EP0985620B1 - Yarn feeding apparatus for textile machines - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a thread delivery device, the especially for the positive delivery of threads to textile machines can be used.

The individual thread consumption points of a textile machine threads to be delivered may depend on the used material, the twist, the thread thickness and other characteristics very different properties have, which also appear on the thread delivery device to step. For example. can be cotton threads, synthetic Threads, differently processed or equipped Threads, e.g. smooth threads, twisted yarns, crimped Behave threads etc. differently. Thread delivery devices are said to usually deliver several or all of the threads mentioned can without causing any difficulties. Problems can arise here with threads that dust, that have filaments protruding from the thread which are relative carry a lot of sizing with you or in any other way Traces or deposits on parts of the thread delivery device leave or cause. River deposits that are especially on the thread delivery wheel of a thread delivery device can lead to impairments of the thread run and the thread delivery and in extreme cases to tear the Thread.

From DE 3501944 C2 a yarn delivery device is included a rotating and driven thread delivery wheel known that by a provided with several cone areas Thread storage drum is formed. A first one The cone area with a cone angle of 150 ° forms the Yarn inlet area. This is followed by another Thread entry area with a taper angle of 14 ° on which is a practically cylindrical thread storage area adjoined.

The diameter of the on the thread entry area lying thread turns decreases in the axial direction of the relatively long thread inlet area. The incoming thread pushes the in the entry areas already lying turns in the axial direction, so that these migrate towards the storage area, whereby the thread tension in the individual turns can change. The thread properties influence this process.

In addition, DE 3326099 C2 is a thread delivery device known that also a rotatably mounted, has a rotationally driven thread delivery wheel. The thread delivery wheel has one by two adjoining Cones define a thread inlet area and one itself adjoining it, in one embodiment cylindrical Thread storage area. The thread delivery wheel can be constructed in one or more parts. From the same Publication is also known, the thread inlet area and / or the thread storage area with recesses to provide only an interrupted edition of the To bring about thread in these areas. The storage drum in each embodiment points to its lower, a disc-shaped end remote from the thread inlet area Flange that extends in the radial direction.

It is also from the Taiwanese patent application with publication number 165470 Thread delivery device with a thread delivery wheel known a tapered entrance area, one such as a cylindrical thread storage area and a thread outlet area has, which by a kind of Pulley-formed section is formed. in the Transition from the storage area to the pulley-like trained section there is a conical Transition area. In the thread storage area is one groove-shaped groove formed around the circumference, which separate the thread storage area from each other separate investment areas divided.

The thread delivery wheel has a relatively complicated Shape up.

From the Taiwanese utility model with the publication number 314077 is a thread delivery device with known a rotationally symmetrical thread delivery wheel that is integrally formed and a thread inlet area and a thread storage area and a thread outlet area having. The thread entry area follows with convex Curvature an annular section of a torus, while the thread storage area is approximately cylindrical is. Following the thread storage area takes the diameter of the thread feed wheel gradually increases, so that a conical area with a cone angle of results in a few degrees.

The incoming thread presses the on the cylindrical Thread storage area included thread turns Operation of the thread delivery device in the axial direction of the Infeed area away, the stiction of the whole Winding must be overcome.

A thread delivery device is from the utility model DE 29616525 U1 with a multi-part thread delivery wheel known in which the thread inlet area, the thread storage area and the thread outlet area in itself Ribs extending axially are formed, the Outer profile defines the contour of the thread delivery wheel. The Ribs are held at the end of end plates.

The winding feed on the thread delivery wheel that passes through The incoming thread is caused on the narrow one Ribs in the thread entry area limited.

All the thread delivery devices presented have one thing in common, that the existing winding in the thread storage area from the incoming thread is moved in the axial direction. there the incoming thread runs over the thread inlet area, whereby on the surfaces of the lead-in area, the storage area and sometimes the outlet area also has friction occurs. It therefore occurs on the entire thread delivery wheel Friction between the thread feed wheel and the thread on that affects the movement of the reel and also wear can lead to the thread delivery wheel. this applies especially with abrasive threads or threads that are abrasive Carry material with you, as is sometimes the case with cotton the case is. Wears the surface of the thread delivery wheel, this can worsen the thread flow to lead.

Regardless of wear, different behaviors Threads and wraps different. differences exist in particular between smooth threads and threads with Filaments where single turns on filaments are adjacent turns and can clamp them. However, the usability of thread delivery devices is said to be out understandable reason not limited to certain threads his.

