EP0644148A1 - Thread-processing machine with a thread change mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Mechanisms for changing the threads to be processed on sewing or embroidering machines, in which old and new threads are connected to one another by interlacing, have fundamentally already been proposed. In order to simplify the introduction of the new thread into the interlacing chamber, it is proposed to cause the individual threads (23) to end in the mutually adjacent eyes (40') of an eye rake (136) which is always displaceable in the transverse direction so as to bear closely against the interlacing chamber (198). After the desired thread (23) has been aligned with the interlacing chamber, the corresponding eye is loaded with compressed air guided in the desired direction of transport and the free front end of the thread is thereby shot into the interlacing chamber, the transport stage and transport speed being regulated by a transport limiter. The eye rake (136) is subsequently no longer loaded with compressed air, but the interlacing chamber is likewise loaded slightly forwards by the compressed air (199) in the feed direction of the latter, so that the interlacing does not take place in a stationary manner, but over a stage determined again by the transport limiter. Mounted rotatably in the interlacing chamber (112) is a rotor (18) which has on its outer circumference recesses (20) in the form of turbine blades. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to devices and methods for at least partially automatic changing of the thread in thread processing machines.

In such machines, it is often necessary to continue working with a thread that is different in terms of color or material. The smaller the batch sizes of textiles to be manufactured, the more often such a change is necessary. With embroidery machines, due to the different colors, even several times within a single piece.

In addition to the known, but large and complex solution to provide a separate needle bar with needle, thread layer and thread tensioner next to each other for each thread to be used, German patent application P 41 18 130 shows a thread changing device in which the thread processing machine only has a single needle rod, Has needle, thread layer and thread tensioner, and the new thread to be processed is pulled through these functional parts. Each thread is provided with a spool of thread on a spool holder that is arranged on or on the machine.

The passage of the new thread through thread tensioner, thread layer and needle takes place in that the beginning of the new thread is connected to the old thread still in use and the old thread is pulled behind the functional parts of the machine so far that the new thread is in the needle lies.

This connection can be done in all automatically feasible ways, such as gluing by means of an adhesive, fusing by means of heating the thermoplastic parts which are very often present in the yarns, cementing by means of putty, mechanical rolling of the threads or mechanical pressing and also mechanical knotting.

The connection of the old and the new thread can be done by the basic method of intermingling already known from yarn production. The old thread lies in a narrow, tubular channel together with the beginning of the new thread. The tubular channel is pressurized in the transverse direction by compressed air through a nozzle, whereby both threads are split into their filaments and due to the violent transverse movements of the filaments within the tubular channel, the filaments of the old and new thread connect so tightly that they pull on the old one Thread the new thread can be pulled through the thread tensioner, the thread layer and the needle.

DE-OS 41 18 130, however, only contains the basic possible solution for a large number of details, detailed solutions being required for a functional solution, which are not readily obvious even for a person skilled in the art in this field.

Regardless of the type of connection principle, the thread changing device usually always consists of a thread connecting device in which the actual connection of the threads takes place, as well as a thread feeder, which causes that of the many threads not currently used, all with a free end in of the thread feed device are present, the desired new thread is selected and brought to the old thread in the thread connecting device.

For this, as well as for other work steps, detailed solutions are given in DE-OS 41 18 130 that do not work or require a very high level of construction:
Of the two eye rakes, the eye rake closest to the swirl chamber is shifted, which however leads to sagging and possible knotting between the individual threads.

Furthermore, in DE-OS 41 18 130 all necessary movements of the functional parts are effected by seven pneumatic cylinders, which on the one hand requires a great deal of installation space and a more powerful compressed air supply and makes the changing device more expensive.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a thread changing device for largely automated changing of the thread used with the same needle, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet has a high level of functional reliability and can preferably be retrofitted to existing yarn processing machines.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments result from the subclaims.

The problems to be overcome for the thread feeding device are essentially the same, no matter what type of thread connection is selected in the thread connecting device.

The solution is then specified using swirling, whereby these individual solutions can also be used for the other types of binding.

Unlike in thread production, in which the intermingling process is used to start a new thread on a thread that has been spun to the end, and only the winding forces have to be overcome, it is therefore necessary not only to punctually but also over the two threads connect a sufficient length to achieve the required tensile strength.

For this purpose, either the swirl chamber can be placed a sufficient distance behind the inserted free end of the new thread and can be shifted in the direction of travel of the thread, so that the swirling of the two threads takes place over a relatively large distance. Likewise, the swirl chamber can be designed to be sufficiently long and have a plurality of compressed air nozzles in succession in the thread direction, which cause simultaneous swirling of the threads over a long total distance. A combined application of both methods is also possible.

In order to cause the threads to flip back and forth within the vortex chamber, it is advisable to hold the threads to be connected only on one side of the vortex chamber and to leave them free on the other side, or to allow a lot of play on the other side, at least 1 cm , e.g. through a loosely created loop. This problem arises especially with the old thread, which has to be held in the back, i.e. in the direction of flow in front of the swirl chamber, so as not to pull too much yarn from the roll during swirling, but on the other hand in the direction of flow after the swirl chamber, not completely loose because the thread runs through thread guide, needle etc. and is held by it. For this purpose, especially with the old thread, it is necessary to provide a loosely produced loop of several centimeters long, immediately after the swirl chamber, which allows the thread to play sufficiently in the longitudinal direction.

For swirling, a sufficiently large free space in the swirl chamber in the transverse direction is also necessary, which must be at least ten times, better twenty to thirty times, the diameter of the thicker thread.

In order to connect threads with completely different structures and for this purpose to be able to adjust the swirl parameters such as nozzle shape, working pressure, exposure time, dimensions of the channel in the swirl chamber and also the swirl length, the bottom of the swirl chambers not only one, but several in the direction of flow Nozzle plates one behind the other, which can be largely identical.

A particularly simple design is obtained if the individual nozzle plates are connected to one another for the supply of compressed air and the forwarding of the threads. However, better control results if the individual nozzles of the individual nozzle plates can be controlled separately.

Preferably, the last nozzle in the direction of passage should also be able to be subjected to negative pressure, and / or the end of the channel of the swirl chamber should be closable in the direction of passage by means of a nozzle or other closing elements which can be subjected to negative pressure.

