Yarn feeding device

Abstract

A yarn feeder (1) for supplying yarn to a textile machine is equipped with a support unit (2) with a mounting clamp (3), a support arm (12) with an upper leg (15) and a lower leg (16), and a housing. A space (Z) is formed between the legs (15, 16). The yarn feeder (1) is provided with a shaft that is rotatably mounted on the support unit (2) and, in use, extends vertically through the legs (15, 16) of the support arm (12), the space (Z), and the housing. A bearing unit (K1) for the shaft (5) is arranged in the upper leg (15) of the support arm (12). At least one pulley (6) and a clutch with a handle (7) are arranged on the shaft (5) in the space (Z). A yarn feed wheel (4) is arranged at the lower end of the shaft (5). A second bearing unit (K2) for the shaft (5) is arranged in the housing at a lower end of the shaft (5) in front of the thread delivery wheel (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a thread feeding device for feeding a thread to a textile machine.

[0002] WO 2008 / 043371 discloses a yarn feeding device for a textile machine, in particular a knitting machine, comprising a support unit. The support unit has a carrier with a clamp for attaching the yarn feeding device to the textile machine, an upper leg, and a lower leg. The support unit also has a housing. A gap is formed between the upper and lower legs.

[0003] The yarn feeder has a shaft that, in use, extends vertically through the gap and the legs. The shaft is rotatably mounted on each of the two legs of the support. At least one pulley for a common drive belt and a clutch with a handle are arranged on the shaft in the gap on the shaft. A yarn feed wheel is arranged at the lower end of the shaft.

[0004] The two bearing units of the shaft are located in the upper section of the yarn feeder. The distance between the lower bearing unit and the yarn feed wheel is relatively large. This can lead to disruption of the yarn feed wheel's synchronization.

[0005] DE 199 32 481 A1 describes a yarn feeding device, particularly for textile machines, with a housing that includes a fastening device. The yarn feeding device is provided with a shaft extending through the housing and with two bearings for the shaft. The shaft carries a yarn feeding drum at one end and is connected to a drive device at its other end.

[0006] The housing has a substantially horizontal joint separating a first housing part and a second housing part. The two bearing means are ball bearings, with a bearing seat for one ball bearing provided in the first housing part and a bearing seat for the second ball bearing provided in the second housing part. Bearing support elements made of elastomer are arranged between the bearing seats and the ball bearings.

[0007] The two shaft bearings are located in the housing, thus in the lower part of the yarn feeder. This provides a certain distance from the drive mechanism. This leads to high bearing loads and, consequently, to shortened bearing life cycles.

[0008] EP 2 859 140 B1 and EP 3 178 979 B1 disclose a yarn feeding device for feeding a yarn to a textile machine. The yarn feeding device comprises a drive shaft on which a yarn feed wheel is arranged, and a carrier with at least one bearing holder. The carrier is formed from at least one segment of an extruded profile. In one alternative, the bearing holder is designed as a separate bearing holder with two bearing seats. A compensating element designed as a holder squeeze element is arranged between the bearing holder and the carrier. In one alternative, a bearing holder is formed by the carrier. In both alternatives, both bearing seats are arranged in the region of the carrier and thus in the lower region of the yarn feeding device. This ensures a certain distance from the drive device. This leads to high bearing loads and, consequently, to shortened life cycles of the bearings.

[0009] The object of the invention is to develop a yarn delivery wheel in which the bearing of the shaft is improved.

[0010] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0011] A yarn feeding device according to the invention for feeding a yarn to a textile machine is provided with a support unit with a fastening clamp. The support unit has a support arm with an upper leg and a lower leg, and a housing. A gap is formed between the upper and lower legs.

[0012] The yarn feeding device comprises a shaft mounted on the support unit for rotation about its axis and extending vertically through the legs of the support arm, the intermediate space, and the housing during use. The upper leg of the support arm has a bearing unit for the shaft. The yarn feeding device is provided with at least one pulley and a clutch with a handle, which are arranged on the shaft in the intermediate space.

[0013] The yarn feeding device comprises a yarn feeding wheel which is arranged at the lower end of the shaft.

[0014] According to the invention, a second bearing unit for the shaft is arranged in the housing at the lower end of the shaft in front of the yarn feed wheel.

