Thread clamping device

Abstract

The invention relates to a yarn clamping device for a spindle for releasably clamping a yarn in a clamping gap, comprising a first clamping unit having an inner sleeve which can be arranged coaxially with respect to the spindle and a yarn separator which can be fixed to the inner sleeve in the axial direction, the first clamping unit being fixable in an axially positionable manner on an upper part of the spindle, and a second clamping unit having a clamping member which is axially positionable relative to the first clamping unit between a clamping position for closing a clamping gap between the yarn separator and the clamping member and an open position for releasing the clamping gap. According to the invention, the yarn separator is designed for axially positionable fixation on the upper part of the spindle as well as for a non-rotatable connection with the upper part of the spindle, it being provided that the yarn separator and the inner sleeve are connectable in a non-rotatable manner with respect to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn clamping device for a spindle of a spinning machine or a twisting machine for removably fixing a yarn in a clamping gap. - A first clamping unit having an inner sleeve that can be arranged coaxially with respect to the spindle and a yarn separator that can be fixed to the inner sleeve in the axial direction, the first clamping unit being fixable while being axially positioned on the upper part of the spindle, and - A second clamping unit having a clamping member that is axially adjustable with respect to the first clamping unit between a clamping position for closing the clamping gap between the yarn separator and the clamping member and an open position for releasing the clamping gap.

[0002] Yarn clamping devices of the type described at the beginning are known in various embodiments from the prior art, such as the German Patent Application Publication No. 102011076744A1. With such a yarn clamping device, so-called wound yarns can be fixed in a spinning machine or a twisting machine when replacing a full yarn reel.

[0003] For this purpose, the yarn clamping device usually has first and second clamping units attached to the rotatable upper part of a spinning spindle or a twisting spindle. The first clamping unit has, for example, an inner sleeve fixedly attached non-rotatably to the rotatable upper part of a spinning spindle or a twisting spindle, and a yarn separator that abuts at one end against the inner sleeve on the end face side. The inner sleeve is fixed to the upper part of the spinning spindle or the twisting spindle at the other end for axial positioning. In contrast, the second clamping member, for example, an outer sleeve arranged coaxially with respect to the inner sleeve, is supported so as to be axially movable with respect to the rotatable upper part of the spinning spindle or the twisting spindle and with respect to the first clamping unit, and is held, for example, through a spring, at a clamping position for closing the clamping gap between the yarn separator and the second clamping member up to a specific rotational speed of the spinning spindle or the twisting spindle.

[0004] At this time, the second clamping member is configured to fix the yarn in the clamp gap when it is in a clamping position where there is no centrifugal force biasing caused by the rotation of the upper part of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle. In contrast, under the influence of centrifugal force, the second clamping member is displaced axially in the direction of the open position, where the yarn fixed in the clamp gap is released.

[0005] In known yarn clamping devices, the coupling region of the upper portion of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle, which is used to non-rotatably couple with the inner sleeve of the first clamping unit, is locally knurled. When assembled, the knurled region bites into the inner sleeve, thereby creating a circumferentially acting shape bond between the inner sleeve and the upper portion of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle. However, the locally knurled configuration of the upper portion of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle imposes high requirements on the manufacturing of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle. For example, if the edges of the knurled region are not formed to be sufficiently sharp, the edges will not bite into the plastic of the inner sleeve in the prescribed manner when assembling the upper portion of the spinning spindle or twisting spindle to the inner sleeve. This results in a material displacement process in which the inner sleeve is instead pressed radially outward, thereby locally increasing the outer diameter of the inner sleeve. This could lead to undesirable friction between the inner sleeve and the clamping member, which is axially displaceable relative to the inner sleeve. Such friction could result in blockage of the thread clamping device and subsequent malfunctions.

[0006] As an alternative, it is known from German Patent Application Publication No. 102011076744A1 that the inner surface of the inner sleeve may be configured to have an annular surface with a meshing portion for engaging with the corresponding contour of the spindle surface. This solution also imposes high requirements on the manufacturing of both the inner sleeve and the spindle surface. If the meshing portion is not properly configured, material displacement may occur on the inner sleeve side, which presses the inner sleeve radially outward.

