Apparatus and method for lubricating a running yarn

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for oiling a running yarn (1) and comprises a control unit (17) and a housing (2). The housing (2) contains an oil connection (3), a metering pump (4), and a yarn guide (6) with an oil transfer element (7) mounted in the yarn guide (6), wherein the oil transfer element (7) is connected to the oil connection (3) via an oil delivery channel through the metering pump (4). The oil delivery channel includes a closure element (11) and a flow sensor (13), the oil delivery channel having a first section (8) from the oil connection (3) to the metering pump (4), a second section (9) from the metering pump (4) to the closure element (11), and a third section (10) from the closure element (11) to the oil transfer element (7), and wherein the flow sensor (13) is located in the second section (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for oiling a running yarn comprising a housing, a metering pump arranged in the housing and a yarn guide device with an oil transfer element attached in the yarn guide device, wherein the oil transfer element is connected to the oil connection via an oil delivery channel through the metering pump.

[0002] Devices of this type are known from the prior art; for example, CN 208 545 538 U discloses a device for lubricating a moving yarn with a metering pump designed as a gear pump and driven by an electric motor. The oil is supplied via a supply line from the metering pump to a sponge inserted in a yarn guide groove, through which the oil is applied to the yarn. A heater is also provided for warming the oil. Furthermore, CN 209 636 478 U discloses the use of a heating plate for warming the oil. A disadvantage of the known designs is that, due to the pressure conditions in the oil distribution system, oil flows from the metering pump to the yarn guide when the device is at rest. This leads to contamination of the device and must be removed before each restart to prevent contamination of the yarn.CN 207 452 340 U attempted to overcome this disadvantage with a device for lubricating a moving yarn, incorporating a yarn guide with a protective cover. While this prevents oil from leaking out of the device, it does not prevent oil from flowing back into the yarn guide. Furthermore, it is a disadvantage that the amount of oil absorbed by the yarn is determined by empirical settings of the oil pump and cannot be adjusted to circumstances such as a slower yarn speed.

[0003] Document CN 213 086 176 U shows a device for lubricating a running yarn with a metering pump, a yarn guide device and an oil transfer element mounted in the yarn guide device, wherein the oil transfer element is connected to an oil connection via an oil supply channel over the metering pump.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for oiling a running yarn or thread which prevents unwanted oil leakage and enables precise dosing of the amount of oil.

[0005] The problem is solved by a device and a method having the features of the independent patent claim.

[0006] A device for lubricating a running yarn is proposed, comprising a control unit, a housing, an oil connection provided in the housing, a metering pump arranged in the housing, and a yarn guide with an oil transfer element mounted in the yarn guide. The oil transfer element is connected to the oil connection via an oil delivery channel and the metering pump. A shut-off element and a flow sensor are provided in the oil delivery channel. The oil delivery channel has a first section from the oil connection to the metering pump, a second section from the metering pump to the shut-off element, and a third section from the shut-off element to the oil transfer element, with the flow sensor located in the second section. The device is supplied with oil from a reservoir connected to the oil connection via a line.A hose connection has proven practical, allowing for easy oil changes. A cleaning agent for maintenance and cleaning of the device can also be introduced via the oil connection.

[0007] The yarn is typically lubricated with an oil quantity of 0.4 ml / km to 10 ml / km. The oil quantity depends on the type of yarn and its intended use. For use in standard winding machines or spinning mills, the metering pump has a capacity of 0.1 ml / min to 30 ml / min, taking yarn speeds into account. The metering pump delivers the required amount of oil to the oil transfer element, which is embedded in the yarn guide. The yarn running in the yarn guide comes into contact with the oil transfer element, resulting in the transfer of oil to the yarn. The oil delivery channel integrated into the housing, running from the oil connection to the yarn transfer element, is divided into three sections. These individual sections can be designed as bores or channels in the housing or as pipes.Bores and channels that are completely surrounded by the housing are preferable to screwed or otherwise connected pipes, as there is no possibility of leakage.

[0008] The first section of the oil delivery channel runs from the oil connection to the metering pump. The oil connection is advantageously designed as an internal thread or a standard hose coupling. The metering pump can be integrated into the device housing, so that the pump housing is an integral part of the device housing. The second section of the oil delivery channel runs from the metering pump to the shut-off element. The flow sensor is installed in this section. The flow sensor detects the quantity of oil delivered from the metering pump to the oil transfer element. The flow sensor can be, for example, an ultrasonic or Coriolis mass flow meter. A calorimetric flow meter has proven to be the preferred design, as it can measure even the smallest quantities of oil being delivered.The flow sensor ensures uniform oiling of the yarn, and the control system can also respond to changes in yarn speed by reducing the oil supply accordingly. The sealing element following the second section has the advantage of preventing oil from reaching the oil transfer element when, for example, no yarn is being fed through the yarn guide or when lubrication of the yarn is not required. This sealing element prevents oil from dripping through the oil transfer element when the machine is at a standstill, thus preventing contamination of the yarn guide or its surroundings. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to clean the yarn guide or oil transfer element before restarting the machine.

