There is provided a torque device which includes a driving module, a driven module and an adjusting module. The adjusting module comprises a magnetic torque device, wherein an input end of the magnetic torque device is capable of being driven by the driving module, an output end of the magnetic torque device is capable of driving the driven module, the input end and the output end of the magnetic torque device have a variable distance therebetween, and the input end is capable of driving the output end to transfer a torque in operation.

A braking system for a welding machine is provided. In one aspect, the braking system includes a brake surface, a spool hub shaft, a spool hub, an adjustment knob and an expandable and compressible member. The spool hub shaft is capable of engaging against the brake surface. The expandable and compressible member is provided between the spool hub and the adjustment knob to apply varying levels of force on the spool hub. The spool hub shaft has at least one tab which is capable of engaging with a recess in the adjustment knob to adjust the force applied by the member on the spool hub.

This invention includes an annular hysteresis brake (34) having one end fixed to a stationary frame (11), a support shaft (6) extending through a hollow portion of the hysteresis brake (34), and a spindle part (4) rotatably supported by the support shaft (6). The hysteresis brake (34) includes a yoke (36), a cylindrical hysteresis member (46) inserted into an annular space (41) of the yoke (36), and a hub (37) for rotatably supporting the hysteresis member (46). The spindle part (4) is supported by the support shaft (6) such that the spindle part (4) is restricted from moving toward the hysteresis brake (34) by a sleeve (15). The spindle part (4) and hub (37) are coupled with each other so as to rotate together via pins (21). This invention can simplify the structure while preventing damage to the hysteresis brake, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of a thread-supplying spindle unit.

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a modular spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The modular spool can be disposed in the lacing channel and can comprise a lower plate including a shaft extending from the lower plate, and an upper plate including a drum portion. The upper plate can be releasably connected to the lower plate at a connection interface. The drive mechanism can couple with the modular spool and can be adapted to rotate the modular spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and between the upper and lower plates of the modular spool.

Method and system for feeding a twisted metal cable braided into a plurality of braids or a flat wire from a support or spool to a winder or winding machine, including unwinding the cable or wire from the spool, measuring a property of the cable or wire from among its tension, velocity and quantity, possible adjustment of the property and feeding the cable or wire to the machine with the property constant. The cable or wire is unwound in a controlled way in a direction at right angles to the axis of the spool directly from such spool or through a return member which receives the cable or wire from the spool from which it is unwound in an uncontrolled way, such controlled unwinding preventing the cable changing the structure of its braids through loosening or stretching and the wire undergoes torsion before its property is measured.

A spindle unit includes a support shaft, an electromagnetic air-gap brake, a spindle member, and a coupler. The support shaft is attached to the stationary frame of a creel. The brake is connected to the front end of the support shaft. The spindle member is rotatably supported by the support shaft in a state in which the support shaft and the brake are inserted in the spindle member. The coupler couples the spindle member and the brake shaft.

Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.

A method for operating a workstation (1) of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, wherein a yarn balloon (B) formed by a continuous yarn (5) circling a spindle (2) of the workstation (1) is scanned with a sensor means (33) at said workstation. Data (D) recorded by the sensor means (33), providing information about the current diameter of the yarn balloon (B) to be monitored, is transmitted to a control circuit (18), in that the control circuit (18) calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon (B) by means of this data (D) and further known data, compares this with a stipulated target diameter of the yarn balloon (B), and in that the control circuit (18) ensures that the yarn balloon (B) has the stipulated target diameter with the aid of a means (6) switched into the yarn path of the yarn (5), for influencing the yarn tension.

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine is described. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.