[0007] Against this backdrop, the object of the present invention is to provide a yarn clamping device that enables a simple and reliable method of securing the spindle and inner sleeve of a spinning machine or yarn twisting machine in a rotation-preventing manner.

[0008] The present invention solves this problem with a thread clamping device having the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] A thread clamping device according to the present invention comprises first and second clamping units. The first clamping unit includes an inner sleeve that can be positioned coaxially with respect to a spindle and a thread separator that can be fixed to the inner sleeve in the axial direction, and the first clamping unit can be fixed to the upper portion of the spindle while being axially positioned. The second clamping unit comprises a clamping member that is axially adjustable relative to the first clamping unit between a clamping position that closes the clamping gap between the thread separator and the clamping member and an open position that releases the clamping gap. The second clamping unit may have a conventional configuration known from the prior art. For example, the clamping member of the second clamping unit may be configured as a one- or multi-part outer sleeve that is supported by the inner sleeve so as to be movable relative to the inner sleeve. For this purpose, the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve or clamping member may have corresponding support means and sliding means on their respective inner or outer surfaces that are or are connected to each other in action. Projections and notches that can be engaged with each other are given purely as examples of support means. These are configured to correspond to the inner sleeve and the clamping member, thereby generating a guided relative motion of the clamping member with respect to the inner sleeve. In this case, the sliding means may preferably consist of a conventional centrifugal unit having a plurality of centrifugal members supported between the inner sleeve and the clamping member, such that the clamping member is movable relative to the inner sleeve to open and close the clamping gap in proportion to the rotational speed of the spindle.

[0010] A key feature of the yarn clamping device according to the present invention is that the yarn separator is configured for fixing the axial position on the upper portion of the spindle and for non-rotatable coupling with the upper portion of the spindle, and the yarn separator and the inner sleeve are coupled to each other in a way that prevents relative rotation. To position the yarn clamping device on the upper portion of the spindle of a spinning machine or twisting machine, the inner sleeve of the first clamping unit is fitted onto the upper portion of the spindle. The axial position of the inner sleeve in the fitting direction is preferably defined by the corresponding configuration of the spindle, for example, by a projection or step that the inner sleeve can contact with the end face at one end. According to the present invention, the role of fixing the axial position of the inner sleeve in the opposite direction to the fitting direction on the spindle is played by a yarn separator that is defined axially on the spindle and is operationally connected to the inner sleeve at the other end.

[0011] According to the present invention, the thread separator is intended to not only fix the axial position of the inner sleeve, but also to further serve to couple the spindle and the inner sleeve so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. To this end, the thread separator is capable of couplening at least to the inner sleeve so that they cannot rotate relative to each other, and more preferably to the upper portion of the spindle so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. Accordingly, the thread separator not only positions the inner sleeve axially on the upper portion of the spindle at least in the opposite direction to the outer fitting direction of the inner sleeve, but also serves to couple the inner sleeve so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. When the thread separator is in the position to position the inner sleeve axially on the upper portion of the spindle, it further couples the first clamp unit so that it cannot rotate relative to each other. Through the possibility of couplening the inner sleeve and the thread separator so that they cannot rotate relative to each other, couplening the inner sleeve on the upper portion of the spindle is achieved, thereby eliminating the need to separately configure the spindle in the coupling region for couplening the inner sleeve so that it cannot rotate relative to each other.

[0012] Thus, the thread clamping device enables a particularly simple and reliable non-rotatable assembly of the inner sleeve to the upper portion of the spindle, and effectively avoids deformation of the inner sleeve that could lead to operational problems, such as those caused by the cooperative action with a coupling member located on the upper portion of the spindle. The thread clamping device according to the present invention enables a particularly simple and low-cost connection between the spindle and the thread clamping device.

[0013] In this case, the non-rotatable connection between the upper spindle portion and the thread separator can, in principle, be configured in any manner, for example, through a shape-joint type connection in which rotation prevention between the upper spindle portion and the thread separator is achieved through the application of a specific shape. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is intended that the thread separator can be press-fitted onto the upper spindle portion.

