SPLICE HEAD FOR A SPLICER, SPLICE DEVICE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SPLICE HEAD, METHOD FOR SPLICING YARN USING A SPLICE HEAD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

Abstract

A splicing head (100) for a splicing device comprising a splicing chamber and a clamping device (8) for clamping yarns. The clamping device (8) is disposed between two sections (4) of the splicing chamber. The clamping device (8) is arranged independently operable on the splicing head (100), so that the clamping device (8) is operable before and/or after closing the splicing chamber. The splicing head (100) comprises at least one drawing-in element for ensuring that the yarn ends are included in the splicing process, in particular for drawing the yarn ends into the splicing chamber.

Claims

1. A splicing head for a splicing device comprising a splicing chamber and a clamping device for clamping yarns, the clamping device being arranged between two sections of the splicing chamber, characterized in that the clamping device is arranged independently operable on the splicing head such that the clamping device is operable at least one of before and after closing the splicing chamber, wherein the splicing head comprises at least one drawing-in element for ensuring that the yarn ends are arranged in the splicing chamber.

2. Splicing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the splicing head comprises two cutting elements for cutting the yarns.

3. Splicing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the drawing-in element is designed such that the distance from an entrance of the yarn into a splicing chamber to a clamping device of a clamping device is extended or extendable.

4. Splicing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the splicing chamber is designed to be at least one of extendable and displaceable.

5. Splicing head according to claim 4, characterized in that the splicing head comprises at least two further clamping devices being arranged in yarn guiding direction before and after the splicing chamber sections.

6. Splicing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a first clamping element and a second clamping element, wherein the first clamping element comprises a first clamping surface and the second clamping element comprises a second clamping surface, wherein the clamping device defines a distance between the first clamping surface and second clamping surface in an open position, so that a tension can be applied to the yarns when clamping the yarns.

7. Splicing head according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping surfaces comprise at least one of rough surfaces and adhesive surfaces for preventing sliding of the yarns.

8. Splicing head according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping device comprises at least one moving element of the group of a pneumatic, a hydraulic, and an electronic moving element for actuating at least one of the first clamping element and the second clamping element.

9. Splicing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the splicing chamber is movably arranged on the splicing head so that the splicing chamber has at least one of the following features: chamber openings are closable in a second position of the splicing chamber, and the splicing chamber has a closing device for closing the splicing chamber.

10. Splicing device comprising at least one splicing head according to claim 1, wherein the splicing head comprises a plurality of splicing heads, wherein said plurality of splicing heads are arranged in series so that a plurality of yarns guided in parallel can be spliced separately by the splicing device.

11. Method for splicing yarn, with a splicing head according to claim 1, comprising the steps of introducing yarns to be spliced into a splicing chamber in such a way that yarn ends are located outside the splicing chamber, clamping the yarns to be spliced with a clamping device, actuating a drawing-in element in such a way that the yarn ends are located inside the splicing chamber, splicing the yarn ends.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the further steps of before or after clamping the yarns to be spliced with the clamping device, creating an excess of yarn between clamping points of the yarn in the clamping device, carrying out a presplicing operation, cutting the yarn ends, operating the drawing-in element, carrying out the splicing.

13. A computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a computer, comprising a software component for at least one of the following: performing the actuation of the drawing-in element and the splicing in a method for splicing yarns according to claim 11.

14. Splicing head according to claim 1, wherein the drawing-in element for ensuring that the yarn ends are arranged in the splicing chamber is configured for drawing the yarn ends into the splicing chamber.

15. Splicing head according to claim 2, wherein the cutting elements are arranged in yarn guiding direction before the first and after the second section of the splicing chamber.

16. Splicing head according to claim 4, wherein the splicing chamber comprises splicing chamber sections, wherein the splicing chamber sections are displaceable in yarn guiding direction such that after displacement at least one yarn end is completely located in the splicing chamber section.

17. Splicing head according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the further clamping devices is at least one of rotatably arranged and displaceably arranged on the sliding head.

18. Splicing head according to claim 17, wherein clamping device is displaceable in yarn guiding direction.

19. Splicing head according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the clamping surfaces in an open position is designed such that the yarn ends can be retracted by at least 5%.

20. Splicing device according to claim 10, wherein the splicing device comprises a computer unit.

Description

[0045] FIG. 1: Perspective view of a splicing head.

