BE1025268A1 - Impact feed device with resiliently mounted pressure element - Google Patents

Abstract

Impact feeder device comprising a winding drum (5) with an adjustable winding circumference and a guide structure (25; 35) with a bearing seat (86, 88, 99, 106), the winding drum (5) comprising at least one drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) comprising at least one guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) mounted movably in its longitudinal direction in the bearing seat (86, 88, 99, 106) of the guide structure (25, 35), and wherein the bearing seat (86, 88, 99, 106) contains at least one resiliently mounted pressure element (89, 93, 107, 119) which acts on the guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) to allow play between the guide leg and the associated bearing seat to reduce.

Description

Impact feeder with resiliently mounted pressure element.

Technical field and state of the art.

The invention relates to a weft feeder device comprising a winding drum with a drum axis and an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread, and a guide structure, wherein the winding drum comprises at least one drum segment, which drum segment is movable in a radial direction relative to the drum axis when adjusting the wrapping circumference of the wrapping drum.

As is generally known, a weft feed device includes a substantially cylindrical winding drum on which a rotating winding arm wraps a number of turns or turns of a weft thread. The winding drum contains several drum segments distributed around the drum axis.

In the context of the application, axial direction is defined as a direction along the drum axis. For adjusting the wrap circumference, the drum segments are movable in a radial direction of the drum axis. A direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drum axis and perpendicular to the radial direction of the drum axis is referred to as the lateral direction.

In the prior art, winding drums are known that contain a number of resting drum segments arranged around a substantially cylindrical winding drum

BE2017 / 0068 which defines a wrap circumference. The resting drum segments are only moved in a radial direction relative to a drum axis when adjusting the winding circumference, but are not moved when winding or unwinding a weft thread on or from the winding drum. It is further known to provide feed drum segments which are moved in the radial direction relative to the drum axis when adjusting the winding circumference and which are moved together with a guide structure when winding or unwinding an weft thread on or from the winding drum to at least forward a single winding parallel to the axial direction of the drum axis.

For example, WO 95/24521 A1 discloses an impact feeder with a winding drum, which impact feeder includes resting drum segments and feeding drum segments. The resting drum segments and the feeding drum segments are each provided with a central rod extending in the radial direction with respect to a drum axis. The central rods are mounted on wire pins provided on respective guide structures, wherein the drum segments are movable in the radial direction by rotating the wire pins.

EP 0930386 A1 also shows an impact feeding device, in which resting drum segments and feeding drum segments of a winding drum are provided with central rods which extend in the radial direction with respect to a drum axis, which central rods

BE2017 / 0068 in a respective guide structure. According to EP 0930386 A1, two cam discs are furthermore provided. Each central rod is provided with engagement pins which are engaged with spiral grooves formed on the cam discs, wherein the drum segments are movable in the radial direction by turning the cam discs.

WO 2015/169611 A1 shows an adjustably arranged drum segment that has two side legs, a first side leg being a guide leg and a second side leg being provided with a rack cooperating with a pinion for adjusting the winding circumference.

During operation, the resting drum segments must generally be held in fixed position with respect to the guide structure to maintain a set wrap circumference. It is known, inter alia, from WO 95/24521 A1 and EP 0930386 A1 to provide a wobbling or moving guide structure for the feeding drum segments, which guide structure is moved such that the feeding drum segments move in a pattern to advance windings on the winding drum send. Such a wobbling movement is generally obtained by using an eccentric and angled hub. When providing a wobbling guide structure, the central rods of the feeding drum segments must still be fixed in position relative to the guide structure during the wobbling movement and / or a movement mechanism for moving the feeding drum segments relative to

BE2017 / 0068 the guide structure to prevent extraordinary wear on the central rods, the guide structure and / or the movement mechanism and the housing.

Summary of the invention.

It is the object of the invention to provide a weft feed device which comprises a winding drum with an adjustable winding circumference that permits a reliable positioning of a drum segment in a guide structure.

This object is solved by the impact feeder with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, a weft feed device is provided which comprises a winding drum with a drum axis and with an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread, and a guide structure with a bearing seat, the winding drum comprising at least one drum segment mounted on the guide structure around be movable in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis, wherein the drum segment comprises at least one guide leg, which guide leg is movably mounted in its longitudinal direction in the bearing seat of the guide structure, and wherein the bearing seat contains at least one resiliently mounted pressure element which acts on the guide leg for reducing play between the guide leg and the associated bearing seat.

BE2017 / 0068 In the context of the application, a resiliently mounted pressure element is to be understood to mean that the pressure element is mounted by using a resiliently deformable material and / or a resiliently deformable element, the pressure element being against the guide leg. forced by a resetting force of the resiliently deformable material and / or the resiliently deformable element and wherein the pressure element is movable away from the guide leg against the resetting force of the resiliently deformable material and / or the resiliently deformable element.

In one embodiment, the weft feed device is provided with a central rod which cooperates with a drive mechanism to adjust a winding circumference. In one embodiment, at least one guide leg is provided which is arranged parallel to, but at a distance from, the central rod. Alternatively or additionally, the central rod functions as the guide leg. In yet another embodiment, the drum segment includes two guide legs disposed at the lateral ends of the drum segment, one of the guide legs being used to move the drum segment relative to the guide structure to adjust the wrap circumference. In this case the drum segment is not provided with an additional central rod.

In one embodiment, the at least one resiliently mounted pressure member includes a low friction surface for contacting the associated

BE2017 / 0068 guide leg. In this case, the resiliently mounted pressure member functions as a flat bearing seat.

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one pressure element is a resiliently mounted roller element. The axis of the rolling element is arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the associated guide leg. In one embodiment, the axis of the rolling element is resiliently mounted in a bracket. In another embodiment, the shaft is fixedly mounted in position in a bracket, which bracket is resiliently mounted on the guide structure.

In one embodiment, the bearing seat includes two resiliently mounted roller elements disposed spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg. The roller elements are in particular uniformly distributed around the periphery of the guide leg.

The at least one roller element, at least one of the two roller elements or all roller elements are in particular wheels or rollers. The size and / or shape of the roller elements are adapted to the shape of the guide leg. In one embodiment, the at least one resiliently mounted roller element or at least one of the two resiliently mounted roller elements is a wheel with a V-shaped or U-shaped groove for contacting the guide leg. Such a shape is advantageous for guide legs that have a circular cross section.

In one embodiment, the bearing seat comprises at least

BE2017 / 0068 one stationary mounted roller element, in particular a pair of stationary mounted roller elements arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg, the resiliently mounted pressure element urging the guide leg against the at least one first stationary mounted roller element. The stationary mounted roller element is in one embodiment combined with at least one resiliently mounted roller element to provide a roller bearing. In an alternative embodiment, the stationary mounted roller element is combined with at least one resiliently mounted pressure element with a low friction surface to make contact with the guide leg.

In another embodiment, the bearing seat includes a low friction surface, the resiliently mounted pressure member urging the guide leg against the low friction surface. Playback in the bearing seat is reduced by means of the resiliently mounted pressure element. The low friction surface functions as a flat bearing seat for the guide leg. The low friction surface on the bearing seat is in one embodiment combined with at least one resiliently mounted pressure element with a low friction surface to contact the guide leg, which thereby provides a flat bearing seat. In an alternative embodiment, a low friction surface on the bearing seat is combined with at least one resiliently mounted roller element.

In one embodiment, a blocking mechanism is provided which is operative to selectively block and lock

BE2017 / 0068 release position, wherein in the blocking position the blocking mechanism blocks movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure. By means of the blocking mechanism, undesired movement of the guide legs and, thus, the associated drum segment relative to the guide structure is avoided when the blocking mechanism is in its blocking position. Therefore, movement is not possible or only possible when forces higher than forces expected are exerted during normal operation. On the other hand, when the blocking mechanism is in its release position, a movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure is not blocked, and thus possible, in particular, it is easily possible to adjust a wrap circumference. In advantageous embodiments, the blocking mechanism uses the at least one resiliently mounted roller element, wherein the at least one resiliently mounted roller element is urged against the associated guide leg to block the corresponding guide leg in a bearing seat, and wherein in the release position a contact force between the at least one resiliently mounted roller element and associated guide leg is canceled or reduced for movement of the associated guide leg in the bearing seat. In other embodiments, additional non-rotatably resiliently mounted pressure elements are provided which are urged against the guide legs in the blocking position.

