Outer-yarn brake, a cording or cabling machine with an outer-yarn brake and a method for operating such a cording or cabling machine

Abstract

An outer-yarn brake (14) for a cording or cabling machine with at least one workstation comprising a bobbin rack (2) for holding at least one feed bobbin (4), a spindle (12) for the rotation of a yarn (6) withdrawn from the feed bobbin (4) around a bobbin pot associated with the spindle (12), and a yarn-guide channel (10) for guiding the yarn (6) received via a free end-portion (8) of the yarn-guide channel (10) to the spindle (12). The outer-yarn brake (14) can be arranged in the yarn running direction of the withdrawn yarn (6) between the feed bobbin (4) and the yarn-guide channel (10) to guide through the withdrawn yarn (6) and comprises a clamping portion for defined braking of the running yarn (6). The outer-yarn brake (14) can be coupled to the free end-portion (8) in order to form a yarn input for the yarn-guide channel (10).

Claims

1. An outer-yarn brake for a cording or cabling machine with at least one workstation comprising a bobbin rack for holding at least one feed bobbin, a spindle for the rotation of a yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin around a bobbin pot associated with the spindle, and a yarn-guide channel for guiding the yarn received via a free end-portion of the yarn-guide channel to the spindle; wherein the outer-yarn brake is arranged in the yarn running direction of the withdrawn yarn between the feed bobbin and the yarn-guide channel in order to guide through the withdrawn yarn and comprises a clamping portion for the defined braking of the movement of the yarn running through, characterized in that the outer-yarn brake is coupled to the free end-portion of the yarn-guide channel forming a yarn input for the yarn-guide channel.

2. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer-yarn brake is positioned rigidly on the free end-portion of the yarn-guide channel.

3. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer-yarn brake comprises a yarn output plugged, snapped or twisted into or onto the free end-portion.

4. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 3, characterized in that the yarn output is preceded by a shoulder portion, from which a projection extending parallel to the yarn output projects, which constitutes a pneumatic connection for the pneumatic release of the outer-yarn brake.

5. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that a yarn-passage portion of the outer-yarn brake disposed downstream of the clamping portion in the yarn running direction comprises a contact portion for contact on an associated counter-contact portion of the free end-portion, wherein the contact portion surrounds a yarn-outlet opening with an opening width which is larger than or equal to an opening width of a yarn input-opening surrounded by the counter-contact portion, which adjoins the yarn-outlet opening in the yarn running direction.

6. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 5, characterized in that the yarn-outlet opening defines a yarn input, a yarn passage or a yarn output of a nozzle formed in the yarn running direction.

7. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping portion comprises a brake element mounted between an upper and lower braking surface, which is moved pneumatically into a threading position for the threading of the withdrawn yarn, wherein at least one of the braking surfaces is integrated in a piston mounted in an axially displaceable manner, on which a biasing of at least one spring element acts in order to specify a braking force.

8. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper braking surface is integrated in an upper piston, which constitutes the piston mounted in an axially displaceable manner such that the upper piston is guided with play inside a housing of the outer-yarn brake so that the upper piston escapes into a position in which a mid-longitudinal axis of the upper piston forms an angle with a mid-longitudinal axis of the housing.

9. A cording or cabling machine with at least one workstation comprising a bobbin rack for holding at least one feed bobbin, a spindle for the rotation of a yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin around a bobbin pot associated with the spindle, and a yarn-guide channel for guiding the yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin to the spindle, wherein the yarn-guide channel comprises a free end-portion arranged outside the bobbin pot in order to receive the withdrawn yarn; characterized in that the workstation comprises an outer-yarn brake, wherein the outer-yarn brake is coupled to the free end-portion in order to form a yarn input for the yarn-guide channel.

10. The cording or cabling machine according to claim 9, characterized in that a preliminary brake for stretching the yarn running towards the outer-yarn brake is arranged between the feed bobbin and the outer-yarn brake, and/or a threading device for the threading of a yarn into the outer-yarn brake is arranged adjacent to the latter.

11. A method for operating a cording or cabling, machine with at least one workstation comprising a bobbin rack for holding at least one feed bobbin, a cabling spindle for the rotation of a yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin around a bobbin pot associated with the cabling spindle, and a yarn-guide channel for guiding the yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin to the cabling spindle; characterized in that the method comprises coupling an outer-yarn brake to a free end-portion of the yarn-guide channel constituting a yarn input of the yarn-guide channel.

12. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer-yarn brake is fixed to the free end-portion.

13. The outer-yarn brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer-yarn brake comprises a yarn output capable of being plugged, snapped or twisted into or onto the free end-portion with the interposition of a sealing ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below on the basis of the attached drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of a workstation in a previously known cording or cabling machine;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an outer-yarn brake according to a preferred exemplary embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the outer-yarn brake illustrated in FIG. 2 along the sectional line III-III;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective lateral view of the outer-yarn brake illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the assembled condition;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic, partial sectional view of the outer-yarn brake illustrated in FIG. 4; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for the operation of a cording or cabling machine according to a preferred exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numbers are used for elements illustrated in the various drawings which operate in a similar manner, wherein the description of these elements is not repeated.

