WO2003068649A1

WO2003068649A1 - Support element for winding yarns

Info

Publication number: WO2003068649A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/000441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enzo Scaglia
Original assignee: Scaglia Spa
Priority date: 2002-02-11
Filing date: 2003-02-11
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: AU2003245714A1

Abstract

Support element for winding a yarn (11), comprising a hub (14) having a longitudinal axis (X), a hole (28) coaxial to the longitudinal axis (X), and an outer surface (21) onto which the yarn (11) is wound. An auxiliary element (22), functioning as a counter, is constrained to one end of the hub (14), and is provided with gripper elements (27) that allow the hub (14) to be gripped and transported without touching the wound yarn (11). Different solutions are disclosed.

Description

"SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR WINDING YARNS" * * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a support element, such as a cop, a spool or suchlike, used in the textile field for winding yarns, advantageously of the synthetic or elasticized type or suchlike.

To be more exact, the support element according to the present invention comprises at least an auxiliary means associated in removable fashion with at least one end thereof and able principally to identify the type or count of the yarn wound on the cop, and also to allow the cop to be gripped with the yarn wound thereon, without any risk of ruining the arrangement of the yarn. Said auxiliary means is also able to function, in cooperation with a seating made on the cylindrical surface of the support element, as an element to retain one or more initial coils of the yarn, at the start of the winding steps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Support elements or cops are known, made of metal or of plastic material, used in the textile field as a support for winding yarn into coils, whether said yarn be natural, synthetic or mixed.

One disadvantage of known cops is the lack of means which allow to manually pick up the cop with the wound yarn without touching the yarn itself.

In fact, to avoid disarranging the winding of the yarn it is necessary to pick up the cop with the wound yarn touching exclusively the inner part of the cop. This operation is not only inconvenient, but difficult to perform and does not guarantee a good grip on the part of the operator, with the risk that the cop with the wound yarn can slip from his/her hands. Moreover, at the start of the operations to wind the yarn onto the cop, one or more of the initial coils of the yarn must be constrained to the cylindrical surface of the cop by means of constraining means. These constraining means, in conventional metal cops, normally consist of a circumferential seating having a V- shaped section, inside which one end of the yarn, or some initial coils thereof, is clamped.

However, this seating is very often inefficacious in terms of retaining the yarn since, due to the high speeds of rotation imparted to the cop, in the range of tens of thousands of rpm, the initial coils of the yarn tend to escape from the seating, even during the first stages of winding. Due to this, it is very often necessary to repeat the initial operations of attaching the yarn, causing loss of time and an increase in the production costs.

In cops made of plastic material, on the contrary, this solution cannot be adopted, since there would be a risk that, during the winding operation, the yarn, subjected to tension, might shear the whole cop transversely. In these cases, it is known to apply on the cylindrical surface of the cop a tape of adhesive material, for example such as Velcro®, on which one end of the yarn to be wound is rested and then attached. However, this solution does not guarantee an efficacious and long-lasting attachment of the end of the yarn to the cop, since the tape does not ensure a stable constraint of the yarn which, due to the forces of traction which develop during the winding, can become detached, compromising the grip and stability of the coils of wound yarn .

Another problem of conventional cops derives from the fact that that it is necessary to identify the type of yarn wound on the cop, for example the type of torsion imparted, the type of core, the type of covering, the count, or otherwise. In the state of the art, this identifying function is performed by an element, or counter, of a replaceable type which, according to the color and/or symbol which it carries, allows to recognize the type of wound yarn .

The counter, however, is a distinct element, so that, apart from the operational drawbacks cited above, there is also the problem of equipping the cop with at least two auxiliary elements and/or of making several processes thereon, which leads to a considerable increase in its overall cost.

Other disadvantages of conventional cops concern the impossibility of making a reserve of yarn which is not affected by the winding surface, and the lack of means which allow to manually pick up the cop with the yarn wound without touching the yarn itself.

It is also known that in order to identify one or more characteristics of the yarn wound on a cop an annular element is used, made of plastic or metal, associated with one end of the cop, and bearing on one its plane surface particular symbols or colors which symbolically identify multiple characteristics of the yarn wound on the cop, such as for example the quality, count, length, resistance and suchlike .

In most cases, this annular element carries a large number of symbols and has multiple colored segments, since very often it is necessary to identify the type of yarn wound with extreme precision. Hence the need to represent the largest possible number of characteristics of the yarn.

