EP0020652A1

EP0020652A1 - Method for removing a yarn wrapped around a buffer and for winding the yarn into a package, and apparatus for applying this method

Info

Publication number: EP0020652A1
Application number: EP79901654A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Nijhuis
Original assignee: Thales Nederland BV
Current assignee: Thales Nederland BV
Priority date: 1978-12-14
Filing date: 1980-07-01
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: WO1980001272A1; JPS55500985A; IT1120148B; ZA796229B; PL220387A1; BE880567A; NL7812156A; IT7951007A0; ES487171A0; ES8101015A1; AU5339279A

Abstract

Dans un procede d'enlevement d'un fil (207) enroule autour d'un tampon (206) et d'enroulage du fil sur une bobine enrouleuse (209) pour former une bobine de fil, un deplacement transversal du fil est prevu pour compenser les variations de tension. Ce deplacement transversal est transmis au fil par le fait que celui-ci est enleve du tampon dans une position changeant continuellement en raison des differences entre la vitesse a laquelle le fil quitte le tampon (206) et la vitesse a laquelle il arrive au tampon. Le deplacement transversal est converti en un signal de commande par une unite de detection, ce signal de commande etant applique a des moyens de reglage pour faire varier la vitesse d'enroulement du fil de telle maniere que ladite position qui change continuellement soit maintenue dans des limites fixes.In a method of removing a wire (207) wound around a pad (206) and winding the wire onto a winding spool (209) to form a spool of wire, transverse movement of the wire is provided to compensate for voltage variations. This transverse movement is imparted to the yarn as the yarn is removed from the pad in a continuously changing position due to the differences between the rate at which the yarn leaves the pad (206) and the rate at which it arrives at the pad. The transverse displacement is converted into a control signal by a detection unit, this control signal being applied to adjusting means for varying the speed of winding of the yarn in such a way that said continuously changing position is kept within limits. fixed limits.

Description

Method for removing a yarn wrapped around a buffer and for winding the yarn into a package, and apparatus for applying this method.

The invention relates to a method for removing a yarn wrapped around a buffer and for winding the yarn into a package, and an apparatus for applying this method.

To minimise the chance of yarn breakage during winding, the tension in the yarn, as removed from the buffer, should be kept constant. Practice showed however that small variations in the yarn tension occur due to yarn shrinkage, an increasing diameter of the yarn package, certainly in the case of a spool with a direct motor drive, slipping of the spool if a winding roll is used to drive the spool, differences in path length occurring during winding through the oscillating motion of the yarn to obtain a uniformly wound yarn package, and pattern or ribboning distortions.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method as set forth in the opening paragraph, whereby the yarn tension is kept constant. According to the invention, the method as described above, is characterised in that the transverse displacement, which is developed to compensate for tension variations and which is imparted to the yarn through being removed from the buffer in a continuously changing position due to differences in the speed at which the yarn is removed from the buffer with respect to the speed at which it is fed to the buffer, is converted into a control signal by a sensing unit, which control signal is applied to a regulating means to vary the winding speed of the yarn in such a way that said continuously changing position is kept within fixed limits. That is, tension variations in the yarn are compensated by the buffer, while the amount of yarn around the buffer is kept within fixed limits through the speed regulation performed. The invention is therefore directed to speed regulation performed under constant tension and not to tension regulation.

The invention and its advantages will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the speed regulation circuit according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus, in which the method according to the invention may be applied.

