EP3540110A1 - Loop taker handling device, handling unit and method for handling loop taker modules - Google Patents

Abstract

The handling unit (10) according to the invention comprises a loop taker module (11) and a clamping device (12) which is in frictional connection with the slides (24-33) of the loop taker module (11). The slides (24-33) are easily clamped in corresponding slots of the clamping device and can not slip against each other even with shaking movement and in particular also from the loop taker module (11) does not slip out. The slides are thus all in the same position and need not be adjusted by hand during assembly. To remove, for example, designed as a plastic clip clamping device, it must be pressed only to the loop taker module or pulled away from the loop taker module. In this force, the plastic clip is levered in a rotating movement of the sliders (24-33).

Description

The invention relates to a loop taker handling device, a handling unit and a method for handling loop taker modules, in particular cut pile loop taker modules.

Loop gripper modules are known in principle from the prior art. For example, that describes EP 1 826 307 A1 a loop taker module comprising a number of flat gripper fingers oriented parallel to one another and held in a base body. Associated with each gripper finger is a slider which is movably supported on the loop taker module to be translationally moved relative to the loop taker module for control of the loop forming process. Each gripper finger is assigned a slider.
The slides must be connected to the assembly of the module on the tufting machine with a drive element, so that the slides on the loop taker module can be moved individually or synchronously individually.

When mounting a loop taker module on the tufting machine, therefore, all slides must be transferred to a uniform Ankoppelposition so that they can be connected to their associated drive elements.

Also from the WO 2006/076558 A1 a loop taker module with sliders is known, which are associated with the gripper fingers and which are held longitudinally displaceably on the loop taker module. Again, the above problem arises in the same way.

The DE 29 46 092 A1 describes a two-piece loop taker module. This includes a first base body, which holds mutually parallel gripper fingers, and a second base body, which holds an equal number of parallel to the gripper fingers oriented, this associated bracket. An axial relative movement between the gripper fingers and the brackets is not provided.

From the US 2,944,662 A. is a packaging for plate-like elements, in particular boards known. The package comprises a box having a block disposed therein, which has slots in which the flat parts are frictionally held. The block may be made of wax or gelatin or other material.

Next is from the DE 102 44 315 B4 a tool carrier for slider needles and a shipping unit formed therefrom known. The tool carrier is formed by a two-legged, thin-walled profile whose free legs are slotted. In the slots, the needles are kept. A lid closes off the rail to preclude losing the needles from the carrier rail.

It is an object of the invention to provide a concept with which the assembly of tufting modules on a tufting machine can be simplified.

This object is achieved by a loop taker handling device according to claim 1, a handling unit according to claim 11 and a method for handling loop taker modules according to claim 12:

The loop taker handling device according to the invention is particularly suitable for handling cut pile loop taker modules or other tufting modules which have a number of longitudinally movable slides. The loop taker handling device is a clamping device having a number of clamping receptacles arranged in a row. These clamping receptacles are assigned to the sliders of the loop taker module and can be connected to this. As a result, the slides are held in their respective axial positions so that they do not change their axial position relative to the loop taker module during transport and also during insertion into a tufting machine. This makes it particularly easy to couple the entire group of all slides when attaching a tufting module to the tufting machine with the drive device. When the slides have a coupling recess at their machine-side end, all coupling recesses are in the correct coupling position, in which the machine-side coupling part is located. Thus, the handling of the tufting modules during assembly requires much less skill than before and can be performed faster and safer.

Preferably, the clamping device is designed such that the slides are held axially immovable in the individual clamping receptacles by frictional engagement. The frictional force acting in the clamping receptacles between the slides and the corresponding surfaces of the clamping receptacle opposite one another is preferably greater than any occurring during the transport of the loop grippers the sliders acting acceleration force. This ensures that the slides do not change their position during transport.

Preferably, the clamping receptacles are slot-like grooves, both of which facing each other surfaces are flat surfaces or curved surfaces, which are arranged with respect to an imaginary center plane of the slot mirror symmetry to each other and formed. The surfaces of the clamping receptacle are preferably formed without interruption, so that between the respective slider and the voltage applied to it surface of the terminal receiving a large-scale system is formed. As a result, a high static friction and thus a high positional security of the slide is achieved. On the other hand, the surfaces of the clamp receivers do not provide a preferential position of the clamp with respect to an axis of rotation of the clamp directed transversely to the directions of movement of the slides. This ensures that the clamping device hold all slides with considerable clamping force and yet applied by hand on the slide and can be removed from them. The attachment of the clamping device and the removal thereof is substantially facilitated by the possibility of rotation of the clamping device about said axis oriented transverse to the slides.

The clamping device preferably has a number of clamping receptacle whose number coincides with the number of slides a loop gripper module. The clamping receptacles are like the slide preferably arranged at uniform intervals from each other.

The clamping device is preferably formed by a bar-like body, in which a series of slots is formed, which form the clamping receptacles. The body is a cuboid, for example. Preferably, the body is made of a plastic, preferably a plastic, which has an inherent compliance which is at least so great that the clamping forces acting between each slider and its clamp receiver can be overcome by hand.

