CN111032938B

CN111032938B - Weft feeder device

Info

Publication number: CN111032938B
Application number: CN201880058117.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B.约翰逊; F.德科宁克
Original assignee: Picanol NV
Current assignee: Picanol NV
Priority date: 2017-09-08
Filing date: 2018-08-06
Publication date: 2021-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-06
Also published as: EP3679185A1; EP3679185B1; BE1025559B1; WO2019048157A1; CN111032938A; BE1025559A1

Abstract

A weft feeder device comprising a winding drum (1) and a drive mechanism (2) comprising a central drive wheel (6, 60) arranged coaxially with respect to a drum axis (10), wherein the winding drum (1) comprises at least one drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50), which at least one drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) is mounted so as to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) comprises at least a first driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (6, 60), wherein the drive mechanism (2) further comprises at least one strand-forming wire (7, 8, 9) extending along the periphery of the central drive wheel (6, 60) for extending from the drive wheel (6, 60), 60) To the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110. 120, 130), the at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) being fixed to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110. 120, 130) and to the central drive wheel (6, 60).

Description

Weft feeder device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a weft feeder device (weft feeder device) having a winding drum with an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread and having a drum axis, comprising at least one drum segment which is movable in the radial direction of the drum axis for adjusting the winding circumference of the winding drum.

Background

The drum segment may be a "resting" drum segment which moves relative to the guiding structure only when adjusting the winding circumference, but which does not move when winding or unwinding the weft thread to or from the winding drum. The drum segment may also be a "feed drum segment" which moves relative to the guide structure when adjusting the winding circumference and which moves together with the guide structure when winding or unwinding the weft thread to or from the winding drum, in order to advance the single coil (winding) in a direction mainly parallel to the direction of the drum axis.

WO 2015/169611 a1 shows an adjustably arranged drum segment with two side legs, wherein the first side leg is a guide leg and the second side leg is provided with a toothed rack which cooperates with a centrally arranged cogwheel (cogwheel) for adjusting the winding circumference.

JP 09-170141 a1 shows a weft feeder device, the drum segments each being provided with a central leg extending in radial direction of the drum axis, which central leg is guided in a corresponding guide structure. The central leg is also provided with a rack, wherein a separate gear is assigned to each rack. A belt is used to couple the gears.

In operation, the drum segments will generally be held fixed in position relative to the guide structure to maintain the set winding circumference. Guide structures are known that provide oscillation or movement to the feed drum segments that move the feed drum segments rearward in a pattern for advancing the coils on the winding drum. Generally, such oscillatory movements are obtained by using eccentric and inclined hubs. When providing an oscillating guide structure, the legs of the feed drum segments still need to be fixed in position relative to the guide structure and/or the movement mechanism for moving the feed drum segments relative to the guide structure in order to avoid excessive wear of the legs, the guide structure and/or the movement mechanism and the housing.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a weft feeder device comprising a winding drum having an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread, the design of which is simple and which allows movement of the drum segments of the winding drum with no or only little play.

This object is solved by a weft feeder device according to the invention. Specific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, a weft feeder device is provided, comprising a winding drum having an adjustable winding circumference for storing a weft thread and having a drum axis, wherein the weft feeder device further comprises a drive mechanism comprising a central drive wheel arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis, wherein the winding drum comprises at least one drum segment mounted to a guide structure so as to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis, wherein the drum segment comprises at least a first side leg extending along a side of the central drive wheel, wherein the first side leg is a driven leg drivingly coupled to the drive wheel, and wherein the drive mechanism further comprises at least one strand of wire (wire strand) extending along a periphery of the central drive wheel for movement transmission from the drive wheel to the driven leg, the at least one stranded wire is secured to the driven leg and the central drive wheel.

The driven leg is connected to the drive wheel by means of the stranded wire such that when the drive wheel is rotated via the stranded wire, a pulling force is applied to the driven leg for causing movement of the driven leg and associated drum segment for adjusting the winding circumference. The strand of material can be kept under tension for avoiding movement of the driven leg and thus the associated drum segment when the winding circumference will remain constant during operation of the weft feeder device.