The input quantity of the speed regulation circuit in Fig. 1 is the speed V_i at which a yarn is applied to a buffer and the output quantity of this circuit is the speed V_u at which this yarn is removed from the buffer. If these speeds are not constantly adapted to each other, tension variations will occur in the yarn; these variations may give rise to yarn breakage unless they can be compensated for. This compensation is accomplished here by means of a yarn buffer 101. As soon as the speed at which the yarn is removed from buffer 101 is greater than that at which it is applied to this buffer, the amount of yarn on the buffer is reduced, while in the reverse case the amount of yarn around the buffer is increased. These changes in the amount of yarn around the buffer imply a transverse displacement of the yarn; in particular, with a substantially constant yarn feed rate, the yarn will be removed from a changing position on the buffer. Since the yarn is removed from the buffer under a constant tension, the transverse displacement of the yarn, due to the abovementioned differences in the feed and removal rates, compensates any differences in tension in the yarn. The yarn buffer 101 thus converts a speed difference ΔV under constant yarn tension into a transverse displacement ΔR. If the above speed differences remain or even increase, the amount of yarn around the buffer will decrease to zero or increase to excess; both of these situations will give rise to yarn breakage. The amount of yarn around the buffer should therefore be kept within certain limits; with a substantially constant yarn feed rate, this can be achieved by keeping the transverse displacement imparted to the yarn within fixed limits. To this effect a sensing unit 102 converts the transverse displacement of the yarn into a control signal ΔU, applied to a regulating means 105 to vary the speed at which the yarn is removed in such a way that the subsequent change in ΔV keeps the transverse displacement within fixed limits. The above speed regulation performed under constant. yarn tension may be applied continuously or discretely. With a continuous speed regulation the magnitude of the control signal ΔU will be determined by the magnitude of the transverse displacement of the yarn, while this control signal will act on the regulating means 103 to adapt the rate of removal V_u to the feed rate V_i. If the rate of feeding the yarn to the buffer is constant, the rate of removal will have been fully adapted to this constant feed rate after a short settling period, were it not for the fact that variations in tension, compensated by transverse displacements of the yarn, occur constantly, the cause of which variations being, apart from yarn shrinkage, the winding system employed. With a continuous regulation therefore, the rate of removal will constantly be varied even after the settling period.

With a discrete speed regulation the sensing unit 102 responds to two positions assumed by the yarn during its transverse displacement. The control signal supplied by unit 102 determines the instances at which the yarn assumes the two positions and acts on the regulating means 103 to control the rate of removal between two values. With a continuous regulation the rate of removal may be varied at random in a given range, whereas with a discrete regulation this rate can assume only two values, while at the most the frequency at which the rate of removal is changed between these two values is subject to change. If in its transverse displacement the yarn reaches the position in which a maximum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer, the rate of removal assumes its maximum value, and if in its subsequent transverse displacement it reaches the position in which a minimum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer, this rate assumes its minimum value.

The rate of removal, as referred to in the foregoing, is identical to the winding speed, since the yarn is removed by the yarn winding means. The winding may be accomplished in two ways, viz. through winding the yarn directly on a motor-driven spool and through employing a motor-driven winding roll which in turn drives the spool, whereby the yarn is passed over the winding roll or through the grooves in the winding roll to wind it onto the spool. In the first case, the winding speed of the yarn is determined by the rotational speed of the spool, and in the second case by the peripheral speed of the winding roll. The influence of the thickness of the yarn package on the spool asserts itself particularly in the first case. With continuous regulation the rotational speed of the spool is decreased as the thickness of the package is increased. With a discrete regulation, the rotational speed is maintained between two values; this is however accompanied with the requirement that the tension variations in the yarn be compensated by the transverse displacement. Therefore, the thickness of the yarn package may not be so great that the path length between the limiting positions of the transverse displacement of the yarn is not sufficient to compensate for the increase in the yarn tension.

In the embodiment described below a winding roll is used; the tension variations then occurring through yarn shrinkage, slipping of the spool on the surface of the winding roll and differences in path length arising during winding may be fully compensated merely by the application of the method herein described. This is applicable to both cylindrical and conical winding spools.