In one embodiment, the at least one drum segment is a resting drum segment. In advantageous

BE2017 / 0068 embodiments, the at least one drum segment is a feeding drum segment and the guide structure is arranged to move together with the feeding drum segment to advance windings of the weft thread. In special embodiments, the winding drum contains a number of feeding drum segments, each feeding drum segment contains at least one guide leg, the guide legs of the feeding drum segments being guided in one common guide structure. As stated above, in one embodiment, a central rod functions as the guide leg. In other embodiments, each feeding drum segment includes at least one guide leg that is separate from a central rod.

According to an embodiment, the at least one drum segment comprises a first guide leg and a second guide leg which each extend parallel to the direction of movement of the drum segment, the first guide leg being movably mounted in a first bearing seat of the guide structure. and the second guide leg is mounted movably in a second bearing seat of the guide structure.

In one embodiment, the first guide leg and the second guide leg of the at least one drum segment are arranged at an axial distance from each other in the axial direction of the drum axis. The axial distance is advantageous both to stabilize the system and to allow the guide legs of various drum segments that

BE2017 / 0068 mounted on a common guide structure over large distances without interference.

In one embodiment, the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat each have at least one resiliently mounted pressure element which acts on one of the first guide leg and the second guide leg, respectively, to reduce play between the associated first guide leg and the first bearing seat and the corresponding second guide leg and the second bearing seat. In other embodiments, only one of the two guide legs is provided with a pressure element.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first guide leg and the second guide leg is arranged centrally to extend along the direction of movement of the drum segment.

In advantageous embodiments, the drum segment includes a central rod that extends in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis, the first guide leg extending at a first lateral distance to the central rod on a first side of the central rod and second guide leg extends at a second lateral distance to the central rod on a second side of the central rod. When providing a central rod, forces acting on the drum segment when adjusting the position can be exerted centrally on the drum segment and unwanted torques or moments acting on the drum segment can be avoided when

BE2017 / 0068 driving the drum segment to adjust a wrap circumference.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first guide leg and the second guide leg is arranged at an axial distance to the central rod in the axial direction of the drum axis. As mentioned above, the axial distance is advantageous both to stabilize the system and to allow both the guide legs and the central rod of various drum segments mounted on a common guide structure to be moved over large distances without interference.

For moving the drum segments when adjusting the wrap circumference, a manually operated or motor driven drive mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, the driving mechanism comprises a cam disc which comprises a spiral groove which engages with at least one engaging element provided on the central rod.

As mentioned above, in case only one guide leg is provided, the central rod is in particular provided with a guide part. However, if two guide legs are provided, the central rod is mounted in one embodiment with a free space in the guide structure. In this embodiment, the central rod is not used to guide the drum segment. This avoids a mechanically over-determined system.

BE2017 / 0068 According to a second, alternative or additional aspect, a weft feed device is provided which comprises a winding drum with a drum axis and with an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread, and a guide structure with a bearing seat, the winding drum comprising at least one drum segment which is mounted on the guide structure to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis, the drum segment including at least one guide leg, which guide leg is movably mounted in its longitudinal direction in the bearing seat of the guide structure, and wherein the weft feed device further comprises includes a blocking mechanism operative to selectively assume a blocking position and a release position, wherein in the blocking position the blocking mechanism blocks movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure.

Such a blocking mechanism is particularly advantageous in case the drum segment is a feeding drum segment, wherein the blocking mechanism can be operated to assume the release position when adjusting the winding circumference and the blocking position when using the winding drum, when the guide structure together with the feeding drum segment mounted thereon is driven to perform a wobbling movement to advance windings of a weft thread.

In one embodiment, the weft feed device is provided with a central rod which cooperates with a drive mechanism to adjust a winding circumference. In a

BE2017 / 0068 embodiment, at least one guide leg is provided which is arranged parallel but at a distance from the central rod. Alternatively or additionally, the central rod functions as the guide leg. In yet another embodiment, the drum segment includes two guide legs disposed at the lateral ends of the drum segment, one of the guide legs being used to move the drum segment relative to the guide structure to adjust the wrap circumference. In this case the drum segment is not provided with an additional central rod.

In one embodiment the blocking mechanism comprises at least one pressure element movably mounted in the bearing seat, wherein in the blocking position the at least one pressure element is urged against the guide leg to force the guide leg against the bearing seat, and wherein in the release position a pressure force exerted by the at least one pressure element on the guide leg is canceled or reduced to allow movement of the guide leg along the bearing seat.

A movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide leg is avoided by means of the pressure element. Furthermore, the pressure element functions as a brake that acts on the guide leg to prevent movement along the longitudinal direction of the guide leg.

In one embodiment, the at least one pressure element is a resiliently mounted pressure element, wherein

BE2017 / 0068 the pressure element can be moved away from the guide leg against a restoring force.

In the context of the application, a resiliently mounted pressure element is to be understood to mean that the pressure element is mounted using a resiliently deformable material and / or a resiliently deformable element, the pressure element being urged against the guide leg by means of of a resetting force of the resiliently deformable material and / or the resiliently deformable element and wherein the pressure element is movable away from the guide leg against the resetting force of the resiliently deformable material and / or the resiliently deformable element.

The spring force and / or the size, shape and material of the pressure element are selected to allow sufficient force acting on the guide leg to prevent movement, vibration and wear.

In one embodiment, the resiliently mounted pressure element is arranged to exert a reset force in the blocking position. In this case, in an embodiment in the release position, the reset force acting on the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element is canceled. In other words, no reset force or only a negligible reset force acts on the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element in the release position. In an alternative embodiment, in the release position, the reset force acting on the at least one is resilient

BE2017 / 0068 mounted pressure element reduced. In other words, the restoring force acts on the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element in the release position. Thereby a play in the bearing seat in the release position is reduced.

In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism comprises an actuator device, also referred to simply as an actuator, which is not actuated in the release position to cancel or at least reduce the restoring force acting on the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element. In other words, the actuator forces the blocking mechanism into the blocking position. In advantageous embodiments, the blocking mechanism includes an actuator which is actuated in the release position to cancel or at least reduce the resetting force acting on the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element. In this case, the actuator is not energized during operation of the impact feed device and energizing the actuator is only necessary to adjust the wrap circumference. In one embodiment, the actuator used to actuate the blocking mechanism is also used to drive the drive mechanism of the impact feeder to move the drum segments when adjusting the wrap circumference. In other embodiments, two separate actuators are provided.

The actuator can suitably be selected by the skilled person. The actuator is, for example, selected to be one of an electric motor, an electromagnet or a wire that changes length with current. In advantageous

BE2017 / 0068 embodiments, the actuator comprises an electromagnetic coil.

In one embodiment, the at least one drum segment is a resting drum segment. In advantageous embodiments, the at least one drum segment is a feeding drum segment and the guide structure is arranged to move together with the feeding drum segment to advance weft yarn windings. In special embodiments, the winding drum comprises a number of feeding drum segments, each feeding drum segment contains at least one guide leg, the guide legs of the feeding drum segments being guided in a common guide structure. As stated above, in one embodiment, a central rod functions as the guide leg. In other embodiments, each feeding drum segment includes at least one guide leg that is separate from a central rod.

In one embodiment, the weft feeder includes a first subgroup and a second subgroup, wherein the second subgroup is moved relative to the first subgroup to perform a wobbling movement to advance winding yarn windings. For example, the first subgroup is a resting drum arrangement that includes a plurality of resting drum segments that are guided in a guide structure and are movable with respect to the guide structure to adjust the wrap circumference, while the second subgroup is a feeding drum arrangement

BE2017 / 0068 which contains a number of feeding drum segments, which are guided in a guide structure and are movable with respect to the guide structure when adjusting the wrap circumference.