[0046] FIG. 2: Perspective view of the splicing head with housing

[0047] FIG. 3: Front view of the splicing head

[0048] FIG. 4: Front view of the splicing head at the beginning of the splicing process

[0049] FIG. 5: Front view of splicing head with closed splicing chambers

[0050] FIG. 6: Front view of the splicing head with cut yarn

[0051] FIG. 7: Front view of splicing head with pulled-in yarn ends

[0052] FIG. 8: Front view of the splicing head with cut yarn with an alternative design of the drawing-in element

[0053] FIG. 9: Front view of splicing head with displaced splicing chamber sections

[0054] FIG. 10: Front view of the splicing head with cut yarn with a third embodiment of the feed element

[0055] FIG. 11: Front view of the splicing head with displaced lateral clamping devices

[0056] FIG. 12: Schematic view of a splicing device with calculating unit and

[0057] 13a to 13c: Various work steps in a process in which presplicing is performed.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a splicing head 100. The splicing head 100 comprises two splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b, a central clamping device 8 and two lateral clamping devices 9.

[0059] Each splicing chamber sections 4a,b includes a cover 22a,b and a nozzle (not shown here).

[0060] The central clamping device 8 comprises a first clamping element 1 and a second, opposite clamping element 2. The clamping elements 1 and 2 each have a clamping surface 3 (only the clamping surface 3 of clamping element 2 is shown here) between which yarns are clamped (cf. FIG. 5).

[0061] The lateral clamping devices 9 each comprise two single-sided clamping elements 7 and one double-sided clamping element 6. The double-sided clamping element 6 is arranged between the single-sided clamping elements 7 and comprises two clamping surfaces. Each clamping surface of the double-sided clamping element 6 is associated with a single-sided clamping element 7.

[0062] The splicing head 100 comprises eight moving elements 5, in this case pneumatic cylinders. In each case, a movement element 5 is connected to a clamping element 1,2 and 7 or to a cover 22. Furthermore, the splicing head 100 comprises two cutting elements 24 (see FIG. 6.

[0063] The splicing head 100 is used for splicing, i.e. joining, yarns. For this purpose, the yarns to be spliced are inserted into the splicing head 100, clamped by the central clamping device 8 and the lateral clamping devices 9 and cut by the cutting elements 24a,b (cf. FIG. 6). The splicing chamber sections 4a,b are closed by the covers 22a,b. The central clamping device 8 then moves transversely to the yarn guiding direction (cf. FIG. 3) and pulls the yarns to be spliced along, so that the yarn ends are drawn into the splicing chamber sections 4a,b. Typically, the clamping device 8 moves to such an extent that the yarn ends are drawn in by more than 10% of the length of the splicing chamber. A fluid, in this case compressed air, is introduced into each splicing chamber section 4a, b via a nozzle, causing the filaments of the yarns to open and become intertwined. The center clamping device 8, the side clamping devices 9 and the covers 22a,b are then opened. For details of the splicing process, reference is made here to FIGS. 4-7.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows the splicing head 100 in perspective view. The splicing head 100 includes a housing 10 having a first housing plate 11, a second housing plate 13, and two side plates 12. The first housing plate 11 includes two mounting slots 14. The second housing plate 13 also includes two mounting slots 14 and a clamping element opening 17 that allows a view of the second clamping element 2. Further seen is a circular side opening 15 and two yarn guide openings 18, here formed as slots, in a side plate 12. The side opening 15 is used to pass a tool (typically a screwdriver) for fastening screws (not shown) of the cutting elements 24. The side plate 12 further has two chamfered corners and two rounded corners. Both side plates 12 are identical.

[0065] Further, the splicing head 100 includes four fasteners 16 for each housing plate 11, 12 and 13.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows the splicing head 100 in a front view. The clamping device 8 is arranged in the center of the splicing head 100, so that the clamping direction K leads along a center plane A. The yarn guiding direction F leads at a right angle to the center plane A. In the yarn guiding direction F, first lateral clamping elements 9 are arranged first, followed by a first cutting element 24, a first splicing chamber section 4a,b and the clamping device 8. The splicing head 100 is constructed in mirror symmetry to the center axis A, so that the same elements of the splicing head follow in the yarn guiding direction F in reverse order.

[0067] On the basis of the following figures, a splicing process with a splicing head 100 is described.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows the splicing head 100 in front view at the beginning of the splicing process. The clamping device 8, the covers 22 of the splicing chamber sections 4a,b and the lateral clamping elements 9 are in the open position. In the open position, the first clamping element 1 is in the retracted position, so the pneumatic cylinder 5a is fully inside its envelope, the second clamping element 2 is in the extended position, so the pneumatic cylinder 5b is substantially outside its envelope. The covers 22a,b are in the retracted position.

