Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H69/00—Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices ;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device
  • B65H69/06—Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices ;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device by splicing
  • B65H69/061—Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices ;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device by splicing using pneumatic means
  • B65H69/063—Preparation of the yarn ends
  • B65H69/065—Preparation of the yarn ends using mechanical means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
  • B65H2701/31—Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a device, and the relative method, for joining textile yarns, formed by a set of fibers twisted together.
• the various devices for clamping the ends, cutting the tails, stretching, the de-twisting and re-twisting of the parts of the yarn to be joined, and also the elements of the pneumatic joining chamber are individually driven by their own, distinct actuation means, able to be commanded independently and individually regulated, by an electronic unit, according to pre-set and pre- settable parameters and values.
• the electronic unit is suitable to send command signals to each of the actuation means so as to perform the sequence of various operations to join the yarns.
• BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When joining textile yarns, it is possible to distinguish strictly technological steps, wherein operations are performed directly on the fibers that make up the yarn, and auxiliary steps that serve mainly to correctly position the yarns so that the various operations are correct.
• a first type of joining device consists of pneumatic devices which uses the action of a fluid, normally air, on the fibers which make up the ends of the yarns to be joined.
• the tails are inserted in a proper joining chamber, wherein a second jet of air penetrates the fibers giving mechanical resistance and, thanks to the geometric conformation of the chamber, closes the fibers together so as to give the join a good aesthetic appearance.
• a second jet of air penetrates the fibers giving mechanical resistance and, thanks to the geometric conformation of the chamber, closes the fibers together so as to give the join a good aesthetic appearance.
• Another type of devices are the mixed pneumatic- mechanical devices, such as for example as described in DE-A1-3131986 and in EP-A-0 227 370, wherein first of all the mechanical action is used to de-twist the yarns and obtain segments of yarn with parallel fibers, then the fibers are penetrated by means of a jet of fluid, and finally a mechanical action is again performed in order to re-twist the fibers and regenerate the structure of the yarn.
• Such devices have not had a wide diffusion, despite the excellent results from both the point of view of aesthetics and of mechanical resistance, due to the great mechanical complexity in the industrial production.
• this known device requires an at least partial replacement of the components and/or their mechanical re-adaptation every time the type and/or number of yarns is changed, which makes the device uneconomical .
• the purpose of the invention is therefore to achieve a device and a method for joining textile yarns which allow to obtain the desired technological results for a wide range of yarns, both in type and count, without increasing the complexity of the device and obviating the limits of known devices as mentioned above.
• a joining device for textile yarns according to the invention is of the mixed, pneumatic-mechanical type and comprises, as its main components, a pneumatic chamber, or joining chamber, means to grip the ends of the yarns, de-twisting means and re-twisting means cooperating with said gripping means, stretching means and cutting means.
• the components of the device indicated above are mechanically independent with respect to each other,- ' at least from the functional and operational point of view, and can be activated independently, both in entity of movement and in step, by means of relative and distinct actuation means, on the commands of an electronic control unit, according to the program, the work parameters and the signals arriving from the sensors used.
• This independence of action allows to obtain a substantially universal joining device for yarns without needing to modify it mechanically or to apply particular accessories.
• the electronic unit it is possible to modify on each occasion the actuation parameters of the individual components, adapting them specifically to the requirements of the operating cycle in progress, so as to be able to regulate the operations of the device according to the characteristics of the yarn to be joined.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of the joining device for textile yarns according to the invention.
• - fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the device in fig. 1;
• figs. 3a, 3b and 3c show an operating sequence of the joining cycle performed by the device in fig. i;
• - figs. 4a, 4b and 4c show three embodiments of the rotary pincers which perform the de-twisting and re-twisting of the yarn;
• - fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 4b;
• the reference number 10 denotes generally a joining device for textile yarns, indicated by 16a and 16b in figs. 3a, 3b, 3c, according to a preferential embodiment of the present invention.
• the device 10 comprises a pneumatic joining chamber 13, able to be selectively opened and closed, inside which the ends of the yarns 16a, 16b to be joined are introduced.
• the pneumatic joining chamber 13 cooperates with respective gripping means 20 to grip the ends of the yarns 16a, 16b, suitable to perform at least some of the following functions:
• the gripping means 20 are located immediately outside the pneumatic chamber 13 and comprise a first and a second pincer arranged on opposite sides of the chamber 13, one (21a) above and the other (21b) below said joining chamber 13.
• Each of the pincers 21a, 21b acts on one of the two ends of the yarns 16a, 16b to be joined and particularly on the relative segments of free yarn.
• Each pincer 21a, 21b is mounted on a relative screw 11 made to rotate by an electric motor 12. Taking the screw 11 in correspondence with a first position of rear end- of-travel, indicated by A in fig.