The size of conventional counters is rather limited, however, and therefore the symbols printed thereon have very small characters and can thus confuse the operators.

In order to overcome this shortcoming, it is known to omit some information, or to associate a corresponding counter with each end of the cop, so as to have a greater surface to support the information.

These conventional solutions have other disadvantages, however, since if the information on the counter is omitted, it is necessary to supply a separate support on which the missing information can be printed, and to associate this support with the relative cop; when there are two counters associated to the two ends, this often leads to an imperfect compatibility of the cop with the loading organs or the automatic discharge organs present on conventional textile machines. The present Applicant has devised and embodied this invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain other advantages .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized essentially in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other innovative characteristics of the invention. The purpose of the invention is to achieve a support element for winding a yarn, equipped with an auxiliary means which will perform both the function of a counter, in order to identify the type of yarn wound, and also as a gripper element for said cop, in order to allow it to be gripped without touching the wound yarn with the hands.

Another purpose of the invention is to achieve an auxiliary means having at least a part suitable to guarantee a correct and long-lasting constraint of one or more coils of yarn to the support element.

A support element for winding yarn according to the present invention comprises an axially holed hub on whose outer surface the yarn is wound, and at least a seating made on at least a segment of cylindrical surface of the support element, able to constrain one end, or at least one coil, of the yarn to said cylindrical surface of the hub. Advantageously the hub of the cop is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape but, according to a variant, it can also be shaped like a truncated cone or cone .

In accordance with these purposes, an auxiliary means functioning as a counter is able to be constrained in removable fashion to one end of the support element, so as to cooperate with at least part of the aforesaid seating in order to improve the conditions of constraint between the latter and the yarn. The auxiliary means has, advantageously on its outer face, a radial extension which extends at least partly towards the longitudinal axis of the hub, beyond the outer surface of the latter. The auxiliary means is coupled through friction with the cop and, when gripped, allows the cop to be transported by an operator, or a handling device, also mechanical, without touching the yarn wound on the cop, thus preventing it from being ruined.

The aforesaid auxiliary means is also elastically deformable, at least partly, so that it can be constrained through friction to the hub, with an adherence force such as to guarantee the two are clamped. Moreover, thanks to the elasticity of the auxiliary means, the hub does not need any specific working on its outer surface to clamp the auxiliary means. According to a variant, the auxiliary means, or at least part of it, has a substantially circular transverse section, and comprises first clamping means able to cooperate with mating second clamping means made on the cylindrical surface of the hub, so that the auxiliary means can be clamped on the relative end of the support element.

In the rest of the description, when we speak of diameter we also mean an equivalent dimension in the event that the element concerned does not have a circular form but, for example, polygonal, ovoid or otherwise.

In a preferential form, the auxiliary means has a substantially annular form, advantageously circular, and is able to be wound onto at least part of the cylindrical surface of the hub, advantageously for an angle greater than 180°.

In a preferential embodiment, the auxiliary means consists of a split ring, substantially circular in form, and able to adapt to a wide range of diameters, or equivalent dimensions, of the hub.

According to a first form of embodiment, the first clamping means comprise at least a ridge, at least partly deformable elastically, while the second clamping means comprise a mating clamping groove. According to another form of embodiment, the first clamping means comprise at least a clamping groove, while the second clamping means comprise a mating ridge.

According to another form, the second clamping means comprise at least a radial cavity with which mating radial ridges are able to cooperate.

According to a variant, the outer surface of the auxiliary means comprises at least a longitudinal segment having a diameter greater than that of the hub, functioning as a flange with surfaces with rounded edges, able to prevent the yarn, during the unwinding phase, from rubbing against one end of the cop.

In order to function as a counter too, the auxiliary means has a specific coloring or identification signs of recognition, according to the type of yarn wound on the cop. There can be only one color or there may be two or more colors to identify different characteristics of the yarn. Auxiliary means may also be present on each of the ends of the hub, each one identifying a relative characteristic of the yarn.

The presence of the counter allows to identify the type of yarn wound immediately, without requiring any working other than that already provided, thus allowing a huge saving in time and in costs during production.

The support element according to the invention also guarantees a correct and long-lasting reciprocal constraint of the yarn and the outer surface of the hub, since the cooperation created between the auxiliary means and the seating does not allow the yarn to escape from the hub even if it is subjected to strong winding traction. Moreover, in case of wear, it is possible to replace the auxiliary means, thus renewing the efficiency of the constraint exerted. According to another form of embodiment, a support element according to the present invention comprises an axially holed hub on whose surface the yarn is wound, and constraining means which constrain one end, or at least one coil, of the yarn to said surface of the hub. According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the constraining means comprise, in cooperation, at least a seating made on at least one segment of surface of the hub of the support element, and a mating auxiliary means able to be associated in removable fashion to said seating.