The blocking mechanism is particularly designed to act on guide legs of the second subgroup performing wobbling movement. For this purpose, the blocking mechanism is arranged at least partially on the second subgroup, wherein in particular the actuator of the blocking mechanism is arranged on the second subgroup. Alternatively, in one embodiment the blocking mechanism is arranged at least partially on the first subgroup, in particular the actuator of the blocking mechanism being arranged on the first subgroup. Therefore, at least a part of the blocking mechanism is arranged such that it is stationary during the operation of the impact feed device. This avoids having to move high masses during the wobbling movement during the operation of the impact feed device.

In case the actuator is mounted on the first subgroup, the movement or force is transmitted to the second subgroup via a mechanism, e.g. a bellows, that transfers the movement imposed by the actuator onto a movable blocking element that is attached to the second subgroup is arranged for selectively moving the movable blocking element in a first position, in which the movable blocking element blocks a movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure,

BE2017 / 0068 or a second position, in which the movable blocking element does not block a movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure. In one embodiment, the blocking element is a disc with at least one inclined surface, which is rotated by means of the bellows.

In one embodiment, the pressure element in the release position is moved separately from the associated guide leg and does not contact the associated guide leg in the release position. In advantageous embodiments, the contact force between the at least one pressure element and the guide leg in the release position is reduced for a movement of the guide leg in the bearing seat with reduced play between the guide leg and the bearing seat. In other words, in the release position the pressure element still makes contact with the associated guide leg. In order to avoid high frictional forces that act against the movement of the guide leg in the release position, the pressure element is provided with a low friction surface in one embodiment.

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one pressure element is a roller element, in particular a resiliently mounted roller element. The axis of the rolling element is arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the associated guide leg. In one embodiment, the axis of the rolling element is resiliently mounted in a bracket. In another embodiment, the shaft is fixedly mounted in position in a bracket, which bracket is resiliently mounted on the guide structure.

BE2017 / 0068 According to an embodiment, the bearing seat comprises at least one stationary mounted roller element, in particular a pair of stationary mounted roller elements arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg, the resiliently mounted pressure element engaging the guide leg against the at least one forces a first stationary mounted roller element.

According to an embodiment, the at least one drum segment comprises a first guide leg and a second guide leg, each of which extends parallel to the direction of movement of the drum segment at a lateral distance from each other, the first guide leg being movable in a first bearing seat of the guide structure. and the second guide leg is movably mounted in a second bearing seat of the guide structure.

In advantageous embodiments, the drum segment includes a central rod that extends in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis, the first guide leg extending at a first lateral distance from the central rod on a first side of the central rod and second guide leg extends at a second lateral distance to the central rod on a second side of the central rod. When providing a central rod, forces acting on the drum segment when adjusting the position can be exerted centrally on the drum segment and unwanted torque or moments acting on the drum segment can be avoided when driving the drum segment around a wrap circumference at to

BE2017 / 0068.

As stated above, in case only one guide leg is provided, the central rod is in particular provided with a guide part. However, in the case where two guide legs are provided, the central rod is mounted in one embodiment with a free space in the guide structure. In this embodiment, the central rod is not used to guide the drum segment. This avoids a mechanically over-determined system.

According to a third, alternative or additional aspect, a weft feed device is provided which comprises a winding drum with a drum axis and with an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread, a guide structure, and a drive mechanism, the winding drum comprising at least one drum segment with a central rod includes that extends in a radial direction relative to the drum axis, the at least one drum segment being movably mounted to the guide structure, the drive mechanism cooperating with the central rod of the at least one drum segment about the at least one drum segment in the radial direction relative to the drum axis of the drum axis when adjusting the winding circumference of the winding drum, and wherein the at least one drum segment is further provided with at least one guide leg that is guided through the guide structure, which at least one guide leg is spaced parallel to the c central rod.

BE2017 / 0068 In one embodiment, the drive mechanism is operated manually. In advantageous embodiments, the drive mechanism comprises a drive actuator. By means of the drive mechanism, forces are exerted on the central rod for moving the drum segment in a radial direction relative to the drum axis. When a central rod is provided, forces acting on the drum segment when adjusting the position centrally on the drum segment are exerted and unwanted torques or moments acting on the drum segment can be avoided. However, forces not acting centrally on the drum segment, particularly when performing a wobbling movement to advance weft threads, may cause undesired displacement of the drum segment, in particular a rotation of the drum segment around the central rod. By providing the at least one additional guide leg that extends at a distance parallel to the central rod, the drum segment is prevented from rotating around the central rod.

In advantageous embodiments, the guide leg is provided with a circular cross-section to prevent clinging. However, guide legs that have other cross sections are also possible.

According to an embodiment, the at least one guide leg extends at a lateral distance from the central rod. The central rod extends in a radial direction from the drum axis. The radial direction of the drum axis coincides in this case with the longitudinal direction of the central rod

BE2017 / 0068 and with the direction of movement of the drum segment. The lateral direction is a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drum axis and perpendicular to the radial direction of the drum axis. The stability of the drum segment increases with a distance between the central rod and the at least one guide leg. When providing the at least one guide leg with a lateral distance to the central rod, a distance can be maximized by using existing space. In advantageous embodiments, the at least one additional guide leg is provided at or close to a lateral end of the drum segment.

In addition or alternatively, the at least one guide leg in one embodiment extends at an axial distance in the axial direction from the drum axis to the central rod. The axial distance is advantageous both to stabilize the system and to allow the central rod and guide legs of various drum segments mounted on a common guide structure to be moved over large distances without interference.

In one embodiment, the central rod is provided with a guide part, which guide part is guided through the guide structure. Such an embodiment is advantageous if, due to spatial limitations, only one guide leg is provided.

According to another embodiment, the at least one drum segment is provided with a first guide leg and a second guide leg that are guided by the

BE2017 / 0068 guide structure, wherein the first guide leg extends parallel to the second guide leg, and wherein the first guide leg extends a first lateral distance to the central rod on a first side of the central rod and the second guide leg extends on a second lateral distance to the central rod on a second side of the central rod. By providing one guide leg on each side of the central rod, the stability of the drum segment against any undesired displacement is further increased.

In case two guide legs are provided, in one embodiment the first guide leg and the second guide leg are arranged at an axial distance from each other in the axial direction of the drum axis. As mentioned above, the axial distance is advantageous both to stabilize the system and to allow the central rod and guide legs of various drum segments mounted on a common guide structure to be moved over large distances without interference.

As stated above, in case only one guide leg is provided, the central rod is in particular provided with a guide part. However, if two guide legs are provided, the central rod is mounted in one embodiment with a free space in the guide structure. In this embodiment, the central rod is not used to guide the drum segment. This avoids a mechanically over-determined system.

BE2017 / 0068 In one embodiment the at least one guide leg and / or the central rod is movably mounted parallel to the radial direction in a bearing seat of the guide structure, the bearing seat being provided with at least one resiliently mounted pressure element, which pressure element acts on the associated guide leg or associated central rod for reducing clearance between the associated guide leg and the bearing seat or the associated central rod and the bearing seat. A pressure element provided is advantageous in impact feed devices which have drum segments provided with a central rod and at least one guide leg. In addition, a pressure element is also advantageously provided in other impact feed devices, for example in impact feed devices that have drum segments that contain only a central rod and do not contain additional guide legs and / or in impact feed devices that have drum segments that contain two guide legs and do not contain a central rod, one of which the guide legs cooperates with a drive mechanism in adjusting the wrap circumference.

In one embodiment, the at least one guide leg is mounted in the guide structure by using a flat bearing. When using a flat bearing, a material combination of the guide legs and the guide structure and / or bearing housings is provided on the guide structure to guide the guide legs appropriately selected by those skilled in the art to allow reliable guidance to avoid wear. In one embodiment, high frictional forces are avoided.