(9) FIG. 1 shows schematically a lateral view of the workstation of a previously known cording or cabling machine described in the introduction.

(10) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a schematic front view and sectional view along the sectional line III-III of an outer-yarn brake 14 according to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The outer-yarn brake 14 is constructed in a similar manner to the pot yarn brake previously known from German Patent Publication DE 10 2009 058 979 A1 named above.

(11) The outer-yarn brake 14 comprises a tubular housing 16, which comprises at its yarn-input end a snap-in connection (not designated in greater detail) and, at a yarn-output end, an internal screw thread (not designated in greater detail). Over the snap-in connection provided at the upper end, a lid 17 is locked into the housing 16, which, on the one hand, guides a rotatable yarn inlet tube 15, which is coupled to a scale element 18 arranged inside the lid 17, spring-loaded by means of a compression spring element 19. In the region of the contact surface of the scale element 18, the lid 17 comprises a window 20, through which scale values printed in a corresponding position on the scale element 18 can be read. In an alternative manner, the lid 17 can be screwed into the housing 16 according to an exemplary embodiment, which is not illustrated.

(12) The first spring element 19 impinges on a counter-bearing element 21 constituted as a sleeve, guided on the inner wall of the lid 17 and connected to the yarn-inlet tube 15, which can occupy a plurality of snap-in positions arranged in a spiral manner. For this purpose, the lid 17 comprises an internal stationary cam 23, which engages in each case with projections 22 arranged in a spiral manner in the external surface of the counter-bearing element 21 at the snap-in positions.

(13) By pulling and simultaneous rotation of the yarn-inlet tube 15, one of the projections 22 arranged in a spiral manner comes into contact with the cam 23 in order to set the axial position of the counter-bearing element 21 in a defined manner in the housing 16. Since the axial position of the counter-bearing element 21 specifies the biasing of a second compression spring element 24, the braking force of the outer-yarn brake 14 can be adjusted in a defined manner via the yarn-inlet tube 15 in conjunction with the counter-bearing element 21 as a clamping device and displayed through the window 20 by means of a corresponding scale value.

(14) An upper piston 25 arranged in the housing 16, coupled with an internal end of the yarn-inlet tube 15 is mounted in a known manner via a lower and upper guide shoulder 26, 27, wherein the second compression spring element 24 is supported on the lower guide shoulder 27. The upper piston 25 is mounted, both in the region of the upper 26 and also in the region of the lower guide shoulder 27, with a play.

(15) Furthermore, an annular insert manufactured from wear-resistant material, for example, hardened steel or ceramic-oxide material, is attached to the upper piston 25, which, in combination with a braking element 29, preferably a ball brake, forms an upper braking surface 28.

(16) The ball brake 29, which is preferably also manufactured from a wear-resistant material, is disposed on a lower braking surface 30 in a manner spring-loaded by the spring force of the compression spring elements 19, 24 described previously. Like the upper braking surface 28, the lower braking surface 30 is preferably also constituted as an annular insert and manufactured from hardened steel or ceramic-oxide material. The lower braking surface 30 is accordingly arranged in a lower piston 31, which is positioned in a manner spring-loaded by a third compression spring element 33.

(17) The third compression spring element 33 is supported on a side facing away from the lower braking surface 30 on an intermediate insert 34, which is fixed in an end region 36 of a lower lid 35, which is inserted into the lower internal screw thread of the housing 16, by means of an interposed stopping ring 37. A sealing rod 38 is provided between the stopping ring 37 and the intermediate insert 34. The lower lid 35 bears a pneumatic cylinder 39 controllable in a targeted manner, which is in contact on an internal wall of the lower lid 35 with a seal 40 and is coupled via an active connection with a pneumatic connector 41 for the operation of the pneumatic cylinder 39 by means of a supply of compressed air. Alternatively, according to an exemplary embodiment which is not illustrated, the active connection between the pneumatic connector 41 and the pneumatic cylinder 39 can be realised in that the pneumatic cylinder 39 can be moved via the pneumatic connector 41 by means of a supply of vacuum pressure.