The positioning seating of the auxiliary means , or at least part thereof , has a substantially circular transverse section . According to a variant, the seating is made only on part of the outer surface of the relative end of the support element and can have a configuration in sectors which partly affect said outer surface. In correspondence with the zone where the hub varies in diameter or dimension, the aforesaid seating defines a step on which an inner edge of the auxiliary means rests. The cooperation between said step and said edge defines a retaining zone wherein the end of the yarn, or its first coils, is positioned, at the start of the winding phases.

In a preferential embodiment, the edge of the auxiliary means is provided on the outside with a lead-in bevel which facilitates the operations of constraining the end of the yarn to the hub for the operator or the winding machine, thus considerably reducing possible errors in positioning .

The outer surface of the auxiliary means, according to a first form of embodiment, has at least a longitudinal segment having a diameter less than that of the hub, which allows the wound yarn to create a certain reserve of yarn not affected by the winding surface.

According to a variant, the outer surface of the auxiliary means comprises at least a longitudinal segment having a diameter greater than that of the hub, functioning as a flange with surfaces with rounded edges, able to prevent the yarn, during the unwinding phase, from rubbing against one end of the support element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein: - fig. 1 is a part view of a support element for winding a yarn according to the present invention partly in section;

- fig. 2 shows a detail of fig. 1 ; - fig. 3 shows a variant of fig. 2 ;

- fig. 4 shows a portion, partly in section, of a second form of embodiment of a support element according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 4; - fig. 6 shows a variant of the detail in fig. 5;

- fig. 7 shows a first variant of the support element in fig 4;

- fig. 8 shows a second variant of the support element in fig. 4; - fig. 9 is a three-dimensional view of a third form of embodiment of a support element according to the present invention;

- fig. 10 is a section along the line from A to A of fig.

9; - fig. 11 is a transverse section of a constructional variant of the support element in fig. 10;

- fig. 12 is a transverse section of another variant of the support element in fig. 10;

- fig. 13 is a transverse section of another variant of the support element in fig. 10;

- fig. 14 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENTS With reference to figs. 1, 2 and 3, a support element or cop 10 for winding a yarn 11 comprises an axially hollow hub 14, in this case cylindrical, on whose outer surface 21 the yarn 11 is wound, a seating 20 wherein one end 11a (figs. 2 and 3) or one or more first coils of the yarn 11 is able to be constrained to the hub 14, so as to be able to start the winding steps, and an auxiliary means 22.

The seating 20 has a substantially V-shaped section and consists of a circumferential notch made on the outer surface 21 of the hub 14 in proximity with one end thereof, in the case shown here, the lower end.

The auxiliary means 22, in this case, consists of a ring able to be constrained in removable fashion to the lower end of the hub 14.

The ring 22 has its visible surface advantageously colored, or personalized in some other way, in order to identify the type, for example the count, of the yarn 11 wound on the cop 10.

The ring 22, which in this case is substantially circular in shape, has an outer surface 22a, an inner surface 22b, an upper edge 22c and a lower edge 22d.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the outer surface 22a comprises a longitudinal segment 24 of a diameter greater than that of the hub 14, to function as a flange with surfaces with rounded edges; this flange serves to prevent the yarn 11, when it is in the final unwinding phase, from rubbing against the lower end of the cop 10, and from being ruined.

Moreover, the lower edge 22d of the ring 22 extends radially, towards the longitudinal axis X of the hub 14, with an extension 27 which extends on the axial hole 28 beyond the cylindrical wall of the hub 14. This extension 27 allows to grasp the cop 10, either manually or with automatic means, without touching the wound yarn 11 and thus without any risk of twisting the coils and ruining the arrangement of the yarn.

The inner surface 22b of the ring 22 rests on the outer cylindrical surface of the hub 14, and is provided, in this case, with a circumferential ridge 25 able to be inserted, due to having a mating shape, and through partial elastic deformation, into the corresponding clamping groove 23.

The inner surface 22b is thus in a position of partial overlap with the seating 20, thus preventing the end 11a of the yarn 11 from escaping from the seating 20.

The winding of the yarn 11, using the cop 10 according to the present invention, occurs as follows.

