EP3243946B1 - Textile tool, use of the textile tool and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a textile tool with a working section in that the textile tool has a thread recess for receiving a thread, and with a holding section for holding and / or moving the textile tool in a textile machine. The holding section can serve, for example, for fastening and / or moving the textile tool in a textile machine. The invention also relates to the use of the textile tool and a method for its production.

As textile tools, for example, machine needles, such as machine needles, machine knitting needles, machine needles, etc. come into consideration. Such needles are exposed to heavy loads. For example, a machine knitting needle is subject to high wear when knitting technical textiles with abrasive yarns. Sewing needles and / or tufting needles can also be subject to high wear due to solid or abrasive material that punctures the needle during the textile manufacturing process.

DE 101 26 118 A1 describes a wear part with a base or core material which is provided with a thin wear protection layer. Optionally, an agent layer may be present between the wear protection layer and the core material. The wear protection layer is, for example, a DLC layer. In addition, a cover layer can be applied to the wear protection layer. The wearing part can also be a thread-guiding element.

EP 0 844 469 A1 describes a sewing needle that can be coated with an amorphous hydrocarbon layer. On the amorphous hydrocarbon layer, a gold layer can be applied.

The needle according to CN 2007 40 634 Y has a shank portion and a needle portion. The needle has a hard chrome layer and a titanium-coated gold layer on the needle section.

US 5 546 770 A discloses a needle having a carbon layer whose thickness on the shaft of the needle increases toward the hook of the needle.

Based on this, it can be regarded as an object of the present invention to provide an improved wear-optimized textile tool with a thread recess for receiving a thread.

This object is achieved by a textile tool with the features of claim 1, a method of use with the features of claim 14, and a manufacturing method having the features of claim 15.

The textile tool according to the present invention has a holding portion for holding and / or moving the textile tool in a textile machine. The holding section can also be used, for example, for moving the textile tool when operating the textile machine. The textile tool also has a working section with a thread recess on. In the thread recess a thread to be processed is inserted or threaded. Preferably, the thread recess is closed annularly and has on opposite sides in each case an orifice or opening.

A textile tool according to the invention may be, for example, a machine knitting needle, a machine needle or a machine needle. In the case of the machine knitting needle, the thread cut-out can be formed by a through-hole (for example in the case of a perforated needle) or by the hook interior which can be closed by means of a movable element (for example a tongue or slider). In a machine needle or a machine scoring needle, the thread recess is formed by the needle eye in question.

The textile tool has a tool core of a core material. As a core material, for example, a metallic material or a metallic alloy can be used. In one embodiment, a steel alloy is used as the core material.

In the working section with the thread recess a wear protection layer is applied to the tool core. The wear protection layer consists of a different material from the core material. The hardness of the wear protection layer is preferably greater than that of the core material. The wear protection layer completely covers the tool core in the working section of a still unused textile tool. It is present in particular in a front end section between a front end and the thread recess and in the region of the thread recess of the working section. The wear protection layer consists of a different material from the core material Material and may be formed by, for example, an alumina layer, a carbon layer, a DLC layer, a carbide layer such as a titanium carbide layer (TiC) or a nitridic layer such as an aluminum titanium nitride layer (AlTiN) or a titanium carbonitride layer (TiCN). The DLC layer may be, for example, a hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layer (aC: H).

On the wear protection layer is at least partially a lighter outer layer. The cover layer is present at least in the region of the thread recess within the working section of the textile tool. The cover layer covers the interior of the thread recess and the outer surface region of the working section immediately adjacent to the edge of the thread cutout. By applying a lighter cover layer in the region of the thread recess, the insertion or threading of a thread into the thread recess is facilitated. Frequently, the thread recess, for example a needle eye, is relatively small compared to the thickness of a thread or yarn, so that the threading of the thread is difficult. By coating the wear protection layer with a cover layer in and at the thread recess threading is facilitated. The lighter surface layer facilitates the optical recognition of the thread recess or its limitation.

In addition, the surface of areas provided with the cover layer may have a lower roughness than the surface of the wear protection layer, so that the insertion or threading of a thread in the thread recess is simplified.

The wear protection layer can be applied by deposition on the tool core, for example by a physical or chemical method such as a PVD method, a CVD method or a PACVD method.

On the wear protection layer, the top layer is also applied by a physical or chemical process, for example by a sputtering process ("sputtering").

Preferably, the working portion of the textile tool immediately adjoins a front end of the textile tool. It is advantageous if a front end region of the working section following the front end of the textile tool is free of the cover layer. The cover layer can be removed, for example, after application to the wear protection layer in the front end region, for example by a mechanical method, such as polishing. This front end region is subjected to particularly high wear when piercing a textile material, for example in a machine needle or machine stylus, so that the cover layer would be rubbed off by the textile material and particles of the cover layer would remain in the textile material. This is done by omitting or removing the cover layer in the front end region avoided.