This makes it possible to move the swirl chamber directly by longitudinal displacement to the eye of the eye rake, which contains the newly selected thread, and to suck its free end into the swirl chamber by pressurizing the swirl chamber without the need for a mechanical gripper.

On the one hand, care must be taken that only the new thread to be sucked in is free in the direction of flow in front of the swirl chamber, but the old thread is clamped, otherwise enormous lengths of the old thread would be pulled off the spool of thread in a fraction of a second and in the Would lead to knots. In principle, this problem also exists with the new thread to be sucked in, but can be minimized there by means of controlled braking devices, etc.

The generation of negative pressure on the inlet side of the swirl chamber can also be generated in that the swirl chamber is acted upon by obliquely flowing compressed air in the direction of flow and / or the outlet side of the swirl chamber has a larger cross section than the inlet side (narrowed, for example, by a front sight), so that this results in A negative pressure is created on the inlet side.

Depending on the design of the inlet side, the problem may arise that in the area immediately before the inlet Turbulent currents occur in the swirl chamber, which undesirably deflect the freely approaching thread end and hinder problem-free sucking into the swirl chamber. This can be overcome if the free end of the new thread is mechanically guided into the beginning of the swirl chamber or is inserted before the negative pressure develops there. This can be done, for example, by means of a corresponding, snorkel-shaped extension of either the swirl chamber or the adjacent eye rake, which each protrude into the opposite component and thereby prevent the free thread end of the new thread from pivoting sideways.

The advantage of transporting the new thread into the swirl chamber by means of pressurized air is that the swirling takes place at the same time, that is, it begins immediately at the beginning of the new thread.

This avoids a protruding, non-swirled, free end of the new thread, which can lead to problems when pulling the new thread through the thread path. As a result, the swirl chamber can consist of a closed channel.

Further functional simplifications result from the fact that the cover of the swirl chamber is open in the idle state due to spring preload or the action of gravity etc. and is only closed during the swirling or the associated measures. This can be done, for example - when using a gripper to insert the new thread - by the gripper when depositing the new thread in the swirl chamber by the gripper pressing a mechanical trigger, for example a lever linkage, which presses the cover when the new thread is deposited in the swirl chamber in its closed position.

If the new thread is inserted into the swirl chamber by means of a mechanical gripper, a gripper pliers is preferably used, the fingers of which can be pressed against one another are articulated together. The eyelet rake adjacent to the swirl chamber has projecting projections in the direction of the swirl chamber that are coaxial, pipe-shaped, and on the outer circumference of which the gripper tongs can rest. If the gripper pliers with their fingers biased against each other are moved beyond the free end of the extensions, the fingers snap against each other and hold the new thread protruding from the extension reliably between them. In order to avoid violent movements, the outside of the neck-shaped extensions should taper conically towards the free end and at the end should have the smallest possible outer circumference. After grasping the new thread, the gripper is lifted out of the straight through direction in a soft movement path, i.e. without a rapid change of direction, and returned to it in a curved path over the swirl chamber and the new thread is thereby deposited in the channel of the swirl chamber.

Furthermore, the two fingers of the gripper pliers can be designed both at their functional end, that is outside the gripping surfaces for the thread, and / or between the rear ends projecting on the other side in their articulated connection such that there is a preferably tapered notch between them . This makes it possible to achieve opening and closing of the gripper tongs at the desired point in time by mechanically pushing stops or other functional parts into this notch in a purely mechanical and thus very simple way. The gripper tongs are placed on the neck-shaped extension only by pushing the previously closed gripper tongs onto the extension from above.

The opening of the pre-tensioned gripper tongs after the thread has been deposited can be done by the gripper tongs performing a further movement in the direction of travel of the thread after the new thread has been lowered into the channel of the swirl chamber, thereby causing a stop wedge in the direction of travel finger the gripper tongs apart and thereby releases the new thread.

Another possibility is to clamp the new thread in the direction of travel in front of the swirl chamber after the new thread has been deposited in the swirl chamber and thereby enable the gripper to be pulled off the thread if the clamping has the greater retention force than the gripping force of the hook on the thread .

The cutting device for cutting off the old thread after connection with the new thread is preferably realized by not cutting the previously processed thread alone between the eye rake and the swirl chamber, but a cutting device cutting all the threads behind the second eye rake with the exception of the thread, which consists of the eye rake comes out in the position aligned with the swirl chamber, i.e. the thread to be reprocessed in each case. As a result, the remaining threads protruding from the eyelet rake with a free end may be shortened or moved again by a cutting device, but this is not disadvantageous for the functional reliability of the device, but on the other hand saves controllable positioning of the cutting device.

In the case of thread processing machines, in which several threads are usually processed at the same time, i.e. one thread in a normal sewing machine or three threads in a buttonhole sewing machine, a corresponding number of thread changing devices are arranged next to one another, preferably also the spools of thread on the spool holder parallel to Extent of the eye rakes are arranged offset to each other.

A common handling of the three yarn changing devices is facilitated by the fact that the movable eyelet rakes can be mechanically firmly connected to one another or formed in one piece across all three changers. Likewise, the mechanical grippers assigned to individual swirl chambers can be mechanically connected to one another, so that a single, common control for this longitudinally and transversely movable carrier carriage, for example by means of a cam, is sufficient. This allows a smooth transition of the movement curve of the grippers in front of and behind the swirl chamber in the direction of travel, in contrast to the angular deflection, as takes place in the previously known solution by two pneumatic cylinders.

In all cases, the thread connecting device should not have any contact with the thread running through during normal operation of the thread processing machine for reasons of wear. However, a mechanical removal of the thread connecting device from the continuous thread is not absolutely necessary for this, since lifting off the thread connecting device can be achieved solely by the thread tension.

Another goal is to insert the new thread into the swirl chamber by simply blowing it in, not with complex mechanics.

The already proposed suction by generating negative pressure in the swirl chamber itself is also possible, but requires a higher control effort and construction effort for the nozzle plate.

