(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spindle assembly to be used for a winding machine of the type where a spindle having a bobbin mounted thereon is driven, a yarn guided by a traverse device is wound on the bobbin, and the spindle is moved away from the traverse device in accordance with an increase in the amount of yarn wound on the bobbin.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The following procedures must be carried out when operating spindle assembly in a winding machine of the above-mentioned type.
(1) A bobbin is attached to and removed from a spindle of the spindle assembly.
(2) When a full bobbin is removed from or an empty bobbin is attached to the spindle of the spindle assembly, the spindle assembly is either moved away from or brought closer to the traverse device.
(3) The spindle of the spindle assembly is stopped.
In known winding machines, the foregoing procedures (1) through (3) are independently performed by an operator. For example, in the conventional winding machine disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,941, a bobbin is attached to the spindle of the spindle assembly by turning a handle arranged vertically to the spindle. However, the spindle assembly is moved and the spindle stopped in the spindle assembly by other separate devices. In a winding machine, generally, a great number of spindles are arranged in all parts of the machine. Accordingly, if a plurality of operating devices are disposed for the spindle assembly as described above, the overall structure of the winding machine becomes complicated and the machine must occupy a greater space. This also makes the operations to be carried out by the operator much more complex.