The front end portion of the working portion may have less roughness than the remaining portion of the working portion. This lower roughness can be achieved, for example, by polishing. By reducing the roughness of the front end portion, for example, the piercing force of a machine needle (sewing needle or tufting needle) can be reduced. Reducing the roughness (eg, polishing) also removes the overcoat layer present after coating the work section become.

It is also advantageous if the layer thickness of the wear protection layer varies in a longitudinal direction. The thickness of the wear protection layer may be greater, for example, in the front end region than in a longitudinal region opposite the front end region of the rear region of the working section or as in the holding section. It is also preferred if at least a part of the holding portion is free of the wear protection layer and the cover layer.

The layer thickness of the wear protection layer and / or the cover layer is smaller within the thread recess than outside the thread recess. As a result, the dimension of the thread cutout changes less by the coating. The layer thickness of the wear protection layer and / or the cover layer within the thread cut-out can be selected to be sufficiently small so that the cover layer and / or the wear protection layer rubs off mechanically in the area of the thread cut-out during operation of the textile tool. As a result, the wear of the textile tool can be made visually recognizable. First, for example, when using the textile tool, the cover layer is removed by the thread running through the thread recess, so that it can be seen that it is a used textile tool. In this case, the cover layer can already be removed within the thread recess after the shortest operating time. With continued use, the wear protection layer is removed, so that the tool core is visible. The advanced wear can thus also be visually recognized.

In the area of the thread eye has the wear protection layer preferably a layer thickness of 0.3 microns to 0.8 microns and for example about 0.5 microns. In the area of the thread recess, the cover layer preferably has a layer thickness of less than 0.1 μm and, for example, a layer thickness of 0.02 μm to 0.08 μm.

In a preferred embodiment, the layer thickness of the wear protection layer within the working section and outside the thread recess is at least 1.0 μm and / or at most 5.0 μm.

It is preferred if the layer thickness of the wear protection layer is greatest within the front end section.

The layer thickness of the cover layer is within the range in which it is applied in the working section of the textile tool, at least 0.02 microns and / or at most 0.3 microns.

The cover layer may be a metallic layer, for example a chromium layer.

Advantageous embodiments of the textile tool and the method will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 an embodiment of a textile tool in a perspective view,

FIG. 2 the textile tool off FIG. 1 in a longitudinal section.

In the drawings, a textile tool 10 is illustrated, which is executed in the embodiment as Maschinenennähnadel 11. The textile tool could also be formed by a machine knitting needle or a machine scoring needle or the like.

The textile tool 10 extends in a longitudinal direction R along a longitudinal axis L from a front end 12 to a rear end 13. The front end 12 is formed at the machine needle 11 by the needle tip 14.

At the front end 12, a working section 15 connects. At the rear end 13, a holding portion 16 connects. In the machine sewing needle 11, the holding portion 16 is for clamping the machine sewing needle 11 into a holder of a sewing machine. In other textile tools 10, the holding portion 16 may be configured to hold and / or move the textile tool. In the exemplary embodiment, a transition section 17 is present between the working section 15 and the holding section 16, within which the diameter of the needle body widens toward the holding section 16.

In the working section 15, the textile tool 10 has a thread recess 20 which is formed at the machine needle 11 by the needle eye 21. The thread recess 20 passes through the textile tool 10 in the embodiment in a passage direction D radially to the longitudinal axis L completely. Viewed in a circumferential direction U about the passage direction D, the thread recess 20 and, according to the example, the needle eye 21 are completely closed. The thread recess 20 is arranged in the longitudinal direction R parallel to the longitudinal axis L at a distance from the front end 12.

At a mouth of the needle eye 21 on a front side 22 of the machine needle 11, a thread groove 23 connects, which extends in the longitudinal direction R and at a distance from the needle tip 14 and the mouth of the needle eye 21 merges into the outer surface of the working portion 15. The thread groove 23 serves to receive and guide a portion of a thread during sewing.

The textile tool 10 and, for example, the machine needle 11 has a tool core 30 made of a core material. As the core material, for example, a metallic alloy, preferably a steel alloy can be used. It has been found that, for some applications, a textile tool 10 consisting of a core material is not adequately protected against wear, for example when the material through which a needle is pierced has abrasive filaments or requires high piercing or puncturing forces. In the exemplary embodiment, the tool core 30 is therefore provided with a wear protection layer 31 in the working section. The wear protection layer 31 completely covers the tool core 30 in the working section 15. In the exemplary embodiment, the wear protection layer 31 may also be present at least partially in the transition section 17 or even in the end section 16.