In one embodiment, the drum segments are moved in one direction by applying a pulling force using a stranded wire and moved in the opposite direction by additional active or passive means (e.g., passive elements that apply an internal restoring force).

According to a specific embodiment, one or two stranded wires are fixed to the driven leg at two different connection points, which are distant from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven leg, wherein the one or two stranded wires are fixed to the two connection points such that sections of the one or two stranded wires cross each other. Thus, by rotating the drive wheel in either direction, a pulling force is applied to the driven leg at either of these two connection points. The length of the one or more stranded wires is selected such that play is avoided. To adjust the length, in one embodiment, one or two strands of wire are secured to the drive wheel using a tensioning screw. If the winding drum comprises several drum segments mounted to a guiding structure so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis, in one embodiment each driven leg is connected to the drive wheel using one or two assigned strands.

According to another embodiment, the winding drum comprises a number of drum segments mounted to the guiding structure so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a number of stranded wires, wherein the drum segments each comprise at least a first side leg extending along one side of the central drive wheel, the first side leg being a driven leg drivingly coupled to the drive wheel, wherein each stranded wire is fixed to the driven legs of at least two drum segments and each driven leg is connected to at least one stranded wire such that all the stranded wires are interconnected to each other and the at least one stranded wire is fixed to the central drive wheel. Since all the strands are interconnected, it is sufficient to fix one strand to the central drive wheel for drivingly coupling the central drive wheel with all the strands and thus with all the drum segments. In one embodiment, a stranded wire having at least one branch end for connection with two different driven legs is provided. In other embodiments, the stranded wire has two unbranched ends.

According to an embodiment, the winding drum comprises a number of drum segments mounted to the guiding structure so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis, wherein the driving mechanism comprises an associated number of strands of wire, wherein the drum segments each comprise at least a first side leg extending along one side of the central driving wheel, said first side leg being a driven leg drivingly coupled to the driving wheel, wherein each strand of wire is fixed to the driven legs of two adjacent drum segments and at least one strand of wire is fixed to the central driving wheel. Since each stranded wire is fixed to the driven legs of two adjacent drum segments, all stranded wires are interconnected with each other and it is sufficient to fix one stranded wire to the central drive wheel for drivingly coupling the central drive wheel with all stranded wires and thus with all drum segments. If the winding drum further comprises one or more fixedly mounted drum segments, such fixedly mounted drum segments may be arranged between two movably arranged drum segments, wherein a movably arranged drum segment is still referred to as an adjacent drum segment in the context of the present application.

In one embodiment, two stranded wires are fixed to each driven leg at two different connection points, which are distant from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven leg, wherein the two stranded wires are fixed to the two connection points such that sections of the two stranded wires cross each other. In particular, the attachment points are selected such that a pulling force is exerted in an at least substantially tangential direction of the drive wheel, which pulling force is parallel to the driven leg, thereby avoiding forces acting on the driven leg, which forces may cause the drum segments to get stuck in the guiding structure.

In one embodiment, the at least one stranded wire or the selected one of the plurality of stranded wires is fixed to the drive wheel with a fixing element. The fixing element is for example a bolt or a screw, wherein in one embodiment the tension of the strand can be set by setting the fixing element. If several stranded wires are provided and all of the stranded wires are interconnected with each other, all of the stranded wires are tensioned by tensioning one of the stranded wires. This allows a very simple adjustment of the tensioning force.

To adjust the winding circumference, the drive wheel is driven to rotate in either direction for moving the drum segments. In one embodiment, a cog wheel is provided for driving the drive wheel.

In one embodiment, the at least one drum segment has a second side leg, wherein the first side leg and the second side leg extend along opposite sides of the central drive wheel, wherein the second side leg is a guide leg extending parallel to a radial direction of the winding drum, the guide leg being movably mounted to the guide structure. In one embodiment, the driven leg and the guide leg are similar in length and both extend beyond the drum axis in a position intermediate the driven leg between a first position associated with a maximum winding circumference and a second position associated with a minimum winding circumference. In other embodiments, the leading leg is shorter than the trailing leg.