It is even easier to bring the end of the selected new thread, which, like the ends of all threads, lies in the corresponding eyelets of the eyelet rake, in alignment with the swirl chamber of the nozzle plate - which is done by transverse displacement of the eyelet rake and swirl chamber relative to one another - and then in This flush eyelet of the new thread inject compressed air at an angle and as flat as possible to the longitudinal direction of the thread in the forward direction of the thread.

If the eyelet has a smaller cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the thread in front of the mouth than behind it Mouth of the nozzle for the compressed air, this compressed air mostly flows to the front end and pulls the thread with it.

If the swirl chamber of the nozzle plate is in alignment and immediately afterwards in the direction of passage after the eyelet of the new thread, the end of the new thread is literally shot or shot through, unless the thread is held by a transport limiter or the like. In order to achieve the desired flow conditions, the swirl chamber in the nozzle plate must also have a diameter that does not hinder the flow from the eye rake in this direction, i.e. a diameter that is at least larger than the cross section in the eye in the direction of flow in front of the mouth there the nozzle.

The old thread is cut off by a knife, which cuts along the face of the eye rake between the eye rake and the swirl chamber.

In order to prevent the currently unused threads from slipping with their free front ends out of the eyelet rake adjacent to the swirling chamber, these threads that are currently not in use must be clampable in the direction of travel before the eyelet rake by a clamping device in order to prevent the threads from slipping backwards to avoid the eye rake due to vibrations etc. For this purpose, another eyelet rake is arranged in the direction of travel before the eyelet rake with the eyelets pressurized by air, by means of a clamping bolt which is pretensioned transversely to the thread direction by means of a spring, and can clamp each thread in its eyelet, provided that the tensioning bolt is not mechanically overridden by snapping behind a terminal strip or a downhaul.

The second eyelet rake and / or the swirl chamber preferably have an extension of at least 2 cm in the longitudinal direction of the thread, and there is a position in the eyelet of the second rake that is aligned with the spinal canal Compressed air connection available for loading the eyelet. The angle between this nozzle and the longitudinal direction of the thread is 20 ° - 40 °, in particular 25 ° - 30 °, and the angle between the nozzle in the nozzle plate and the longitudinal direction of the thread is 60 ° - 90 °, in particular 70 ° - 80 °.

If the swirl chamber with the nozzle plate is firmly mounted and the two eyelet rakes must be able to be displaced transversely together with the transport limitation arranged between the two eyelet rakes, the latter parts are accommodated together on a transversely displaceable carriage.

Several possibilities are conceivable as a transport limitation: for example, the desired free further transport length can be generated by deflecting the desired threads and forming a correspondingly large loop and then this thread can be clamped in front of it in the transport direction. Then the length of the loop formed is available when the free thread end is blown into the swirl chamber or during continuous swirling.

Another possibility is to let the threads run between two rollers, which can be brought into abutment against one another, and then only transport or release the threads at the peripheral speed of the rollers. For normal sewing, the thread currently in use must be free, for example, these two roles must be deactivated. This can be done by storing one of these rollers in a bearing with play, for example on the counter roller to aligned elongated holes. Due to the force of gravity, a roller stored below the counter roller normally takes the lowest position, which is out of engagement with the counter roller, and can be clamped or transported in a defined manner when it is lifted by drive rollers etc. In this case, the roller which is movable in this way or its separate circumferential surface which is designed as a hollow cylinder can additionally be subject to radial play with respect to the core of the roller in order to compensate for the different thicknesses of the threads guided next to one another.

If - when the new thread is shot into the swirl chamber or during the swirling of the two threads - a further transport defined in terms of speed and transport length is to take place, the two rollers are brought into engagement and rotated further by the desired circumferential length.

In normal sewing, this transport limitation is inoperative and all threads except the thread currently in use are clamped due to the eyelet rake equipped with the clamping device.

• Fig. 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Nähmaschine,
• Fig. 2 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer Fadenwechseleinrichtung,
• Fig. 3 eine Aufsicht auf die Fadenwechseleinrichtung,
• Fig. 4 eine Detaildarstellung des Greifers,
• Fig. 5 den Antrieb des Greifers in Blickrichtung der Fig. 2,
• Fig. 6 eine Detaildarstellung einer Wirbelkammer und
• Fig. 7 eine der Fig. 2 ähnliche Darstellung.
• Fig. 8 eine teilgeschnittene Seitenansicht der Fadenwechseleinrichtung,
• Fig. 9 eine Aufsicht auf die Anordnung der Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 eine Längsansicht der Transportbegrenzung und
• Fig. 11 eine Schnittdarstellung aus Fig. 9 entlang IV-IV.

An embodiment according to the invention is described in more detail below by way of example. Show it

• 1 is a schematic diagram of a sewing machine according to the invention,
• 2 shows a schematic diagram of a thread changing device,
• 3 is a plan view of the thread changing device,
• 4 shows a detailed illustration of the gripper,
• 5 shows the drive of the gripper in the viewing direction of FIG. 2,
• Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a swirl chamber and
• Fig. 7 is a representation similar to Fig. 2.
• 8 is a partially sectioned side view of the thread changing device,
• 9 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 8,
• Fig. 10 is a longitudinal view of the transport limit and
• Fig. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 9 along IV-IV.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional industrial sewing machine 1 which is equipped with a thread changing device 100 according to the invention.

The machine 1 is driven by a motor 12 and carries, at the free end of the arm 2 in a manner known per se, on the underside of the needle bar 6, which is moved back and forth vertically and carries the needle 7 at its lower free end, through its opening the thread 23 runs in its tip.

The spools of thread 9 are located on a spool of thread 8 on the top of the machine 1 or its arm 2. From there, the thread 23 is first passed through the thread changing device 100 with the thread connecting device 111, which are located on the front end of the top of the arm 2, and from there, as usual, down through the thread tensioner 15, in front of the free end of the arm 2nd

The thread 23 runs through the opening on the free of the arm 2 projecting movable thread layer 16 and through the guide eyes 4 and 5 on the end face of the arm 2 and before reaching the needle through the feed eyelet 3, which is at the side at the lower end of the needle bar 6 is arranged.

A capping device 10 for the thread 23 is arranged laterally offset from the needle bar by a few cm, and on the underside of the arm 2 there is a pull-out device 11 by means of which the thread 23 is gripped in the needle 7 after passing through the eyelet and pulled in the direction of the pull-out device 11 can in order to be separated from the cutting device 10 at a distance of a few cm from the needle 7.