• the pincers 21a, 21b open and are ready to receive the relative yarn 16a, Commanding a suitable number of revolutions to the relative electric motor 12, the pincers 21a, 21b close, clamping inside them the relative yarn 16a, 16b.
• the pincers 21a, 21b perform a stretching action on the relative yarn 16a, 16b of a quantity proportional to the number of revolutions imparted to the relative motors 12.
• the entity of the stretching can be equal in the two yarns 16a, 16b, or also reciprocally different.
• the device 10 also comprises cutting means consisting of scissors 22 to cut the yarn, which can be sued, for particularly resistant yarns or yarns with an elastic core, so as to guarantee the interruption of the yarn.
• the scissors 22 are activated by feeding a pneumatic piston by means of a control electro-valve 23.
• the pneumatic joining chamber 13 is a device in which the function of penetration of the fibers is performed.
• the chamber 13 is formed by two separate movable shells, respectively 30 and 31 (figs. 2, 3a), at least one of which, in this case the shell 30, is equipped with a series of holes 32, advantageously with an axis perpendicular to the axis of the yarns 16a, 16b, from which pressurized fluid is made to exit, on the command of an electro-valve.
• the two shells 30, 31 are moved apart/closer from/to each other, advantageously by means of a pneumatic piston. They can thus assume a first, reciprocally distanced position (position D, fig. 3a) wherein the joining chamber 13 is open and the yarns 16a, 16b can be introduced inside it, the ends of the yarns being retained by the respective pincers 21a, 21b. Once the yarns 16a, 16b are located inside the joining chamber 13, the two shells 30, 31 are taken into contact with each other (position E, fig. 3b) and the joining chamber 13 is closed in sealed manner.
• the joining chamber 13 After having suitably prepared the two ends of the yarns 16a, 16b, the joining chamber 13 is closed and then, for a pre-set time, a command electro-valve is activated so that the fluid is introduced into the chamber 13 through the hole 32, and hits the fibers.
• the shape of the joining chamber 13 is advantageously such that the jet of fluid creates a vortex such that the fibers are bound together, creating a joining point between the two ends.
• the duration of the delivery of the jet of air to the yarns is defined by an electronic control unit 15 according to the characteristics of the yarn, the type of use of the yarn and the environmental conditions .
• the electronic control unit 15 is also suitable to drive the motors 12 of the pincers 21a, 21b according to the steps of the cycle and the entity of stretching to be imparted to the relative yarns 16a, 16b, the pneumatic piston that opens and closes the shells 30, 31 of the joining chamber 13, and, as we shall see hereafter, the members that drive the rotary pincers 14a, 14b of the scissors 22 and the members involved in the joining cycle.
• the joining chamber 13, in one and/or the other of the shells 30, 31, can be equipped with devices to clamp the yarns, which are particularly useful in the case of elasticized yarns.
• one or more pins 33 commanded pneumatically, can be selectively driven, on the command of the electronic control unit 15, to clamp the yarns 16a, 16b in the joining zone, preventing the elastic core of the yarn from retracting excessively and from escaping from the join.
• the device 10, according to a first variant, can be equipped with auxiliary components, selectively driven, to vary the delivery, pressure and temperature of the fluid injected.
• the auxiliary components are piloted by the control unit 15 according to the characteristics of the yarn, the type of use of the yarn and the environmental conditions.
• the device 10 is equipped with auxiliary components able to allow to inject into the joining chamber 13 a mixture of air and water, to a percentage modifiable by the control unit 15, according to the characteristics of the yarn, the type of use of the yarn and the environmental conditions .
• the device 10 also comprises, as said above, a first 14a and a second 14b rotary pincers, suitable for the de-twisting and re-twisting of the respective yarns 16a, 16b.
• the rotary pincers 14a, 14b allow to impart to the relative yarns 16a, 16b a controllable number of rotations around their own axis.
• rotary pincer 14a, 14b acts on one of the two ends of the yarns 16a, 16b to be joined, and particularly on the segment of integral yarn.
• Figs. 4a, 4b, 4c show three embodiments of the rotary pincers 14a, 14b.
• the rotary pincer 14a, 14b is of the type with an eyelet 50 housing the relative yarn 16a, 16b and is made on a first gear 40 drawn by a second gear 140 solid with the shaft of an electric motor.
• fig. 4a the rotary pincer 14a, 14b is of the type with an eyelet 50 housing the relative yarn 16a, 16b and is made on a first gear 40 drawn by a second gear 140 solid with the shaft of an electric motor.
• the rotary pincer 14a, 14b has an eyelet 50 housing the relative yarn 16a, 16b and is mounted on a disk wherein magnets 41 are incorporated, whereas on the fixed outer part electric coils 42 are housed.
• the controlled rotation of the pincer is commanded, according to commands imparted by the electronic control unit 15.