First of all, the end 11a of a yarn 11 is constrained, either manually or automatically, to one end of the hub 14, in correspondence with the seating 20. Subsequently, the ring 22 is applied of the color corresponding to the type of yarn 11 to be wound, in such a way that the circumferential ridge 25 is anchored to the clamping groove 23.

It comes within the field of the invention that a ring 22 be applied to both the ends of the hub 14, also of different colors so as to identify two or more distinct characteristics of the yarn. According to a variant shown in fig. 3, the clamping groove 23 is made on the ring 22, while the circumferential ridge 25 is made on the outer surface 21 of the hub 14.

According to another variant, the clamping groove 23 can be replaced by at least a radial cavity wherein at least one corresponding radial ridge is inserted.

With reference to figs. 4 to 8 , the constraining means are able to constrain one end 11a or one or more of the first coils of the yarn 11 to the hub 14, so as to be able to start the winding steps, and consist of the reciprocal cooperation of a seating 120 and a ring 22. In this case, the seating 120 is circular and is made in proximity with one end of the hub 14, for example the lower end.

The ring 22 is able to be associated in removable fashion with the seating 120

The seating 120 defines an outer surface 21a, m this case substantially cylindrical, with a diameter less than that of the outer surface 21 of the hub 14, and on which a clamping groove 23 is made circumferent lally In correspondence with the variation m diameter, the seating 120 also defines an abutment step 21b on which an upper edge 22c of the ring 22 rests

The ring 22, which m this case has a substantially circular shape, has an outer surface 22a, an inner surface 22b, an upper edge 22c and a lower edge 22d.

In the embodiment shown m figs 4, 5 and 6, the outer surface 22a comprises a longitudinal segment 24 with a reduced diameter compared to the diameter of the hub 14, which allows to create a reserve 111 of yarn 11 with respect to the winding surface of the yarn 11.

The inner surface 22b of the ring 22 is arranged resting on the outer surface 21a of the seating 21, and is provided with a circumferential ridge 25 able to be inserted due to its having a mating shape, and due to partial elastic deformation, into the corresponding clamping groove 23.

The corner formed by the outer surface 22a and the upper edge 22c of the ring 22 has a lead-m bevel 26 which facilitates the operations to insert and clamp the end 11a of the yarn 11.

The winding of the yarn 11 using the support element 10 shown in figs. 4 to 8 occurs as follows.

A ring 22, of the color corresponding to the type of yarn 11 to be wound, is applied to one end of the hub 14, m correspondence with the seating 120, in such a way that the circumferential ridge 25 is anchored to the clamping groove 23. Subsequently, either manually or automatically, one end 11a of the yarn 11 is inserted between the upper edge 22c of the ring 22 and the abutment step 21b of the seating 21, this being facilitated by the presence of the bevel 26. The yarn 11 is then wound in conventional fashion around the cylindrical hub 14.

According to the variant shown in fig. 6, the clamping groove 23 is made on the ring 22, while the circumferential ridge 25 is made on the outer surface 21a of the seating 120.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 7 the ring 22 has at least a longitudinal segment 124 which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hub 14, to perform a function as a flange with surfaces with rounded edges; the flange serves to prevent the yarn 11, when it is in the final unwinding phase, from rubbing against the lower end of the cop 10, and from being ruined.

In the other embodiment shown in fig. 8, the lower edge 22d of the ring 22 extends radially, towards the axis of the hub 14, with an extension 27 which extends above the axial hole 28 of the hub 14. This extension 27 allows to grasp the cop 10, either manually or with automatic means, without touching the wound yarn 11 and thus without any risk of twisting the coils and ruining the arrangement of the yarn.

With reference to figs. 9 to 14, an auxiliary means, or counter 22, comprises a first ring 42 and a second ring 43, mounted coaxially to the longitudinal axis X of the support element 10.

On the plane surfaces of the rings 42 and 43 there are the symbols and colors by means of which it is possible to identify the characteristics of the yarn wound on the support element 10.

In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in fig. 10, the first ring 42 is provided with a first circumferential rib 45 made on one outer circular surface thereof, and able to cooperate peripherally with a first housing seating 46 made inside the axial hole 28 in a zone near to one end of the support element 10. In this way, by exerting a slight pressure on the first ring 42, the latter is able to be constrained in removable fashion to the support element 10.

