Device and method for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn at a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine

Abstract

A device as well as a method for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon (B) formed by a continuous yarn at a workstation (1) of a yarn balloon forming textile machine. The workstation (1) comprises an electromagnetically functioning sensor means (33), designed and arranged in such a way that at least two interruptions of a measuring beam (42) of the sensor means (33) are caused by the yarn (5, 25) forming the yarn balloon (B) during every rotation of the yarn balloon (B) during the operation of the workstation (1), and in that the time interval between the interruptions of the measuring beam (42) can be recorded by the sensor means (33) and used for calculating the diameter of the yarn balloon (B).

Claims

1. A device for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn at a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, characterized in that the workstation comprises a spindle and an electromagnetically functioning sensor, arranged in such a way that at least two faults of a measuring beam of the sensor are generated by the continuous yarn forming the yarn balloon during the operation of the workstation during every rotation of the yarn balloon, and in that the time interval of the faults of the measuring beam can be recorded by the sensor and used for calculating the diameter of the yarn balloon, wherein the sensor is arranged in such a way that the measuring beam of the sensor extends parallel at a distance from the axis of rotation of the spindle.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is designed as an optically functioning light barrier with a light source and a light receiver.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor is designed as a one-way light barrier, with a light source and a light receiver, each arranged on opposite sides of the yarn balloon to be monitored.

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor is designed as a reflection light barrier, with a light source and a light receiver on the same side of the yarn balloon to be monitored, as well as a reflector member for the functional connection of the light source and the light receiver.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a light emitting diode is used as a light source.

6. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a laser is used as a light source.

7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the light receiver has a receiver diode.

8. A method for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn at a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine with a device according to claim 1, characterized in that intermittent faults of the measuring beam of the sensor caused by the continuous yarn during the operation of the workstation during every rotation of the yarn balloon are each converted into an electric signal (i) by the sensor, and in that the time interval between both signals (i) generated during the rotation of the yarn balloon are used for determining the diameter of the yarn balloon.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the absence of electric signals (i) during the operation of the workstation is interpreted as the absence of a yarn balloon at the workstation, and therefore as a broken yarn.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the arrangement of the sensor enables conclusions to be made regarding overlengths and/or equal tensions of the yarn.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to various embodiment examples illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a workstation of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine with a sensor means according to the invention, arranged in such a way that the measuring beam of the sensor means extends orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the spindle,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a workstation of a double-wire twisting machine with a sensor means according to the invention, also arranged in such a way that the measuring beam of its sensor means extends orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the spindle,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a workstation of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine with a sensor means according to the invention, arranged in such a way that the measuring beam of the sensor means extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle,

(5) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are graphic illustrations of the mode of action of the sensor means according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) A schematic side view of a workstation 1 of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this embodiment the textile machine comprises a creel 4, which is normally positioned above or behind the workstation 1 and normally serves for receiving a multitude of feed packages. A so-called outer yarn 5 is extracted from one of the feed packages, hereafter described as the first feed package 7.

(7) The workstation 1 further has a spindle 2, rotatable around an axis of rotation 35, in the present embodiment example consisting of a cabling spindle equipped with a protective cap 19, in which a second feed package 15 is stored.

(8) A so-called inner yarn 16 is extracted overhead from this second feed package 15, and is supplied to a yarn balloon guiding eye or a so-called balancing system 9 arranged above the spindle 2. The protective cap 19, mounted on the yarn diverting means designed as a rotatable twisted yarn plate 8 in this embodiment example, is preferably secured against rotating by a magnetic means (not shown). The yarn diverting means of the spindle 2 is activated by a spindle drive 3, which can either be a direct drive or an indirect drive.

(9) The outer yarn 5 extracted from the first feed package 7 is supplied to a controllable means 6 arranged in the yarn path between the creel 4 and the spindle 2 for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension, with which the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 can be varied if necessary.

(10) The means 6 is connected with a control circuit 18 via control lines, which regulate the yarn tension and/or the yarn supply speed applied to the outer yarn 5 by the means 6.