BE2017 / 0068

In other embodiments, material combinations with high frictional forces are used to provide a self-clamping system.

Alternatively, the at least one guide leg is mounted in the guide structure by using a roller element bearing. In the context of the application, a roller element bearing is defined as a bearing, wherein at least one roller element, in particular rollers or wheels, is arranged between the guide structure and the guide leg. The roller element is arranged such that the movement of the guide leg relative to the guide structure causes the roller element to roll around its axis.

In one embodiment, the roller element bearing includes at least one resiliently mounted roller element. In the context of the application, resiliently mounted roller element is understood to mean that the roller element is mounted by using a resiliently deformable material, the roller element being urged against the guide leg by means of a resetting force of the resiliently deformable material and the roller element being removed of the guide leg is movable against the restoring force of the resiliently deformable material. By using a resiliently mounted roller element, play between the guide leg and the bearing seat is further reduced and manufacturing tolerances are compensated.

In one embodiment, a blocking mechanism is operatively selectively a blocking position and a release position

BE2017 / 0068, wherein in the blocking position the blocking mechanism blocks movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure. By means of the blocking mechanism, movement of the guide legs and, thus, the associated drum segment, relative to the guide structure is avoided when the blocking mechanism is in its blocking position. In other words, in the context of the application, when the blocking mechanism is in its blocking position, the blocking mechanism blocks a movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure, and a movement is not possible or only possible when forces higher than forces are expected exercised during normal operation. On the other hand, when the blocking mechanism is in its release position, a movement of the at least one guide leg relative to the guide structure is not blocked, and thus possible, in particular, it is easily possible to adjust a wrap circumference. Providing a blocking mechanism is advantageous in impact feed devices which have drum segments provided with a central rod and at least one guide leg. In addition, a blocking mechanism is also advantageously provided in other impact feed devices, for example in impact feed devices that have drum segments that only contain a central rod and do not contain additional guide legs and / or in impact feed devices that have drum segments that contain two guide legs and that do not contain a central rod, one of which the guide legs cooperates with a drive mechanism in adjusting the wrap circumference.

BE2017 / 0068 In advantageous embodiments, the blocking mechanism uses the at least one resiliently mounted roller element, wherein the at least one resiliently mounted roller element against the associated guide leg is urged to block the corresponding guide leg in a bearing seat, and wherein in the release position a contact force between the at least one resiliently mounted roller element and the associated guide leg is canceled or reduced for a movement of the associated guide leg in the bearing seat. In other embodiments, additional non-rotatably resiliently mounted pressure elements are provided which are urged against the guide legs in the blocking position.

In one embodiment, the at least one drum segment is a resting drum segment. In advantageous embodiments, the at least one drum segment is a feeding drum segment and the guide structure is arranged to move together with the feeding drum segment to advance windings of the weft thread.

The drive mechanism for moving the drum segment includes, in one embodiment, a rack and pinion mechanism or a spindle. In advantageous embodiments, the drive mechanism comprises a cam disc with a spiral groove, for example a spiral groove on one side, which spiral groove engages with the at least one engagement element provided on the central rod. The design of the spiral groove and / or the at least one engagement element is suitably selected by the person skilled in the art to achieve a desired movement.

BE2017 / 0068 In one embodiment, the winding drum comprises a plurality of feeding drum segments, each feeding drum segment includes a central rod and at least one guide leg, the guide legs of the plurality of feeding drum segments being guided in particular in one common guide structure. The number of feeding drum segments is divided around the circumference of the winding drum. In special embodiments, three movably arranged feeding drum segments and one drum segment which is stationary arranged on the guide structure are provided, which are arranged around the drum axis at 90 ° intervals.

Alternatively or additionally, the winding drum includes a plurality of resting drum segments, each resting drum segment includes a central rod and at least one guide leg, the guide legs of the plurality of resting drum segments being guided in particular in one common guide structure. In other embodiments, the winding drum includes a plurality of feeding drum segments, each feeding drum segment includes a central rod and at least one guide leg, and a plurality of resting drum segments, with each resting drum segment including a central rod, but no additional guide leg.

In one embodiment, the winding drum includes a plurality of resting drum segments mounted on a first guide structure, each resting drum segment includes a central rod, and a plurality of feeding drum segments

BE2017 / 0068 mounted on a second guide structure, each feeding drum segment includes a central rod and at least one guide leg, the guide legs of the plurality of feeding drum segments are guided in the second guide structure, and wherein the second guide structure is mounted movably relative to the first guide structure to allow a wobbling movement of the second guide structure to advance windings of the weft thread.

In particular, the resting drum segments and the feeding drum segments are both provided with at least one guide leg movably mounted in the respective first guide structure or second guide structure.

In one embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a first cam disk and a second cam disk, the first cam disk includes a first spiral groove that engages with at least one first engagement element, provided on the central rods of the plurality of resting drum segments and the second cam disk includes a second spiral groove which engages with at least one second engagement element, provided on the central rods with the number of feeding drum segments. The first cam disk and the second cam disk are coupled such that a relative movement of the second cam disk relative to the first cam disk is permitted in use such that the second cam disk together with the second guide structure can perform a wobbling movement to advance windings of weft threads .

BE2017 / 0068 All aspects of the application can be implemented individually to provide a weft feeder comprising a winding drum with an adjustable winding circumference that permits reliable positioning of a drum segment in a guide structure. Alternatively, at least two of the first aspect, the second aspect and the third aspect of the application can be combined.

Brief description of the drawings.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings the same elements are indicated with the same reference numbers.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from a impact feed device according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the weft feeder of figure 1 without a front cover; Figure 3 show a cross-sectional view of the weft feeder of figure 1 without it

front cover;

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a resting drum arrangement, a feeding drum arrangement, and a drive mechanism to adjust a wrap circumference of the weft feeder of Figure 1;

BE2017 / 0068

Figure 5 shows three resting drum segments and a drive mechanism of the impact feeding device of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a partial exploded front view of the parts of the impact feed device of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a detail of the drive mechanism of the impact feed device of Figure 1;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of three resting drum segments, three feeding drum segments, and a cam disk device of the drive mechanism of the impact feed device of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an exploded view of a feed drum arrangement including three feed drum segments and a guide structure of the impact feed device of Figure 1 viewed from a rear side of the feed drum arrangement;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the feeding drum arrangement of Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one feeding drum segment and the guide structure of the feeding drum arrangement of Figure 9;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the feeding drum segment of Figure 11 and a cam disc of the drive mechanism to move the feeding drum segment in a radial direction relative to a drum axis when adjusting the wrapping circumference of the wrapping drum;

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the feed

BE2017 / 0068 drum segment of figure 12 together with guide elements of a guide structure;

Figure 14 shows a view of the arrangement of Figure 13 viewed in the direction of a guide leg of the feeding drum segment;

Figure 15 shows a perspective view as seen from a rear side of a resting drum arrangement of the impact feed device of Figure 1;

Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a resting drum segment and a guide structure of the resting drum arrangement of Figure 15;

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the resting drum segment of Figure 16 and a cam disc of the drive mechanism to move the resting drum segment in a radial direction relative to a drum axis when adjusting the wrap circumference of the wrap drum;

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a feeding drum arrangement according to a second embodiment of a weft feeding device;

Figure 19 shows an exploded view of the feeding drum arrangement of Figure 18;

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a feeding drum segment and a guide structure of the feeding drum arrangement according to a third embodiment of a weft feeding device; and

Figure 21 shows an exploded view of a feeding drum segment of a feeding drum arrangement according to a fourth embodiment of a weft feeding device.

BE2017 / 0068

Detailed description of the invention. from embodiments from the Figures 1 to 3 show respectively a impact feed device 1 a perspective view with a

front lid 3, a perspective view without the front lid 3, and a cross-sectional view without the front lid 3.