Based on this, it is an object of the invention to provide a thread delivery device to create its operating characteristics largely independent of the nature of the thread are.

This task is done with a thread delivery device after Claim 1 solved.

The thread delivery wheel of the thread delivery device can be wear-resistant Have surface that on a less hard carrier, for example. A metal body is applied or it can consist entirely of the substances mentioned. there the thread delivery wheel is preferably formed in one piece, which enables inexpensive production. The Thread delivery wheel is preferably in its thread inlet area, in its storage area and in its thread outlet area formed without through openings, so that it surrounds a closed interior. The storage area is preferably a substantially closed sheet trained in the need, even smaller, of the thread support areas spaced openings provided could be. Lint or other deposits can build up then do not get stuck in openings covered by the thread and disrupt the thread flow. The abrasion resistance prevents the formation of grooves or steps or others Wear marks that in the long run the proper Operation, especially the smooth feed of the Could interfere with the winding.

The thread delivery wheel with ceramic surface has it also proved to be advantageous, the thread inlet area and the thread outlet area as a closed surface preferably with a circular cross section at each point train. In contrast, the thread storage area can have a cross-sectional shape deviating from the circular shape. For example. the cross-section can be polygonally limited be, with something rounded between the individual Corner points of the polygon straight or protruding edges can be provided. The protruding edges can concave or sectionally concave and convex his.

Such a design prevents the deposits continuous river rings or larger river plug in Recesses, with the support of the thread wrap on individual edge areas of the thread section concentrated remains. This facilitates the axial displacement of the winding, so that this also with different threads or Yarns can be moved in a controlled manner. Even if the Support areas are somewhat worked off, are the conditions not fundamentally changed and the thread delivery device works reliably. This applies in particular to thread delivery wheels, whose surface is not made of a fabric Claim 1 exists. The geometry mentioned is for different Suitable threads (yarns). By the edition of the Winding in the storage area only in strip-shaped Support areas will in particular be the delivery of threads relieved with many filaments. Through the winding feed Filaments getting under the wrap can only be in the support areas are clamped. The expiring Thread easily separates from the winding. Even if clamped filaments remain under the wrap and thus pulled out of the thread, none arise contiguous river rings on the thread delivery wheel.

Through the interaction of a closed design of the thread delivery wheel with strip-shaped contact surfaces in the Storage area and closed smooth surfaces in the Inlet area and in the outlet area, the sales and Blending smoothly into one another becomes a good, low-friction Feed reached, river deposits and the Formation of river rings and wind generation by the Thread delivery wheel are avoided.

The ceramic or another of the above Hard materials existing or coated with this thread delivery wheel can be made in one piece, which enables the entire area covered by the thread train seamlessly. This allows the thread to move freely run and there is hardly any risk that he might be at a Groove remains hanging.

The thread advantageously touches the surface of the thread delivery wheel in the thread inlet area continuously and is guided so that the thread outlet area from the Thread is stripped. This is done by ordering the Thread outlet eyelet or a corresponding guide element reached, its arrangement at a radial distance Axis of rotation of the thread delivery wheel and below one of the bottom edge set the thread also in the transition from the storage area to the run-out area until the thread delivery wheel rests until it is itself finally separates from the wrap.

The hub of the thread delivery wheel can be made in one piece with this be trained. The thread delivery wheel is then on only one-piece component. This simplifies the Manufacturing and manufacturing. The hub is preferred formed by an end wall of the thread delivery wheel.

The thread delivery wheel consists of a possibly coated Metal, for example aluminum, is considered to be advantageous viewed, the thread delivery wheel in a deep-drawing process or by means of massive forming. The thread entry area, the thread outlet area and preferably also the front wall or hub of the thread delivery wheel in one or more consecutive forming steps formed from a blank. If necessary, the the shaft carrying the thread delivery wheel in one piece with the Thread delivery wheel be formed.