The clamping receptacles preferably have an extension on their open side opposite the bottom, whereby insertion bevels are formed, which facilitates the attachment of a clamping device to the slide of a loop taker module.

The seat of the individual slides in the clamping receptacles of the clamping device is preferably fixed so that all slides can be pulled out of the gripper module by a linear movement in the longitudinal direction of the slide with the clamping device. In this way, the slides can be kept in the clamping device, for example, for regrinding or cleaning work and also used as a group in the loop taker module.

According to the invention, the loop taker module and the clamping device form a handling unit in which all the slides can be moved together axially. The clamping device holds all slides in identical axial position, so that they can not be adjusted against each other even during transport. The clamping is so strong that the axial position of the slide is not adjusted in relation to each other even with shaking movement of the loop taker module.

The invention brings particular advantages in the assembly of the loop taker module on a tufting machine. The loop taker module is attached in a pivoting movement to the bar of the tufting machine, wherein all coupling ends of the slider come simultaneously with the corresponding coupling of the drive part of the tufting machine into engagement. After mounting the loop taker the clamping device is removed, so that now the slider, controlled by the drive device, can move freely.

• Figur 1 - eine Handhabungseinheit, bestehend aus einem Schlingengreifermodul und einer Klemmeinrichtung, in perspektivischer Prinzipdarstellung,
• Figur 2 - die Klemmeinrichtung der Handhabungseinheit nach Figur 1, in perspektivischer Prinzipdarstellung,
• Figur 3 - die Klemmeinrichtung nach Figur 2, in einer ersten Ausführungsform, in Schnittdarstellung,
• Figur 4 - eine ausschnittsweise Schnittdarstellung der Klemmeinrichtung nach Figur 2, in einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform, und
• Figur 5 die Handhabungseinheit beim Anbau an eine Tuftingmaschine, in Prinzipdarstellung.

Further details of advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the description, the drawings or subclaims. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a handling unit, consisting of a loop taker module and a clamping device, in a perspective schematic representation,
• FIG. 2 - The clamping device of the handling unit after FIG. 1 , in perspective schematic representation,
• FIG. 3 - The clamping device after FIG. 2 in a first embodiment, in a sectional view,
• FIG. 4 - A partial sectional view of the clamping device according to FIG. 2 in a modified embodiment, and
• FIG. 5 the handling unit when attached to a tufting machine, in principle.

In FIG. 1 a handling unit 10 is illustrated, to which a loop taker module 11 and a clamping device 12 belong. The loop taker module 11 corresponds to conventional design, as for example from the WO 2006/076558 A1 or the EP 1 826 307 A1 is known. To the loop taker include gripper fingers 13 to 22, which are held in a base body 23 and extending parallel to each other and at uniform lateral distances apart from the base body 23 away. The gripper fingers 13 to 22 are axially fixedly secured in the base body 23.

Each gripper finger 13 to 22 is associated with a slider 24 to 36. The slides 24 to 33 are mounted axially movable in the base body 23. For this purpose, the slide 24 to 33 sit in corresponding channels which are formed in the gripper fingers 13 to 22. The sliders 24 to 33 protrude from their guide channels with their respective rear coupling portion 24a. The slides 24 to 33 are straight, flat sheet metal parts, which are held by the clamping device 12 in a predetermined axial position.

The clamping device 12 is a preferably one-piece, for example, cuboid body made of plastic or another, somewhat yielding material, as in FIG. 2 is illustrated. In the body 12 clamping receptacles 37 to 43 are formed, which are preferably formed by slot-like, straight, mutually parallel grooves. FIG. 3 illustrates the groove 37 exemplarily for all evenly spaced grooves 37 to 46. The distances between the grooves 37 to 46 correspond to the distances between the sliders 24 to 33. In FIG. 3 is a terminal receptacle 34 representative of the other terminal receptacles 34 to 43 illustrated. It is bounded by one of two preferably flat walls 35, 36 Slit formed. The two walls 35, 36 are arranged symmetrically to a center plane 37. If the wall surfaces 35, 36 are formed curved, they are also arranged symmetrically to the center plane 37.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified terminal receiving 34, in which the wall surfaces 35, 36 at its furthest from the slot arc 38 place inclined surfaces 39, 40 which form a wedge-like extension of the terminal receiving 34 and serve as insertion bevels for each associated slide.

The lying between the individual clamping receptacles 34 to 43 wall portions of the preferably formed as a solid part body of the clamping device 12 may have a certain low compliance, so that each slide 24 to 33 clamped, i. held frictionally held in the respective terminal receiving 34 to 43. The excess of the slider with respect to the terminal receiving is preferably such that hand forces for applying the clamping device 12 to the slide 24 to 33 and for removing the clamping device 12 are sufficient.

