Process for draft control on feeding of elastic yarn

1. A method for unwinding an elastic yarn from a yarn package for use in a yarn process which maximizes and maintains a consistent selected draft of the elastic yarn, said method comprising:

(a) providing a yarn package including elastic yarn;

(b) choosing a selected draft for said elastic yarn;

(c) unwinding said elastic yarn from said yarn package from a driven roll to yarn processing equipment at said selected draft which is determined by a ratio of a speed of said yarn at the yarn processing equipment to a speed of the driven roll;

(d) measuring tension in said elastic yarn;

(e) providing an alarm when said tension reaches a critical high tension level or a critical low tension level; and

(f) automatically adjusting draft when said tension reaches a critical high tension level or a critical low tension level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said draft is 1.5 to 5.5.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said critical high tension level is 0.1 gmf/decitex or higher.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said critical low tension level is 0.02 gmf/decitex.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said alarm is an audible alarm.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said alarm provides a signal to reduce the tension of the elastic yarn draft by increasing the speed of the driven roll.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said draft is reduced by reducing the speed of said yarn processing equipment.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(g) measuring said tension subsequent to adjusting said draft; and

(h) increasing the draft to said selected draft following a decrease in tension below said critical point.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elastic yarn includes an anti-tack additive.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said alarm alerts a human operator that said elastic yarn may break.