In one embodiment, the drum segment is a resting drum segment that does not move when advancing the loop of weft thread. In a particular embodiment, the drum segment is a feed drum segment which is moved together with the guide structure in a pattern for advancing the coil of weft thread wound on the drum. The drive wheel is also attached to and moves with the guide structure. Thus, when moving the drum segments together with the guide structure, the driven leg is held firmly in place by means of the at least one strand of material and undesired movement of the drum segments relative to the guide structure is avoided.

Drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like elements will be represented by like reference numerals throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three static drum segments of a winding drum of a weft feeder device and a drive mechanism including a central drive wheel and three strands;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 without the central drive wheel;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of three strands of the drive mechanism of fig. 1 along with three driven legs of a drum segment of a winding drum;

FIG. 4 is a top view of portions of the weft feeder device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of portions of the weft feeder device similar to FIG. 4 without a cogwheel for driving a central drive wheel;

FIG. 6 is a top view of three drum segments in a first position along with three strands of wire of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the three drum segments of FIG. 6 in a second position along with three stranded wires;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the three drum segments of FIG. 6 in a third position along with three stranded wires;

fig. 9 is a schematic top view of the drum segment of the winding drum and the drive mechanism of the weft feeder device according to a second embodiment;

fig. 10 is a schematic top view of the drum segment of the winding drum and the drive mechanism of the weft feeder device according to the second embodiment of fig. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of three feed drum segments of a winding drum of the weft feeder device and a drive mechanism including a central drive wheel and three strands of wire; and

fig. 12 is a perspective view of both the feed drum segment of fig. 1 and the resting drum segment of fig. 11.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows in perspective view the parts of a weft feeder device with a winding drum 1 for storing weft thread (not shown) and a drive mechanism 2, i.e. the three

drum segments

3, 4, 5 of the winding drum 1 and the central drive wheel 6 and the three

strands

7, 8, 9 of the drive mechanism 2.

The

drum segments

3, 4, 5 are mounted to a guide structure (not shown) so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis 10, wherein the winding circumference of the winding drum 1 is adjustable when moving the

drum segments

3, 4, 5 in radial direction. As is known, for example, from WO 2015/169611 a1, the winding drum 1 further comprises a fourth drum segment (not shown) arranged to be fixed in position. In one embodiment, the

drum segments

3, 4, 5 are so-called "silent drum segments" which move relative to the guide structure only when adjusting the winding circumference, but which do not move when winding a weft thread onto the winding drum 1 or unwinding a weft thread from the winding drum 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the three

drum segments

3, 4, 5 shown includes first and second side legs extending along opposite sides of a central drive wheel 6. The first side legs are referred to as driven

legs

11, 12, 13, wherein the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 are drivingly coupled to the drive wheel 6. The second side legs are called

guide legs

14, 15, 16 for guiding the

drum segments

3, 4, 5 in a guide structure (not shown).

For the transmission of the movement from the driving wheel 6 to the driven

legs

11, 12, 13, three

strands

7, 8, 9 are provided in the embodiment shown, which are fixed to the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 and to the central driving wheel 6.

Fig. 2 shows the

drum segments

3, 4, 5 together with the

strands

7, 8, 9 in a perspective view. Fig. 3 shows the three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 of the drive mechanism 2 of fig. 1 together with the three driven

legs

11, 12, 13 of the

drum segments

3, 4, 5 of the winding drum 1 of fig. 1.