On the inner circular surface of the first ring 42 a second housing seating 47 is made, which is able to cooperate with a mating second circumferential rib 48 made on an outer circular surface of the second ring 43. The second rib 48, cooperating with the second housing seating 47, allows to constrain in removable fashion the second ring 43 to the first ring 42. In accordance with another form of embodiment, shown in fig. 11, an auxiliary means 122 according to the present invention comprises a first ring 142 able to be associated with the axial hole 28 by means of a first concave profile 155 inserted, due to its having a mating shape, into a mating convex housing seating 146, made inside the same axial hole 28 in proximity with one end of the support element 10.

Similarly, the second ring 143 is also able to be constrained in removable fashion to the first ring 142, due to the mating shape of its second concave profile 148 and a second convex housing seating 147 made on the first ring 142.

In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in fig. 12, a first ring 242 of an auxiliary means 222 according to the invention is able to be constrained to the support element 10 due to elastic expansion. In fact, the first ring 242 consists of elastic material, such as for example harmonic steel or otherwise, and has an aperture 249 which allows a variation in diameter thereof.

The first ring 242 is able to be constrained to the support element 10 by expanding radially inside a mating housing seating 246, made on the axial hole 28 in proximity with one end of the support element 10, while a second ring 243, also provided with an aperture 249, is constrained to the first ring 242 by thrusting radially against an inner circular surface of the latter.

In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in figs. 13 and 14, a first ring 342 of an auxiliary means 322 according to the invention is able to be constrained to the outer circular surface of the support element 10. The first ring 342 is provided with a longitudinal segment 324 with a greater diameter than that of the support element 10, and an edge 327 which extends radially towards the longitudinal axis X of the support element 10, on the axial hole 28 beyond the cylindrical wall of the support element 10.

A second ring 343 is coaxially constrained to the first ring 342 and comprises a housing seating 346 able to cooperate with the end of the lower edge 22 of the first ring 342, so as to be constrained to the latter due to its having a mating shape.

Similarly, a third ring 344 is also provided, constrained in removable fashion to the second ring 343, due to the mating shape of its second housing seating 348 and a second edge 347 of the second ring 343.

In the four preferential embodiments shown in the figures from 9 to 14, the coaxial constraint of further rings, by means of constraining means similar to those described, is not excluded.

With the auxiliary means or counter 22, 122, 222, 322 according to the present invention we therefore exploit a plurality of plane surfaces, equal in number to that of the coaxially constrained rings, in order to carry symbols and colors which identify the characteristics of the yarn wound on the cop 10.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the support element 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, according to a variant, the clamping groove 23 and the circumferential ridge 25 can be replaced by mating tapers made, respectively, on the outer cylindrical surface of the hub 14 and the inner surface of the ring 22.

It is also clear that, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, the person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of cop for winding yarn, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present invention .

Claims

1 - Support element for winding a yarn (11) , comprising a hub (14) having a longitudinal axis (X), a hole (28) coaxial to said longitudinal axis (X) , and an outer surface (21) onto which said yarn (11) is able to be wound, characterized in that an auxiliary means (22), functioning as a counter, is able to be constrained to one end of said hub (14), and is provided with gripper means (27) able to allow said hub (14) to be gripped and transported without touching said wound yarn (11) .

2 - Support element as in claim 1, characterized in that said gripper means comprise a radial extension (27) extending towards said longitudinal axis (X) beyond said outer surface (21) of said hub (14), and able to allow said hub (14) to be gripped and transported.

3 - Support element as in claim 1 or 2, wherein constraining means are provided able to constrain one end (11a) of said yarn (11) to said outer surface (21) of said hub (14), characterized in that said constraining means comprise, in cooperation, at least a seating (20) made in correspondence with at least one end of said hub (14), and an inner edge (22c) of said auxiliary means (22) able to at least partly overlap said seating (21) .

4 - Support element as in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) is at least partly deformable elastically, so as to be able to be constrained through friction, but in removable fashion, to said hub (14) .

5 - Support element as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) comprises first clamping means able to cooperate with second clamping means made on said hub (14) in order to clamp said auxiliary element (22) in removable fashion to said seating

(21) .

6 - Support element as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) has at least a specific color, or identifying mark of recognition, in order to identify at least one characteristic of said wound yarn (11) .

7 - Support element as in any claim hereinbefore, ■characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) consists of an at least partly elastic annular element.

8 - Support element as in claim 5, characterized in that said first clamping means comprise at least a ridge (25) and in that said second clamping means comprise a mating clamping groove (23) . 9 - Support element as in claim 5, characterized in that said first clamping means comprise at least a clamping groove (23) and in that said second clamping means comprise a mating ridge (25) .