[0014] In this embodiment of the present invention, the thread separator is configured to be coupled to the upper portion of the spindle via a press fit so as not to rotate relative to the spindle when the thread clamping device is in the assembly position to the spindle. In this case, the press fit is configured to ensure that the inner sleeve is reliably positioned in the axial direction of the spindle at least in the direction opposite to the outer fitting direction of the inner sleeve, and further to ensure that the inner sleeve does not rotate relative to the spindle. In this case, the press fit between the spindle and the thread separator can be made particularly simple and low cost.

[0015] For a non-rotatable coupling between the inner sleeve and the thread separator, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, the thread separator is intended to be able to be coupled to the inner sleeve in a non-rotatable manner by friction bonding, material bonding, and / or shape bonding. Friction bonding can be achieved, for example, by a suitable configuration of the surfaces of each facet of the thread separator and the inner sleeve that can come into contact with each other, and the clamping force and friction between the faces ensure reliable anti-rotation. Material bonding can be achieved, for example, by adhesive.

[0016] To establish a shape-joint coupling, a preferred evolution of the present invention intends that the thread separator has an engaging member that can engage with, and in particular can be press-fitted into, the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve. In this embodiment of the present invention, the thread separator is configured such that, in the contact area with the inner sleeve, when the thread clamping device is assembled to the spindle, or before, the engaging member of the thread separator is pressed into the inner sleeve at a defined position, thereby establishing a shape-joint coupling between the inner sleeve and the thread separator. This preferred embodiment of the present invention enables a substantially clearance-free, anti-rotational position of the inner sleeve on the spindle in a particularly reliable and simple manner. Furthermore, this preferred embodiment of the thread separator provides axial positioning and fixing of the first clamping unit on the upper portion of the spindle not only in the outward-fitting direction of the inner sleeve but also in the opposite direction. In this preferred embodiment, it is entirely possible to omit any member that fixes the inner sleeve in the outward-fitting direction on the upper portion of the spindle or the spindle itself.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the engaging members can be press-fitted into the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve, which is made of a force-deformable material, in order to clamp the inner sleeve at the upper portion of the spindle. For example, selected or all of the engaging members of the thread separator may be configured such that, with respect to their respective dimensions, when the thread clamping device is assembled to the spindle, the engaging members are pressed into the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve, which is made of, for example, a plastic-containing material, causing material displacement toward the center of the inner sleeve, which results in a reduction in the inner diameter of the inner sleeve at the corresponding material displacement points, thereby generating a clamping force that clamps the inner sleeve at the upper portion of the spindle. The thread separator may generally be made of a metal-containing material, which allows the engaging members to be pressed into the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve particularly reliably and easily in this preferred embodiment. The thread separator made of a metal-containing material is particularly preferably manufactured by a sintering method, rather than by a conventional machining method. This allows for the formation of particularly polygonal engaging members in the thread separator with great precision. This allows the first clamping unit to be fixed to the upper part of the spindle in a simple and reliable manner, both circumferentially and axially, without the need for any other fixing members on the inner sleeve and / or the upper part of the spindle. In this case, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the inner sleeve is selected depending on the outer diameter of the upper part of the spindle so that the inner diameter of the inner sleeve can be fitted onto the upper part of the spindle and that the clamping action can be performed by press-fitting the engaging member.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve is intended to have a connecting member that can be engaged with the engaging member. In this embodiment of the present invention, a connecting member adapted to the shape of the engaging member of the thread separator is positioned in the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve, and these connecting members cooperate with the corresponding engaging member in a shape-joint manner in the circumferential direction when the thread clamping device is assembled to the spindle, thereby ensuring a secure, anti-rotation connection. In this case, the engaging member and the connecting member may be configured as an interlocking portion that allows for axial positioning of the inner sleeve through the thread separator, which is particularly securely anti-rotation in both the axial and circumferential directions.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coupling member configured for friction-bonded and / or geometrically non-rotatable coupling between the contact area and the thread separator is positioned in the region between the contact area and the thread separator. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling member acts as an adapter member capable of coupling axially to both the thread separator and the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve in a relative-non-rotatable manner. Thus, the use of the coupling member makes it possible to couple the thread separator and the inner sleeve in a relative-non-rotatable manner in the coupling area, regardless of their respective configurations. In this case, the coupling member acts as an adapter that couples with at least the thread separator and the inner sleeve to each other circumferentially in a friction-bonded and / or geometrically non-rotatable manner, thereby eliminating the need for mutually adjusted adaptation between the thread separator and the contact area.