FIG. 2 shows the thread changing device 100, which comprises a thread feeding device 150 and a thread connecting device 111 in the direction of passage 25 of the thread one behind the other.

In the direction of the thread passage 25, which runs from right to left in FIG. 2, the thread 23 reaches from the Spool of thread 9 coming the eye rake 135, which the thread 23 passes through one of the eyes 40 of the eye rake 135. The number of eyelets 40 corresponds to the number of existing spools of thread, not shown in FIG. 2.

The eyelet rake 135 includes all the eyelets 40 of a thread changing device 100.

Subsequently, the thread 23 passes through another eyelet rake 136, the eyelets 40 / of which are preferably formed separately, and extends further through the swirl chamber 112 of the thread connecting device 111.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the thread 23 extends up to and including the second eyelet rake 136 from each spool of thread, and the free ends of the threads 23 which are not currently used look somewhat out of the outlet-side end of the eyelet rake 136 formed on the extension 141.

Only the thread 23 currently in use also passes through the open swirl chamber 112, which is in the form of a channel and has no contact with the thread when the thread 23 is being used.

A device according to FIG. 2 is shown in the top view in FIG. 3, the entire gripper 140 having been omitted for reasons of clarity, on the other hand the thread spools are also shown.

Starting from the inactive position of the thread changing device 100 shown in FIG. 2, the procedure is as follows if a thread change is to be carried out:

First, the carriage 191, on which the eyelet rakes 136 and 135 are mounted, is displaced transversely to such an extent that the newly selected thread is aligned with the swirl chamber 112 of the thread connecting device 111.

As a result, the old thread 23a now runs diagonally from the shifted position of the eyelet rakes 135, 136 to the rear sight 102 directly in front of the swirl chamber 112, while the new thread 23b is aligned with the channel of the swirl chamber 112.

Here, all threads except the old thread 23A previously used are clamped on the top of the first eyelet rake 135 by the magnet 106 lying on the pressing surface 107 from above, so that the transverse offset also changes the distance to the spools of thread over the outlet-side extension 141 of the second eye rake 136 protruding thread length remains the same.

The gripper pliers 140 are then pushed onto the extension 141 of the selected and aligned thread 23A of the eye rake 136 from above or obliquely from above, whereby the lever arms 196 are pressed apart and rest with their surfaces 195 on the outer surfaces of the extension 141, whereby the neighboring ones Extensions and thus the adjacent nozzle 40 are pushed to the side.

Subsequently, the entire carriage 191 is moved to the right and at the same time, compressed air is fed obliquely upward via the nozzle 105 under the aligned eyelet 40 at the outlet end, so that the end of the thread 23B, i.e. the newly selected thread, which is outstanding there is held horizontally or is even blown up.

If the carriage 190 is now shifted to the right, the gripper pliers 140 held at rest will slide off the extension 141 and grasp the free end of the new thread 23A with its gripping surfaces 195, which are preferably corrugated.

At the same time, behind the eyelet rake 135, which, like the front eyelet rake 136, is connected to the carriage 190 in the direction of travel and horizontally transversely thereto, the backward movement of the sled with its functional surface 110 pointing backwards and downwards at the rear pushed lower end onto a housing-fixed, inclined ramp surface 114.

As a result, the rear eye rake 135 is tilted somewhat about its connecting axis 115 to the slide 190, which extends transversely and horizontally to the direction of travel 25, until the front end of the eye rake 35 is seated on the (possibly lowered) stop 108, as a result of which there is a sufficiently large distance from the magnet 106 is taken so that at least the new thread 23A is no longer clamped by the magnet 106.

This process can either be carried out for the entire rear eye rake 135, or - in the case of a multi-part design of the eye rake 135 for each individual nozzle 40 - only for the nozzle 40 of the new desired thread 23A, with the run-up surface 114 then only in the area of this aligned position is available.

At least the newly selected thread 23A is no longer clamped in the direction of passage. The gripper 140 attached to the carriage 191 is now lifted out of the pass line along a path 189, moved forward over the connecting device 111 and deposited there, so that the end of the new thread 23A comes to rest in the swirl chamber 112. When the gripper 140 is lowered, the gripper 140 can preferably press directly on a lever 104 which is firmly connected to the cover 113 of the nozzle plate 198 and presses the cover 113 downward on the upper side of the nozzle plate 198.

On the needle side of the swirl chamber, a loose loop 24 several centimeters long is formed in the old thread (23a) in order to allow the thread to play.

By acting on the swirl chamber 112 via the compressed air nozzles 199 with the cover 113 closed, the old and the new thread are intermingled with one another. Alternatively, other types of connections can be provided. The Loop can also be formed inside the swirl chamber.

The lateral edges 103 of the cover 113 on the one hand seal the nozzle chamber 112 and on the other hand the new thread 23A is held on the edges of the swirl chamber 112.

Before - after opening the cover 113 - the new thread 23A is pulled with the old thread through the thread layer and eyelets of the sewing machine to the eyelet in the needle, the old thread is first cut between the thread connecting device 111 and the foremost eyelet rake 136 with the help of a cutting device 122. The counter knife has an opening 125 which runs across the entire width of the eyelet rakes and which is only open upwards in the position aligned with the swirl chamber 112, otherwise has the shape of an elongated hole.

Through this transverse elongated hole 125, the new thread now extends in the aligned position and laterally offset, through the oblique course of the thread, the old thread. By raising the knife 124 on the functional side of the counter knife 123, the old thread in the non-aligned position is cut, but not the new thread, since the knife 124 has a recess in the aligned position.

In contrast, Fig. 7 shows a somewhat different solution - with a reduced basic representation chosen for better clarity: There, on the one hand, the magnet 106 is replaced by a fixed clamping bar 106 'which cannot be changed in height and is arranged directly above the thread, with each individual one Eye plate of the rear eye rake 135 is pressed by a separate spring 101 under the front end up against the clamping bar 106 'and thereby clamps the thread 23. This is only temporarily not the case with the plate of the eye rake 135 that is aligned with the swirl chamber 112, specifically when The carriage 191 is in such a longitudinal position when its rear, lower functional surface is pushed up by the run-on surface 114 fixed to the housing and the clamping of the thread 23 is thereby deactivated.