With continuous regulation the design of the yarn buffer 101 may be identical to that used with a discrete regulation; this will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The sensing unit 102 should however be of a different design for a continuous and a discrete regulation. With a continuous regulation the magnitude of the transverse displacement may be converted in the sensing unit into a corresponding control signal, for example by having this displacement to effect a change in a dielectric, the magnitude of which change being determined by measuring the capacity. With a discrete regulation the monitoring of the instances at which the yarn assumes the two fixed positions during its transverse displacement may be realised by recording interruptions in two small light beams; another method will be described with reference to Fig. 2. With continuous regulation a motor driven by the control signal is simply used for the regulating means 103; with a discrete regulation, see the description with reference to Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for the application of the method according to the invention. The yarn buffer here employed consists of a rotating cylinder 204 with a shaft 205, whose axis makes a small angle with that of the cylinder 204 in order to keep the yarn windings around the whole of the cylinder and the shaft separate.

The combination of cylinder 204 and shaft 205 is hereinafter denoted by buffer 204,205 for the sake of simplicity. A yarn 207 is passed through an opening in the shield 206 which is fitted around buffer 204,205. After wrapping a few turns of yarn around the buffer, yarn 207 is removed from the buffer and is wound onto spool 209 via winding roll 208. The rate at which the yarn is wound onto the spool is determined by the peripheral speed of winding roll 208.

In the present embodiment of the apparatus for applying the method according to the invention, the sensing unit consists of a reciprocating mechanism 211 movable between two positions. The reciprocating mechanism removes the yarn from a point on the buffer, which point changes continuously between two points corresponding with the above two positions. An increase of the tension in the yarn 207 passed from buffer 204,205 to the winding roll 208 is compensated through the yarn loosing its contact with buffer 204,205 sooner and experiencing a corresponding transverse displacement. With this action the reciprocating mechanism 211 moves to the position denoted by A. When the reciprocating mechanism has reached position A, the rotational speed of winding roll 208 will be slightly decreased as will be shown after. The result thereof is a reduction in the tension in yarn 207 passed to winding roll 208. This reduction is however compensated through the yarn maintaining longer contact with buffer 204,205 and experiencing a corresponding transverse displacement, and the yarn is wound further around buffer 204,205. With this action the reciprocating mechanism 211 moves to the position denoted by B. When the reciprocating mechanism has reached position B, the rotational speed of winding roll 208 will be slightly increased. The result is that the tension in the yarn passed from buffer 204,205 to winding roll 208 is kept constant. Hence, in the case in question, this result is reached through the peripheral speed of the winding roll assuming values above and below the value of the speed at which the yarn is fed to buffer 204,205. The yarn is removed from buffer 204,205 at a point moving between the two points which correspond with positions A and B of the reciprocating mechanism 211. As will be seen hereinafter, these two points are adjustable by hand. Because of the fact that these points are adjustable, ring 212 mounted to buffer 204,205 should preferably contain a hairy yarn guide 213 provided fully around ring 212. With this provision it is possible to remove the yarn from buffer 204,205 in all positions under the required constant tension.

According to the invention the regulating means further comprises a transmission mechanism, consisting of a relay circuit 214, a pneumatic control mechanism 215, a driving pulley 216 and a pulley 217 driven by pulley 216 and coupled to winding roll 208. The relay circuit 214 is coupled to the reciprocating mechanism 211, and each time this mechanism reaches either position A or position B the relay circuit delivers a signal representative of this position, which signal is applied to the pneumatic control mechanism 215. In the embodiment in question control mechanism 215 comprises a solenoid valve 218, a piston 219 with piston rod 220 and a pulley system 221. Pulley system 221 is connected with a rod 222 to driving pulley 216 and is capable of performing a reciprocating motion about the axis of pulley 216. The pulley 216 drives pulley system 221 through a belt 223, the pulley system in turn drives, via a belt 224, pulley 217 coupled to winding roll 208. Because of the reciprocating motion of pulley system 221, it is possible to change the distance between this pulley system and pulley 217. For this purpose, pulley 217 is provided with a belt groove with a variable depth. If the distance between pulley system