As best seen in fig. 3, each stranded

wire

7, 8, 9 is fixed to the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 of two

adjacent drum segments

3, 4, 5 such that all the stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 are interconnected to each other. In the embodiment shown, two of the three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 are at two different connection points 17, 22; 18. 19; 20. fixed to each driven

leg

11, 12, 13 at 21. More particularly, the first strand 7 is secured to the first driven leg 11 at a first connection point 17 and to the second driven leg 12 at a second connection point 18, the second strand 8 is secured to the second driven leg 12 at a third connection point 19 and to the third driven leg 13 at a fourth connection point 20, and the third strand 9 is secured to the third driven leg 13 at a fifth connection point 21 and to the first driven leg 11 at a sixth connection point 22. The

connection point

17, 22 at each

driven leg

11, 12, 13; 18. 19; 20. 21 are distanced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven

legs

11, 12, 13. Selecting connection points 17, 22; 18. 19; 20. 21 so that the sections of the two

strands

7, 8, 9 fixed to the associated driven

legs

11, 12, 13 cross each other. In the embodiment shown, one of the connection points 22, 18, 20 is arranged at the distal end of the associated driven

leg

11, 12, 13, while the

other connection point

17, 19, 21 is arranged approximately halfway on the associated driven

leg

11, 12, 13. A groove 29 is provided at each

driven leg

11, 12, 13 for receiving the

strands

7, 8, 9.

One of the

strands

7, 8, 9 (in the embodiment shown, the third strand 9) is further fixed to the central drive wheel 6 (see fig. 1) by means of a fixing element 23, which in the embodiment shown comprises a bolt or a screw, wherein by rotating the bolt or screw of the fixing element 23 the associated strand 9 is tensioned by the fixing element 23. As in the shown embodiment, all

strands

7, 8, 9 are interconnected with each other, as best seen in fig. 3, the remaining

strands

7, 8 being tensioned as well by tensioning the third strand 9 fixed to the central drive wheel 6. Thus, in order to reduce or avoid play in the drive system 2, all the

strands

7, 8, 9 can be tensioned simultaneously.

Fig. 4 is a top view of parts of the weft feeder device of fig. 1 with a central drive wheel 6. As best seen in fig. 4, the cogwheel 27 is provided coaxially with the drive wheel 6, wherein the drive wheel 6 is driven in rotation by means of the cogwheel 27. Fig. 5 is a top view of parts of a weft feeder device similar to fig. 4 without the cogwheel 27.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the three

drum segments

3, 4, 5 in a first position together with the three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 of the drive mechanism 2, fig. 7 is a top view of the three

drum segments

3, 4, 5 in a second position together with the three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 of the drive mechanism 2, and fig. 8 is a top view of the three

drum segments

3, 4, 5 in a third position together with the three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 of the drive mechanism 2.

Starting from the position shown in fig. 6, the drive wheel 6 (see fig. 4 and 5) can be rotated counterclockwise, wherein, in the embodiment shown, by rotating the drive wheel 6 counterclockwise, by means of the first strand 7, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 17 arranged midway of the first driven leg 11 and the first driven leg 11 is moved to the right, by means of the second strand 8, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 19 arranged midway of the second driven leg 12 and the second driven leg 12 is moved upwards, and by means of the third strand 9, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 21 arranged midway of the third driven leg 13 and the third driven leg 13 is moved to the left. It will be understood that in this context, the terms left, right, upward and downward refer only to the plane of the drawing and not to any orientation of the elements in use. In other words, starting from the first position shown in fig. 6, by rotating the drive wheel 6 anticlockwise, the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 move so as to reduce the winding circumferential portion via the second position shown in fig. 7 to or towards the third position shown in fig. 8.

Starting from fig. 8, the drive wheel 6 can be rotated clockwise, wherein, in the embodiment shown, by rotating the drive wheel 6 clockwise, by means of the third strand 9, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 22 arranged at the distal end of the first driven leg 11 and the first driven leg 11 is moved to the left, by means of the first strand 7, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 18 arranged at the distal end of the second driven leg 12 and the second driven leg 12 is moved downwards, and by means of the second strand 8, a pulling force is exerted at a connection point 20 arranged at the distal end of the third driven leg 13 and the third driven leg 13 is moved to the right. In other words, starting from the second position shown in fig. 8, by rotating the drive wheel 6 clockwise, the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 move so as to increase the winding circumferential portion to or towards the first position shown in fig. 6 via the second position shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 schematically shows in a top view the drum segment 5 and the drive wheel 6 of the weft feeder device according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a designated stranded wire 9 is provided for connecting the driven leg 13 of a drum segment 5 to the drive wheel 6. Similarly, as shown in fig. 10, the weft feeder device may comprise

