WO2017105315A1

WO2017105315A1 - Yarn feeder with motor assembly for yarn tension regulation

Info

Publication number: WO2017105315A1
Application number: PCT/SE2016/051153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pär JOSEFSSON
Original assignee: Iro Aktiebolag
Priority date: 2015-12-16
Filing date: 2016-11-22
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Also published as: EP3390707A4; EP3390707B1; EP3390707A1; CN108884610B; CN108884610A

Abstract

Described are, among other things, a yarn feeder yarn feeder (10) comprising a brake motor assembly (20). The brake motor assembly (20) is adapted to control the position of a braking element (16) cooperating with a spool body (18) of the yarn feeder (10). The yarn feeder (10) further comprises a quick release mechanism whereby the braking element (16) can be moved from a braking position where the braking element (16) is positioned to brake a yarn withdrawn from the yarn feeder (10) and a gap position where the braking element (16) is distanced from the spool body (18). A motor (26) of the brake motor assembly (20) is fixedly arranged in or attached to a part that is released when operating-said quick release mechanism. Hereby it is possible to provide a motor driven braking element in a yarn feeder with a quick release mechanism.

Description

Yarn feeder with motor assembly for yarn tension regulation

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a yarn feeder. In particular the present disclosure relates to a yarn feeder for textile machines, especially weaving and knitting machines, comprising a motor assembly with the purpose to electronically regulate the tension of the yarn withdrawn from the feeder.

BACKGROUND

Yarn feeders are used to eliminate yarn tension variations to ensure high quality and also to supply the correct amount of yarn. Hereby textile quality and productivity can be increased.

One feature of a yarn feeder is to provide a suitable yarn tension for the yarn fed to a weaving machine. The yarn tension applied can be provided in different manners. For example, a frustum-conical braking element can be used that cooperates with the withdrawal rim of the spool body to create a braking force, see EP 0 534 263. Also the braking force applied can be controlled by a motor, such as a step motor that is used to control the braking force, see EP 0 707 102.

Yarn feeders can also be provided with a quick adjustment mechanism adapted to release the braking element from a position where it acts to brake the yarn by cooperating with the withdrawal rim of the spool body into a gap position where the braking element is distanced from said withdrawal rim. The aim of such a quick adjustment mechanism is to i.a. make it possible to preferably in one single action and stroke place the braking element in a position where it is possible to for example replace the spool body or the braking element or to thread a new yarn either by hand or by some automatic means, known per se. Quick adjustment mechanisms can have different designs and be located in different locations on the yarn feeder, but essentially act to in a quick manner release a section of the yarn feeder from the rest of the yarn feeder, thereby releasing the braking element from the braking position and place it in a gap position where maintenance operations can be undertaken. The quick adjustment mechanism is typically also designed to not alter any yarn brake/tension settings when being operated/actuated so that there is no need for any new calibration or setting when the braking element is returned to the braking position. Quick adjustment mechanisms are for example described in US 5,947,403 and EP 0 826 619.

There is a constant desire to provide improved yarn feeders. Hence, there is a need for an improved yarn feeder.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn feeder.

This object and/or others are obtained by the yarn feeder as set out in the appended claims.

For easy handling of a yarn feeder it is advantageous if the feeder has a so called quick release mechanism. It is further advantageous to provide a yarn brake motor assembly to control the yarn braking force applied by the braking element. In existing implementations, the yarn brake motor assembly used is however fixedly mounted on the yarn feeder, which rules out the use of a quick release mechanism. The inventor has realized that if the yarn brake motor of the motor assembly is positioned in the quickly releasable section of the yarn feeder or in the quick release mechanism itself it will in fact be possible to combine a quick release mechanism with the use of a motor assembly for controlling the braking force of the yarn braking element. Advantageously the motor can be located/integrated in the release handle of a quick release mechanism such as the types described in the above-cited references US 5,947,403 and EP 0 826 619, or in some other possible type of release mechanism that in one single operational stroke puts the yarn braking element in a gap position.

In accordance with one embodiment a yarn feeder comprising a brake motor assembly is provided. The brake motor assembly is adapted to control the position of a braking element cooperating with a spool body of the yarn feeder. The yarn feeder further comprises a quick release mechanism whereby the braking element can be moved from a braking position where the braking element is positioned to brake a yarn withdrawn from the yarn feeder and a gap position where the braking element is distanced from the spool body. Further, a motor of the brake motor assembly is fixedly arranged in or attached to a part that is released when operating-said quick release mechanism. Hereby, it is possible to use a quick- release mechanism in a yarn feeder provided with a yarn brake motor assembly to control the yarn braking force applied by the braking element. By providing the motor of the brake motor assembly fixedly arranged in or attached to a part of the yarn feeder that is released when operating the quick release mechanism can facilitate easy brake motor assembly

maintenance and repair.