The run-up surface 114 is not only rising obliquely to the rear, but is also designed to decrease again at its rear end, so that if the carriage 191 is moved further back over the highest point of the run-up surface 114, the clamping is also reactivated.

This makes it possible, after moving the carriage 191 to the right and releasing the clamp for pulling off the new thread and inserting it into the swirl chamber, not only activating the clamp by moving forwards to the left, but also by moving backwards to the right and thereby free Pull the end of the new thread out of the gripper 140 standing to the left of the swirl chamber 112 without having to move it in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the compressed air supply for blowing up the free ends of the threads 23 at the outlet of the left eyelet rake 136 is not provided, and likewise the lateral edges 103 of the cover 113 are missing. The cover 113 is therefore only on the top of the nozzle plate 198, so that there is no clamping of the threads 23a, 23b on the end faces of the nozzle plate 198. As a result, the threads are held loosely in the swirl chamber, the old thread having sufficient play through a loose loop 24.

The channel of the swirl chamber 112 is reduced compared to the other cross section by the very narrow rear sight 102 arranged directly at the inlet of the swirl chamber, so that the outflow of the blown-in compressed air preferably takes place via the outlet-side end of the channel of the swirl chamber 112 or additionally arranged in the swirl channel , substantially radially extending outflow openings through the nozzle plate 198 or the cover 113. Especially It is advantageous to direct the nozzle direction of the nozzle 199 - radially or tangentially - obliquely onto the thread

4 shows the representation of the front eye rake 136 in the viewing direction parallel to the threads 23.

The eyelet rake 136 essentially consists of a plurality of juxtaposed, essentially vertical eyelet plates 41 with eyelets 40 'in the upper region, through which the individual threads 23 extend.

Only one thread 23 is drawn in in FIG. 4, which is to be gripped by the gripper 140 as a new thread 23a.

Since, due to the cramped conditions on the thread-processing machines, as many eyelets as possible should be accommodated next to one another for as many threads 23 as possible over the smallest width, the individual eyelet plates 41 lie against one another and have a roof-shaped design as a saddle 46 at their upper end.

The gripper 140, on the other hand, has a conical gap 193 at the lower, free end of the abutting lever arms 196, into which the roof 46 of the corresponding eyelet plate 41 penetrates when the gripper is lowered above the desired thread 23, and which by means of the force of a spring 48 lever arms 196 of the gripper 140 biased against one another so that these lever arms 196 bear laterally on the desired nozzle plate 41.

To ensure that there is sufficient space for this, the lever arms 196 swivel the eye plates adjacent to the desired eye plate 41 laterally outwards in the upper region.

This is possible in that each individual eyelet plate 41 by a longitudinal pin 42 arranged in the lower region Axis parallel to the thread 23 is pivotable. In the rest position, the individual eyelet plates 41 are pushed together in their vertical, closely adjacent position by means of centering bolts 49, which act on the outermost of the eyelet plates 41 by being prestressed against a fixed stop 52 by means of compression springs 51.

In addition, the individual eyelet plates 41 are fixed in their vertical position and in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 4 by being penetrated by a common crossbar 45 which extends through transverse holes 44 in the eyelet plates 41.

The crossbar 45 and the centering bolts 49 are guided in a U-holder, which comprises the eye plates 41 of the eye rake from below.

The two lever arms 196 of the gripper 140 can be pivoted relative to one another around a joint 47, which is fastened to the slide 190 for the gripper 140. The ends projecting from the gripping ends of the lever arms 196 and projecting at the rear are biased against one another by the force of a compression spring 48 arranged between them.

5 shows, in the viewing direction of FIGS. 2 and 5, the likewise mechanically designed drive mechanism of the carriage 190, to which the gripper 140 is fastened, in order to be able to implement the path curve 189 shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 in the desired shape.

The carriage 190, which is equipped with a long longitudinal strut running approximately parallel above the thread 23, is supported via a joint 39 in its central region relative to a vertical lever 56, while the rear end of the strut-shaped carriage 190 carries a sliding block 34 which is in a setting 35 of a setting block 36 is performed. The backdrop 35 has between a front and rear, essentially horizontal end, an incline in the central region, the incline - changed by the Lever ratio in the drive mechanism - is decisive for the shape of curve 189.

The Kullissenblock 36 is driven oscillating in the longitudinal direction via an essentially vertical actuating rod 30, which is mounted in its lower region rotatable about a hinge 38 about a fixed point, and in the central region via a crank rod 27, which is driven by a crank disk 26, is pivoted oscillating. With the link block 36, the vertical lever 56 also moves partially, with respect to which the carriage 190 is mounted about the joint 39, the vertical lever 56 above this joint 39 being held at a distance from the link block 36 by means of a compression spring 28.

Vertical lever 56 and link block 36 are driven oscillating in the longitudinal direction by the actuating rod 30 by having bolts 32, 33 on the link block 36 or in the vertical lever 56 below the link 35 or the joint 39, the approximately horizontally oriented elongated holes 54, 55 one are also arranged approximately horizontally, parallel to the slide 190 parallel rod 53. Between the elongated holes 54, 55, the parallel rod 53 carries a bolt 31 which extends through an elongated hole of the actuating rod 30 and is oscillated approximately horizontally back and forth by the latter.

Starting from the position shown in FIG. 5, by moving the crank disk 26 initially to the right and thus also the actuating rod to the right, both the link block 36 and the vertical lever 56 and thus the slide 190 of the gripper are initially moved via the slot 54 and the bolt 32 140 moved to the right until the vertical lever 56 runs against the stop 29. As a result, there is only a slight displacement of the joint 39, which is located just above the stop 29, to the right, and thus no further displacement of the gripper 140 to the right.

With further movement of the actuating rod 30 to the right, however, the elongated hole 54 of the parallel rod 53 pulls the link block 36 further to the right, as a result of which the link block 34 at the rear end of the carriage 190 passes through the link 35 rising upwards. At the same time, the bolt 33 is released from the right stop of the elongated hole 55 and passes through it against the force of the tension spring 28.