further drum segments

3, 4, wherein designated

strands

7, 8 of wire are used for connecting the associated driven

legs

11, 12 to the drive wheel 6. In this case, the tensioning force of each

strand

7, 8, 9 must be individually implemented, for example by using the associated fixing

elements

25, 24, 23. The stranded wire 7 is fixed to the driven leg 11 at two different connection points 17, 22, which are distant from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven leg 11, wherein the sections of the stranded wire 7 fixed to the driven leg 11 cross each other. Similarly, the strand 8 is fixed to the driven leg 12 at two different connection points 18, 19, and the strand 9 is fixed to the driven leg 13 at two different connection points 20, 21. In the embodiment shown, by rotating the drive wheel 6 clockwise, a pulling force is applied via the strand 7 at the connection point 22 arranged at the right side in fig. 10 and the driven leg 11 is moved to the left. Also, by rotating the drive wheel 6 counterclockwise, a pulling force is applied via the stranded wire 7 at the connection point 17 arranged at the left side in fig. 10 and the driven leg 11 is moved rightward. Likewise, by rotating the drive wheel 6 counterclockwise, a pulling force is applied via the

strands

8, 9 at the associated connection points 19, 21, whereas by rotating the drive wheel 6 clockwise, a pulling force is applied via the

strands

8, 9 at the associated connection points 18, 20.

In other embodiments, as shown in fig. 11, the

drum segments

30, 40, 50 are so-called feed drum segments which move relative to the guide structure 26 when adjusting the winding circumference and which move further together with the guide structure 26 when winding a weft thread onto the winding drum 1 or unwinding a weft thread from the winding drum 1 in order to advance a single coil in a direction mainly parallel to the direction of the drum axis 10. Each

drum segment

30, 40, 50 comprises: a

driven leg

110, 120, 130 cooperating with the central drive wheel 60; and a

guide leg

140, 150, 160, the

guide leg

140, 150, 160 being movably mounted to the guide structure 26. In the embodiment shown in fig. 11, the guide structure 26 comprises some bores for guiding the

guide legs

140, 150, 160, of which only the bore 31 for the guide leg 160 is partially visible. Furthermore, the guide structure 26 comprises

guide elements

33, 34, 35 for guiding the associated driven

leg

110, 120, 130 relative to the guide structure 26. The central drive wheel 60 is driven, for example, like the central drive wheel 6.

Three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 are provided for the transmission of motion from the drive wheel 60 to the driven

legs

110, 120, 130. Three stranded

wires

7, 8, 9 are interconnected via driven

legs

110, 120, 130, and one stranded wire 9 is connected to the central drive wheel 60. The

strands

7, 8, 9 and the fixing elements 23 are designed similarly to that shown in fig. 3. The

wires

7, 8, 9 are driven via a central drive wheel 60, which is driven similarly to the drive wheel 6 in fig. 1. Fig. 12 shows in perspective view a weft feeder device having: a first drum set comprising three

stationary drum segments

3, 4, 5 and a central drive wheel 6, as shown in fig. 1; and a second drum set comprising three

feed drum segments

30, 40, 50 and a central drive wheel 60, both of which are designed according to the present invention, as shown in fig. 11. The

central drive wheels

6, 60 are arranged at an axial distance apart and can be driven together or separately.

Guide structures

28, 26 are provided for guiding the

guide legs

14, 15, 16, 140, 150, 160 and/or the driven

legs

11, 12, 13, 110, 120, 130 of the drum segments of the first and second drum sets, respectively. The guide structure 26 of the second drum set is preferably designed as shown in fig. 11. In fig. 12, a guide structure 28 for guiding the

guide legs

14, 15, 16 and/or the driven

legs

11, 12, 13 of the three

rest drum segments

3, 4, 5 of the first drum set is schematically illustrated. The guide structure 28 may be designed similar to the guide structure 26 for guiding the

guide legs

140, 150, 160 and/or the driven

legs

110, 120, 130 of the

drum segments

30, 40, 50 as shown in fig. 11. Alternatively, the guiding structure may be designed similar to the guiding structure as shown in WO 2015/169611 a 1.

