GB1562144A - Feed means for continuous filamentary material - Google Patents

Description

(54) FEED MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (71) We, BONAS MACHINE COM PANY LIMITED a British Company of Grangewood Hall, Netherseal, Burton-on Trent, DE12 8BQ do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns feed means for continuous filamentary material such as textile yarn, wire and the like.

There are many instances in which it is necessary to be able accurately to control, and from time to time, vary the rate at which filamentary material is fed from a source to a point of use. For example, in the manufacture of textile fabrics on a narrow fabric needleloom, the rate at which weft yarn is fed to a weft inserter must be controlled to ensure that its tension in the fabric is maintained at the requisite value. Yarn feed rate to a package being built also requires accurate control to ensure that the package is correctly formed and conversely when a package is being unwound there are also many instances when the rate at which the yard is unwound is critical for the correct utilisation of the yarn. There are also circumstances in industries other than the textile industry wherein the rate at which a filamentary material such as a wire is being delivered for processing or supplied for use or package building requires careful control.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means which is relatively simple in construction and which can be used to control, as required, the rate of feed of filamentary matenal in an efficient and simple manner.

Thus according to the present invention a feed means for a continuous filamentary material includes a rotatable filament driving element and at least one co-operating rotatable pressure element and is characterised in that the filament driving element is provided with at least one planar filament receiving surface, the pressure element being mounted on a resiliently loaded, pivotally mounted carrier, which latter is itself mounted on a means whereby adjustment of the pressure element relative to the axis of rotation of the filament driving element may be achieved, and in that the axes of rotation of the filament driving element and the pressure element are substantially at right angles.

Preferably the filament driving element is provided with two parallel spaced-apart planar filament receiving surfaces, there being a pressure element associated with each of the filament receiving surfaces.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying somewhat diagrammatic drawings of practical forms of feed means made in accordance with the invention.

In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1. is a sectional elevation of a feed means and made in accordance with the invention FIG. 2 is a plan view of the feed means of Fig.

1.

Referring to the drawings in which is illustrated a feed means for a single filament it will be seen that there is provided a filament driving an element 31 which is of circular form and has a flat face 31a. The element may also be provided with a pair of spaced apart parallel flat faces if required for the feeding of two filaments. The element 31 is mounted on a drive shaft 32. In the particular form of feed means being described a single pressure wheel 33 (having a friction tyre 34) is provided and this wheel is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of shaft 32. The wheel 33 is carried at one end of a lever 35 the other end of which is formed with a boss 36 through which passes a pivot spindle 36a.

The pivot spindle 36a is screw threaded over the major portion of its length and is screwed into a threaded hole 39 in a mounting block 40 which latter is secured to a part 41 of the machine frame.

A hook ended filament guide 43 is provided to guide a filament 42 onto the tyre 34 of wheel 33 such that the filament lies between the tyre and the flat face 31a of the element 31. The lever 35 is formed, preferably integrally, with an arm 38 the free end of which has attached thereto one end of a spring 37 the other end of which is secured to a part of the machine frame. The spring 37 serves to hold the tyre 34 against the flat face 31a of the element 31.

The pressure wheel 33 is adjustable in position relative to the axis of rotation of the element 31 and to achieve the adjustment and thus vary the feed rate of filament 42 the spindle 36a is rotated. To enable the spindle to be rotated an adjusting kob (not shown) or a screw 44 is secured to the spindle 36a at that end thereof which passes through the boss 36 of the lever 35. Rotation of the spindle 36a in one direction will serve to move the wheel 33 towards the axis of rotation of the element 31 and rotation in the other direction will move the wheel 33 away from the axis of rotation of the element 31, the double headed arrow 45 (see FIG. 2) indicates the direction of movement of the wheel 33.

The invention is not restricted to the details set out above. For example, it is possible to modify the manner in which the pressure wheel is resiliently loaded against the filament driving element. In the case in which the filament driving element 31 has two flat faces two pressure wheels would be provided there being one such wheel co-operating with each face of the filament driving element.

It is also possible to replace the tyred wheels by a wheel whose surface is roughened to provide the requisite degree of friction to ensure feed of the filament. Where a friction tyre is used the material thereof may be either hard or soft.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS : 1. A feed means for a continuous filamentary material including a rotatable filament driving element and at least one co-operating rotatable pressure element characterised in that the filament driving element is provided with at least one planar filament receiving surface, the pressure element being mounted on a resiliently loaded, pivotally mounted carrier, which latter is itself mounted on a means whereby adjustment of the pressure element relative to the axis of rotation of the filament driving element may be achieved, and in that the axes of rotation of the filament driving element and the pressure element are substantially at right angles.

2. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 in which the filament driving element is provided with two parallel spaced-apart planar filament receiving surfaces, there being a pressure element associated with each of the filament receiving surfaces.

3. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 or 2 in which the or each pressure element is in the form of a freely rotatable wheel.

4. A feed means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each pressure element is provided with a friction tyre.

5. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 in which the means for adjusting the pressure element is in the form of a screw threaded rod mounted in a carrier block secured to a fixed part of a machine frame.

6. A feed means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the major portion of its length and is screwed into a threaded hole 39 in a mounting block 40 which latter is secured to a part 41 of the machine frame. A hook ended filament guide 43 is provided to guide a filament 42 onto the tyre 34 of wheel 33 such that the filament lies between the tyre and the flat face 31a of the element 31. The lever 35 is formed, preferably integrally, with an arm 38 the free end of which has attached thereto one end of a spring 37 the other end of which is secured to a part of the machine frame. The spring 37 serves to hold the tyre 34 against the flat face 31a of the element 31. The pressure wheel 33 is adjustable in position relative to the axis of rotation of the element 31 and to achieve the adjustment and thus vary the feed rate of filament 42 the spindle 36a is rotated. To enable the spindle to be rotated an adjusting kob (not shown) or a screw 44 is secured to the spindle 36a at that end thereof which passes through the boss 36 of the lever 35. Rotation of the spindle 36a in one direction will serve to move the wheel 33 towards the axis of rotation of the element 31 and rotation in the other direction will move the wheel 33 away from the axis of rotation of the element 31, the double headed arrow 45 (see FIG. 2) indicates the direction of movement of the wheel 33. The invention is not restricted to the details set out above. For example, it is possible to modify the manner in which the pressure wheel is resiliently loaded against the filament driving element. In the case in which the filament driving element 31 has two flat faces two pressure wheels would be provided there being one such wheel co-operating with each face of the filament driving element. It is also possible to replace the tyred wheels by a wheel whose surface is roughened to provide the requisite degree of friction to ensure feed of the filament. Where a friction tyre is used the material thereof may be either hard or soft. WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A feed means for a continuous filamentary material including a rotatable filament driving element and at least one co-operating rotatable pressure element characterised in that the filament driving element is provided with at least one planar filament receiving surface, the pressure element being mounted on a resiliently loaded, pivotally mounted carrier, which latter is itself mounted on a means whereby adjustment of the pressure element relative to the axis of rotation of the filament driving element may be achieved, and in that the axes of rotation of the filament driving element and the pressure element are substantially at right angles.

2. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 in which the filament driving element is provided with two parallel spaced-apart planar filament receiving surfaces, there being a pressure element associated with each of the filament receiving surfaces.

3. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 or 2 in which the or each pressure element is in the form of a freely rotatable wheel.

4. A feed means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each pressure element is provided with a friction tyre.

5. A feed means as claimed in CLAIM 1 in which the means for adjusting the pressure element is in the form of a screw threaded rod mounted in a carrier block secured to a fixed part of a machine frame.

6. A feed means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.