(11) The controllable yarn tension applied to the outer yarn 5 by the means 6 is here preferably of a magnitude that, depending on the geometry of the spindle 2, leads to an optimisation of the free yarn balloon B, i.e. to a yarn balloon B with the smallest possible diameter.

(12) After the means 6 the outer yarn 5 runs through the spindle drive 3 in the area of the axis of rotation of the spindle drive 3, and exits the hollow axis of rotation of the spindle drive 3 in a radial direction below the twisted yarn plate 8 through a so-called yarn output bore. The outer yarn 5 then runs to the outer area of the twisted yarn plate 8.

(13) With the present embodiment example the outer yarn 5 is diverted upwards at the edge of the twisted yarn plate 8 and circles the protective cap 19 of the spindle 2, in which the second feed package 15 is positioned, whilst forming a free yarn balloon B.

(14) A sensor means 33 is further arranged above the protective cap 19 of the spindle 2, which is for example designed as a light barrier.

(15) For this the sensor means 33 can either, as illustrated in the figures, be designed as a one-way light barrier, where a light source 41 and a light receiver 42 are arranged on opposite sides of the yarn balloon B to be monitored, or as a reflection light barrier (not shown), where the light source 41 and the light receiver 40 are positioned on the same side of the yarn balloon to be monitored, and are for example arranged in a common sensor housing.

(16) With a reflection light barrier the light beam of the light source is also reflected back to the light receiver by a reflector, arranged on the opposite side of the yarn balloon B to be monitored in relation to the sensor housing.

(17) As is clear, the one-way light barrier of the embodiment example illustrated in FIG. 1 is positioned in such a way that a measuring beam 42 emitted by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33, in this case a light beam, passes through the area of the yarn balloon B orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the spindle 2 and meets the associated light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33. The light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 is also connected with a control circuit 18 via a signal line here.

(18) The sensor means 33, with which the relevant current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B to be monitored is determined, does however not necessarily have to function as a light barrier, but can in principle also work according to another physical principle.

(19) The sensor means 33 can for example also work with any other wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example radar, ultrasound, infrared etc.

(20) In the present embodiment example the sensor means 33 according to the invention is however designed as an optically functioning light barrier, comprising a light source 41 and a light receiver 40. Light emitting diodes=LEDs, laser diodes or surface emitters=VCSELs can for example be used as the light source 41. A photodiode, a phototransistor or a photoconductive cell can also be used as a light receiver 40.

(21) As is also clear from FIG. 1, the outer yarn 5 extracted from the first feed package 7 and the inner yarn 16 extracted from the second feed package 15 are joined in the area of a yarn balloon guiding eye or a balancing system 9, wherein the position of the yarn balloon guiding eye or the balancing system 9 determines the height of the free yarn balloon B that is formed.

(22) The so-called cabling or also cording point is located in the yarn balloon guiding eye or the balancing system 9, in which the two yarns, the outer yarn 5 and the inner yarn 16, come together and for example form a cord yarn 17.

(23) A yarn extraction device 10 with which the cord yarn 17 is extracted and supplied to a spooling and winding device 12 via a balancing element, such as for example a compensating means 11, is arranged above the cabling point.

(24) The spooling and winding device 12 here comprises a drive cylinder 13, as is usual, which drives a spool 14 by means of friction.

(25) The means 6 for influencing the yarn tension is either designed as an electronically regulated brake or as an active supply mechanism, wherein a combination of the two above mentioned components can also be used.

(26) A galette, a serrated lock washer or a drive roll with a corresponding pressure roll are for example possible as design variations of a supply mechanism.

(27) The means 6 regulates the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 depending on the diameter of the free yarn balloon B, which is determined by the sensor means 33. This means that a measuring beam 42 initiated by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33 is crossed twice by the running outer yarn 5 forming the rotating yarn balloon B at every rotation of the yarn balloon B during the operation of the workstation 1, which is immediately recognised as a fault S in form of a shadow by the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 and transmitted to the control circuit 18 as an electric signal i.

