CN108884610B

CN108884610B - Yarn feeder with motor assembly for yarn tension adjustment

Info

Publication number: CN108884610B
Application number: CN201680072503.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P.约瑟夫松
Original assignee: Van Der Wee China Textile Machinery Co ltd
Current assignee: Van der Wee (China) Textile Machinery Co.,Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-12-16
Filing date: 2016-11-22
Publication date: 2020-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-22
Also published as: EP3390707B1; EP3390707A4; EP3390707A1; WO2017105315A1; CN108884610A

Abstract

A yarn feeder (10) comprising a brake motor assembly (20) is described. The brake motor assembly (20) is adapted to control the position of a brake element (16) cooperating with a spool body (18) of the yarn feeder (10). The yarn feeder (10) further comprises a quick release mechanism by which the braking element (16) is movable from a braking position in which the braking element (16) is positioned to brake yarn unwound from the yarn feeder (10) and from a clearance position in which the braking element (16) is away from the spool body (18). When the quick release mechanism is operated, the motor (26) of the brake motor assembly (20) is fixedly disposed on or attached to the portion that is released. Thereby, a motor driven braking element may be provided in a yarn feeder with a quick release mechanism.

Description

Yarn feeder with motor assembly for yarn tension adjustment

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a yarn feeder. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a yarn feeder for textile machines, in particular knitting and knitting machines, comprising a motor assembly aimed at electronically regulating the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn feeder.

Background

Yarn feeders are used to eliminate variations in yarn tension to ensure high quality and to supply the correct amount of yarn. Thereby, the spinning quality and productivity can be improved.

One feature of yarn feeders is to provide a suitable yarn tension for the yarn fed to the loom. The applied yarn tension may be provided in different ways. For example, a frustoconical braking element can be used which cooperates with the unwinding edge of the spool body to generate a braking force, see EP 0534263. The applied braking force may also be controlled by an electric motor, for example a stepper motor for controlling the braking force, see EP 0707102.

The yarn feeder may further be provided with a quick adjustment mechanism adapted to release the braking element from a position by which it cooperates with the withdrawal edge of the spool body to brake said yarn to a clearance position in which said braking element is remote from said withdrawal edge. The purpose of such a quick adjustment mechanism is for example to make it possible to place the braking element, preferably in a single action and stroke, in a position in which the spool body or the braking element can be replaced, or a new yarn threaded, for example by hand or some automatic means (known per se). The quick adjustment mechanism may have different designs and be located at different positions on the yarn feeder, but functions substantially in a quick manner to release a section of the yarn feeder from the rest of the yarn feeder, thereby releasing the braking element from the braking position and placing the braking element in a clearance position where maintenance operations can be performed. The quick adjustment mechanism is also typically designed not to change any yarn brake/tension setting when operated/actuated, so that no new calibration or setting is required when the brake element is returned to the braking position. For example in US 5,947,403 and

a quick adjustment mechanism is described in EP 0826619.

It is always desirable to provide an improved yarn feeder. Therefore, there is a need for an improved yarn feeder.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn feeder.

This and/or other objects are obtained by a yarn feeder as set forth in the appended claims.

For easy handling of the yarn feeder it is advantageous if the yarn feeder has a so-called quick release mechanism. It is further advantageous to provide a yarn brake motor assembly to control the yarn braking force applied by the brake element. However, in the present embodiment, the yarn brake motor assembly used is fixedly mounted on the yarn feeder, which precludes the use of a quick release mechanism. The inventors have realized that if the yarn brake motor of the motor assembly is located in the quick-release part of the yarn feeder or in the quick-release mechanism itself, it is in fact possible to combine the quick-release mechanism with the use of a motor assembly for controlling the braking force of the yarn brake member. Advantageously, the electric motor may be positioned/integrated in the release handle of the quick release mechanism, for example of the type described in the above-cited references US 5,947,403 and EP0826619, or in some other possible types of release mechanisms, the yarn braking element is placed in the gap position in a single operating stroke.

According to one embodiment, a yarn feeder is provided comprising a brake motor assembly. The brake motor assembly is adapted to control the position of a brake element cooperating with a spool body of the yarn feeder. The yarn feeder further comprises a quick release mechanism by which the braking element is movable from a braking position in which the braking element is positioned to brake yarn unwound from the yarn feeder and from a clearance position in which the braking element is remote from the spool body, and wherein the motor of the braking motor assembly is fixedly arranged on or attached to the released portion when the quick release mechanism is operated. Thereby, a quick release mechanism may be used in a yarn feeder provided with a yarn brake motor assembly to control the yarn braking force applied by the brake element. When operating the quick release mechanism, maintenance and repair of the brake motor assembly may be facilitated by fixedly arranging or attaching the motor of the brake motor assembly to a portion of the released yarn feeder.