[0015] The design of the support unit, with a support arm and a housing that can accommodate a bearing unit, allows for optimal spacing between the two bearing units on the shaft. The upper bearing unit is located above the pulleys and thus above or in the area of ​​the drive mechanism. The lower bearing unit is located at the bottom of the shaft in front of the yarn feed wheel. This ensures synchronous operation of both the drive mechanism and the yarn feed wheel.

[0016] In one embodiment, the support arm and the housing of the support unit are made of plastic. Plastic is a lighter material, making it easier for operators to handle the yarn feeders. This is especially true considering that the yarn feeders are often installed overhead.

[0017] The design of a forked support arm with an upper and a lower leg, with a bearing unit located on the upper leg, allows for a certain degree of spring compensation for manufacturing tolerances. The shape of the support arm transforms the upper bearing unit into a spring-loaded floating bearing. Additional measures such as the use of shaft shims or compression elements are unnecessary.

[0018] In one embodiment, one or both of the bearing units are formed by using inserts, e.g., corresponding ball bearings, in the injection molding process. The use of injected bearing units simplifies production.

[0019] In one embodiment, the upper leg of the support arm, which carries the first bearing unit, is V-shaped. The V-shape gives the upper leg greater rigidity. This leads to further improved synchronization of the drive device.

[0020] In one embodiment, the housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part comprises the second bearing unit.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first housing part is connected to the lower leg of the support arm by screws.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first housing part and the second housing part have corresponding contact surfaces and corresponding alignment means for the correct positional connection.

[0023] In one embodiment, the second housing part has a cylindrical section that extends into the lower section of the shaft and surrounds a cylindrical section of the first housing part with the second bearing unit. An annular interior space for at least one circuit board is formed between the cylindrical section and the cylindrical section.

[0024] In one embodiment, at least the cylinder section of the second housing part is made of transparent plastic. This allows for the placement of lighting behind the cylinder section, which is switched on, for example, by switching the inlet sensor or the outlet sensor at the yarn outlet.

[0025] In one embodiment, a reinforcing element is provided between the support arm and the first housing part in the region of the fastening clamp.

[0026] The invention is further explained using an example shown schematically in the drawing.

[0027] It shows Figure 1 a simplified side view of a yarn feeding device according to the invention; Figure 2 a further simplified exploded view of the yarn feeding device with a carrying unit; Figure 3 a simplified side view of the support unit; Figure 3a an excerpt from the Figure 3with a simplified vertical section in the area of ​​the storage units; Figure 4 a simplified vertical cross-section through the yarn feeding device; Figure 5 a simplified perspective view of a support arm of the support unit; Figure 6 a simplified top view of the yarn feeding device and thus of the support arm.

[0028] In Figure 1 A yarn feeding device 1 according to the invention for feeding a yarn F to a textile machine is shown. In this example, the textile machine is a circular knitting machine.

[0029] The yarn feeding device 1 has a support unit 2 with a fastening clamp 3. The fastening clamp 3 is in the Figures 1, 2 , 3, 4 and 6 can be seen on the right side.

[0030] The yarn feeding device 1 is provided with a yarn feeding wheel 4, which is arranged at a lower end of a shaft 5. The shaft 5 is rotatable about its axis D ( Figure 2) is mounted on the support unit 2. It extends through the support unit 2. At least one pulley 6, in this example two pulleys 6, and a clutch with a handle 7 are arranged on the shaft 5.

[0031] In the course of the thread F in front of the thread feed wheel 4, an inlet eyelet 8, a knot catcher 9, a thread brake 10 and an inlet sensor 11 are arranged on the support unit 2.

[0032] The support unit 2 comprises a support arm 12 and a housing having a first housing part 13 and a second housing part 14. The support arm 12 comprises an upper leg 15 and a lower leg 16. A gap Z is formed between the upper leg 15 and the lower leg 16. The shaft 5 extends through the upper leg 15 of the support arm 12, the gap Z, the lower leg 16 of the support arm 12, and the housing. The shaft 5 is mounted in the upper leg 15 of the support arm 12 by a bearing unit K1.

[0033] A first thread guide element, referred to as the take-off element 20, and a second thread guide element, referred to as the run-out element 21, are arranged along the path of the thread F after the thread feed wheel 4. The thread guide elements are designed to guide the thread F delivered by the thread feed wheel 4. The thread feed device 1 is provided with a run-out sensor 22, which is mounted on the support unit 2.