(28) The control circuit 18 then immediately calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B from the time gap between the two faults S, and therefore the electric signals i generated by the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 at every rotation of the yarn balloon B. The control circuit 18 also immediately acts to regulate the yarn supply speed of the outer yarn 5 via the means 6 if necessary, which immediately leads to a correction of the diameter of the circulating yarn balloon B.

(29) As already indicated above, the sensor means 33 is designed as a light barrier in the embodiment example illustrated in FIG. 1, or more precisely as a one-way light barrier. This means that the sensor means 33 comprises a light course 41 and a light receiver 40 arranged on the opposite side of the yearn balloon B to be monitored, wherein the light source 41 and the light receiver 40 are arranged in such a way that a light beam originating from the light source 41, serving as a measuring beam 42, penetrates the rotating yarn balloon B.

(30) The measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 here extends orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the yarn balloon B, so that the yarn balloon B, formed by the outer yarn 5 in the present embodiment example, intersects the measuring beam 42 twice during each rotation. The measuring beam 42 is this interrupted or weakened, which leads to varying irradiation intensity at the light receiver 40, with the consequence of a change in its voltage.

(31) The basic construction of the workstation 20 of a double-wire twisting machine illustrated as an embodiment example in FIG. 2 has long been known and is for example described in detail in European Patent Publication EP 2 315 864 B1.

(32) As is clear, the workstation 20 comprises a twisted yarn spindle 22, driven by a spindle drive 23 and rotatable around an axis of rotation 35. The twisted yarn spindle 22 has a protective cap 34, in which a feed package 21 is located, from which a yarn 25 is extracted by means of a yarn tension influencing device 26. The yarn tension influencing device 26 is connected with a control circuit 33 via a control line. The yarn 25 then arrives at a balloon yarn guiding eye 27 arranged above the yarn tension influencing device 26 via a yarn deflection means 24, preferably designed as a twisted yarn plate connected with a spindle drive 23. The balloon yarn guiding eye 27 is followed by a yarn extraction device 28, a balancing element such as for example a compensating means 29, and a spooling and winding device 30. The spooling and winding device 30 here comprises a drive cylinder 32 as is usual, which drives a spool 31 by means of friction.

(33) The workstation 20 further has a sensor means 33, designed as a one-way light barrier in the embodiment example, and a light source 41 as well as a light receiver 40, wherein the light receiver 40 is connected with a control circuit 33 via a signal line.

(34) The light source 41 and the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 are arranged in such a way here that the measuring beam 42 present as a light beam, initiated by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33, extends orthogonally to the axis of rotation 35 of the twisted yarn spindle 22, and therefore also orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the yarn balloon B.

(35) The measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 is consequently crossed twice by the yarn 25 during every rotation of the yarn balloon B, which is immediately recognised as a fault by the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 and transmitted to the control circuit 33 as an electric signal i.

(36) This means that each interruption or weakening of the measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 designed as a light beam will lead to a deviating irradiation intensity at the light receiver 40 with the sensor means 33 of the present workstation 20 of a double-wire twisted yarn machine with the consequence that the light receiver 40 immediately generated an electric signal I, which is transmitted to the control circuit 33 via the signal line. The control circuit 33 then immediately effects regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon B via the yarn tension influencing device 26.

(37) The workstation 2 of a double-wire twisted yarn or cabling machine illustrated as an embodiment example in FIG. 3 substantially equals the embodiment example of FIG. 1. The workstation 2 according to FIG. 3 differs only in the arrangement of the sensor means 33.

(38) As is clear, the sensor means 33 designed as a one-way light barrier in the present embodiment example as well is arranged in such a way that the measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 extends parallel to the axis of rotation 35 of the spindle 2. This means that the light source 41 and the light receiver 40 are position in such a way that the measuring beams 42 designed as a light beam is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the yarn balloon B.