The weft feed device 1 comprises a winding drum on which a rotating winding arm 6 wraps a number of turns of a weft thread 7 (see Fig. 3). The rotating winding arm rotates around the drum shaft 9. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the winding drum 5 comprises a resting drum arrangement 11 and a feeding drum arrangement 13. The weft feeding device 1 further comprises a housing 2 for a drive motor (not shown), a so-called stopper pin 4 to stop a weft thread 7, a push button 8 to activate the stopper pin 4 and a switch 10 to energize the weft feed device 1.

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the resting drum arrangement 11, the feeding drum arrangement 13 and a drive mechanism 15 to adjust a wrapping circumference of the wrapping drum 5. The weft feed device 1 comprises a first subgroup 12 and a second subgroup 14, the second subgroup 14 being moved relative to the first subgroup 12 to perform a wobbling movement to advance winding of weft thread 7. In the following description, the first subgroup 12 contains the resting one

BE2017 / 0068 drum arrangement 11, while the second subgroup 14 contains the feeding drum arrangement 13.

In the following description, directions and orientations of the device are defined as follows: axial direction is defined as a direction along the drum axis 9; forward end or front end is defined as being the end of the weft feeder 1 facing the weaving pocket (not shown), which end is on the right-hand side of Figure 1; rear end or rear end is defined as the opposite end of the impact feeder 1 on the left-hand side of Figure 1. The terms first and second are used to distinguish elements of the same or similar type without defining any functional order of the respective elements.

The resting drum arrangement 11 comprises four drum segments 17, 19, 21, 23 arranged at 90 ° intervals and a guide structure 25. One of the four drum segments 23, which in the shown embodiment is arranged at the top of the impact feeder 1, is stationary on the guide structure 25 mounted. The remaining three drum segments 17, 19, 21 are movably mounted on the guide structure 25. In the context of the application, these drum segments are referred to as resting drum segments 17, 19, 21, 23. By means of the drive mechanism 15, the three movably mounted drum segments 17, 19, 21 are movable in the radial direction with respect to the drum axis 9 about the winding circumference of the

BE2017 / 0068 wrapping drum 5 to be adjusted.

Similarly, the feeding drum arrangement 13 comprises four drum segments 27, 29, 31, 33 arranged at 90 ° intervals and a guide structure 35. One of the four drum segments 33, which in the shown embodiment is arranged at the top of the impact feed device 1 is mounted stationarily on the associated guide structure 35 by means of a screw 24. The remaining three drum segments 27, 29, 31 are movably mounted on the associated guide structure 35. In the context of the application, these drum segments are referred to as feed drum segments 27, 29, 31, 33. By means of the drive mechanism 15, the three movably mounted feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are movable in the radial direction relative to the drum axis 9 together with the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 when adjusting the winding circumference of the winding drum 5 .

The movably mounted resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 are only moved in a radial direction relative to a drum axis 9 to adjust the winding circumference of the winding drum 5, but are not moved when winding or unwinding an weft thread 7 on or from the winding drum 5. The feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are moved in the radial direction relative to the drum axis 9 when adjusting the winding circumference of the winding drum 5 and are moved together with the guide structure 35 when winding or unwinding of a weft thread 7 on or from the winding drum 5 around at least a single winding

BE2017 / 0068 forward parallel to the axial direction of the drum axis 9.

As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the weft feed device 1 includes a pivot axis 37. The pivot axis 37 drives the winding arm 6 and is driven into the motor housing 2 by the drive motor (not shown). An eccentric slanted sleeve 41 with an eccentric 39 is mounted on the rotary shaft 37 for rotation together with the rotary shaft 37. The guide structure 35 of the feeding drum arrangement 13 is mounted on the sleeve 41 by means of bearings 40. The rotation of the axis of rotation 37 with the sleeve 41 causes a wobbling movement of the guide structure 35 with the drum segments T7, 29, 31, 33 mounted thereon to advance windings of weft thread 7.

The drum segments 17, 19, 21, 23 of the resting drum arrangement 11 each comprise a number of rods 43 extending parallel to the drum axis 9, which are arranged distributed along a circumferential path of the winding drum 5 in the circumferential direction. Similarly, the drum segments 27, 29, 31, 33 of the feeding drum arrangement 13 each comprise a number of rods 45 extending parallel to the drum axis 9, said rods 45 between the rods 43 of the drum segments 17, 19, 21, 23 are arranged to allow the bars 43, 45 to pass each other during the wobbling movement of the feeding drum arrangement 13.

The movably arranged resting one

BE2017 / 0068 drum segments 17, 19, 21 are each provided with a central rod 47 and two guide legs 51, 53. The movably arranged feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are each provided with a central rod 49 and two guide legs 55, 57. In the embodiment shown has each of the guide legs 51, 53; 55, 57 a circular cross section. A circular cross-section is advantageous to avoid clinging. In other embodiments, guide legs are provided that have a different cross-section, for example a rectangular, square or oval cross-section.

Figures 5 and 6 show in more detail the three resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 and the drive mechanism 15 used to cause movement of the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 to adjust a wrap circumference. As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the drive mechanism 15 includes a drive actuator 67, a gear system 69 with a gear 68, a gear 70 and a worm gear 71 and a cam disc 59 with a spiral groove 61 on one side. The cam disc 59 is furthermore provided with a pinion 65 which cooperates with the worm gear 71. The spiral groove 61 engages with a number of engaging elements 63 which are provided on the central rods 47. The engagement elements 63 are wing-shaped in the embodiment shown. A rotation of the cam disc 59 causes a linear movement of the central rods 47 together with the associated resting drum segments 17, 19, 21, the sense of the direction of movement depending on the direction of rotation of the cam disc 59. The cam disc 59 also becomes hereafter the first cam disc 59.

BE2017 / 0068 As best seen in Figure 3, the drive actuator 67 of the drive mechanism 15 is arranged stationarily on the guide structure 25 of the resting drum arrangement 11.

Figure 7 shows the drive mechanism 15 without the cam disc 59 and with a mounting structure 73 for mounting the drive actuator 67 and the gear system 69 of the drive mechanism 15 on the guide structure 25 of the resting drum arrangement 11 (see Figure 3). The gear 68 of the gear system 69 is mounted on a shaft of the drive actuator 67 to move together with the shaft of the drive actuator 67. By mounting the drive actuator 67 and the gear system 69 of the drive mechanism 15 on the guide structure 25 of the resting drum arrangement 11, a movement of the drive mechanism 15 together with the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 and / or together with the guide structure 35 of the feeding drum arrangement 13 with a rotation of the axis of rotation 37 (see figure 3) is avoided.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the movably arranged feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 of the feeding drum arrangement 13 are arranged to move together with the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 when adjusting the wrap circumference. For this purpose, the drive mechanism 15 further comprises a second cam disc 75, coupled to the first cam disc 59 by means of a bellows cylinder 81 to rotate together with the first cam disc 59. The bellows cylinder 81 also allows the resting drum segments

BE2017 / 0068

17, 19, 21 from the supplying drum segments 27, 29, 31. The second cam disc 75, also briefly referred to as cam disc 75, is provided with a spiral groove 77 on one side which engages a number of engaging elements 79 provided on a central rod 49 of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31. A further bellows cylinder 82 is provided which forms a dust screen arranged between a basic structure 16 of the impact feed device 1 and the guide structure 35.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the three movably arranged resting drum segments 17, 19, 21, the three movably arranged feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 and a cam disc device 76 of the drive mechanism 15 comprising the first cam disc 59, the second cam disc 75 and the bellows cylinder 81. As can best be seen in Figure 8, the first cam disk 59 and the second cam disk 75 are arranged such that the associated spiral grooves 61, 77 point in opposite directions. The cam disc device 76 is arranged between the central rods 47 of the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 and the central rods 49 of the supplying drum segments T1, 29, 31, the engagement elements 63, 79 on the surfaces of the central rods 47, 49 are directed toward the cam disk device 76 to engage the associated spiral groove 61, 77.