[0009] The third section of the oil conveying channel leads from the closure element to the oil transfer element. The oil transfer element is embedded in the yarn guide and is designed, for example, as a sponge or other type of porous element. The oil conveyed through the third section of the oil conveying channel to the oil transfer element permeates the oil transfer element and is transferred to the yarn by contact with the passing yarn.

[0010] Advantageously, the metering pump is designed as a gear pump with a controlled electric motor. Gear pumps are a well-established technology and have proven effective for pumping minute quantities at low pressure. The controlled electric motor allows the control system to easily adjust the metering rate. This controlled electric motor can be implemented, for example, as a servo motor or a motor with frequency control.

[0011] Preferably, the closure element is a shut-off valve with an electromagnetic actuator. Shut-off valves have the advantage of being simple in design and can be integrated into the housing of the device to completely close the oil supply channel. The electromagnetic actuator allows the shut-off valve to be switched so that it is closed when de-energized. Therefore, no energy is required to keep the shut-off valve closed during a system shutdown, and the shut-off valve also closes automatically in the event of a power failure.

[0012] It is advantageous if the third section of the oil conveying channel is at least partially designed as a heating coil. In this third section, the oil is guided through a heating coil, which can be a single turn or multiple turns in the form of a spiral. Within the heating coil, the oil is heated to a higher temperature than in its storage state. A specific amount of heating energy is introduced into the coil. This amount of energy is kept constant by the control system, adjusted to the type of oil used and the yarn being lubricated. Preferably, the heating coil is equipped with a temperature differential sensor. An inlet temperature sensor is provided at the coil's inlet, and an outlet temperature sensor is provided at the coil's outlet. The measured temperatures are used to regulate the supply of heating energy to the coil.This has the advantage that an ideal oil viscosity can always be set, regardless of the operating load of the device. This results in uniform wetting of the yarn along its entire length.

[0013] Preferably, the yarn guide is mounted on the outside of the housing and is open to the surrounding environment. Mounting the yarn guide on the outside of the housing allows for easy access and thus easy threading of the yarn into the guide. The yarn guide can consist of several components; for example, the yarn can be guided at the top and bottom of the housing by separate guide plates. Such guide plates are characterized by a guide slot with a lateral opening, which prevents the threaded yarn from jumping out of the guide. The two guide plates can be connected by a central section of the yarn guide that includes a guide groove.

[0014] For easy replacement during maintenance and repair, it is advantageous if the yarn guide is linearly slidable within the housing. This allows for easy disassembly even if the yarn guide needs to be replaced, for example, due to a change in yarn material. A longitudinal groove corresponding to the yarn guide is provided in the housing to hold it in place. The yarn guide can be inserted into this groove and secured with pins, screws, or clips. To ensure precise yarn guidance, the yarn guide is preferably connected to the housing via a dovetail joint. This allows for precise alignment of the yarn guide with the oil exit point from the third section of the oil delivery channel.Alternatively, a clamping guide is also conceivable, in which, for example, elastic plastic elements hold the yarn guide in a defined position within the housing. Embedded in the yarn guide is an oil transfer element, which is usually made of a sponge or a porous material, allowing the oil to pass through the oil transfer element and onto the yarn. Advantageously, the oil transfer element is detachably connected to the yarn guide. The oil transfer element is a wear part and therefore must be replaced at predetermined intervals. Due to the detachable connection between the oil transfer element and the yarn guide, only the oil transfer element needs to be replaced at any given time, leaving the yarn guide itself unaffected.

[0015] Advantageously, the control unit is mounted on or integrated into the housing. The control unit and / or housing preferably include a visualization for displaying operating states, measured values ​​such as temperature, flow rate, consumption, etc., and a keypad for operating the device and entering control parameters. The visualization can be implemented using a touchscreen, with the keypad integrated into the touchscreen and not necessarily separate. Alternatively, a simple visualization using basic colored LEDs and a separate keypad can be provided. This type of control design allows the device for lubricating a running yarn to operate autonomously, independent of a higher-level control system.

[0016] The data from the measurements and operating states of the device can also be transmitted to a higher-level control system via wired or wireless communication. A suitable interface between the device's control system and the higher-level control system enables remote control of the device for lubricating a moving yarn.