Within the transition section 17 or the end section 16, the layer thickness of the wear protection layer 31 is reduced in the embodiment in the longitudinal direction R to the rear end 13 in the longitudinal direction R considered at different points of the textile tool 10 towards zero.

As the wear-resistant layer, for example, a carbon-containing layer such as a DLC layer may be used. The DLC layer can be designed as a hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layer (a-C: H). Other wear protection layers 31, such as carbidic or nitridic layers may also be used. For example, the wear-resistant layer 31 may be a titanium carbide layer, an aluminum titanium nitride layer, a titanium carbonitride layer or, alternatively, an aluminum oxide layer or the like. The wear protection layer may be applied in a physical or chemical process, such as a PVD process, a CVD process, or a PACVD process. The wear protection layer 31 is, for example, electrically insulating.

The layer thickness of the wear protection layer 31 is measured at right angles to the surface of the tool core 30. In a front end region 15a of the working section 15, which adjoins directly to the front end 12, the wear protection layer 31 has a first layer thickness d1. In the area between the thread recess 20 and the transition section 17 or the holding section 16, the wear protection layer 31 has a second layer thickness d2. Within the thread recess 20 or the needle eye 21, the wear protection layer 31 has a third layer thickness d3. The first layer thickness d1 is greater than the second layer thickness d2 and the third layer thickness d3. The third layer thickness d3 is smaller than the first layer thickness d1 and as the second layer thickness d2. Within the thread recess 20, the wear protection layer 31 has the lowest layer thickness occurring in the working section 15.

In the embodiment, the second Layer thickness d2 about 1.0 microns. The first layer thickness d1 is approximately 3.0 μm. The third layer thickness d3 is approximately 0.5 μm.

The wear protection layer 31 is covered at least in the region of the thread recess 20 within the working section 15 with a cover layer 32. The cover layer 32 has a lighter color than the wear protection layer 31. The cover layer 32 covers the wear protection layer 31 within the thread recess 20 and at least in a region adjacent to the thread recess 20 from. The cover layer 32 can completely cover the wear protection layer 31 in the working section 15 outside the front end area 15a. It is also possible that the cover layer 32 at least partially covers the wear-resistant layer 31 outside the working section 15, for example in the transition section 17 and / or in the holding section 16.

As a cover layer 32, for example, a metallic layer, such as a chromium layer can be applied. The application of the cover layer 32 takes place, for example, by a sputtering method ("sputtering").

In the front end region 15a immediately following the front end 12, the wear protection layer 31 is free of the cover layer 32. The cover layer 32 is present between the thread recess 20 and the front end 12 only outside the front end region 15a. The front end portion 15a terminates at the Maschinenennähnadel 11 approximately at the location between the Nadelöhr 21 and the needle tip 14 at which the Maschinenennähnadel 11 has reached its maximum dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. In the embodiment, the front end portion 15a extends between the needle tip 14 and a radial plane through the longitudinal axis L disposed at the location is, on which the thread groove 23 merges into the outer surface of the working portion 15 of the Maschinenennähnadel 11.

As explained above, the layer thickness of the wear protection layer 31 in the longitudinal direction R. The layer thickness of the cover layer 32 varies in the longitudinal direction R. Within the thread recess 20 and in the area around the thread recess 20 around the cover layer 32 has a minimum layer thickness which is greater than that Roughness of the wear protection layer 31. The minimum layer thickness of the cover layer 32 is, for example, 0.02 μm. Within the thread recess 20, the cover layer 32 has a layer thickness of about 0.1 microns. In the working section 15 outside the thread recess 20, the layer thickness of the cover layer 32 is greater and is about 0.3 microns. In the front end portion 15 a no cover layer 32 is present.

The textile tool 10 and, by way of example, the machine needle 11 can be manufactured as follows:

First, the tool core 30 is made of the core material. Subsequently, the textile tool 10 is arranged with the holding portion 16 in a holder and coated in a physical or chemical coating process with the wear protection layer 31. Subsequently, the textile tool 10 is coated with the cover layer 32, which is applied to the wear protection layer 31.

Subsequently, the roughness of the surface in the front end portion 15a is reduced by a polishing method or another suitable method. As a result, the piercing force in a textile can be reduced in the machine needle 11. For or in the reduction of the roughness in the front end portion 15 a is the example according to the Cover layer 32 removed again. In the front end region 15a of the working section 15, therefore, the darker against the cover layer 32 wear protection layer is visible.

