A method for unwinding yarn is provided that allows for maximizing the draft of the yarn, while monitoring tension. The method includes providing a yarn package including elastic yarn; choosing a selected draft for said elastic yarn; unwinding the elastic yarn from the yarn package from a driven roll to yarn processing equipment at the selected draft which is determined by a ratio of a speed of the yarn at the yarn processing equipment to a speed of the driven roll; measuring tension in the elastic yarn; and providing an alarm when said tension reaches a critical level.

A method for operating a work station of a textile machine that produces or rewinds yarn in a normal operation, wherein the normal operation is interrupted. The method includes performing at least one service step for restoring the normal operation, wherein a service result is specified for the service step. A standard service operation is carried out with a service device until the service result has been achieved or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached. When the predetermined number of failed standard service operation attempts has been reached, an extended service operation is carried out.

A method for operating a work station of a textile machine that produces or rewinds yarn in a normal operation, wherein the normal operation is interrupted. The method includes performing at least one service step for restoring the normal operation, wherein a service result is specified for the service step. A standard service operation is carried out with a service device until the service result has been achieved or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached. When the predetermined number of failed standard service operation attempts has been reached, an extended service operation is carried out.

A level winder (10, 110, 210, 310) for use on a hose reel (1), the level winder including: a carriage (20, 120, 220) operatively connected to a hose guide (104-108), the carriage adapted to control the winding of the hose onto the hose reel and to allow the hose to be paid out through the hose guide; and a drive mechanism 30 carrying at least one drive dog (32, 136) that is adapted to travel in a substantially vertical drive mechanism plane and to engage a carriage guide (12, 112) on which the carriage is mounted to move the carriage reciprocally along a track. The carriage guide is aligned in the same plane that the drive dog travels and the carriage guide comprises at least one curved surface (14, 114) adapted to define a recess (13, 113) and to engage a curved surface of the drive dog (16, 116), such that at least a portion of the drive dog curved surface (I6) is always facing or engaged with the carriage guide curved surface (14) and remains trapped in the recess (12, 113).

A level winder (10, 110, 210, 310) for use on a hose reel (1), the level winder including: a carriage (20, 120, 220) operatively connected to a hose guide (104-108), the carriage adapted to control the winding of the hose onto the hose reel and to allow the hose to be paid out through the hose guide; and a drive mechanism 30 carrying at least one drive dog (32, 136) that is adapted to travel in a substantially vertical drive mechanism plane and to engage a carriage guide (12, 112) on which the carriage is mounted to move the carriage reciprocally along a track. The carriage guide is aligned in the same plane that the drive dog travels and the carriage guide comprises at least one curved surface (14, 114) adapted to define a recess (13, 113) and to engage a curved surface of the drive dog (16, 116), such that at least a portion of the drive dog curved surface (I6) is always facing or engaged with the carriage guide curved surface (14) and remains trapped in the recess (12, 113).

The present invention relates generally to lifting gear such as cranes which use ropes such as high-strength fiber ropes. The invention here in particular relates to an apparatus for monitoring operating data and/or for determining the replacement state of such a rope in use on such lifting equipment having a detection device for detecting at least one rope use parameter that influences the replacement state of wear and having a data store for storing the detected rope use parameter and/or an operating parameter derived therefrom that characterizes the residual service life and/or the replacement state of wear of the rope. Provision is made in accordance with the invention that the data store for storing the at least one detected rope use parameter and/or an operating parameter derived therefrom is integrated in the rope, with a reading and/or writing unit connected to the detection device for detecting said rope use parameter being provided to write to the data store in the rope installed at the lifting equipment.

In one example, a festoon system comprises a festoon module having a support assembly, and further comprises at least one upper sheave and at least one lower sheave, which are movable relative to one another by movement of at least one of the upper sheave or the lower sheave. At least one wire is configured to enter the festoon module at an entrance region, extend around a groove of the least one lower sheave and at least one groove of the at least one upper sheave, and then exit the festoon module at an exit region. A first coupling location of the support assembly is adjacent to the entrance region of the festoon module, and a second coupling location of the support assembly is adjacent to the exit region of the festoon module. Different modules are configured to be coupled to the second coupling location.

It is possible to suppress damage to a yarn path guide mechanism and a textile machine. There is a first supporter which makes contact with a supporting shaft supporting a roller, a second supporter which is capable of making contact with the supporting shaft, and a biasing member which biases the second supporter in a direction in which the supporting shaft is sandwiched between the second supporter and the first supporter. When a virtual straight line which passes through a winding center and a rotation center is a first virtual straight line whereas a virtual straight line which extends in a direction orthogonal to the first virtual straight line and passes through the rotation center is a second virtual straight line, the second supporter makes contact with a part of the supporting shaft, which is positionally opposite to the winding center over the second virtual straight line.

It is possible to suppress damage to a yarn path guide mechanism and a textile machine. There is a first supporter which makes contact with a supporting shaft supporting a roller, a second supporter which is capable of making contact with the supporting shaft, and a biasing member which biases the second supporter in a direction in which the supporting shaft is sandwiched between the second supporter and the first supporter. When a virtual straight line which passes through a winding center and a rotation center is a first virtual straight line whereas a virtual straight line which extends in a direction orthogonal to the first virtual straight line and passes through the rotation center is a second virtual straight line, the second supporter makes contact with a part of the supporting shaft, which is positionally opposite to the winding center over the second virtual straight line.

A yarn feed assembly for directing yarn from a wound yarn source to a yarn feed tube having a frame member positioned adjacent to the wound yarn source and defining at least one elongate interior chamber. The yarn feed assembly has a weighted member slideably received in the elongate interior chamber such that, upon pulling one yarn off of the wound yarn source, through a bore of the weighted member and into the yarn feed tube, the weighted member is axially movable along a longitudinal axis of the frame member such that the bore of the weighted member is axially movable about and between a bottom end and a top end of the elongate slot in response to tension applied to the yarn as a result of yarn hang ups on the wound yarn source.