Fig. 1

Ein Fadenliefergerät mit einem aus Keramik bestehenden Fadenlieferrad, in einer schematischen Seitenansicht;

Fig. 2

das Fadenlieferrad des Fadenliefergeräts nach Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung in einem anderen Maßstab;

Fig. 3 und 4

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 2, in unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Darstellungen;

Fig. 5

das Fadenlieferrad nach den Fig. 2 bis 4, in einer ausschnittsweisen Darstellung in einem anderen Maßstab;

Fig. 6

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 2, geschnitten entlang einer die Drehachse enthaltenden Ebene;

Fig. 7

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 2, teilweise geschnitten entlang einer Ebene, auf der die Drehachse des Fadenlieferrads senkrecht steht;

Fig. 8

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 7, in einem anderen Maßstab;

Fig. 9 und 10

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 7, geschnitten entlang den Linien X-X bzw. IX-IX und in einem anderen Maßstab;

Fig. 11

das Fadenlieferrad in einer Ausführungsform aus Metall mit einer keramischen Beschichtung, in perspektivischer Darstellung;

Fig. 12

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 11, in einer anderen Perspektivdarstellung;

Fig. 13

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 11, in einer Längsschnittdarstellung;

Fig.14

das Fadenlieferrad nach Fig. 11 bis 13, geschnitten entlang der Linie XIV-XIV in Fig. 13, und

Fig. 15 bis 17

Schnittdarstellungen des Fadenlieferrads nach Fig. 13 oder 14, geschnitten entlang der Schnittlinien XV-XV, XVI-XVI bzw. XVII-XVII.

Advantageous details of embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims or can be seen from the drawing or the description. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing.
Show it:

Fig. 1

A thread delivery device with a ceramic thread delivery wheel, in a schematic side view;

Fig. 2

the yarn delivery wheel of the yarn delivery device of Figure 1 in a perspective view on a different scale.

3 and 4

the thread delivery wheel of Figure 2, in different perspective views.

Fig. 5

the thread delivery wheel according to Figures 2 to 4, in a fragmentary representation on a different scale.

Fig. 6

the yarn feed wheel of Figure 2, cut along a plane containing the axis of rotation.

Fig. 7

the yarn delivery wheel of Figure 2, partially cut along a plane on which the axis of rotation of the yarn delivery wheel is perpendicular.

Fig. 8

the thread delivery wheel of Figure 7, on a different scale.

9 and 10

the thread delivery wheel of Figure 7, cut along the lines XX and IX-IX and on a different scale.

Fig. 11

the thread delivery wheel in an embodiment made of metal with a ceramic coating, in a perspective view;

Fig. 12

the yarn feed wheel of Figure 11, in another perspective view.

Fig. 13

the yarn feed wheel of Figure 11, in a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 14

11 to 13, cut along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 13, and

15 to 17

13 or 14, sectioned along the section lines XV-XV, XVI-XVI and XVII-XVII.

description

In Fig. 1, a thread delivery device 1 is illustrated, that for delivering a thread 2 to a not shown Textile machine is used. The thread delivery device 1 is on a corresponding retaining ring 3 of the textile machine stored. As a rule, there are several similar thread delivery devices 1 held to the retaining ring 3 and together driven.

The thread delivery device 1 has a housing 4 which is formed at one end 5 as a holder with which it Retaining ring 3 at least partially encompasses it this is held by means of a clamping screw 6.

At the end of the holder 5 that is Housing 4 on the thread inlet side with a thread inlet eyelet 7 provided that the thread leads to a thread brake 8. This has, for example, two magnetically held together Brake rings 9, which are rotatable and with play in one Bracket 10 are captured. One follows the thread brake thread guide eyelet 11 likewise held on the housing 4, the thread between the thread brake 8 and the thread guide eyelet is sensed by a thread sensor 12. This is formed by a swivel lever, which is by the thread 2 is held in its upper position. Breaks the Thread, the lever 12 falls down and one of it actuated switch emits a corresponding signal.

There are also thread guide eyelets 14, 15 on the housing 4 provided the thread path at the exit of the thread delivery device Set 1. Between the thread guide eyelet 11 and the Thread eyelet 14, a thread delivery wheel 17 is arranged on the one end of a shaft rotatably supported in the housing 4 4a is held. This is concentric to an axis of rotation D arranged. At the distance from the thread delivery wheel 17 At the end of the shaft 4a, a pulley 18 is held connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the thread delivery wheel 17 is. The pulley 18 is, for example, a toothed belt pulley or similar.

The yarn feed wheel 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10. The thread delivery wheel 17, as shown in FIG. 2, a one-piece, rotationally symmetrical body with profiled Outside. The thread feed wheel 17 has one End one at first radially outwards and then in Axial direction extending edge 21 on its Outside is limited by a cylindrical surface 22 (see Figs. 2, 6, 9 and 10). The cylindrical edge goes with a radius over a curved surface area 23 in a thread inlet area 24, which is marked by a conical Surface section is formed. This section of the surface is at an angle of 10 ° to 20 ° (preferably 15 °) inclined to a plane on which the axis of rotation D of the Thread delivery wheel is vertical. The generatrix of the surface section is preferably a straight line.