According to one embodiment, the motor is located at least partially in the control handle of the quick-release mechanism. The housing of the motor may form a control handle. The housing of the motor may alternatively be part of the control handle.

According to one embodiment, the motor is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type mechanism and moved to the clearance position by a spring force. According to one embodiment, the motor is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type mechanism and moved to the clearance position by hand force.

According to one embodiment, the motor is controllable by a control input located on the control handle. In another embodiment, the motor is controllable by means of control inputs located in the electronic components of the yarn feeder. In a further embodiment, the electric motor is controllable by means of control inputs located in the weaving machine in cooperation with the yarn feeder.

According to one embodiment, the motor may be controlled by a feedback signal from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the yarn feeder.

Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view from the side of the yarn feeder,

fig. 2 is a view from the side of the yarn feeder with the quick release mechanism in the open position, an

Fig. 3 is a view of the rotating handle of the quick release mechanism of the motor including the yarn brake motor assembly.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 depicts a yarn feeder 10. In the yarn feeder 10 of fig. 1, an extension arm 12 of a top cover in the field of so-called yarn feeders is arranged to extend from a housing 14, as described for example in US 5,947,403. The yarn feeder 10 comprises a yarn braking element 16, which is shown in fig. 1 in a braking position. The yarn braking element 16 engages the unwinding edge of the spool body 18 in a conventional manner. The yarn braking member 16 can thus be moved back and forth along the axis a to control the braking force applied to the yarn being unwound from the yarn feeder 10. In one embodiment, the yarn braking element 16 may be attached to the extension arm 12 by a braking element bracket 27 slidable along the axis a, said braking element bracket 27 being provided at the extension arm 12.

In fig. 1, the yarn braking element 16 is in a braking position in which the yarn braking element 16 is pressed axially against the spool body 18 with a predetermined, adjustable axial force. This position is changed by operating the motor of the brake motor assembly 20 to change the contact pressure of the yarn braking body 18 by moving the braking element 16 along the axis a. According to an exemplary embodiment, the brake motor assembly comprises an electric motor (see fig. 3) having its axis connected to a rotatable threaded element 25. The nut 23, which is fixedly connected to the braking element holder 27, cooperates upon rotation with the threaded element 25 in order to move the braking element holder 27 and thus the yarn braking element 16 held at the same time axially along the extension arm 12. The movement of the yarn braking element 16 may be controlled in this way of the brake motor assembly 20, braking the motor assembly 20 via operating the motor to rotate the threaded element 25, whereby the slidable brake element holder 27 is moved in the axial direction and thus the brake element 16 is also fixedly attached to the slidable brake element holder 27.

In fig. 1, the brake motor assembly 20 is arranged to be accessible through a quick release mechanism. Therefore, a quick release mechanism for moving the yarn braking member 16 between the respective braking position and the clearance position is provided on the yarn feeder 10. According to one embodiment, the quick release mechanism may be arranged to move the yarn braking element 16 between the respective braking position and the gap position in one stroke.

In order to move the yarn braking element 16 into a clearance position relative to the spool body 18, for example to thread the yarn by means of a threading needle or by hand or even by automatic means, or to clean or replace the yarn braking element 16, the control handle 24 on the quick release mechanism is rotated by hand, for example in a clockwise direction, whereby the releasable part of the yarn feeder comprising the yarn brake holder 27 and the yarn braking element 16 will move to the right in fig. 1 into its release position at a clearance distance from the spool body of the yarn feeder.

For example, in a manner known per se, for example from the aforementioned US patent 5,947,403, the control handle may act in the manner of a bayonet-type coupling/transmission device in order to release the releasable part of the yarn feeder (comprising the braking member holder 27 and the braking member 16) in a single stroke by a single-handed small turning movement of the control handle.

As described in detail in US 5,947,403, the quick release mechanism works in the following way: a bayonet screw 22 having a spiral groove on an outer surface thereof is fixed to a rear end wall of the brake motor assembly 20 facing the yarn feeder. One end of the pin 30 is fixed to the fixed extension arm 12 (the top cap) and the other end thereof engages a helical groove in the bayonet screw 22. Thus, when the brake motor housing is rotated in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, respectively, in this embodiment the motor housing, the fixing pin 30 forming the control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism will co-act with the helical groove on the housing, whereby the entire brake motor assembly 20 (with its motor axis connected to or optionally forming itself the rotatable threaded element 25) will be moved axially a small distance to the right and left, respectively, together with the brake ring holder 17 and the yarn brake element 16.