Claims

1. A weft feeder device comprising a winding drum (1) having an adjustable winding circumference for storing weft thread and having a drum axis (10), and comprising a drive mechanism (2) comprising a central drive wheel (6, 60) arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the winding drum (1) comprises at least one drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50), which at least one drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) is mounted so as to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) comprises at least a first side leg extending along one side of the central drive wheel (6, 60), wherein the first side leg is a driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (6, 60), characterized in that the drive mechanism (2) further comprises at least one stranded wire (7, 8, 9) extending along the periphery of the central drive wheel (6, 60) for transmission of motion from the drive wheel (6, 60) to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130), the at least one stranded wire (7, 8, 9) being fixed to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) and to the central drive wheel (6, 60).

2. Weft feeder device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or two strands (7, 8, 9) of wires are fixed to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) at two different connection points (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) which are distant from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130), wherein the one or two strands (7, 8, 9) of wires are fixed to the two connection points (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) such that sections of the one or two strands (7, 8, 9) cross each other.

3. Weft feeder device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the winding drum (1) comprises several drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50), which several drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) are mounted so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the drive mechanism (2) comprises several strands of wire (7, 8, 9), wherein the drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) each comprise at least a first side leg extending along one side of the central drive wheel (6, 60), which first side leg is a driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (6, 60), wherein each strand of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to at least two drum segments (3, 9), 4. 5) driven legs (11, 12, 13; 110. 120, 130) and each driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110. 120, 130) to at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) such that all strands of wire (7, 8, 9) are interconnected to each other, and at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to the central drive wheel (6, 60).

4. Weft feeder device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the winding drum (1) comprises several drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50), which several drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) are mounted so as to be movable in radial direction with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the drive mechanism (2) comprises an associated number of strands of wire (7, 8, 9), wherein the drum segments (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) each comprise at least a first side leg extending along one side of the central drive wheel (6, 60), which first side leg is a driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (6, 60), wherein each strand of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to two adjacent drum segments (3, 9), 4. 5; 30. 40, 50) of the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110. 120, 130) and at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to the central drive wheel (6, 60).

5. Weft feeder device according to claim 3, characterized in that two strands (7, 8, 9) are fixed to each driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) at two different connection points (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) which are distant from each other in the longitudinal direction of the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130), wherein the two strands (7, 8, 9) are fixed to the two connection points (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) such that sections of the two strands (7, 8, 9) cross each other.

6. Weft feeder device according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that the selected one of the at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) or several strands of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to the drive wheel (6, 60) with a fixing element (23, 24, 25).

7. Weft feeder device according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one strand of wire (7, 8, 9) is fixed to the drive wheel (6, 60) with a fixing element (23, 24, 25), wherein the tension of the strand of wire (7, 8, 9) can be set by setting the fixing element (23, 24, 25).

8. Weft feeder device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 5 and 7, characterized in that a cogwheel (27) is provided for driving the drive wheel (6, 60).

9. Weft feeder device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 5 and 7, characterized in that the at least one drum segment has a second side leg, wherein the first side leg and the second side leg extend along opposite sides of the central drive wheel (6, 60), wherein the second side leg is a guide leg (14, 15, 16; 140, 150, 160) extending parallel to a radial direction of the winding drum (1), the guide leg (14, 15, 16; 140, 150, 160) being movably mounted to a guide structure (26, 28).

10. The weft feeder device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 5 and 7, characterized in that the drum segment is a feed drum segment (30, 40, 50), the feed drum segment (30, 40, 50) being moved in a pattern for advancing a loop of weft thread on the winding drum (1).