The layer thickness of the wear protection layer 31 and the cover layer 32 are so small within the thread recess 20 that they are removed when using the textile tool 10 through the thread passing through the thread recess 20 thread. First, the cover layer 32 is removed by the mechanical friction. This happens already after a short period of use. Therefore, in the absence of cover layer 32 within the thread recess 20 can be immediately recognized that the textile tool 10 has already been used. As the period of use continues, the wear protection layer 31, which is very thin within the thread recess 20, is also mechanically removed by friction with the thread. If no wear protection layer 31 is present within the thread recess 20, it can be recognized that the textile tool 10 has already been used for a long time. Thus, new, unused textile tools (cover layer 32 within the thread recess 20 present) of textile tools 10 with short duration use (cover layer 32 in the thread recess 20 removed, wear protection layer 31 in the thread recess 20 available) and from long in use textile tools 10 (neither Cover layer 32, still wear protection layer 31 within the thread recess 20 available) optically different.

The invention relates to a textile tool 10, for example a machine needle 11 having a working portion 15 and a holding portion 16. In the working portion 15, the textile tool 10 has a thread recess 20 for receiving a thread. The textile tool 10 has a tool core 30 made of a core material. In the working section 15, the textile tool 10 is coated with a wear protection layer 31 that is different from the core material of the tool core 30. The wear-resistant layer 31 is provided in the region of the thread recess 20 with a covering layer 32 which is lighter in relation to the wear-resistant layer 31. The cover layer 32 is present within the thread recess 20 and adjacent to the thread recess 20. Preferably, a front end portion 15 a, which adjoins a front end 12 of the textile tool 10, remains free of the cover layer 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

textile tool

11

Maschinennähnadel

12

front end

13

rear end

14

pinpoint

15

working section

15a

front end area

16

holding section

17

Transition section

20

thread recess

21

eye of a needle

22

front

23

thread groove

30

tool core

31

Wear protection layer

32

topcoat

D

The direction of passage

d1

first layer thickness

d2

second layer thickness

d3

third layer thickness

L

longitudinal axis

R

longitudinal direction

U

circumferentially

Claims (16)

1. Unused textile tool (10) which has a working portion (15) with a thread cutout (20) for receiving a thread, and a holding portion (16) for holding and/or moving in a textile machine,
   with a tool core (30) consisting of a core material,
   with a wear protection coating (31) applied to the tool core (30) in the working portion (15) of the textile tool (10),
   and with a cover coating (32) which is brighter than the wear protection coating (31) and is present on the wear protection coating (31) at least in the region of the thread cutout (20),
   characterised in that the layer thickness (d3) of the wear protection coating (31) and/or the layer thickness of the cover coating (32) is smaller inside the thread cutout (20) than outside the thread cutout (20).
2. Textile tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the working portion (15) adjoins a front end (12) of the textile tool (10).
3. Textile tool according to claim 2, characterised in that a front end region (15a) of the working portion (15) is free from the cover coating (32).
4. Textile tool according to claim 3, characterised in that the front end region (15a) of the working portion (15) has a lower roughness than the other region of the working portion (15).
5. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer thickness (d1, d2, d3) of the wear protection coating (31) varies in a longitudinal direction (R) of the textile tool (10).
6. Textile tool according to claim 5, characterised in that the layer thickness (d1) of the wear protection coating (31) is greater at a front end region (15a) of the working portion (15) than outside the front end region (15a).
7. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least part of the holding portion (16) is free from the wear protection coating (31) and the cover coating (32).
8. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer thickness (d2) of the wear protection coating (31) inside the working portion (15) and outside the thread cutout (20) is at least 1.0 µm.
9. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer thickness (d1, d2, d3) of the wear protection coating (31) inside the working portion (15) is most 5.0 µm.
10. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer thickness of the cover coating (32) in the region of the thread cutout (20) is at least 0.02 µm.
11. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer thickness of the cover coating (32) is at most 0.3 µm.
12. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wear protection coating (31) is a DLC coating or a carbide coating or a nitride coating.
13. Textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover coating (32) is a metallic coating.
14. Use of a textile tool according to any of the preceding claims, with the following steps:

    - arrangement of the textile tool (10) in a textile machine,

    - insertion or threading of a thread into the thread cutout (20),

    - operation of the textile machine, wherein the cover coating (32) is mechanically removed inside the thread cutout (20).
15. Method for producing a textile tool (10) with a working portion (15) with a thread cutout (20) for receiving a thread, and a holding portion (16) for holding and/or moving the textile tool (10) in a textile machine, with the following steps:

    - production of the tool core (30) from a core material with a thread cutout (20) in the working portion (15),

    - application of a wear protection coating (31) onto the tool core (30) in the working portion (15) of the textile tool (10),

    - application of a cover coating (32) which is brighter than the wear protection coating (31) onto the wear protection coating (31) at least in the region of the thread cutout (20),

    characterised in that the layer thickness (d3) of the wear protection coating (31) and/or the layer thickness of the cover coating (32) is smaller inside the thread cutout (20) than outside the thread cutout (20).
16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that the cover coating (32) is removed again in a front end region (15a) of the working portion (15).

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