Fig. 2 shows the yarn feeder 10 with the quick release mechanism and the releasable part moved to the right. In order to return the yarn braking element 16 to the braking position, the control handle 24 is rotated again. Again preferably with only one hand and in a single stroke, in the opposite direction. Thus, the previously adjusted contact pressure of the yarn braking element 16 with respect to the unwinding edge of the spool body of the yarn feeder remains unchanged compared to the previously applied contact pressure (before the quick release cycle).

As mentioned above, the brake motor assembly 20 may form/constitute part of a quick release mechanism. In the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2, the brake motor assembly 20 is integrated into the quick release mechanism. In another embodiment, the brake motor is part of or fixedly coupled to a component that moves when the quick release mechanism is activated. Thus, activation of the quick release mechanism will also be able to release the brake motor assembly. The motor 26 (shown in fig. 3) of the brake motor assembly 20 may be controlled by

control buttons

28 and 29. The motor 26 may be, for example, a stepper motor or a DC motor.

Control buttons

28 and 29 may be located on the control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism.

In fig. 3, a side cross-sectional view of the control handle 24 is shown. The control handle 24 in the embodiment shown in fig. 3 itself houses the motor 26 of the brake motor assembly 20. By positioning the motor 26 inside or fixed to the part which is released when the quick release mechanism is operated, the motor adjustable braking force of the yarn braking element 16 can be provided to the yarn feeder 10 and at the same time the quick release mechanism is provided in the yarn feeder.

As shown in fig. 3, the motor 26 may be located at least partially within the control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism. In particular, the housing of the motor 26 may form the quick release handle 24 or at least a portion of the quick release handle 24.

According to another embodiment (not shown) the yarn feeder may be provided with a brake motor mounted on a part which is quickly released by another mechanism, e.g. a trigger-type mechanism (e.g. a button, a knob, etc.) and moved to the clearance position by spring force or simply by hand force, and vice versa. This mechanism is for example in accordance with the mechanism proposed in EP 0826619. In other words, a trigger mechanism may be used that includes any kind of unlocking mechanism controlled by the pressure acting on the mechanism. The term "trigger mechanism" is intended to cover all such conventional pressure activated mechanisms.

As described above, the motor 26 may be controlled by control inputs located on the handle. In another embodiment, the motor 26 may be controlled by a control input located in the yarn feeder electronics of the yarn feeder 10. In a further embodiment, the motor 26 may be controlled by control inputs located in the electronics panel of the weaving machine with which the yarn feeder cooperates.

According to some embodiments, the motor 26 may also be controlled by a feedback signal received from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the yarn feeder.

Providing the motor assembly in a quick release mechanism also facilitates brake motor assembly maintenance and repair.

Claims

1. Yarn feeder (10) comprising a brake motor assembly (20), the brake motor assembly (20) being adapted to control the position of a brake element (16) cooperating with a spool body (18) of the yarn feeder (10), characterized in that,

the yarn feeder (10) further comprises a quick release mechanism by which the braking element (16) is movable from a braking position in which the braking element (16) is positioned to brake yarn unwound from the yarn feeder (10) and from a clearance position in which the braking element (16) is away from the spool body (18), and wherein the motor (26) of the braking motor assembly (20) is fixedly arranged on or attached to a portion that is released when the quick release mechanism is operated.

2. Yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (26) is at least partly located in a control handle (24) of the quick release mechanism.

3. Yarn feeder (10) according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the motor (26) forms the control handle (24).

4. Yarn feeder (10) according to claim 2, wherein the housing of the motor (26) is part of the control handle (24).

5. Yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (26) is mounted on a part which is released by a trigger mechanism and moved into the gap position by a spring force.

6. Yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (26) is mounted on a part which is released by a trigger mechanism and moved into the gap position by hand force.

7. Yarn feeder (10) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the motor (26) is controllable by means of a control input (28, 29) located on the control handle (24).

8. Yarn feeder (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motor (26) is controllable by control inputs located in electronic components of the yarn feeder (10).

9. Yarn feeder (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motor (26) is controllable by means of a control input located in a weaving machine cooperating with the yarn feeder (10).

10. Yarn feeder (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motor (26) is controlled by a feedback signal from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the yarn feeder (10).