[0017] Preferably, the visualization provides a display of at least one of the following: oil quantity; oil temperature; oil consumption; operating status; operating mode; operating duration; or operating instructions. Operating instructions may, for example, include information on necessary maintenance or the replacement of wear parts. Furthermore, the visualization can also output static values.

[0018] Furthermore, a method for oiling a running yarn is proposed using a device as described above. The device comprises a control unit, a housing, an oil connection provided in the housing, a metering pump with a drive motor arranged in the housing, and a yarn guide device with an oil transfer element mounted in the yarn guide device. The oil transfer element is connected to the oil connection via an oil delivery channel and the metering pump. Oil is conveyed from the oil connection to the metering pump via a first section of the oil delivery channel. Subsequently, the oil is pumped via a second section of the oil delivery channel, through a flow sensor, to a closing element, and via a third section of the oil delivery channel to the yarn guide device. When the metering pump is stationary, the control unit closes the oil delivery channel by actuating the closing element.Closing the oil delivery channel prevents oil from dripping from the oil transfer element and contaminating the yarn guide when the machine is stationary or the device for lubricating a running yarn is not in use. Depending on the viscosity of the oil used, a significant amount of oil may also flow out of the oil transfer element after the metering pump is switched off and contaminate machine elements or yarn bodies located below the device.

[0019] Advantageously, the control system regulates the amount of oil reaching the yarn guide via the metering pump's drive motor. The integrated flow sensor allows the control system to compare the oil quantity against the target quantity and adjust the metering pump's delivery rate accordingly. The target values ​​for the control system can be entered via the keypad on the control unit or stored in a database within the control unit itself, so that when the yarn to be processed is entered, the control system automatically sets the necessary oil delivery rate.

[0020] Preferably, a heating coil with an input temperature sensor and an output temperature sensor is provided, and the controller regulates the temperature of the oil at one output of the heating coil. The temperature to be regulated is determined based on the type of oil used and specified to the controller.

[0021] Advantageously, the control system is designed to allow the device to operate autonomously, communicating via the visualization and keypad. This enables the device to be used for lubricating a running yarn in standalone operation and makes it versatile for use in various locations, as it is not dependent on a higher-level control system.

[0022] Preferably, the control unit is connected to a higher-level machine control system, and the regulation of the oil dosage and / or oil temperature is determined by the higher-level machine control system. Through the two-way communication between the device's control unit and the higher-level control system, the wetting of the moving yarn can be coordinated with the machine's operation. This has the advantage, for example, that if the winding machine in which the device is used stops, the oil quantity can be reduced synchronously with a decrease in yarn speed, thus preventing an excess of oil from being applied to the moving yarn. Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. These show: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view at position A - A after Figure 1 Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view at point B - B. Figure 3 and Figure 5, an enlarged sectional view at point C after Figure 4 .

[0023] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention and Figure 2 a schematic cross-sectional view at point A - A after Figure 1A housing 2 has a yarn guide 6 along which a yarn 1 is guided. The yarn guide 6 is open to the surroundings, allowing for easy insertion of the yarn 1 into the yarn guide 6. The entire path of the yarn 1 within the yarn guide 6 is also visible from the outside. An oil transfer element 7 is embedded in the yarn guide 6. As the yarn 1 slides over the oil transfer element 7, oil is mechanically transferred to the yarn 1. The oil is supplied to the device from a reservoir (not shown) and introduced into the housing 2 via an oil connection 3. From the oil connection 3, the oil flows through an oil delivery channel to the oil transfer element 7. In the embodiment shown, the oil delivery channel is fully integrated into the housing 2. A first section 8 of the oil delivery channel connects the oil connection 3 to a metering pump 4.The metering pump 4 is designed as a gear pump and driven by a drive motor 5. The drive motor 4 is attached to the housing 2. In a second section 9 of the oil delivery channel, the oil is conveyed from the metering pump 4 to a shut-off element 11. The shut-off element 11 has an electromagnetic actuator 12, which is integrated into the housing 2 and attached to the housing 2. The shut-off element 11 allows the oil delivery channel between the second section 9 and a third section 10 to be closed, preventing oil from reaching the oil transfer element 7 when the device is at rest. A flow sensor 13 is also provided in this second section 9; this sensor measures the quantity of oil flowing through the second section 9. The third section 10 connects the shut-off element 11 to the oil transfer element 7.