In accordance with one embodiment, the motor is at least partly located in a control handle of the quick release mechanism. The housing of the motor can form the control handle. The housing of the motor can alternatively be a part of the control handle.

In accordance with one embodiment the motor is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type of mechanism and moved to a gap position by a spring force. In accordance with one embodiment the motor is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type of mechanism and moved to a gap position by hand force.

In accordance with one embodiment the motor is controllable via a control input located on said control handle. In another embodiment the motor is controllable via a control input located in electronics of the yarn feeder. In yet another embodiment the motor is controllable via a control input located in a weaving machine with which the yarn feeder is cooperating.

In accordance with one embodiment the motor can be controlled via a feedback signal from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the yarn feeder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view from the side of yarn feeder,

- Fig. 2 is a view from the side of a yarn feeder with a quick release mechanism in an open position, and

- Fig. 3 is a view of a turning handle for a quick release mechanism comprising a motor of a yarn brake motor assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 depicts a yarn feeder 10. In the yarn feeder 10 of Fig. 1 an extension arm 12, called top cover in the field of yarn feeders, is arranged extending from a housing 14 for example as described in US 5,947,403. The yarn feeder 10 comprises a yarn braking element 16, which is shown in Fig. 1 in its braking position. The yarn braking element 16 cooperates in a customary manner with the withdrawal rim of the spool body 18. The yarn braking element 16 can thus be moved back and forth along an axis A to control the braking force applied to a yarn withdrawn from the yarn feeder 10. In one embodiment the yarn braking element 16 can be attached to the extension arm 12 via, an along the axis A slidable, brake element holder 27 provided at the extension arm 12.

In Fig. 1, the yarn braking element 16 is in the braking position in which it is axially pressed with a predetermined, settable axial force against the spool body 18. This position can be changed by running a motor of a brake motor assembly 20 to vary the contact pressure of the yarn braking body 18, by making the braking element 16 move along the axis A. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment the brake motor assembly comprises a motor (see Fig. 3) with the motor axis connected to a rotatable threaded element 25. A nut 23, being fixedly attached to the braking element holder 27, cooperates with the threaded element 25 when it is being rotated to move the braking element holder 27, and hence simultaneously the held yarn braking element 16, axially along the extension arm 12. The movement of the yarn braking element 16 can in this manner be controlled by the brake motor assembly 20 by running the motor to rotate the threaded element 25, whereby the slidable braking element holder 27 is moved in axial direction and hence also the braking element 16 fixedly attached to the slidable braking element holder 27.

In Fig. 1 the brake motor assembly 20 is arranged accessible via a quick release mechanism. Thus, a quick release mechanism for moving the yarn braking element 16 between a respective braking position and a gap position is provided on the yarn feeder 10. The quick release mechanism can in accordance with one embodiment be arranged to move the yarn braking element 16 between a respective braking position and a gap position in one stroke.

To move the yarn braking element 16 into a gap position relative to the spool body 18, for instance, in order to thread a yarn with the aid of a threading needle or by hand or even by automatic means, or to clean or replace the yarn braking element 16, a control handle 24 on the quick release mechanism is turned by hand, for example in the clockwise direction, whereby the releasable section of the feeder, comprising the yarn brake holder 27 and the yarn braking element 16 will be moved to the right in Fig. 1, into its released position, at some gap distance from the spool body of the feeder.

For example, in a manner known per se, e.g. from the afore-mentioned US 5,947,403 the control handle can act over a bayonet type of connection/transmission in order to release the releasable section of the yarn feeder, comprising the braking element holder 27 and hence the braking element 16, in one single stroke by a one-hand small turning movement of the control handle.

As described in detail in US 5,947,403, the quick release mechanism works in the following way: A bayonet screw 22, provided with a helical groove on its outer surface, is fixed to the rear end wall of the brake motor assembly 20 facing the feeder. A pin 30, the one end of which is fixed to the stationary extending arm 12 (top cover) fits with its other end in the helical groove in the bayonet screw 22. Thus, upon turning the brake motor housing in clockwise respectively anti-clockwise direction, said motor housing in this embodiment forming the control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism, the stationary pin 30, will hereby co-act with the helical groove on said housing, whereby the whole brake motor assembly 20, the motor axis of which being connected to or alternatively itself forming the rotatable threaded element 25, will be displaced a small distance to the right respectively to the left in axial direction, together with a brake ring holder 17 and the yarn braking element 16.