The yarn feed wheel 17 is concentric with the axis of rotation D aligned. The thread entry area 24 is formed by a closed ring surface. alternative individual recesses can be provided in the conical surface be, with the remaining, the incoming thread bearing areas, however, are wider than support areas 25 of the yarn feed wheel 17, which is a storage section 26 assigned.

This immediately adjoins the thread entry area 24 on. As is particularly evident from FIGS. 7 and 8 emerges from a cylindrical basic shape defined starting from the afford, rib or web-like projections 27 at a distance and parallel to each other raise, rounded at their apex are. The radius of curvature at the apex is 1 to 2, preferably 1.5 mm, the rounding the bearing surface 25 defines or forms. Following the arched Support surface 25, which is approximately a strip-shaped cutout from a cylindrical surface 8, plane surface areas 28, 29 at an angle of approximately 130 ° to 140 °, preferably 135 ° away from each other to interface areas 31, which are concentric to the axis of rotation D. Cylinder lie, which is the cylindrical basic shape Are defined. The interface areas 31 come here one lying on the support surfaces 25 and the thread delivery wheel 17 looping thread relatively close, without to touch it completely. A looping around the thread delivery wheel 17 Faden therefore clears that with its filaments Gap between the bearing surfaces 25 without the To touch interfaces 31. This is particularly clear Fig. 7 in conjunction with Fig. 9 and 10. Will that Thread delivery wheel 17 according to FIG. 7 along the line IX-IX cut, it can be seen from Fig. 9 that the bearing surface 25 only a very small survey regarding the Interface 31 represents. The radial distance between the thread and the interface area is preferred here less than 2/10 to 3/10 mm. The interface 31 can also be flat and parallel to the thread be arranged, which is a chord of the support area 25 extends to support area 25. The distance to the thread is constant, what for keeping the recess clean between the support areas 25 may be appropriate.

The transition between the bearing surface 25 and the Thread inlet area 24 is shown in FIG. 10 Transition area 33 is formed, in which the Contact surface 25, as can be seen in FIG. 2 or 5, becomes narrower in the thread inlet area 24 and runs out there pointed. The transition region 33 points a radius of 1 to 2 mm, preferably 1.5 mm on and is between the thread inlet area 24 and the storage area 26 arranged.

Following the thread storage area 26, the Thread delivery wheel 17 has a thread outlet area 36 which is formed by a continuous surface. The area of the thread outlet area 36 can be conical, the Is a straight line. In the present exemplary embodiment is the thread exit area 36, as in particular 9 and 10 can be seen, but in addition something domed, i.e. the diameter of the outlet area increases Axial direction disproportionately too. The generator is a Arc, for example an arc. The thread outlet area is thus concave and arched with respect to the axial direction, while the storage area in the axial direction essentially is straight.

The support areas 25 go with one from FIG. 8 apparent tapered transition area 37 in the outlet area 36 over. In the transition area 37, the between the support surface 25 and the outlet area 36 is arranged, starts from the support surface 25 a curvature, the transition region being a radius may have, which is smaller than the rest of the radius Outlet area 36.

The intermediate surfaces of the thread delivery wheel 17 also close 31 and the inclined surfaces 28, 29 (FIG. 5) each with rounded grooves 38 on adjacent surfaces. In order to will the formation of accessible corners in which Deposits could be avoided.

The thread feed wheel 17 is designed as a hollow body. At its provided on the thread outlet area 36 It is closed by a wall 41 on the front side the remaining thread delivery wheel is formed in one piece. The Wall 41 is in its central region 42 from the end plane the yarn feed wheel 17 offset. The middle one Area 42 closes with a conical area 43 to the front edge of the thread delivery wheel 17. In the central area 42 is one to the axis of rotation D, the Thread inlet area 24, the thread storage area 26 and the thread outlet area 36 concentric opening 45 is arranged. This is used to attach the thread delivery wheel 17 on the shaft 4a, which has its end in the opening 45 sitting. In those formed by the central section 42 Recess can be a fastener, such as a Mother or the like. Are arranged, then not over the end face of the thread delivery wheel 17 protrudes. The wall 41 can also on the top of the thread feed wheel 17 or otherwise, for example in a central area his.