221 and pulley 217 is slightly increased, belt 224 will follow the peripheral of pulley 217 with a smaller radius; if the distance between pulley system 221 and pulley 217 is slightly decreased, belt 224 will follow the peripheral of the pulley 217 with a larger radius, i.e. through varying the distance between pulley system 221 and pulley 217 the transmission ratio between pulleys 216 and 217 is changed accordingly. This change should of course be very small and, hence, the subsequent displacement imparted to pulley system 221 as well. When reciprocating mechanism 211 reaches position B, the relay circuit 214 is actuated, operating solenoid valve 218 to force air into the cylinder of piston 219. Consequently, through piston rod 220 the distance between pulley system 221 and pulley 217 is slightly increased, thereby slightly raising the rotational speed of winding roll 208. When reciprocating mechanism 211 then reachesposition A, the air supply via solenoid valve 218 is shut off, and the motion of piston rod 220 slightly decreases the distance between pulley system 221 and pulley 217, thereby slightly lowering the rotational speed of winding roll 208.

As stated before, the positional interval in which the yarn looses its contact with buffer 204,205 is adjustable. This is realised with an eccentric bearing-mounted shaft 225, whose position is adjustable by hand. Winding roll 208 is rotatably attached to this shaft. A displacement of eccentric shaft 225 results in a positional change of the pulley system 221 with respect to the winding roll 208 and hence imparts a change in the transmission ratio. The values between which the rotational speed of winding roll 208 is varied can therefore be shifted slightly to both sides; this is also accompanied with a shift in the positional interval in which the yarn is removed from buffer 204, 205, for example to two positions symmetrical with respect to the normal.

To initiate the process to which the yarn is subjected, the yarn must be wrapped a few turns around buffer 204, 205. It may be that this yarn is of a foreign type, the socalled piecing yarn, not forming part of the yarn package. The piecing yarn should subsequently be extracted. The apparatus thereto comprises a counter 226, a second pneumatic control mechanism 227 and a lever mechanism 228. The pneumatic control mechanism 227 consists of the solenoid valve 229, a piston 230 with piston rod 231. The number of turns of yarn to be applied around buffer 204,205 corresponds with a certain winding time, selected with counter 226. During the winding time this counter actuates the solenoid valve 229 to force air into the cylinder of piston 230. Through the piston rod 231 the lever mechanism is then brought into the position, whereby roller 232 forming part of the lever mechanism 228 comes into contact with. roller 233 coupled to the drive pulley 216 and whereby roller 210, also forming part of the lever mechanism 228 is released from winding roll 208. In this position the yarn passed over winding roll 208 is taken along and extracted with the aid of extraction means 234. The rate at which this process is accomplished is determined by the peripheral speed of roller 233. This speed is considerably lower than that of winding roll 208. That is, the speed at which the yarn is fed to buffer 204, 205 is considerably greater than the speed at which the yam is removed from the buffer. The result is that the yarn is wound around buffer 204, 205 until the lever mechanism reverses to the position whereby roller 210 makes contact with winding roll 208 and roller 232 is disengaged from roller 233. This reversal of the lever mechanism is realised through the actuation of solenoid valve 229, shutting off the air supply to the cylinder of piston 230 after the expiration the selected winding time. On the reversal of lever mechanism 228 to the latter position, the peripheral speed of winding roll 208 again determines the speed at which the yarn is removed from the buffer 204, 205. The yarn can subsequently be wound on spool 20