According to the embodiment shown, a guide system is that the guide structures 25, 35 for the movably arranged resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 as well as for the movably arranged feeding

BE2017 / 0068 contains drum segments 27, 29, 31 separated from the drive mechanism 15. In order to guide the drum segments in their movement when adjusting the wrap circumference, each movably arranged resting drum segment 17, 19, 21 comprises two guide legs 51, 53 which extend at a distance parallel to the central rod 47 and each comprises movably arranged feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 two guide legs 55, 57 which extend at a distance parallel to the central rod 49.

In the embodiment shown, the two guide legs are 51, 53; 55, 57 each at an axial distance in an axial direction from the drum axis 9 of the central rods 47, 49 as well as at a lateral distance from the central rods 47, 49 in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drum axis 9 and perpendicularly mounted on the longitudinal direction of the central rod 47, 49. In the embodiment shown, the cam disc device 76 is arranged in an axial direction between the two guide legs 51, 53 of the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 and the two guide legs 55, 57 of the supplying drum segments 27, 29, 31. In the embodiment shown, one of the two guide legs extends as the first guide leg 51; 55, extends to the central rod 47 at a first lateral distance; 49 on a first side of the central rod 47; 49 and the other of the two guide legs, that as the second guide leg 53; 57, extends at a second lateral distance to the central rod 47; 49 on a second side of the central rod 47; 49. In the embodiment shown, the first lateral distance is at least as equal

BE2017 / 0068 at the second lateral distance.

The guide structure 35 of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 is described in more detail with reference to Figures 9 to 14, where Figure 9 is an exploded view of the feeding drum arrangement 13 without the stationary drum segment 33 (see Figure 4) viewed from a rear side of the feeding drum arrangement 13; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the feeding drum arrangement 13; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one feeding drum segment 27 with the guide structure 35; Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the feeding drum segment 31 and the cam disc 75 of the drive mechanism 15; Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the feeding drum segment 31 together with guide elements of the guide structure 35 (see Figure 4); Figure 14 shows a view of the arrangement of Figure 13 as viewed in the direction of the guide legs 55, 57 of the feeding drum segment 31, in particular as viewed in the direction P shown in Figure 13.

As best seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the guide structure 35 is provided with a screw hole 84 for securely mounting the stationary drum segment 33 (see Fig. 4) of the feeding drum arrangement 13 in position on the guide structure 35.

The feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are movably mounted on the guide structure 35. In the embodiment shown, the central rods 49 are of the

BE2017 / 0068 feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 each with a free space mounted in a groove 83 of the guide structure 35.

Each feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 is guided by means of the first guide leg 55 and the second guide leg 57. In the embodiment shown, the first guide leg 55 and the second guide leg 57 of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are each guided into the guide structure 35 by using a roller element bearing 85, 87, which is hereinafter referred to as the first roller element bearing 85 and second roller element bearing 87 is indicated. The roller element bearing 85 has one bearing seat 86 for the first guide leg 55 and the roller element bearing 87 has two bearing seats 88 for the second guide leg 57.

As best seen in Figures 12, 13 and 14, the first roller element bearing 85 comprises one roller element 89 and a bracket 91 which is arranged opposite to the roller element 89. The roller element 89 and the bracket 91 together form a bearing seat 86. The roller element 89 is mounted on the guide structure 35 via a holder 102 by means of a cantilever 92. The bracket 91 is mounted on the guide structure 35. The surface contour of the roller element 89 is provided with a groove adapted to the circular cross section of the guide leg 55. In an advantageous embodiment, the bracket 91 has a low friction surface 100 for contacting the guide leg 55. For this purpose, the bracket 91 in an embodiment made of a material having a low coefficient of friction in combination with a material selected for the guide leg 55. In other

BE2017 / 0068, the bracket 91 is provided with a coating or surface layer on the surface that makes contact with the guide leg 55.

The second roller element bearing 87 comprises four roller elements 93, 94 arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the second guide leg 57. Each pair of roller elements 93, 94 form a bearing seat 88. The roller elements 93, 94 of each pair of roller elements are arranged at an axial distance to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg 57. The axial distance between the roller elements 93, 94 is the same for both pairs and the two pairs are arranged such that the second guide leg 57 is guided by two opposite roller elements 93, 94 in two regions in its longitudinal direction. In the example, the surface contour of each of the roller elements 93, 94 is provided with a groove adapted to the circular cross section of the guide leg 57. The pair of roller elements 93 arranged on a rear side of the guide leg 57 is on the guide structure 35 mounted by means of an elongated beam 95 via a holder 104. The pair of roller elements 94 disposed on a front side of the guide leg 57 is mounted on a support 90 of the guide structure 35.

The combination of the roller element bearings 85, 87 shown in Figs. 10 to 14 is advantageous to allow for reliable guidance of the two guide legs 55, 57, in particular a guide without or with only small play. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the combination of shown roller element bearings and / or the

BE2017 / 0068 embodiments of the roller element bearings shown. Various other roller element bearings and / or combinations of roller element bearings are conceivable, in which for example more than two pairs of roller elements, for example three or four pairs of roller elements are arranged around the periphery of a guide leg and / or wherein roller elements of different shapes are used. A roller element bearing can for instance be formed by three roller elements which are arranged at angles of 120 ° around the periphery of a guide leg. Further, in one embodiment, only one guide leg is guided by using a roller element bearing, while the other guide leg is guided by using a flat bearing.

In order to further reduce play between the bearing seat 86 and the associated first guide leg 55, the roller element 89 is resiliently mounted on the guide structure 35 by means of the cantilever 92, in particular the resilient cantilever 92 presses the roller element 89 against the guide leg 55. Therefore, the resiliently mounted roller element 89 functions as a pressure element 89 which acts on the associated guide leg 55 to further reduce play between the associated guide leg 55 and the bearing seat 86.

Similarly, to reduce play between the bearing seats 88 and the associated second guide leg 57, the roller elements 93 are mounted on the rear side of the guide leg 57 in the shown embodiment resiliently mounted on the guide structure 35 by

BE2017 / 0068 means of the beam 95, in particular the resilient elongated beam 95 presses the roller elements 93 against the guide leg 57. Therefore, the resiliently mounted roller elements 93 function as pressure elements 93 which act on the associated guide leg 57 to further play between the associated guide leg. 57 and the bearing seats 88.

In an alternative embodiment, the roller element support 90 of the roller element bearing 87 is resiliently mounted to force the roller elements 94 toward the associated roller elements 93 and / or the bracket 91 of the roller element bearing 85 is resiliently mounted to forcing the bracket 91 to the rolling element 89 arranged opposite the bracket 91. In yet another embodiment, all bearings are designed as flat bearings containing a resiliently mounted element to reduce play.

The guide structure 25 of the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 is described in more detail with reference to Figures 15 to 17, wherein Figure 15 shows a perspective view of a rear side of the resting drum arrangement 11 of the impact feeder 1 of Figure 1 Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the resting drum segment 17 and the guide structure 25 from a front side of the impact feed device 1, and Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the resting drum segment 17 and the cam disc 59 of the drive mechanism 15 to move the resting drum segment 17 to adjust the wrapping circumference of the wrapping drum 5. The stationary

BE2017 / 0068 resting drum segment 23 (see figure 4) is not shown in figures 15 to 17.

The resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 are mounted movably on the guide structure 25. As described above, the drive mechanism 15 (see Figure 5) cooperates with engagement elements 63 provided on the central rods 47 (see Figure 15) to adjust the wrap circumference. In the embodiment shown, the central rods 47 of the resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 are mounted with a free space in a groove 96 of the guide structure 25. The resting drum segments 17, 19, 21 are guided by means of the first guide leg 51 and the second guide leg 53. The guide structure 25 is provided with six cavities 97 to form bearing seats 99 for the guide legs 51, 53 of the three resting drum segments 17, 19, 21. The guide legs 51, 53 are mounted in the bearing seats 99 by using a flat bearing, wherein in the shown embodiment two bearing housings 101 are arranged in each bearing seat 99 to improve the guiding and to reduce frictional forces.