[0024] Figure 3shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention and Figure 4 a schematic sectional view at point B - B after Figure 3 The basic structure of the second embodiment corresponds to the structure of the first embodiment; in the following, only the differences will be discussed, and for the basic description, reference is made to the Figures 1 and 2The oil conveying channel is not fully integrated into the housing 2 in the illustrated embodiment. In the third section 10 of the oil conveying channel, a heating coil 14 is provided between the closure element 11 and the oil transfer element 7. The heating coil 14 has an inlet temperature sensor 15 at its end facing the closure element 11 and an outlet temperature sensor 16 at the opposite end. The temperature sensors 15 and 16 allow the determination of the heating energy required to achieve a predetermined outlet temperature of the oil at the end of the heating coil 14. The viscosity of the oil is controlled by the oil temperature at the outlet of the oil transfer element 7, independent of the oil temperature at the inlet of the device through the oil connection 3. A control unit 17 is also attached to the housing.The control unit includes all elements necessary for operating the device and features a visualization 18 and a keypad 19. The visualization 18 is shown as an example display. Using the visualization 18 and keypad 19, the device for oiling a running yarn 1 can be operated autonomously. Alternatively, a touchscreen can be used for visualization and data input.

[0025] Figure 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view at point C. Figure 4Oil flows to the oil transfer element 7 via the third section 10 of the oil conveying channel, which is guided in the housing 2. The oil transfer element 7 is held in a recess in the housing 2 by the yarn guide device 6. The yarn guide device 6 is, by way of example, designed as a two-part element at the location of the oil transfer element 7. The two parts of the yarn guide device 6 are clamped in the recess of the housing 2.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible, as is a combination of the features, even if these are shown and described in different embodiments. Reference symbol list

[0027] 1 Yarn 2 Housing 3 Oil connection 4 Metering pump 5 Drive motor 6 Yarn guide device 7 Oil transfer element 8 First section of the oil delivery channel 9 Second section of the oil delivery channel 10 Third section of the oil delivery channel 11 Closing element 12 Electromagnetic drive 13 Flow sensor 14 Heating coil 15 Inlet temperature measurement 16 Outlet temperature measurement 17 Control 18 Visualization 19 Keypad

Claims

1. A device for oiling a moving yarn (1) having a controller (17) and having a housing (2) and having an oil port (3) provided in the housing (2) and having a dosing pump (4) arranged in the housing (2) and having a yarn guiding device (6) with an oil transfer element (7) mounted in the yarn guiding device (6), wherein the oil transfer element (7) is connected to the oil port (3) by an oil feed channel via the dosing pump (4), characterized in that a closure element (11) and a flow sensor (13) are provided in the oil feed channel, wherein the oil feed channel has a first portion (8) from the oil port (3) to the dosing pump (4), a second portion (9) from the dosing pump (4) to the closure element (11), and a third portion (10) from the closure element (11) to the oil transfer element (7), and wherein the flow sensor (13) is provided in the second portion (9).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing pump (4) is designed as a gear pump with a controlled drive motor (5).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure element (11) is a shut-off valve with an electromagnetic drive (12).

4. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third portion (10) of the oil feed channel is at least partially formed as a heating coil (12).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the heating coil (12) is provided with an input temperature measurement (13) and an output temperature measurement (14).

6. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn guiding device (6) is mounted on an outer side (15) of the housing (2) and open towards a surrounding of the device.

7. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn guiding device (6) is held in the housing (2) in a linearly displaceable manner.

8. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oil transfer element (7) is detachably connected to the yarn guiding device (6).

9. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display (18) and a keypad (19) are provided in the housing (2).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that one a display of at least one of the following is provided by the display: an oil quantity; an oil temperature; an oil consumption; an operating state; an operating mode; an operating time; an operating instruction.

11. A method for oiling a moving yarn having a device with a controller (17) and having a housing (2) and having an oil port (3) provided in the housing (2) and having a dosing pump (4) arranged in the housing (2) and having a drive motor (5) and having a yarn guiding device (6) with an oil transfer element (7) mounted in the yarn guiding device (6), wherein the oil transfer element (7) is connected to the oil port (3) by an oil feed channel via the dosing pump (4), characterized in that oil is fed from an oil port (3) to the dosing pump (4) via a first portion (8) of the oil feed channel and is then pumped via a second portion (9) of the oil feed channel through a flow sensor (11) to a closure element (9) and via a third portion of the oil feed channel to the yarn guiding device (7), wherein the controller (17) closes the oil feed channel by actuating the closure element (9) when the dosing pump (4) is at a standstill.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the controller (17) regulates an oil quantity reaching the yarn guiding device (6) via the drive motor (5) of the dosing pump (4).

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a heating coil (12) with an input temperature measurement (13) and an output temperature measurement (14) is provided and a temperature of the oil at an output of the heating coil (12) is controlled by the controller (15).

14. The method according to at least one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the controller (17) is designed in such a manner that the device is operated autonomously, wherein communication is conducted via the display (18) and the keypad (19).

15. The method according to at least one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the controller (17) is connected to a superordinate controller and a control of an oil dosing quantity and / or an oil temperature is determined by the superordinate controller.

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