(39) The light beam 42 of the sensor means 33 is interrupted or weakened by the rotating yarn, in this case by the outer yarn 5, during each rotation of the yarn balloon B in this embodiment example as well and thus generates different irradiation intensities at the light receiver 40, which leads to a fault S, and therefore to a change in the electric voltage of the light receiver 40 and is transmitted to the control circuit 18 as an electric signal.

(40) FIGS. 4A and 4B show a graphic illustration of the working method of a sensor means 33 according to the invention.

(41) In the embodiment example according to FIG. 4A the sensor means 33 is designed as a one-way light barrier, which, as is obvious, has a light source 41—for example an LED or a laser—and a light receiver 40, for example a receiver diode. The light source 41 and the light receiver 40 are arranged in such a way here that a measuring beam 42, in this the present embodiment example a light beam, emitted by the light source 41 is interrupted by the yarn, for example an outer yarn 5, forming the yarn balloon B during every rotation of a yarn balloon B, which leads to a measuring impulse at the light receiver 40 and is transmitted to the control circuit 18 as an electric signal i.

(42) The minimally measurable diameter of the yarn balloon B is given with the sensor means 33 according to the invention when the measuring beam 42 is interrupted just once during a rotation of the yarn balloon B and the light receiver 40 generates just one electric signal I=measuring impulse per rotation of the yarn balloon B.

(43) With increasingly larger yarn balloons B the yarn 5 causes two faults S of the measuring beam 42 at different times during each rotation of the yarn balloon B, as is illustrated in FIG. 4A, each detected by the light receiver 40 and transmitted to the control circuit 18 as a measuring impulse i by the same.

(44) As is clear from FIG. 4B, the control circuit 18 calculates the current diameter of the yarn balloon B from the time interval t between the two measuring impulses i and the known distance of the measuring beam 42 from the axis of rotation of the spindle without a problem.

(45) As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a measuring beam 42 emitted by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33 is interrupted twice by a yarn 5 circulating the protective cap 19 of a spindle 2 as a yarn balloon B.sub.1 and having a relatively small diameter, which is identified by fault points S.sub.1 and S.sub.2.

(46) A time interval t.sub.1 lies between the fault points S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, each recognised by the light receiver 40 and transmitted to the control circuit 18 as an electric signal i. The control circuit 18 then immediately calculates the current diameter of the yarn balloon B.sub.1 with the aid of this as further known data, as already explained above.

(47) Comparable situations are also given when the spindle 2 is circulated by a yarn balloon B with a clearly larger diameter, i.e. if a yarn balloon B.sub.2 or a yarn balloon B.sub.3 is present.

(48) In such a case the yarn 5 also initiates two faults of the measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 at time intervals during every rotation of the yarn balloon. In FIG. 4A the fault points S.sub.3 and S.sub.4 relating to the yarn balloon B.sub.2 are identified, whilst the fault points affecting yarn balloon B.sub.3 are identified with S.sub.5 and S.sub.6.

(49) As illustrated in FIG. 4B fault points S.sub.3 and .sub.4 here have a temporary distance t.sub.2, whilst fault points S.sub.5 and S.sub.6 are separated by time interval t.sub.3. The current diameters of yarn balloons B.sub.2 or B.sub.3 can be calculated without a problem from intervals t.sub.2 or t.sub.3 by means of further data.

(50) A special case is given if the measuring beam 42 of the sensor means 33 is merely tangent to the yarn balloon B, i.e. if only one interruption occurs per rotation of the yarn balloon B.

(51) In such a case the control circuit 18 can also determine the current diameter of the yarn balloon B without a problem with the known arrangement of the sensor means 33.

(52) The device according to the invention or the associated method can preferably also be used in connection with a reference spindle.

(53) This means at least one of the workstations of the yarn balloon forming textile machine is designed as a reference spindle, equipped with a device according to the invention and continuously monitoring the diameter of the yarn balloon.

(54) The values determined by the reference spindle are then used for setting up neighbouring workstations of the textile machine.

(55) It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiment, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.