The cam disc 59 (see Figure 17) is rotatably supported on the guide structure 25 by means of a mounting sleeve 103.

Alternatively or additionally, in an embodiment of a supplying drum arrangement 13 or a resting drum arrangement 11, a blocking mechanism 98 operates to selectively a blocking position and a release position

BE2017 / 0068, wherein in the blocking position the blocking mechanism 98 a movement of at least one of the guide legs 51, 53; 55, 57 along the guide structure 25; 35 blocks. Such a blocking mechanism is particularly advantageous at a feeding drum arrangement 13 in order to avoid a relative movement of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 relative to the guide structure 35 in a wobbling movement of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 in order to prevent windings of forward weft thread 7 (see figure 3).

In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism includes an element to block a rotation of at least one of the roller elements 89, 93 provided to the feeding drum arrangement 13 shown in Figs. 1 to 14. In another embodiment, the blocking mechanism includes a pressure element that is at least one of the guide legs 55, 57 is forced to block movement of the guide leg 55, 57 of the feeding drum arrangement 13 shown in Figures 1 to 14. In yet another embodiment, one of the resiliently mounted roller elements 89, 93 and / or the resiliently mounted support 90 or bracket 91 also functions as a blocking element, wherein a force exerted by the roller element 89, 93 is chosen sufficiently large to cause a movement of the roller element 89, 93. guide leg 55, 57 in the associated bearing seat 86, 88. In this case, an actuator device is provided, also referred to simply as an actuator, which is selectively effective to cancel or at least reduce the force exerted by the roller element to selectively apply a movement when adjusting the wrap circumference.

BE2017 / 0068.

Figures 18 and 19 show a feeding drum arrangement 13 according to a second embodiment of a weft feeding device 1 in a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and the same reference designations are used for the same or similar elements. The feeding drum arrangement 13 according to the second embodiment also contains three feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 which are movably mounted on a guide structure 35. Similarly, the first embodiment includes the feeding drum arrangement 13 according to a second embodiment, a fourth drum segment 33 (see Figure 4) mounted stationarily on the guide structure 35. Each feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 includes two guide legs 55, 57. According to one aspect of the invention, the feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 further comprises a central rod 49 arranged between the guide legs 55, 57, which cooperates with a drive mechanism around the moving feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 when adjusting a wrap circumference.

According to the second embodiment, the guide legs 55, 57 of the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 are guided into the guide structure 35 using flat bearings. The guide structure 35 is provided for this purpose with six cavities 105 around bearing seats 106 for the guide legs 55, 57 of the three feeding

BE2017 / 0068 drum segments 27, 29, 31. To allow movement of the guide legs 55, 57 in a longitudinal direction along the bearing seat 106, the guide legs 55, 57 are mounted in the bearing seat 106 with play. In order to reduce play and / or to block at least one of the two guide legs 55, 57 of each feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 in the associated bearing seats 106, pressure elements 107 are provided which are resiliently mounted using spring elements 109 .

In the embodiment shown, the guide structure 35 comprises a main body 115 and a cover 117, wherein a plate element 113 is mounted movably between the main body 115 and the cover 117. The plate element 113 is guided to move in a direction parallel to a central drum axis 9 (see Figure 3) by means of pins 111 protruding from the main body 115. The pressure elements 107 are fixedly mounted on the plate element 113, the spring elements 109 forcing the plate element 113 towards the main body 115, thereby forcing the pressure elements 107 against the guide legs 57. The cover 117 is mounted on the main body 115 by using fastening elements 112 (see Fig. 18).

Depending on the resetting force of the spring elements 109, the pressure elements 107 act on the associated guide legs 57 either to reduce play between this guide leg 57 and its bearing seat 106 or to block a relative movement of the guide leg 57 and the guide structure 35. .

BE2017 / 0068 In case the resetting force of the spring elements 109 is chosen to be large enough to block a movement of the guide leg 57 relative to the guide structure 35, a blocking mechanism 98 is provided which is selectively operative for a blocking position or release. position, wherein in the blocking position the pressure elements 107 against the guide legs 57 are forced to block a movement of the guide legs 57 in the associated bearing seats 106, and wherein in the release position a contact force between the pressure elements 107 and the guide legs 57 becomes canceled or at least reduced to allow movement of the guide legs 57 in the bearing seat 106. In advantageous embodiments, the blocking mechanism 98 comprises at least one actuator 122, in particular a number of actuators, wherein the plate element 113 is moved away from the main body 115 against the force of the spring elements 109 towards the cover 117 against the force of the spring elements 109. . In the embodiment shown in Figure 19, the actuators 122 are, for example, piezoelectric actuators mounted on the main body 115 and capable of extending in a direction toward the plate member 113 to move the plate member 113 away from the main body 115.

In one embodiment, the drive actuator 67 of the drive mechanism 15 (see Fig. 7) is used to cause a release position of the blocking mechanism 98, wherein upon activation the drive mechanism 15 to adjust the wrap circumference, the blocking mechanism 98 releases position. In other embodiments, a separate actuator for the blocking mechanism 98 is provided.

BE2017 / 0068 Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a feeding drum segment 27 and a guide structure 35 of a feeding drum arrangement 13 according to a third embodiment of a weft feeding device 1. The third embodiment is similar to the first and second embodiments and the same reference designations are used for the same or similar elements. The feeding drum arrangement 13 according to the third embodiment also contains three feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 which are movably mounted on the guide structure 35, in which only one feeding drum segment 27 is shown in Figure 20. Similar to the first embodiment, the feeding drum arrangement 13 according to a third embodiment further comprises a fourth drum segment 33 (see Figure 4), which is mounted stationarily on the guide structure 35. Each feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 includes a central rod 49 and two guide legs 55, 57 mounted on the sides of the central rod 49. The central rod 49 cooperates with a drive mechanism 15 (see Figure 4) around the feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31 when adjusting a wrap circumference. Similar to the second embodiment, the guide legs 55, 57 according to the third embodiment are guided by using flat bearings, in particular bearing seats 106.

The guide structure 35 is provided with six cavities 105 for this purpose to form bearing seats 106 for the guide legs 55, 57 of the three feeding drum segments 27, 29, 31. To make a movement of the guide legs 55, 57 in one

BE2017 / 0068 to allow longitudinal direction along the bearing seats 106, the guide legs 55, 57 are mounted with play in the bearing seats 106. In order to reduce play and / or to block at least one of the two guide legs 55, 57 of each feeding drum segment 27, 29, 31 in the associated bearing seats 106, roller elements 119 are provided which are resiliently mounted by using spring elements, in particular, are mounted on the guide structure 35 by means of a resilient cantilever 92, and which act on the guide leg 57 to force the guide leg 57 against the associated bearing seat 106.

As described above, depending on the resetting force of the spring elements, for example the resilient cantilever 92 in the embodiment of Figure 20, the roller elements 119 act on the associated guide legs 57 either to reduce play between this guide leg 57 and its bearing seat 106 or to block a relative movement of the guide leg 57 and the guide structure 35. In one embodiment, the roller elements 119 are forced against the guide legs 57 to reduce play, while, moreover, rotation of the roller element 119 is blocked in order to block movement of the associated guide leg 57 in the bearing seat 106. In the embodiment of Figure 20, at least one actuator 124, for example piezoelectric actuators, is mounted on the cantilever 92 facing the guide structure 35 to reduce the force that the cantilever 92 acts on the roller element 119. Therefore, the resiliently mounted roller element 119 functions similar to the resiliently mounted roller elements 89,

BE2017 / 0068 shown in figures 10 to 14, as a pressure element 119 which acts on the associated guide leg 55, 57.

Figure 21 shows an exploded view of a feeding drum segment 27 of a feeding drum arrangement 13 according to a fourth embodiment of a weft feeding device 1 in accordance with the first aspect and / or the second aspect of the application, in contrast to the previous embodiments the supplying drum segment 27 is not provided with a central rod. A guiding structure of the feeding drum arrangement according to a fourth embodiment is similar to the guiding structure 35 shown in Figs. 18 and 19 and comprises a main body 115 (see Fig. 19) provided with bearing seats 106 and a cover 117, only the bearing seats 106 and the cover 117 shown in Figure 21.