[0069] At the beginning of the splicing process, the yarns 20 and 21 are inserted into the splicing head 100, respectively the splicing head 100 is moved towards the yarns 20 and 21, so that they are guided from one end of the splicing head 100 along the yarn guiding direction to the other end of the splicing head 100.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows the splicing head 100 in front view with closed splicing chambers 4a,b. The covers 22 can be seen in the extended position, thus closing the splicing chambers 4a,b. In addition, the side clamping devices 9 and the center clamping device 8 are closed so that the yarns 20 and 21 are clamped. In this case, the yarns 20 and 21 are clamped individually by the side clamping devices 9, and both yarns are clamped together by the middle clamping device 8. The clamping elements 1 and 2 are thus in a closed position: clamping element 1 is partially extended, clamping element 2 is fully extended.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows the splicing head 100 in front view with cut yarns 20 and 21. After closing the chamber sections 4 by the covers 22 and clamping the yarns 20, 21, the yarns are cut. In this process, the first yarn 20 is cut at a first end 25 of a first splicing chamber section 4 and the second yarn 21 is cut at a second end 26 of a second splicing chamber section 4a,b by the cutting elements 24a,b.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows the splicing head 100 in front view with yarns 20 and 21 drawn into the splicing chamber sections 4. Here, the clamping device 8 can be seen in the drawing-in position in which the yarn ends are drawn into the splicing chamber sections 4. Here, the first clamping element 1 is in the fully extended position, and the second clamping element 2 is in the retracted position.

[0073] After cutting, the clamping device 8 moves from the closed position to the retracted position, pulling the ends of the yarns 20 and 21 into the splicing chamber sections 4a,b.

[0074] After the step according to the illustration shown in FIG. 7, the clamping device 8 is moved back again. Now a splicing operation can be carried out in a manner known per se.

[0075] The yarns 20 and 21 can now be spliced together by introducing a splicing medium such as water or compressed air into the splicing chamber sections 4. When the splicing operation is complete, the covers 22a,b, the center clamping device 8 and the side clamping devices 9 are opened and the spliced yarn can be removed.

[0076] In the following FIGS. 8-11, alternative embodiments of the splicing head 100 are described. Only the differences of the splicing head 100 and the splicing process are described in comparison to the embodiment from the previous figures.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the splicing head 100 with cut yarn with an alternative embodiment of the drawing-in element. Here, the splicing head 100 comprises four guide elements 30 for guiding chamber moving elements 31 and four chamber moving elements 31. The chamber moving elements 31 allow the splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b to be moved in and against the yarn guiding direction (cf. FIG. 9). The splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b are in their starting position directly next to the central clamping device 9.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a front view of the splicing head 100 with displaced splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b. The chamber moving members 31 have moved the splicing chamber section 4a against the yarn guiding direction and the splicing chamber section 4b in the yarn guiding direction, so that the yarn ends are inside the splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b. The splicing operation can be performed normally. Before starting a new splicing operation, the splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b are returned to their initial position (cf. FIG. 8).

[0079] FIG. 10 shows a front view of the splicing head 100 with cut yarn with a further embodiment of the pull-in element. Here, the splicing head 100 also comprises four guiding elements 30. These guiding elements 30 serve here to enable the movement of the lateral clamping devices 9 in and against the yarn guiding direction. Further, the splicing head 100 comprises displacement elements 32 which allow the lateral clamping devices 9 to be displaced. Here, the lateral clamping devices 9 are in their initial position directly adjacent to the splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b.

[0080] FIG. 11 shows a front view of the splicing head 100 with displaced lateral clamping devices 9. The central clamping device 8 is opened before the lateral clamping devices 9 are displaced. By shifting the clamping devices 9, the yarn ends are pulled into the splicing chamber sections 4a and 4b. After that, the splicing process can be continued normally. Before a further splicing operation, the lateral clamping devices 9 are returned to their initial position (see FIG. 10).

[0081] FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of a splicing device 41 with a PLC 40. The splicing device 41 comprises several splicing heads 100 in series, which splice different yarns. The PLC 40 controls the splicing process by controlling a pneumatic island 42, which feeds several splicing heads arranged parallel to each other. As an alternative to the illustration in FIG. 12, a PLC can also control a plurality of pneumatic islands, each feeding a splicing head.

[0082] FIGS. 13a to 13c show a sequence of steps in which a pre-splice is performed. The illustration in FIGS. 13a and 13b corresponds to the illustration in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0083] FIGS. 13a to 13c show additional intermediate steps to the process shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. Pre-splicing can be performed in these steps. After inserting and partially closing the splice clamps according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the yarn is drawn in by actuating the clamping device 8 (see FIG. 13a). Then the yarn is clamped by actuating the lateral clamping devices 9 (see FIG. 13b). Subsequently, the clamping device 8 is moved back so that there is an excess of yarn between the lateral clamping devices 9. In this position, the fluid supply is actuated for the first time so that a presplicing takes place. During this presplicing, the yarn ends are not yet cut. Subsequent to the presplicing according to FIG. 13c, the cutting of the ends, the drawing in of the yarn ends and the splicing take place as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0084] Instead of creating an excess of yarn by operating the clamping device 8, it is also possible to create an excess by moving the lateral clamping devices 9 towards each other (not shown, in analogy to the embodiment according to FIG. 10).