Raymond W. Maynard - Advance NC
Ronald W. Mangrum - Greensboro NC

Assignee:

Unifi, Inc. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

D06B 2304

US Classification:

68198

Abstract:

A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.

US Patent:

57460736, May 5, 1998

Filed:

Nov 8, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/746300

Inventors:

Gordon A. Wise - Statesville NC
Roger N. Saunders - Yadkinville NC
Matthew M. Thomas - Reidsville NC
Raymond W. Maynard - Advance NC
Ronald W. Mangrum - Greensboro NC

Assignee:

Unifi, Inc. - Reidsville NC

International Classification:

D06B 2304

US Classification:

68198

Abstract:

A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.

US Patent:

56177488, Apr 8, 1997

Filed:

Feb 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/600032

Inventors:

Gordon A. Wise - Statesville NC
Roger N. Saunders - Yadkinville NC
Matthew M. Thomas - Reidsville NC
Raymond W. Maynard - Advance NC
Ronald W. Mangrum - Greensboro NC

Assignee:

Unifi, Inc. - Reidsville NC

International Classification:

D06B 2304

US Classification:

68198

Abstract:

A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.