• the pincer 14a, 14b again has the eyelet 50 housing the relative yarn and is mounted on a small pneumatic turbine 43.
• the clockwise/anti-clockwise rotation of the rotary pincer 14a, 14b occurs by activating suitable jets of air, for example 44 for clockwise rotation and 45 for anticlockwise rotation.
• each of the rotary pincers 14a, 14b is controlled by " ⁇ a sensor 46 (fig. 5) which provides a suitable electric signal when a clamping pin 47, associated with a movement coil 48, has been taken to a position such as to allow the introduction of the yarns 16a, 16b.
• ⁇ a sensor 46 FIG. 5
• the pincer is opened by feeding the coil 48 which attracts the pin 47.
• the electric signal supplied by the sensor 46 allows the electronic control unit 15 to measure the number of revolutions performed by the pincer 14a, 14b.
• the electronic control unit 15 advantageously consists of an electronic card with a microprocessor in which the functions of processing, piloting the electric motors, commanding the electro-valves and reading the various sensors are integrated. According to the memorized program of a series of parameters connected to the characteristics of the yarn, the join to be obtained and the environmental conditions, the electronic control unit 15 performs a sequence of operations on the yarn. This sequence can be modified according to the signals arriving from some sensors so as to adapt to the new working conditions.
• each yarn 16a, 16b is introduced inside the device 10 and clamped at the two ends by the corresponding end- clamping pincer 21a, 21b and the corresponding rotary pincer 14a, 14b.
• Second step De-twisting of the yarns: the electronic control unit 15 commands the rotary pincers 14a, 14b to rotate.
• the number of revolutions and the direction of rotation are connected to the characteristics of the yarn and are such as to obtain the annulment of the twists in proximity with the end-clamping pincer 21a, 21b.
• Fourth step Stretching of the yarns: the control unit 15 commands the end-clamping pincers 21a, 21b to move by means of a controlled drive of the relative motors 12.
• the entity of the linear movement of the pincers 21a, 21b is connected to the characteristics of the yarn: the greater the entity of the stretching, the smaller the quantity of fibers involved in the join.
• Fifth step Clamping of the central part of the yarns: the control unit 15 activates the electro-valve that commands the outlet of the central block, so as to prevent the possible elastic core of the yarn from retracting excessively in the subsequent tearing step.
• Sixth step Tearing: the control unit 15 commands the end-clamping pincers 21a, 21b to move, until the travel is complete.
• the two ends of the yarn to be eliminated are thus caused to tear by means of suction.
• Seventh step Scissor cut: to guarantee the discharge of the two segments of yarn to be eliminated, the control unit 15 activates the two scissors 22.
• Eighth step Joining blow: the control unit 15 commands the jet of fluid inside the joining chamber 13. The duration of the jet depends on the characteristics of the yarn and the parameters set. The direction of blowing is such that the fluid not only acts on the fibers of the yarn, making them penetrate each other, but also takes the pistons of the central block into the inactive position.
• the control unit 15, according to the parameters set can activate a function to control the join. This step can provide the activation of various control algorithms: a test every N cycles, random distribution, upon specific request of the operator.
• a force sensor can be provided, located on at least one of the pincers 21a, 21b that clamp one end of the join, in order to measure the tension of the yarn. If the function to test resistance and stretching is active, the control unit 15 reads the value supplied by the force sensor and processes it to determine the breaking load of the join.
• a movable pincer can be provided which clamps the other end of the join if the function to test resistance and stretching is active. The control unit 15, in this case, is therefore suitable to command the movement of the movable pincer so as to put the join in traction until it breaks.
• the control unit 15 when the join cycle is complete, a pincer equipped with the load cell and the end- clamping pincer are activated, and in this way the join remains clamped inside the two pincers.
• the control unit 15 then commands the movable pincer to move, so as to put the join in traction, and at the same time memorizes the values supplied by the load cell. At the moment the join breaks, the value read by the load cell is practically zeroed.
• the control unit 15 processes the data memorized and supplies the values of the breaking load and stretching of the join. Should these values not satisfy the required levels, the control unit 15 signals a malfunction of the device 10.
• the operator can set the device 10 so that this event causes it to stop, to avoid producing joins not in conformity with the required standards. Or, if the values obtained, while not optimum, are considered sufficient to continue functioning, the condition is only signaled, so that a maintenance and/or cleaning operation can be programmed.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Spinning Or Twisting Of Yarns (AREA)
• Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
• Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
• Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-05-28 IT IT000113A patent/ITUD20040113A1/it unknown
• 2005
  • 2005-05-27 EP EP05752766A patent/EP1753685B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-05-27 DE DE602005016919T patent/DE602005016919D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-05-27 CN CN2005800174040A patent/CN1960928B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-05-27 WO PCT/EP2005/052415 patent/WO2005118449A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-05-27 AT AT05752766T patent/ATE444256T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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