[0034] The housing, specifically the first housing part 13, is designed to arrange a second bearing unit K2 for the shaft 5 at the lower end in front of the yarn feed wheel 4.

[0035] This means that the shaft 5 is supported by the bearing unit K1 in the upper leg 15 of the support arm 12 and by the bearing unit K2 in the first housing part 13.

[0036] The simplified exposure representation of the Figure 2shows the support unit 2 with the support arm 2 and the two-part housing. The forked support arm 12 has the shape of a round U, which is rotated 90° counterclockwise in the figures. The round ends of the two legs 15, 16 of the support arm 12 meet in the middle. In the area of ​​their ends, which are on the left in the drawings, the legs 15, 16 have overlapping openings 30, 31 for the shaft 5. The upper leg 15 forms the bearing unit K1 around the upper opening 30.

[0037] In the area of ​​the lower opening 31 there is a screw dome 32.

[0038] The first housing part 13 comprises a first plate-shaped section A1 running approximately parallel to the lower leg 16. A second, cylindrical section A2 is formed on the section A1 in the region of the shaft 5. A third, elongated section A3 is formed at a distance from the section A2 toward the fastening clamp 3, extending downward from the section A1 and supporting the thread guide elements, take-off plate 20 and discharge plate 21.

[0039] The second bearing device K2 is arranged in the interior of the lower area of ​​the cylindrical section A2.

[0040] In the area between section A2 and fastening clamp 3, section A1 is provided with contact surfaces and alignment means for the correct connection to the lower leg 16 on a surface 33 facing the lower leg 16. The lower leg 16 has, in Figure 2 not visible, appropriate contact surfaces and alignment means.

[0041] Alignment means of the first housing part 13 are, for example, elevations, domes or knobs that protrude into corresponding openings of the lower leg 16.

[0042] In the area of ​​the fastening clamp 3, the support unit 2 has a reinforcing element 36. The reinforcing element 36 is made of a metal, e.g., steel. The reinforcing element 36 has a first section 37 and a second section 38. The first section 37 runs horizontally in the assembled state and is arranged between the first housing element 13 and the lower leg 16. The second section 38 is angled relative to the first section 37 and, in the assembled state, carries a clamping screw 39 of the fastening clamp 3.

[0043] The second housing part 14 has a cylindrical section B1 and a bearing section B2. The cylindrical section B1 has an approximately cylindrical shape and is arranged at a distance around the cylindrical section A2 of the first housing part 13. The cylindrical section B1 forms an annular interior space around the section A2. Electrical and electronic accessories are arranged in the interior space. In this example, one or more circuit boards (not shown in the drawing) are arranged in the interior space. In this example, a light source is arranged in the annular interior space to indicate the switching of the inlet sensor 11 and / or the outlet sensor 22.

[0044] The bearing section B2 of the second housing part 14 adjoins the first section A1 of the first housing part 13 in the direction of the fastening clamp 3 and extends up to the third section A3 of the first housing part 13. Between the bearing section B2 of the second housing part 14 and the first section A1 of the first housing part 13, a bearing for the outlet sensor 22 is formed by recesses 40 on the bearing section B2 and depressions 42 on the first section A1.

[0045] The three parts of the support unit 2, namely the support arm 12, the first housing part 13, and the second housing part 14, are made of plastic. The second housing part 14 is made of a transparent plastic, at least in its cylindrical section B1. The lamps arranged inside the cylindrical section B1 are visible through the cylindrical section B1 when switched on.

[0046] The three parts of the support unit 2 are fastened together by screws 50, 51, 52, 53.

[0047] Two screws 50, 51 fasten the second housing part 14 to the first housing part 13 in the region of the cylinder section B1. The screw 51 terminates at the screw boss 32 of the lower leg 16 of the support arm 2, so that the two housing parts 13, 14 are fastened to the lower leg 16. A screw 52 fastens the first housing part 13 to the lower leg 16 of the support arm 12 in the region of the third section A4. A screw 53 fastens the reinforcing element 36 to the lower leg 16.

[0048] Figure 3 shows a simplified side view of the support unit 2 and Figure 3a an excerpt from the Figure 3 with a simplified vertical section in the area of ​​the storage unit K2.

[0049] The bearing of shaft 5 as a whole is in Figure 4, a simplified cross-section through the yarn feeding device 1.