The thread delivery device 1 described so far works as follows:

In operation, the thread delivery wheel 17 carries, as in figure 1 illustrates several turns of thread 2. The Thread 2 thus extends from a thread source, for example. a creel carrying the thread spool in question the thread delivery device 1 to the textile machine with Thread should be supplied. One does not turn in operation further illustrated toothed belt the toothed belt pulley 18 at a given speed. The thread delivery wheel 17 wobbles thereby continuously thread 2, which thus of the Thread spool is pulled off and by the thread brake 8 with specified tension reaches the thread delivery wheel. The Thread slips over the thread inlet area 24 here.

The thread runs on its way to the thread delivery wheel via the thread sensor 12 and the downstream thread eyelet 11, the individual threads or filaments of thread 2 spread on the way via the thread sensor 12 and / or the thread guide 11 something on. The thread spreads across its direction in a plane on which the Axis of rotation D of the thread delivery device 1 approximately perpendicular stands. The somewhat spread out or laid out side by side Filaments of the thread jump after crossing the Thread guide 11 not immediately back, but the Thread 2 maintains its flattened shape on the short path to the thread entry area 24. The cone angle of the thread entry area 24 is dimensioned so steep that the thread inlet surface roughly parallel to the incoming thread stands or forms a very acute angle with it. The area of the thread inlet area leaves the Thread in its slightly fanned out state so that it lying flat over the thread inlet area and reaches the thread storage area 26 practically upright. In the transition it becomes 90 ° through the transition regions 33 redirected, with this type of introduction to the Wrap also creates space for yourself, or with others Words, the wrap shifts axially, if this is proportionate great force is required. Thus the thread wound by the rotating thread delivery wheel 17 2 transferred into the roll lying on the support surfaces 25, where the individual turns each a polygon follow and the winding with each turn of the thread delivery wheel 17 executes an axial traveling movement around a path, which corresponds to the thickness of the thread.

The thread 2 runs with more or less great tension to the textile machine that runs the thread continuously decreases. The thread is released from the winding and runs obliquely over the thread outlet area 36 to those below the yarn feed wheel 17, but at a radial distance to its axis of rotation D arranged eyelets 14, 15. The Thread is there, even if he is under the tension of the over the lower eyelets 14, 15 going outgoing Thread still in the thread storage area 26 from the winding is solved over the contact surfaces 25. Without the Lift up bearing surfaces 25, the thread on the Transition areas 37 transferred into the outlet area 36, which he sweeps over.

As an alternative to the embodiment described above can the wall of the yarn feed wheel 17 between the Support areas 25 may be straight, so that the Thread loose, i.e. without wall pressure on these wall areas is applied. In this embodiment, the advantages of only strip-shaped thread support in the support areas 25 with the advantages of uninterrupted Combined thread rest, which makes it easy to keep clean the thread delivery wheel 17 and the elimination of Lead deposits.

The thread delivery wheel 17 described above is in one piece from ceramic or a comparable hard material educated. This results in very good wear resistance.

The thread delivery wheel can, as in FIGS. 11 to 17 illustrated, also from a sheet metal part or metal part be formed, preferably on the outside with a hard material coating, e.g. ceramic, sapphire, a nitride (e.g. titanium nitride), a carbide, one metallic hard material layer or boride is coated. If necessary, it can also be used with a diamond or other coating containing hard crystals, e.g. B. a nickel coating containing fine diamond powder, be provided. A quartz or is also possible Enamel coating. Unlike layers that are based on a base material, such as aluminum, and grow with chemical conversion of the basic material into this grow in part, as is the case with electrolytic formation of aluminum oxide layers (anodizing) is the case these are layers that are on the base body are upset. An exception is the sapphire layer, which besides oxygen and silicon also some aluminum of the May contain basic material. Here, basic body contours if necessary, round something that Thread run can be useful. In addition, the choice of Coating possible from the point of view of thread transport concern without relying on certain surface treatment techniques to be committed.

The geometry differs essentially by the wall thickness. Made entirely of ceramic or a comparable hard material trained thread delivery wheel 17 has a relatively large wall thickness, whereas the thread delivery wheel 17 formed by a sheet metal part 11 to 17 with a smaller wall thickness gets along. The thread delivery wheel 17 shown in FIG. 11 is hollow and with on its lower face closed a wall 41, the central portion 42 a Forms hub for fastening on a shaft. Instead of a conical region apparent from FIG cylindrical region 43 may be provided around the central region 42 to move axially against the end wall 41. The thread delivery wheel is correct with regard to the outer contour 11 to 17 with the above-described, however, so far that its description under Use of the same reference numbers applies accordingly.