10 - Support element as in claim 5, characterized in that said first clamping means comprise at least a radial ridge and in that said second clamping means comprise at least a radial clamping groove (23) .

11 - Support element as in any claim from 5 to 10 inclusive, characterized in that said first and second clamping means comprise a taper able to determine the constraint between said hub (14) and said auxiliary means

(22) .

12 - Support element as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) comprises at least a longitudinal segment (24) having a diameter greater than that of said hub (14) and able to prevent said yarn (11) from rubbing against said hub (14) when the yarn (11) is unwound. 13 - Support element as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that two auxiliary means (22) are arranged in corresponding seatings (20) made at the two ends of said hub (14) . 14 - Support element as in claim 3 or 13, characterized in that each auxiliary means (22) comprises at least an inner surface (22b) able to at least partly overlap said seating (20) in order to prevent said end (11a) of the yarn (11) from escaping from said seating (20) . 15 - Support element as in claim 3, 13 or 14, characterized in that said seating (20) has a V-shaped transverse section.

16 - Support element as in claim 3, 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that said seating (20) extends on at least part of the outer surface (21) of at least one end of said hub (14) .

17 - Support element as in claim 1, wherein constraining means are provided to constrain one end (11a) of said yarn

(11) to said outer surface (21) of said hub (14), characterized in that said constraining means comprise, in cooperation, at least a seating (120) made at at least one end of said hub (14) and defining a second outer surface (21a) having a diameter, or equivalent dimension, less than that of said outer surface (21) of the hub (14), an inner edge (22c) of said auxiliary means (22) being able to be associated with said seating (120).

18 - Support element as in claim 17, characterized in that, in correspondence with the variation in diameter with respect to said hub (14), said seating (120) defines an abutment step (21b) with which said edge (22c) of said auxiliary means (22) cooperates, in order to define a retaining zone wherein said end (11a) of said yarn (11) is positioned. 19 - Support element as in claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) comprises an outer surface (22a) having at least a longitudinal segment (24) having a diameter less than that of said outer surface (21) of said hub (14), and able to allow said yarn (11) to form a reserve of yarn (111) not affected by the outer winding surface (21) .

20 - Support element as in claim 17, 18 or 19, characterized in that between said edge (22c) and said second outer surface (22a) of said auxiliary means (22) there is a bevel (26) able to facilitate the operations of constraining said end (11a) of said yarn (11) .

21 - Support element as in any claim from 17 to 20 inclusive, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22) comprises at least a longitudinal segment (124) having a diameter greater than that of said outer surface (21) of said hub (14), and able to prevent said yarn (11), when it is unwound from said hub (14), from rubbing against the corresponding end of said hub (14) . 22 - Support element as in claim 1, characterized in that said auxiliary means (22, 122, 222, 322) comprises a first annular element (42, 142, 242, 342) and at least a second annular element (43, 143, 243, 343), able to be constrained in removable fashion and coaxially to said first annular element (42, 142, 242, 342).

23 - Support element as in claim 22, characterized in that second constraining means (48, 148, 346) are provided in said second annular element (43, 143, 343) in order to couple in removable fashion with said first annular element (42, 142, 342) .

24 - Support element as in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that said first annular element (42, 142, 342) comprises third constraining means (47, 147, 327) made on an inner circular surface of said first annular element (42, 142, 342) and able, in cooperation with said second constraining means, to allow to constrain said second annular element (43, 143, 343) in removable fashion to said first annular element (42, 142, 342) .

25 - Support element as in claim 23 or 24, characterized in that said second constraining means comprise a circumferential rib (48) made on an outer circular surface of said second annular element (43) . 26 - Support element as in claim 23 or 24, characterized in that said second constraining means comprise a concave profile (148) made on an outer circular surface of said second annular element (143) .

27 - Support element as in any claim from 22 to 26 inclusive, characterized in that said first annular element

(242) and said second annular element (243) are made of elastic material, and in that said first and said second constraining means comprise an aperture (249) able to allow a variation in the diameter of said first (242) and said second (243) annular element.

28 - Support element as in claim 23, characterized in that said second constraining means comprise a housing seating (348) made on an outer circular seating of said second annular element (343). 29 - Support element as in claim 24, characterized in that said third constraining means comprise an edge (327) extending radially towards said longitudinal axis (X) .