(18) The pneumatic connector 41 is integrated in the lower lid 35 and projects from a shoulder-surface portion 42 parallel to a yarn-guide axis A of the outer-yarn brake 14 at a distance from a yarn output 43 extending along the yarn-guide axis A. According to an exemplary embodiment which is not illustrated, a resulting interposed intermediate space 44 is constituted in such a manner that a tubular-wall end-portion of a free end-portion 8 of a yarn-guide channel 10 shown by way of example in FIG. 1 can be accommodated, preferably in a clamping manner, wherein the yarn output 43 is inserted or plugged into a hollow axle of the yarn-guide channel 10. In this manner, the outer-yarn brake 14 can be positioned on the free end-portion 8 without great effort and fixed to the latter.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a perspective lateral view of the outer-yarn brake 14 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in an assembled condition according to one exemplary embodiment, in which the yarn output 43 accommodates a free end-portion 8 of a yarn-guide channel 10 of a cabling machine as shown by way of example in FIG. 1. In this context, the outer-yarn brake 14 is installed on a free end-portion 8 of a yarn-guide channel 10. The housing 16 of the outer-yarn brake 14 is framed by a holder 50. The holder 50 is fixed to the outer-yarn brake 14 at least in a rotationally fixed manner via a snap-in device constituted as a slot and key connection. For this purpose, a spring is arranged on the outside of the housing 16, which engages in a groove formed with the holder 50, which comprises a stop, on which the spring is supported in the yarn running direction. By means of the holder 50, the outer-yarn brake 14 can be attached to a component of the cording or cabling machine in an anti-twist and non-slip manner in the yarn running direction of the yarn 6. With this preferred exemplary embodiment, the attachment is implemented by means of fastening screws 51. Other conventional force-fit or form-fit fastening options are conceivable as an option.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a schematic, partial sectional view of the outer-yarn brake 14 shown in FIG. 4 in the coupling region of the yarn output 43 and of the free end-portion 8 of the yarn-guide channel 10. The yarn output 43 is disposed on the free end-portion 8, which comprises a sealing ring 7 inserted in an annular groove 9 on the outer periphery, in order to seal off the contact surfaces between yarn output 43 and the free end-portion 8. Accordingly, a leakage or respectively a supply of external air can be reliably avoided. Furthermore, a balancing of tolerances between the outer-yarn brake 14 and the yarn-guide channel 10 can be achieved in a simplified manner.

(21) A yarn-passage portion 45 of the yarn output 43 and a yarn-passage portion 13 of the free end-portion 8 are constituted in such a manner that, in the installed condition of the outer-yarn brake 14, they constitute a nozzle acting in the yarn running direction. For this purpose, the respective yarn-passage portion 13, 45 is constituted in a tapering manner in cross-section in the yarn running direction, wherein the yarn-passage portion 45 comprises a yarn-outlet opening 47 with an opening width, which is approximately equal to an opening width of an adjacent yarn-input opening 49 of the yarn-passage portion 13 of the free end-portion 8. The respective yarn-outlet opening 47 and yarn-inlet opening 49 are surrounded by a contact portion 46 or respectively counter-contact portion 48, which, in the illustrated installed condition are in contact with one another. The yarn passage portion 45 and the yarn passage portion 13 accordingly merge into one another in a seamless and shoulder-free manner. The constituted nozzle favors a suction flow achievable in the yarn-guide channel 10 and the outer-yarn brake 14 for sucking or respectively threading in the yarn 6.

(22) According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the outer-yarn brake 14 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 can therefore advantageously be installed in existing cording or cabling machines, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, without substantial changes to the machine or respectively adaptations of the latter. In the assembled condition, the outer-yarn brake 14 forms a yarn input for the yarn-guide channel, so that the yarn can be guided without transition, in other words, without passing through an open sub-region, into the yarn-guide channel and to the spindle. Furthermore, it is possible, as a result, to dispense with an outer-yarn brake 1 in the bobbin rack 2. Instead of the conventional outer-yarn brake 1, a cost-favorable preliminary brake can be installed, in order to introduce the yarn 6 in a stretched manner into the outer-yarn brake 14 which can be fitted on the yarn-guide channel 10. Accordingly, not only new cording and cabling machines can be fitted with an outer-yarn brake 14 as described above, but already-used textile machines can also be fitted with such an outer-yarn brake without great effort.

(23) FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method 100 for the operation of a cording or cabling machine according to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The cording or cabling machine can be like the one illustrated in FIG. 1, which is fitted with an outer-yarn brake 14 as described previously. The method comprises a method step 110 of yarn braking by means of the outer-yarn brake 14 constituting a yarn input of the yarn-guide channel. Accordingly, in the case of a yarn breakage of the outer yarn withdrawn from the feed bobbin, for example, in the balloon region, it can be reliably prevented that the outer yarn is pulled out of the yarn-guide channel and out of the spindle region and wanders into an adjacent region. Because, in this case, the outer-yarn brake guarantees a clamping of the outer yarn pulled through the outer-yarn brake.

(24) The exemplary embodiments described and shown in the FIGS. are selected only by way of example. Different exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another in their entirety or with reference to individual features. One exemplary embodiment can also be supplemented by features of a further exemplary embodiment.

(25) If an exemplary embodiment includes an and/or link between a first feature and a second feature, this can be read in such a manner that the exemplary embodiment according to one embodiment comprises both the first feature and also the second feature, and according to a further embodiment, comprises either only the first feature or only the second feature.

(26) 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.