Fig. 2 shows the yarn feeder 10 with the quick release mechanism and the releasable section moved to the right. To return the yarn braking element 16 into the braking position, the control handle 24 is again turned. Again preferably with only one hand and in one single stroke, in the opposite direction. The previously adjusted contact pressure of the yarn braking element 16 against the withdrawal rim of the spool body of the feeder will hereby remain un-changed compared to the previously applied contact pressure (before the quick release cycle). As set out above, a brake motor assembly 20 can form/constitute a part of the quick release mechanism. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the brake motor assembly 20 is integrated in the quick release mechanism. In another embodiment the brake motor is a part of, or fixedly coupled to the part that moves when the quick release mechanism is activated. Hereby activation of the quick release mechanism will enable the release also of the brake motor assembly. A motor 26 (shown in Fig. 3) of the brake motor assembly 20 can be controlled via control buttons 28 and 29. The motor 26 can for example be a step motor or a DC motor. The control buttons 28 and 29 can be located on the control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism.

In Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view from the side of the control handle 24 is shown. The control handle 24 itself in the embodiment depicted in Fig.3, houses the motor 26 of the brake motor assembly 20. By locating the motor 26 inside or fixed to a part that is released when operating the quick release mechanism, it is possible to provide a yarn feeder 10 with a motor-adjustable brake force of the yarn braking element 16 and at the same time have a quick release mechanism provided in the yarn feeder.

As is shown in Fig. 3, the motor 26 can, at least partly, be located in a control handle 24 of the quick release mechanism. In particular the housing of the motor 26 can form the quick release handle 24 or at least a part of the quick release handle 24.

In accordance with another embodiment (not shown), the yarn feeder can be provided with a brake motor mounted on a part that is quickly released by another type of mechanism such as a trigger type mechanism, e.g. a push button, knob, etc. and moved to a gap position by a spring force or simply by hand force to a gap position, and vice versa, by hand. For example, the mechanism in accordance with a mechanism as set out in EP 0 826 619. In other words, a trigger mechanism including any kind of unlatch mechanism that is controlled by pressure acting on the mechanism can be used. The term trigger mechanism is intended to cover all such conventional pressure activated mechanisms.

As is set out above the motor 26 can be controllable via a control input located on the handle. In another embodiment the motor 26 is controllable via a control input located in the feeder electronics of the yarn feeder 10. In yet another embodiment the motor 26 is controllable via a control input located in the electronics panel in a weaving machine with which the feeder is cooperating.

In accordance with some embodiments the motor 26 can also be controlled via a feedback signal received from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the feeder.

The provision of the motor assembly in the quick release mechanism further facilitates easy brake motor assembly maintenance and repair.

Claims

1. A yarn feeder (10) comprising a brake motor assembly (20), the brake motor assembly (20) being adapted to control the position of a braking element (16) cooperating with a spool body (18) of the yarn feeder (10), characterized in that the yarn feeder (10) further comprises a quick release mechanism whereby the braking element (16) can be moved from a braking position where the braking element (16) is positioned to brake a yarn withdrawn from the yarn feeder (10) and a gap position where the braking element (16) is distanced from the spool body (18) and wherein a motor (26) of the brake motor assembly (20) is fixedly arranged in or attached to a part that is released when operating-said quick release mechanism.

2. The yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (26) is at least partly located in a control handle (24) of the quick release mechanism.

3. The yarn feeder (10) according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the motor (26) forms the control handle (24).

4. The yarn feeder (10) according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the motor (26) is a part of the control handle (24).

5. The yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (26) is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type of mechanism and moved to a gap position by a spring force.

6. The yarn feeder (10) according to claim 1, where the motor (26) is mounted on a part that is released by a trigger type of mechanism and moved to a gap position by hand force.

7. The yarn feeder (10) according to any of the claims 2-4, wherein the motor (26) is controllable via a control input (28, 29) located on said control handle (24).

8. The yarn feeder (10) according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the motor (26) is controllable via a control input located in electronics of the yarn feeder (10).

9. The yarn feeder (10) according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the motor (26) is controllable via a control input located in a weaving machine with which the yarn feeder (10) is cooperating.

10. The yarn feeder (10) according to any of the claims 1-9, wherein the motor (26) is controlled via a feedback signal from a yarn tension meter mounted downstream of the yarn feeder (10).