The loading of the tufting machine takes place as in FIG. 5 indicated. By way of illustration, there is illustrated a bar 41 which is equipped with a series of loop gripper modules 11 and performs a swinging motion to grasp and hold loops and possibly cut open. The barre are associated with one or more drives 42, which carry a coupling structure 43 at their respective module-side end. This is adapted to engage with the coupling end 24a of the respective slider 24 in positive engagement. The coupling structure 43 and the coupling end 24a are formed complementary to each other and fit into one another in a form-fitting manner. You can through a clutch movement in and disengaged. The coupling movement typically differs from the longitudinal movement of the sliders 24-33.

For mounting the loop taker module 11, the handling unit 10, such as FIG. 5 illustrated, brought to the bar 41, wherein a positioning projection 44 must engage in a corresponding recess 45 of the bar 41. The attachment of the handling unit 10 to the bar 41 is carried out as in FIG. 5 indicated by arrows 46, 47, 48, in a slight pivotal movement, wherein the positioning projection 44 or any other positioning structure in the associated recess 45 and the coupling end 24a in the coupling structure 43 find.

After attachment of the loop taker module 11 to the bar 41, the clamping device 12 can be removed. The machine is thus able to work.

For maintenance purposes, the loop taker modules 11 can be removed from the bar 41. Before loosening the loop taker modules 11 from the bar 41, a clamping device 12 is first attached to all slides 24 to 33 of each loop taker module 11. Thereafter, the loop taker module 11 is released from the bar 41 and removed. The slides 24 to 33 can not move axially relative to each other now. But they can be considered as a whole, i. all at once pulled out of the base body 23 and supplied for example, a cleaning or other processing.

The handling unit 10 according to the invention comprises a loop taker module 11 and a clamping device 12, which is in frictional connection with the slides 24-33 of the loop taker module 11, but preferably not with the hook finders 13-22. The slides 24 - 33 are in corresponding slots of the Clamping device slightly clamped and can not slip against each other even with shaking movement and in particular not slip out of the loop taker module 11. The slides 24 - 33 are thus all in the same axial position and must not be moved by hand during assembly. In order to remove the clamping device 12 formed, for example, as a plastic clip, it only has to be pressed to the loop taker module 11 or pulled away from the loop taker module 11, both if necessary connected to a rotational movement about an axis of rotation directed transversely to the direction of movement of the slides 24-33. In this force, the plastic clip can be levered in a rotating movement of the sliders 24 - 33.

Reference numerals:

10

handling unit

11

Looper module

12

clamper

13 - 22

gripper fingers

23

base body

24 - 33

pusher

34 - 43

clamp recordings

35, 36

Wall surfaces of the clamp receptacle 34

37

Center plane of the clamp receiver

38

slot base

39, 40

as bevels serving inclined surfaces

41

bar

42

drives

43

coupling structure

24a

coupling end

44

positioning

45

recess

Claims (15)

Loop gripper handling device, in particular for loop gripper modules (11) with sliders (13-22), the device being formed by a clamping device (12) with a number of clamping receptacles (34-43) arranged in a row, which are adapted to receive in the loop taker module (11) movably held slides (13 -22) are arranged. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each clamping receptacle (34-43) has only two opposing, uninterrupted surfaces (35, 36) defining a slot between each other. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the surfaces (35, 36) are plane surfaces or curved surfaces which are mirror-symmetrical to one another with respect to an imaginary center plane (37) of the slot. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping receptacles (34-43) are arranged in the row at regular intervals from each other. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping receptacles (34-43) are arranged oriented parallel to each other. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the clamping receptacles (34 - 43) are formed equal to each other and that each clamping receptacle (34 - 43) has an outwardly widening insertion section (38, 39). Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping device (12) has a bar-like body, on which the clamping receptacles (34 - 43) are formed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body has a polygonal, preferably rectangular or square cross-section to be determined parallel to the clamping receptacles (34-43). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each clamping receptacle (34-43) is adapted to receive a slider (24-33) of the loop taker module (11) and to clamp it in a given axial position. Handling unit, comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and a loop taker module (11) with slides (24-33), which are held longitudinally movable in the loop taker module (11), wherein the clamping device (12) with its clamping receptacles (34). 43) is seated on all slides (24-33) to hold them in coincident axial positions and frictionally held thereon and thus on the loop taker module (11). Handling unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the clamping device (12) exclusively with the slides (23 - 33), but not with the gripper fingers (13 - 22) is engaged. Method for handling loop taker modules (11) with a plurality of grippers (13-22) held in or on a base body (23) and a group of slides (34-43), wherein in the method the loop taker module (11) is provided with a device (12 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slides (24-33) are inserted into the clamping receptacles (34-43) of the device (12). Method according to claim 12, characterized in that that the device (12) with all the clamping receptacles (34-43) at the same time the group of the slide (24 - 33) is pushed. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the device (12) is mounted during or after the manufacture of the loop taker (11) on this and during storage of the transport remains at the latter. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the device (12) during insertion of the loop taker (11) in a tufting machine remains on this and after insertion of the loop taker (11) in the tufting machine, but before the start of the tufting machine the loop taker (11) is removed.

Images