To wind a yarn on a spool, it is customary to use a winding roll, which is provided with grooves to obtain a uniform distribution of the yarn on the spool. It is known that the use of such winding rolls cause uneven patches in the yarn package during winding. These uneven patches may be prevented by regularly lifting the spool off the winding roll for a brief moment, causing the rotational motion of the spool to lag slightly behind that of the winding roll. The speed regulation in question, removing the continuously running yarn under a constant tension from the buffer, enables to lift the spool for a moment. The apparatus thereto comprises a third pneumatic control mechanism 235 and a second lever mechanism 236. Each time the air supply to the piston 219 is shut off, an air surge (air-relief pulsation) is delivered from this piston, via valve 218, to an air-operated slide valve 237 forming part of pneumatic control mechanism 235. The latter control mechanism further comprises a piston 238 with a piston rod 239. An air surge is supplied to piston 238 via slide valve 237; this air surge moves piston rod 239 a little to lift spool 209 off winding roll 208 for a short moment through the lever mechanism 236.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. Method for removing a yarn wrapped around a buffer and for winding the yarn on a winding spool to form a yarn package, characterised in that the transverse displacement of the yarn, which displacement is developed to compensate for tension variations and is imparted to the yarn through being removed from the buffer in a continuously changing position due to differences in the speed at which the yarn is removed from the buffer with respect to the speed at which it is fed to the buffer, is converted into a control signal by a sensing unit, which control signal is applied to a regulating means to vary the winding speed of the yarn in such a way that said continuously changing position is kept within fixed limits.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sensing unit delivers a continuously changing control signal, the magnitude of which control signal being determined by the magnitude of the transverse displacement of the yarn, which control signal acts on the regulating means to adapt the winding speed to the speed at which the yarn is applied to the buffer.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensing unit responds to two positions assumed by the yarn during its transverse displacement, whereupon the control signal determines the instance at which the yarn assumes said two positions and acts on the regulating means to control the winding speed between two values corresponding with said two positions, such that the winding speed assumes its maximum value as soon as the yarn reaches the position in which a maximum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer and that the winding speed assumes its minimum value as soon as the yarn reaches the position in which a minimum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer.

4. Apparatus for removing a yarn wrapped around a buffer and for winding, tire yarn on a spool to form a yarn package, in order to apply the method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the sensing unit consists of a reciprocating mechanism movable between said two positions, which reciprocating mechanism removes the yarn from a point on the buffer, said point changing continuously between two points corresponding with said two positions, and that the regulating means comprises a transmission mechanism, operable with at least two transmission ratios, and a winding roll coupled to said transmission mechanism, said winding roll driving the winding spool, whereby each time the reciprocating mechanism reaches one of said two positions the transmission ratio is changed in such a way that the rotational speed of the winding roll is increased as soon as the reciprocating mechanism reaches the extreme position in which a maximum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer and that the rotational speed of the winding roll is decreased as soon as the reciprocating mechanism reaches the extreme position in which a minimum amount of yarn is wrapped around the buffer.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the transmission mechanism comprises a relay circuit, connected to the reciprocating mechanism, a first pneumatic control mechanism operated by said relay circuit, a drive pulley and a pulley driven by said drive pulley and coupled to the winding roll, whereby said first pneumatic control mechanism determines the transmission ratio between said drive pulley and said pulley coupled to the winding roll.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the peripheral speed of the winding roll varies between two values above and below the value of the speed at which the yarn is applied to the buffer.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in tha the winding roll rotates about an eccentric bearing-mounted shaft, the position of which shaft being adjustable.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in tha the apparatus comprises a second pneumatic control mechanism, operated by a counter, and a first lever mechanism operable in two positions by said second pneumatic control mechanism, which first lever mechanism in the first position accomplishes that the speed at which the yarn is removed from the buffer is governed by the peripheral speed of the drive pulley and in the second position by the peripheral speed of the winding roll where the peripheral speed of the drive pulley is smaller than the minimum peripheral speed of the winding roll.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a third pneumatic control mechanism, coupled to the first pneumatic control mechanism, and a second lever mechanism operated by said third pneumatic control mechanism and coupled to the winding spool, which second lever mechanism lifts the winding spool temporarily off the winding roll each time the reciprocating mechanism reaches one of its extreme positions.