[0050] The bearing unit K1 comprises a ball bearing 60 and the bearing unit K2 comprises a ball bearing 61. The bearing units K1, K2 are formed by inserting the ball bearings 60, 61 during the injection molding process.

[0051] The ball bearings 60, 61 are clamped against each other by a screw 62 and a nut 63, which serves as a bearing shoulder. The screw 62, which protrudes from below through the yarn feed wheel 4, serves to clamp the bearing units on the shaft 5. Clamping is achieved, as usual, via sleeves arranged on the shaft 5 as well as ball bearings for the pulleys 6 and for a bearing unit of the clutch with the handle 7.

[0052] Figure 5 shows a simplified perspective view of a support arm 12 of the support unit 2 and Figure 6A simplified top view of the yarn feeding device 1 and thus of the support arm 12. The figures show that the upper leg 15 of the support arm 12 is V-shaped down to the lower leg 16. This increases the stability of the support arm 12. List of reference symbols

[0053] 1 Yarn feeding device 2 Carrying unit 3 Fastening clamp 4 Yarn feed wheel 5 Shaft 6 Belt pulley 7 Handle 8 Inlet eyelet 9 Knot catcher 10 Yarn brake 11 Inlet sensor 12 Supporting arm 13 First housing part 14 Second housing part 15 Upper leg of the supporting arm 16 Lower leg of the supporting arm 20 Take-off element 21 Outlet element 22 Outlet sensor 30 Opening 31 Opening 32 Screw dome 33 Surface 36 Reinforcing element 37 First section 38 Second section 40 Recess 41 Trough 50 Screw 51 Screw 52 Screw 53 Screw 60 Ball bearing 61 Ball bearing 62 Screw 63 Nut F Yarn D Shaft axis Z Intermediate space K1 Bearing unit K2 Bearing unit A1 First, plate-shaped section of the first housing part A2 Second, cylindrical section of the first housing part A3 Third, elongated Section of the first housing part B1 Cylinder section of the second housing part B2 Bearing section of the second housing part

Claims

1. A yarn feeding device (1) for feeding a yarn to a textile machine, comprising a support unit (2) with a fastening clamp (3), which has a support arm (12) with an upper leg (15) and a lower leg (16) and a housing, wherein an intermediate space (Z) is formed between the upper leg (15) and the lower leg (16), a shaft (5) which is rotatably mounted on the support unit (2) and, in use, extends vertically through the legs (15, 16) of the support arm (12), the intermediate space (Z) and the housing, a bearing unit (K1) for the shaft (5) being arranged in the upper leg (15) of the support arm (15), at least one pulley (6) and a clutch with a handle (7) which is arranged on the shaft (5) in the intermediate space (Z), and a yarn feeding wheel (4) which is arranged at the lower end of the shaft (5). is, characterized in thata second bearing unit (K2) for the shaft (5) is arranged in the housing at a lower end of the shaft (5) in front of the yarn feed wheel (4).

2. Thread feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support arm (12) and the housing of the support unit (2) are made of plastic.

3. Thread feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the bearing unit (K1, K2) in the upper leg (15) of the support arm (12) and / or the bearing unit (K2) in the housing is / are formed by inserts during the injection molding process.

4. Thread feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper leg (15) of the support arm (12) is V-shaped.

5. Thread feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing has a first housing part (13) and a second housing part (14), wherein the first housing part (13) has the second bearing unit (K2).

6. Thread feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in thatthe first housing part (13) is connected to the lower leg (15) of the support arm (12) by screws (50, 51, 52).

7. Thread feeding device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first housing part (13) and the second housing part (14) have corresponding contact surfaces and corresponding alignment means (34) for the correct positional connection.

8. Thread feeding device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the second housing part (14) has a cylinder section (B1) which extends in the lower section of the shaft (5) and which surrounds a cylindrical section (A2) of the first housing part (13) with the second bearing unit (K2), wherein an annular interior space for at least one circuit board is formed between the cylinder section (B1) and the cylindrical section (A2).

9. Thread feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in thatat least the cylinder section (B2) of the second housing part (14) is made of transparent plastic.

10. Thread feeding device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that in the region of the fastening clamp, a reinforcing element (36) is provided between the support arm (12) and the first housing part (13).

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