This results in a downward movement of the gripper 140, which is only superimposed by a smaller vertical movement to the right, corresponding to the movement of the joint 39 of the carriage 190 with respect to the stop 29, so that the distance between the joint 39 and the stop 29 is decisive for the further vertical movement.

In this way, the desired path movement 189 can be carried out forwards and back again by complete rotation of the crank disk 26. In addition, by another on the link plate 26 applied slide track 13 z. B. in the transverse direction to the plane of FIG. 5, another control z. B. the cover 113 of the swirl chamber 112 or a device for forming the loop.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed illustration of a swirl chamber 112 in the direction of view of the threads 23a, 23b.

The swirl chamber 112 is designed as a closed, channel-like cavity 22 and thus without a movable cover, in which compressed air can be supplied radially or tangentially via one or more flow channels 21. In the case of FIG. 6, this compressed air 21 serves not only to swirl the threads 23a, 23b, but also to drive a rotor 18, which is present in sections or continuously over the length of the swirl chamber 112 individually or several times.

This rotor 18 has, in the desired direction of rotation, turbine-like recesses 20 on the circumference with directed against the inflow from the flow channel 21 Baffles 19, whereby the rotor 18 is set into rapid rotation by the compressed air. In addition to the intermingling of the filaments of the threads 23a and 23b, these are mechanically twisted by the rotation of the rotor and thus twisted, as a result of which the intermingling is directionally controlled and thus more strongly defined.

The compressed air reaches the interior of the rotor 18 for swirling via inflow channels 14. The inflow channels 14 can preferably begin directly at the radial baffle surfaces 19 of the rotor 18.

In order to mechanically support the swirling, the inner free space 17 of the rotor 18 can be offset eccentrically to its outer circumference. As a result, the two threads are constantly mechanically loaded transversely by the dancing inner circumference of the rotor 18.

In addition to the tangential direction of injection of the flow channels 21, as shown in FIG. 6, the direction of injection into a swirl chamber - not only the embodiment of FIG. 6 - can also be carried out at an oblique angle to the direction of the thread 23, around the thread 23 - especially for pulling in the thread - to be loaded with a longitudinal force.

The following description refers to FIGS. 8 to 11.

In Fig. 8 - viewed in the direction of travel of the threads from right to left along the longitudinal direction 216 - each thread first through the first - eye rake 135 and the therein, separate clamping device for each thread, through the transport limiter in the front eye rake, whereby the ends of the threads - unless it is the continuous thread being processed - are located near the left end in the eyes 40 'of the eye rake 136. The thread aligned with the swirl chamber 112 is currently being processed and runs through the swirl chamber 112, the diameter of which is large enough that it can be guided with appropriate accuracy Thread passes through the swirl chamber 112 through subsequent guide elements of the thread without touching the walls thereof. The swirl chamber 112 can be tightly closed and usually consists of a lower part, in which the swirl channel 17 is incorporated, and the nozzle 199. This nozzle plate 198 is supported by a flat, e.g. B. screwed lid 198 'tightly, but releasably for cleaning purposes, etc., closed.

By transverse displacement of the entire slide 191, the eyelet rake 136 is always moved transversely in close contact along the mouth of the swirl chamber 112 until the desired eyelet 40 'of the new thread 23b, as can be seen in the view of FIG. 8, is aligned with the swirl chamber 112 . The old thread 23a, which has not yet been cut off, runs transversely in the region between the nozzle plate 198 and the eye rake 136 up to its corresponding nozzle 40 '.

The nozzle chamber or the nozzle plate 198 extends only in a width corresponding to the width of approximately one eyelet 40 'right up to the eyelet rake 136 in order to enable a safe transition of the newly blown-in thread 23a. There is a sufficient distance between the nozzle plate 198 and the eye rake 136 on both sides of this extension 202 directed against the eye rake 136, so that a vertically movable knife 124, which has a gap only in the area of the extension 102 and otherwise extends over the entire width of the eye rake 136 extends, cuts along the end face of the eyelet rake 136 and thereby separates the old thread when the swirling with the new thread has taken place.

The compressed air supply 218 for the eye rake 136 is only below the eye position aligned with the nozzle chamber.

On the eyelet rake 135 on the right in FIG. 8, the thread in each individual eyelet 40 can be clamped by means of a tension bolt 204 which is pretensioned transversely to the eye from bottom to top by means of a spring 101, provided that this tension bolt 204 is not kept out of function by means of a nose 203.

For this purpose, a locking bar 200, which is fixedly mounted in the transverse direction and cannot be moved transversely with the slide 191, runs in such a position that the lugs 203 snap in under the locking bar 200 in a retracted position. The locking bar 200 has an interruption or cutout in the central position, which is aligned with the swirl chamber 112. At this point there is a hold-down device 201 with a counter-nose 203 'matching the nose 203 of the clamping bolt 204. This hold-down device is pretensioned into the lowest position by means of a spring 219, but can be pushed up pneumatically behind the nose 203 to engage. When the pneumatically operated reciprocating piston 220 is deactivated, the hold-down device 201 permanently pulls down the central, aligned eyelet 40 by means of the force of the spring 219 of the clamping bolt, as a result of which the thread can run freely in this eyelet 40, which is necessary for this thread being processed .

The latching strip 200 can additionally - as shown in the detailed illustration in FIG. 11 - be pivoted out of the area of the lugs 203 by action, whereby the lugs 203 previously engaged disengage and a clamping takes place in the corresponding eyelets 40.

A thread change process thus proceeds as follows:
During the processing of the previous old thread, it runs straight through both eye rakes 135, 136 and the swirl chamber 112 of the nozzle plate 198 without being pinched and as contactlessly as possible. The nose 203 of this old thread 23a on the eyelet rake 135 is held in the unclamped position by the hold-down device 201.

To initiate the thread change, the carriage 191 with the two eye rakes and the transport limiter 217 is moved transversely until the desired new thread 23b is flush with the swirl chamber 112. As a result of this transverse displacement, the nose 203 of the old thread 23a becomes below that in the transverse direction unchanged locking bar 200 moved through, so that the old thread remains unclamped in the terminal block 135.