The main difference is in the production. While a ceramic thread delivery wheel is initially preformed and then burned, the yarn feed wheel 17 can after Figures 11 to 17 from a metal blank by forming getting produced. After that it is with if necessary to provide a coating.

A thread delivery device 1 has a thread delivery wheel, which is preferably made of ceramic or a hard material exists or with ceramic, sapphire, quartz, enamel nitride, Carbide or a diamond-coated coating is. The thread delivery wheel shows thanks to its choice of materials / or its design improved continuous operating properties on. The geometry and / or the material is less prone to wear. This is due to ceramic surfaces and / or the combination of a conical continuous Thread inlet surface 24 with adjoining strip-shaped contact surfaces 25 in the thread storage area 26 and a continuous, i.e. uninterrupted area reached in the thread outlet area, the surfaces so are shaped so that the thread is on its way from the lead-in area up to the run-out area Surfaces 24, 25, 36 swept over the entire axial path. The strip-shaped support or support of the Thread 2 in the thread storage area is replaced by appropriate Shape of the thread delivery wheel 17 in the thread storage area reached. Openings or slots or the like are in the Thread delivery wheel not required, but can be provided become.

Claims (16)

1. A thread feeding apparatus (1), in particular for the positive feeding of threads (2),
      having a thread feeding wheel (17) which is rotatably mounted on a support (4) about an axis of rotation (D) and to which rotating motion can be imparted via a drive means (18) and which has a thread-inlet zone (24), a storage zone (26) and an outlet zone (36),

   wherein the thread-inlet zone (24) is of circular cross-section which is concentric to the axis of rotation (D) and which is of a diameter which decreases along the axis of rotation (D) towards the storage zone (26),

   wherein the outlet zone (36) is of circular cross-section concentric to the axis of rotation (D), and

   wherein the storage zone (26) has support zones (25) for the thread (2), which are spaced apart and each of which is of a cross-section which deviates at least in stages from a circle concentric to the axis of rotation (D), and

   wherein the thread feeding wheel (17) is formed in one piece, and

      characterised in that
      the thread-inlet zone (24), the storage zone (26) and the outlet zone (36) merge steplessly into one another.
2. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the outlet zone (36) is of a diameter which increases away from the storage zone (26) along the axis of rotation (D).
3. A thread feeding apparatus device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread-inlet zone (24) of the thread feeding wheel (17) is in the form of a closed surface.
4. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread-inlet zone (24) of the thread feeding wheel (17) forms with the axis of rotation (D) an angle which is greater than 60° and is preferably 75°.
5. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread-outlet zone (36) of the thread feeding wheel (17) is in the form of a closed surface.
6. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the thread-outlet zone (36) of the the thread feeding wheel (17) is in the form of a closed conical surface of circular cone contour or is in the form of an arcuate surface lying on a torus, the radius of curvature of which is preferably smaller than the radius of the thread feeding wheel (17).
7. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the storage zone (26) disposed between the thread-inlet zone (24) and the thread-outlet zone (36) has the form of a substantially closed surface structure.
8. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that at any point the storage zone (26) is of polygonal cross-section concentric to the axis of rotation (D), wherein the polygon defined by the cross-section of the storage zone (26) has edges which are straight or are not straight.
9. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cross-section of the storage zone (26) is delimited radially outwards by preferably round support zones (25), between which the outer surface of the storage zone (26) extends radially inwards, wherein surface zones (31), which are convexly or concavely curved or are of planar form, are formed between adjacent support zones (25).
10. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread feeding wheel (17) consists entirely of ceramic, sapphire, quartz, diamond-containing material, nitride or carbide, or is coated with such a material.
11. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread feeding wheel (17) has a body formed from metal, preferably aluminium.
12. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 11, characterised in that the coating provided on the metal body contains oxygen and another component different from the base material.
13. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 11, characterised in that the thread feeding wheel is formed in one piece with a shaft mounted on the thread feeding apparatus.
14. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that on one side the thread feeding wheel (17) has an end wall (41) which is provided with a central bore (45) with which the thread feeding wheel (17) is received preferably directly by a shaft.
15. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread feeding wheel (17) is a sheet material shaped part.
16. A thread feeding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the thread feeding wheel (17) is produced in a deep-drawing process.

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