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

Abstract

A device for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon (B) formed by a running yarn at a workstation (1) of a textile machine wherein the workstation (1) is provided with a mechanical, contact scanning sensor (22), which is designed and arranged so that during the operation of the workstation (1) it is positioned by a yarn forming the thread balloon (B) in an operating position dependent on the diameter of a thread balloon (B), and a sensor device (24) is provided which detects the operating position (BS) of the scanning sensor (22).

Claims

1. Device for determining the diameter of a thread balloon (B) formed by a running thread at a workstation (1) of a textile machine, wherein the textile machine having a plurality of workstations (1), each of which having a device (6) for influencing a yarn tension of the outer thread (5), which device (6) is connected to a control circuit (18), a spindle (2), a spindle pot (19) for receiving a second feed bobbin (15), a rotatable thread guiding device (20), a balancing system (9) for forming a cabling or cording point and a spooling and winding device (12), characterised in that the workstation (1) has a mechanical, contact scanning sensor (22) which is designed and mounted pivotably so that during the operation of the workstation (1) a position of the scanning sensor (22) is changed by a yarn forming the thread balloon (B) to an operating position (BS) dependent on the diameter of the thread balloon (B), and in that the workstation (1) has a sensor device (24) which senses the operating position (BS) of the scanning sensor (22).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that in the position of rest of a spindle (2) of the workstation (1) the scanning sensor (22) lies on the spindle pot (19).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) is in a form of a clip (26) which is convex relative the thread balloon (B) and mounted pivotably at the ends, which bears on the thread balloon (B) from the outside.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip (26A) is concave relative to the thread balloon (B) and mounted pivotably at the ends, which bears on the thread balloon (B) from outside of the clip.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip (26B) which is concave relative to the thread balloon (B) and mounted pivotably at the ends, bears on the thread balloon (B) from the inside of the clip.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) in the area in which is it is tangential to the thread balloon (B) has a pointy curvature (31, 31B) extending toward a perimeter of the thread balloon (B).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) is in a form of a spring-loaded scanning feeler (32, 32A) bearing on the thread balloon (B) from outside of the spring-loaded scanning feeler (32, 32A).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the scanning feeler (32A) has a concave curvature (33) in relation to the thread balloon (B).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (6) is provided by means of which depending on the diameter of the thread balloon (B) the thread tension of an outer thread (5) can be adjusted.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the device (6) is connected to a control circuit (18) which processes the signals i of the sensor device (24).

11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) can be positioned optionally in a position of rest (RS), in which there is no contact with the thread balloon (B).

12. Method for determining the diameter of a thread balloon (B) formed by a running outer thread (5) on a workstation (1) of a textile machine, wherein the textile machine having a plurality of workstations (1), each of which having a device (6) for influencing a yarn tension of the outer thread (5), which device (6) is connected to a control circuit (18), a spindle (2), a spindle pot (19) for receiving a second feed bobbin (15), a rotatable thread guiding device (20), a balancing system (9) for forming a cabling or cording point and a spooling and winding device (12), characterised in that the workstation (1) has a mechanical, contact scanning sensor (22) which is designed and arranged so that during the operation of the workstation (1) it is positioned by a yarn forming the thread balloon (B) in an operating position (BS) dependent on the diameter of the thread balloon (B), and the operating position (BS) of the scanning sensor (22), which is predefined by the diameter of the thread balloon (B), is sensed by a sensor device (24) provided with the workstation (1).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) functions immediately on starting the workstation (1).

14. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the operating position (BS) of the scanning sensor (22) sensed by the sensor device (24) is processed in the control circuit (18) and is used in the device (6) for influencing the thread tension of the outer thread (5) and/or an inner thread (16) on a cabling machine.

15. Method according to either claim 12 or claim 14, characterised in that the control circuit (18) controls the device (6) such that the thread balloon (B) always has an optimal diameter.

16. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) is used in the start/stop phase of a workstation (1) of the textile machine.

17. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the scanning sensor (22) monitors thread breaks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to various example embodiments shown in the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically, in side view a workstation of a two-for-one twisting or cabling machine, which comprises a mechanical scanning sensor for determining the diameter of a yarn balloon,

(3) FIG. 2A shows a mechanical scanning sensor, which is designed as a convex clip which is mounted pivotably at the ends, which bears on the yarn balloon from the outside; FIG. 2B shows the mechanical scanning sensor positioned optionally in a position of rest, in which there is no contact with the yarn balloon; FIG. 2C shows the mechanical scanning sensor resting on the spindle pot,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a mechanical scanning sensor, which is designed as a concave clip mounted pivotably at the ends which bears on the yarn balloon from the outside and has a curvature pointing in the direction of the yarn balloon,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a mechanical scanning sensor, which is designed as a concave clip mounted pivotably at the ends, which bears on the yarn balloon from the inside and has a curvature pointing in the direction of the yarn balloon,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a mechanical scanning sensor which is designed as a linear scanning feeler,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a mechanical scanning sensor which is designed as a concave scanning feeler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows schematically, in side view a workstation 1 of a two-for-one twisting or cabling machine, which as usual comprises a creel 4 positioned generally above or behind the workstation 1, which is used for receiving at least one first feed bobbin 7, from which the so-called outer yarn 5 is drawn off.

(9) The workstation 1 also has a spindle 2, in the present example embodiment a cabling spindle, which is equipped with a spindle pot 19, in which a second feed bobbin 15 is mounted from which a so-called inner yarn 16 is drawn off overhead. The inner yarn 16 is supplied to balloon eyelet arranged above the spindle 2 or a so-called balancing system 9.

(10) The spindle pot 19 is mounted on the rotatable yarn guiding device 20, which is designed in the example embodiment as a twisting plate 8. The spindle pot 19 supported on the rotatable yarn guiding device 20 is preferably secured against rotation by a (not shown) magnet device.

(11) The yarn guiding device 20 of the spindle 2 is loaded by a spindle drive 3 which is either a direct drive or an indirect drive. In the latter case the yarn guiding device 20 is connected for example by a belt drive to a corresponding drive.

(12) The outer yarn 5 drawn from the first feed bobbin 7 is supplied to a device 6 for influencing the yarn tension arranged in the yarn run between the creel 4 and the spindle 2, by means of which the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 can be varied if necessary.

(13) The device 6 is connected by control lines 27 to a control circuit 18, which controls the yarn tension supplied by the device 6 to the outer yarn 5. This means the outer yarn 5 following the device 6 runs through the spindle drive 3 in the region of the rotary axis 28 of the spindle drive and exits underneath the twisting plate 8 through a so-called yarn exit bore in radial direction out of the hollow axis of rotation 28 of the spindle drive 3. The outer yarn 5 then runs to the outer part of the twisting plate 8, where a fixed throw-off point 21 is installed for the outer yarn 5. This fixed throw-off point 21 is designed according to the present example embodiment as an eyelet 23.

(14) However, in connection with a yarn guiding device 20, which has a fixed throw-off point 21, also other embodiments are possible and can be used in practice.

(15) In the present example embodiment the outer yarn 5 is diverted upwards in the region of the eyelet 23 of the twisting plate 8 and rotates around the spindle pot 19 of the spindle 2 forming a free yarn balloon B, in which spindle a second feed bobbin 15 is positioned. A mechanical scanning sensor 22 bears with contact on the yarn balloon B, the operating position BS of which is monitored by a sensor device 24 which is connected via a signal line 25 to the control circuit 18.

(16) The outer yarn 5 drawn from the first feed bobbin 7 and the inner yarn 16 drawn from the second feed bobbin 15 are brought together in the region of the balloon eyelet or the balancing system 9.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, by means of the position of the balloon eyelet or the balancing system 9 the height of the forming free yarn balloon B is determined. In the balloon eyelet or in the balancing system 9 is the so-called cabling or also cording point in which the two yarns, the outer yarn 5 and the inner yarn 16, run together and form a cord yarn 17 for example.

(18) Above the cabling point a yarn take-off device 10 is arranged, by means of which the cord yarn 17 is taken off and supplied via a balancing element, such as for example a compensator device 11, to a spooling and winding device 12.

(19) The spooling and winding device 12 comprises, as usual, a drive roller 13 which frictionally drives a bobbin 14.

(20) The device 6 for influencing the yarn tension is designed either as an electronically controlled brake or as an active delivery device, wherein also a combination of the two aforementioned components can be used.

(21) As embodiment variants of a delivery device for example a godet, a lamellar disc or a drive roller with corresponding pressure roller is possible.