Then the new thread 23b is first unclamped in the eyelet rake 135 by means of the hold-down device 201.

In order to transport the new thread 23b in the forward direction into the swirl chamber 112, the transport limiter 217 - described later in detail - is rotated further by the desired longitudinal extent and at the same time the new thread 23a is inclined via the nozzle 205 in the corresponding, aligned eyelet 40 'of the eyelet rake 136 blown with compressed air and thereby pushed into the nozzle chamber 112, as far as the transport limiter allows.

As soon as the new thread 23b - by corresponding rotation of the transport limiter - has reached the left, free end of the swirl chamber 112 or even moved somewhat further, the compressed air supply to the nozzle 205 is ended and the compressed air supply to the nozzle 199 in the nozzle plate 198 is applied, which the two threads 23a and 23b are intermingled. Since the transport limiter continues to rotate at the same time, these two threads move in the same direction and together by five to 20 mm through the swirl chamber 112, so that the swirling occurs not only selectively but over a certain swirling distance, which greatly improves the tensile load on this connection. All other threads are no longer transported by the rotating rollers of the transport limiter 217, since their friction is less than the holding force of the clamping device in the right eye rake 135, which functions for all threads except the old thread 23a and the new thread 23b.

As soon as the swirling has taken place, the knife 124 is moved upwards, pressed against the end face of the eye rake 136 by a spring 206, and thereby cuts off the old thread 23a, which now extends eccentrically into the eye rake, but not the new one Thread 23b, because in this position aligned with the swirl chamber 112, the knife 124 has a gap.

At the same time - see FIG. 11 - the clamping strip 200 is pivoted to the right, so that the nose 203 of the old thread 23a located underneath it disengages again and the old thread 23a, like all other threads which are not in use, is clamped in the rake 135.

The new thread 23b can now be pulled in by pulling on the old thread 23a in the entire thread path including through the eyelet of the needle in a simple manner and the processing of the new thread 23b can then be started.

The transport limiter 217 functions as follows: The threads 23 run between the upper roller 209 and the lower roller 210. The lower roller 210 can be brought into abutment against the upper roller 209 radially from the bottom up. When no load is applied, the lower roller 209 is at a distance from the upper roller, the threads 23 then running through between the two rollers without touching one of the two rollers. The vertical movement of the lower roller 210 is made possible by mounting the roller with its axle journals 213 in vertically arranged elongated holes 214 on both sides. The circumference of the lower roller 210 is not uniformly circular, but has a sector 215 over approximately a quarter of the circumference with a reduced diameter.

The two rollers 209 and 210 are driven by drive rollers 211 which act on the lower roller 210. These lower drive rollers 211 are fastened so that they lie in a sufficiently firm contact with the lower roller 210 if it is the segment with the larger diameter of this roller. In the rotational positions in which the drive rollers 211 bear against the drive rollers 211 in the segment 215 with the reduced diameter, the lower rollers 210 thereby sag so far in the elongated holes 214, that it disengages from the upper roller and thus the threads 23.

In order to be able to further compensate for the different thicknesses of the threads 23, the lower roller 210 is not formed in one piece, but rather is formed with hollow cylinders 212, 212 ', 212' 'which are divided in the longitudinal extension and which have radial play in relation to the continuous core of the lower roller 210 Have 1/10 mm on the radius, to adapt to different thread thicknesses.

Claims (20)