According to the fourth embodiment, the feeding drum segment 27 includes a first guide leg 120 and a second guide leg 57. The first guide leg 120 includes a rack 121 cooperating with a pinion (not shown) to drive the feeding drum segment 27. to move relative to the guide structure. The pinion can be similar to the pinion known from WO 2015/169611 A1. In one embodiment, the first guide leg 120 further includes a guide member that is separate from the rack 121. In other embodiments, the first guide leg is guided only by the rack 121.

The second guide leg 57 is inserted into the

BE2017 / 0068 guide structure guided by using a flat bearing in a bearing seat 106. To reduce play and / or to block the movement of the second guide leg 57 relative to the bearing seat 106, a blocking mechanism 98 with a pressure element 107 is provided. that acts on the guide leg 57 associated with the bearing seats 106. The pressure element 107 is mounted on a plate element 113, which plate element 113 is resiliently mounted on the main body 115 (see Fig. 19) by using spring elements 109.

In the embodiment shown, the pressure elements 107 of three feeding drum segments are mounted on the plate element 113, which plate element 113 is mounted movably between the main body 115 (not shown) and the cover 117 of the guide structure. The spring elements 109 force the plate element 113 toward the main body 115, thereby forcing the pressure elements 107 against the guide legs 57.

Depending on the resetting force of the spring elements 109, the pressure elements 107 act on the associated guide legs 57 either to reduce play between this guide leg 57 and its bearing seat 106 or to block a relative movement of the guide leg 57 and the guide structure 35. .

As described above, in case the resetting force of the spring elements 109 is chosen sufficiently large to block a movement of the guide leg 57 relative to the guide structure 35, a

BE2017 / 0068 blocking mechanism 98, which is selectively effective to assume a blocking position or a release position, wherein in the blocking position the pressure elements 107 against the guide legs 57 are forced to block a movement of the guide legs 57 in the associated bearing seats 106, and wherein, in the release position, a contact force between the pressure elements 107 and the guide legs 57 is canceled or at least reduced to allow movement of the guide legs 57 in the bearing seat 106.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure elements 107 form part of a blocking mechanism 98, which includes an actuator 123. By means of the actuator 123, the plate element 113 is moved away from the main body 115 against the force of the spring elements 109, in particular the bearing seats 106, towards the cover 117. The actuator 123 is, for example, an electromagnet, which is arranged inside the cover 117 and which is actuated to attract a plate element 113 made of a suitable material to move the plate element 113 with pressure elements 107 away from the main body 115 with associated bearing seats 106. force.

The blocking mechanism 98 is particularly used to act on guide legs 55, 57 of the second subgroup 14 that perform a wobbling movement. In this case, masses of the blocking mechanism 98 to be moved during the wobbling movement during the operation of the impact feed device 1 are in particular as low as possible. In an alternative (not shown), a blocking mechanism 98 can be used to place on guide legs 51, 53 of the first

BE2017 / 0068 subgroup 12, wherein in particular most parts of the blocking mechanism are arranged stationarily on the first subgroup 12.

In another embodiment (not shown), the bearing seat 106 further comprises at least one stationary mounted roller element, in particular a pair of stationary mounted roller elements arranged spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the second guide leg 57, wherein it is resilient mounted pressure element 107 forces the second guide leg 57 against the at least one stationary mounted roller element. With this arrangement, the roller elements can also be evenly distributed around the periphery of the guide leg.

Claims (15)

Conclusions An impact feeder comprising a winding drum (5) with a drum shaft (9) and with an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread (7), and a guide structure (25; 35) with a bearing seat (86, 88, 99, 106), the winding drum (5) including at least one drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) mounted on the guide structure (25; 35) to be movable in a radial direction relative to the drum axis (9) wherein the drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) includes at least one guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) which guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) is movable in its longitudinal direction in the bearing seat ( 86, 88, 99, 106) of the guide structure (25, 35), characterized in that the bearing seat (86, 88, 99, 106) comprises at least one resiliently mounted pressure element (89, 93, 107, 119) that acts on the guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) to allow play between the guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) and the corresponding bearing seat (86 88, 99, 106). Impact feed device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one resiliently mounted pressure element (107) has a low friction surface for contacting the associated guide leg (55, 57). Impact feed device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pressure element is a resiliently mounted roller element (89, 93, 119), in particular the bearing seat (88) having two resiliently mounted roller elements BE2017 / 0068 (93) which are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg (57). An impact feeder according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one resiliently mounted roller element (89, 93, 119) or at least one of the two resiliently mounted roller elements (93) is a wheel with a V-shaped or U-shaped groove for contact to do with the guide leg (55, 57). Impact feeder according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bearing seat (88) comprises at least one first stationary mounted roller element (94), in particular a pair of stationary mounted roller elements (94) arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide leg (57), the resiliently mounted pressure element (93) urging the guide leg (57) against the at least one first stationary mounted roller element (94). Impact feed device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bearing seat (86) has a low friction surface (100), the resiliently mounted pressure element (89, 107, 119) guiding the guide leg (55) against the low friction surface ( 100). An impact feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a blocking mechanism (98) which is effective to selectively assume a blocking position and a release position, wherein in the blocking position the blocking mechanism (98) is a movement of the at least one BE2017 / 0068 blocks guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) relative to the guide structure (25; 35). An impact feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one drum segment is a feeding drum segment (27, 29, 31) and the guide structure (35) is arranged to move together with the feeding drum segment (27, 29, 31) about windings of the weft thread (7 ) forward, in particular the winding drum (5) comprising a number of feeding drum segments (27, 29, 31), each feeding drum segment (27, 29, 31) including at least one guide leg (51, 53; 55, 57) wherein the guide legs (51, 53; 55, 57) of the feeding drum segments (27, 29, 31) are guided in one common guide structure (35). An impact feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) comprises a first guide leg (51; 55) and a second guide leg (53; 57), each of which is parallel to the direction of movement of the drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) extending at a lateral distance from each other, the first guide leg (51; 55) being movable in a first bearing seat (86.99) of the guide structure (25, 35) and the second guide leg (53, 57) is movably mounted in a second bearing seat (88, 99) of the guide structure (25, 35). Impact feed device according to claim 9, characterized in that the first guide leg (51; 55) and the second BE2017 / 0068 guide leg (53; 57) of the at least one drum segment (17, 19, 21; T7, 29, 31) are arranged at an axial distance from each other in the axial direction of the drum axis (9). An impact feeder according to claim 10, characterized in that the first bearing seat (86) and the second bearing seat (88) each have at least one resiliently mounted pressure element (89, 93) which acts on one of the first guide leg (55) and the second guide leg (57), for reducing play between the associated first guide leg (55) and the first bearing seat (86) and the corresponding second guide leg (57) and the second bearing seat (88), respectively. An impact feeder according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the drum segment (17, 19, 21; 27, 29, 31) comprises a central rod (47; 49) which is located in a radial direction relative to the drum axis (9) wherein the first guide leg (51; 55) extends at a first lateral distance to the central rod (47; 49) on a first side of the central rod (47; 49) and the second guide leg (53; 57) extends at a second lateral distance to the central rod (47; 49) on a second side of the central rod (47; 49). Impact feed device according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one of the first guide leg (51; 55) and the second guide leg (53; 57) is at an axial distance to the central rod (47; 49) in the axial direction of the drum axis (9). BE2017 / 0068 Impact feed device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a drive mechanism (15) is provided, which drive mechanism (15) comprises a first cam disc (59; 75) comprising a spiral groove (61; 77) which engages with at least 5 comprises one engagement element (63; 79) provided on the central rod (47; 49). Impact feed device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the central rod (47; 49) is mounted with a free space in the guide structure (25; 35).