(22) The device 6 is connected via control lines 27 to a control circuit 18 which is also connected via the signal line 25 to the sensor device 24 of the scanning sensor 22. This means the device 6 controls the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 as a function of the diameter of the free yarn balloon B, which is determined by contact by means of the scanning sensor 22, and by means of the sensor device 24, which converts the operating position BS of the scanning sensor 22 into an electric signal, is conveyed to the control circuit.

(23) The controllable yarn tension applied by the device 6 to the outer yarn 5 preferably has a size which, depending on the geometry of the spindle 2, optimises the free yarn balloon B.

(24) FIGS. 2A-C and 3-6 show various different embodiments of a mechanical scanning sensor.

(25) FIG. 2A shows for example a mechanical scanning sensor 22, which is designed as a clip 26 which is convex relative to the yarn balloon B and mounted pivotably at the ends which bears on the yarn balloon B from the outside. The pivot axis 29 of the clip 26 is spaced apart from the yarn balloon B and arranged at right angles to the axis of rotation 30 of the yarn balloon B so that the clip 26 is lifted by the running yarn, in the present example embodiment by the outer yarn 5, which forms the yarn balloon B and is thus positioned in an operating position BS.

(26) The operating position BS of the scanning sensor 22 is recognised reliably by the associated sensor device 24 and sent via the signal line 25, as an electric signal i, for further processing to the control circuit 18.

(27) FIG. 2B shows the mechanical scanning sensor 22 positioned optionally in a position of rest (RS), in which there is no contact with the yarn balloon B. FIG. 2C shows the mechanical scanning sensor 22 resting on the spindle pot 19. FIG. 3 shows a mechanical scanning sensor 22, which comprises a clip 26A which is concave relative to the yarn balloon B and mounted pivotably at the ends, which bears on the yarn balloon B from the outside. The clip 26A has a curvature 31 in the direction of the yarn balloon B, by means of which the contact of the running outer yarn 5 with the clip 26A is minimised and thus the yarn is protected.

(28) The pivot axis 29A of the clip 26A is at right angles to the axis of rotation 30 of the yarn balloon B and is arranged so that the clip 26a is lifted by the yarn balloon B and thereby positioned in an operating position BS, which as in the example embodiment of FIG. 2A, is recognised by the associated sensor device 24 and is sent via the signal line 25, as an electric signal i, for further processing to the control circuit 18.

(29) The embodiment of a scanning sensor 22 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds essentially to the embodiment of a scanning sensor already known from FIG. 3. This means that the scanning sensor 22 has a clip 26b which is concave relative to the yarn balloon B and mounted pivotably at the ends.

(30) The clip 26B bears against the yarn balloon B from the inside and therefore has a curvature 31B outwards in the direction of the yarn balloon B, by means which, as already explained above, the contact of the running outer yarn 5 with the clip 26B is minimised and the yarn is thus protected which has a positive effect on the yarn quality.

(31) The pivot axis 29B of the clip 26B is at right angles to the axis of rotation 30 of the yarn balloon B and is arranged so that the clip 26A is lifted by the yarn balloon B and thereby positioned in an operating position BS, which as in the example embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 3 is recognised by the associated sensor device 24 and sent via the signal line 25 as an electric signal i for further processing to the control circuit 18.

(32) In a further advantageous embodiment the scanning sensor 22 can also be designed however as a spring-loaded scanning feeler 32 bearing on the yarn balloon B from the outside.

(33) The scanning feeler 32 can be designed to be linear, as shown in FIG. 5, or as shown in FIG. 6 can have a concave curvature 33 relative to the yarn balloon B.

(34) In the linear design of the scanning feeler 32 shown in FIG. 5 it is advantageous, to make the scanning feeler 32 from an elastic, wear-resistant material, for example spring steel, and to mount the scanning feeler 32 at one of its ends sides in a bearing position 34 so that it is positioned in the yarn balloon B of the running outer yarn 5 by the yarn in an operating position BS, which as explained above is identified by a sensor device 24 and reported to the control circuit 18.

(35) If the scanning feeler 32A, as shown in FIG. 6, has a concave curvature 33 relative to the yarn balloon B, it is advantageous to mount the scanning feeler 32A at one of its end sides in a pivot bearing 35 and to load the latter on its opposite end side with a spring element 36 so that the scanning feeler 32A bearing on the yarn balloon B of the running outer yarn 5 is positioned by the yarn in an operating position BS which is identified by the sensor device 24 and reported to the control circuit 18.

(36) 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.