Method for connecting a used old thread (23a) to a new thread (23b) to be used in a thread processing machine by means of swirling by compressed air in a swirl chamber (112),
characterized in that the two threads (23a, 23b) are held behind the swirl chamber (112), - The old thread (23a) in the swirl chamber (112) is quasi-loose by pulling out a loose loop (24) in front of or in the region of the swirl chamber (112) and - The new thread (23b) in the area of the swirl chamber (112) is quasi-loose due to free ends of the thread (23b) in front of the swirl chamber (112). Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the new thread (23b) is simultaneously sucked in and the swirling of the two threads (23a, 23b) takes place by means of the compressed air supply to the swirl chamber (112). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the channel-like swirl chamber (112) is moved relative to the threads (23a, 23b) during the swirling in the direction of passage (25).
E1 Method for connecting a used old thread (23a) with a new thread (23b) to be used according to one of the preceding claims
in a thread processing machine by means of swirling by compressed air in a swirl chamber (112), which can be brought into alignment with the individual eyelets (40 ') of an eyelet rake (136) by relative displacement in the transverse direction, in each of which the ends of one of the available standing threads (23) lie, with the following method steps, starting from a free, aligned passage of the old, used thread (23a) through the corresponding eyelet (40) of the eyelet rake (136) and the swirl chamber (112) of the swirl chamber (198), while all other threads are clamped between the eye rake (136) and the spools of thread (9): - Transverse displacement of the eyelet rake (136) until the new thread (23b) is aligned with the swirl channel (17) of the nozzle plate (198) and the corresponding eyelet (40 ') of the eyelet rake (136) directly on the swirl chamber (17) of the nozzle plate (198 ) is applied, the old thread (23a) remaining unclamped, - opening the clamp of the old thread (23b), - loading the eyelet (40 ') of the new thread (23b) with compressed air blown in obliquely in the forward direction, - simultaneous limitation of the forward transport of at least the new thread (23b) to a length approximately corresponding to the length of the swirl chamber (112) by a transport limiter, - Ending the pressurized air to the eyelet (40 ') of the thread (23b) and pressurized air to the swirl chamber (112) of the nozzle plate (198) by means of a steeply inclined nozzle (199) arranged approximately centrally in the swirl chamber (17), - simultaneous limitation of the forward transport of the threads (23a and 23b) to a defined interlacing length by means of a transport limitation, while all other threads remain clamped, - Cut off the old thread (23a) and clamp the old thread (23a) between the eyelet rake (136) and the thread spools (9). Thread processing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 4 with - an armrest support (8), - a thread tensioner (15) for a thread drawn off from a thread reel (9) in the thread passage direction, - a thread layer (16), - An oscillating drivable needle (7) and - A thread changing device (100) with - A thread connecting device (111), the - Has a duct-like vortex chamber (112) that can be pressurized with air, with - a thread feed (150) to the swirl chamber (112), - With at least one eyelet rake (135, 136) arranged transversely to the direction of passage (25) with a number of eyelets (40, 40 ') and corresponding to the number of thread spools (9) - a cutting device (122) after the second eyelet rake (136), characterized in that
the thread changing device (100) is driven exclusively mechanically. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that - The swirl chamber (112) in the direction of passage (25) has a plurality of nozzles (199) and - The nozzles (199) can be acted upon individually with compressed air. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that - At least the last of the nozzles (199) can also be acted upon with negative pressure and - The end of the channel of the swirl chamber (112) can be closed with a nozzle (197) which can be subjected to negative pressure. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the swirl chamber (112) can be moved in the direction of passage (25) until it rests on the eye rakes (136). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that - The thread feeder (150) comprises a mechanical gripper (140) above or in front of the eyelet rake (136), the fingers of which can be pressed against one another are designed as articulated lever arms (196) and - The eyelets (40) of the second eyelet rake (136) in the direction of passage (25) have, at least on the outlet side (139), tubular protruding projections (141) which are shaped on the outer circumference at the top or front so that they fit into the conical gap (193) fit between the free front ends of the closed gripper (140) and can push its lever arms (196) apart. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the cutting device (122) arranged between the eye rake (136) and the swirl chamber (112) - Is fixedly arranged in the transverse direction relative to the swirl chamber (112), - Is arranged at a distance from the eye rake (136) and - When actuated across the entire width of the eye rake (136) cuts off with the exception of the positions lying in alignment with the swirl chamber (112). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that - The eyelet rake (136) and the thread feeders (150) with the first eyelet rake (135) are arranged on a common, longitudinally and transversely movable carriage (191) and - The spools of thread (9) are mounted on the carriage (191) and can be moved transversely with it. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the eyelet rake (136) consists of a plurality of eyelet plates (41) lined up next to one another in the transverse direction, which have eyelets (40 ') at their upper end in the longitudinal direction and at their lower end can be pivoted so far about longitudinal pins (42) that between those in the idle state the gripper arms (196) of the gripper (140) can penetrate closely to one another from above, while pivoting the platelets (41) adjacent to the platelet (41) to be gripped. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
The swirl chamber (112) has a longitudinally lying, cylindrical cavity (22), into which tangential flow channels (21) extend and in the cylindrical cavity (22) a rotor (18) essentially filling it is rotatably inserted, which has turbine-blade-shaped on its outer circumference Has recesses (20) with baffles (19) directed against the flow channels (21), and the swirl channel (17) arranged in the interior of the rotor (18) receive the threads (23a, 23b). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the swirl channel (17) is arranged eccentrically in the rotor (18) and the rotor (18) extends only over parts of the length of the swirl chamber (112).
E2 Machine according to one of the preceding claims, with a thread changing device (100) and with - spools of thread (9) on a spool holder (8), - A carriage (191) which can be moved transversely to the nozzle plate (198), which - has at least one eyelet rake (136) and a clamping device for the individual threads,
characterized in that - Each eyelet (40 ') of the eyelet rake (136) is directed at a flat, oblique angle from below against the thread direction Nozzle (205) which can be pressurized with compressed air at least when this eyelet (40 ') is in alignment with the nozzle plate (198), the eyelets (40 ') of the eyelet rake (136) in the direction of passage before the mouth of their nozzles (205) have a smaller cross section than in the direction of passage after this mouth, and no additional constrictions are arranged in the latter part, - The cross section of the swirl channel (17) of the nozzle plate (198) is larger than the cross section of the eyelets (40 ') in the eyelet rake (136) in the direction of passage before the mouth of the nozzles (205) and - The nozzle plate (198) and the eyelet rake (136) can only be moved transversely to the thread direction relative and in close contact with each other. Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at the thread changing device - The nozzle plate (198) only in the region of the mouth of its vertebral channel (17) directed against the eye rake (136) with an extension (202) which has a maximum width of the mutual distance between two eyes of the eye rake (136), up to the eye rake (136) and - Between the nozzle plate (198) and the eyelet rake (136), a vertical knife (124), arranged across the entire width of the eyelet rake (136), bears against the face of the eyelet rake (36) facing the nozzle plate (198), - The knife (124) is not displaceable in the transverse direction relative to the nozzle plate (198), and has a gap in the area of the extension (202) thereof - The knife (124) is vertically displaceable relative to the nozzle plate (198) and is pressed by means of resilient elements (206) against the end face of the eye rake (136). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at the thread changing device - Between the eyelet rake (136) and the eyelet rake (135) a transport limitation consisting of an upper roller (209), a lower roller (210) and a drive roller (211), each with alignment of the rollers transversely to the longitudinal direction of the thread in the plane of the adjacent Threads, the lower roller (210) being able to press the threads against the upper roller (209), - The lower roller (210) in the axial direction consists of several segments (212, 212 ', 212''), and is guided with its axle journal (213) in vertically aligned elongated holes, so that the lower roller (210 ) due to gravity in the lower end of the elongated holes (214) and thus at a distance from the upper roller (209), - The lower roller (210) over its circumference has a sector (215) of reduced circumference, the radius reduction of which corresponds at least to the difference between the diameter of the journal (213) and the vertical length of the elongated hole (214). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at the thread changing device
the first eyelet rake (135) in the direction of thread travel has a clamping device which acts separately for the individual threads, in which a clamping bolt (204) is directed transversely to the thread direction by means of spring force against the respective eyelet (40) of the eyelet rake (135) and thereby the thread in the Eyelet (40) clamped. Thread changing device according to claim 18,
characterized in that
the clamping bolts (204) have a laterally projecting nose (203), and in the position aligned with the nozzle plate (198) there is a hold-down device (201) equipped with a counter-nose (203 '), which is spring-loaded in the non-clamping direction of the Clamping bolt (204) is pretensioned and can be moved in the opposite direction by means of an actuating device until it engages behind the nose (203). Machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
at the thread changing device - A retaining strip (200) is arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the thread in the plane of the adjacent threads so that the lugs (203) of the clamping bolts (204) can snap behind them - The retaining bar (200) for disengaging all the held lugs (203) is laterally pivotable.

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