[0020] The coupling member may more preferably be configured to fix the first clamp unit axially and with a locking or interlocking fit at the upper portion of the spindle. In this case, the coupling member may preferably be press-fittable to the upper portion of the spindle and / or have engaging members as described above to generate a clamping action with the upper portion of the spindle by material displacement on the side of the thread separator and / or the contact area when assembling the thread clamping device. Alternatively, the operational connection between the thread separator and the coupling member and / or between the contact area of ​​the inner sleeve and the coupling member may be such that material displacement as described above on the side of the coupling member for clamping the first clamp unit at the upper portion of the spindle is generated by providing corresponding engaging members on the thread separator and / or the contact area. The component having material displacement, or the corresponding component area, is made of a force-deformable material, such as a plastic-containing material. In this case, the inner diameter is determined by the outer diameter of the upper part of the spindle, as explained above, thereby enabling force application, interference fit, or press fit to be generated by material displacement.

[0021] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling member is intended to be configured as a locking ring or a toothed ring capable of ensuring a particularly reliable relative non-rotatable coupling of friction and / or shape-joint types, where the locking ring provides sufficient friction moment and the toothed ring ensures a reliable shape-joint coupling.

[0022] More preferably, the thread separator may be made of a metal-containing material by a sintering method, unlike those known, which allows for even more precise formation of polygonal shapes in particular.

[0023] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing an exploded view of a yarn clamping device based on one embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the inner sleeve of the yarn clamping device. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view showing the yarn separator of the yarn clamping device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the yarn separator. [Figure 5] It is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the yarn separator.

[0025] On the upper part of a spindle (not shown here), the yarn clamping device 1 shown in FIG. 1 for clamping yarn to a spinning machine or a twisting machine (also not shown here) is configured to be non-rotatable relative to the upper part of the spindle. It includes an inner sleeve 3a of a first clamping unit 2. In addition to the inner sleeve 3a, the first clamping unit further has a yarn separator 4a that can be press-fitted onto the upper part of the spindle. This yarn separator axially fixes the yarn clamping device 1 in a direction opposite to the outer fitting direction onto the upper part of the spindle.

[0026] For the non-rotatable connection between the upper part of the spindle and the inner sleeve 3a, the yarn separator 4a that can be press-fitted non-rotatably onto the upper part of the spindle has an engaging member 9 arranged to extend coaxially in the form of teeth 15 in the contact area with the inner sleeve 3a (see FIG. 3).

[0027] When the yarn clamping device 1 is assembled on the upper part of the spindle, the tooth 15 is press-fitted into the contact area 8a of the inner sleeve 3a on the end face side, and the inner sleeve is axially fixed and clamped at the upper part of the spindle, and in this way, the material removal of the contact area 8a that ensures the non-rotating arrangement of the inner sleeve 3a at the upper part of the spindle is generated in the direction of the center of the inner sleeve. As an alternative or addition, the yarn separator 4a based on another embodiment may be non-rotatably and axially fixedly arranged on the upper part of the spindle through press fitting.

[0028] A clamping member 6 that is coaxial with the inner sleeve 3a and axially slidable relative to the inner sleeve 3a is arranged. This clamping member forms an outer sleeve that can be externally fitted to the inner sleeve 3a and can be slid relative to the inner sleeve 3a and the yarn separator 4a along the long axis 11 in a well-known manner. The mutually facing surfaces of the yarn separator �a and the clamping member 6 form the clamping gap 7 of the yarn clamping device 1, in which the yarn can be clamped to the spindle. The axially slidable clamping member 6 is axially pre-stressed by a compression coil spring 12 and supported by the inner sleeve 3a in this embodiment, and when the spindle is in the rest position, the clamping member 6 is arranged at the clamping position where it contacts the yarn separator 4a. For the automated slide of the clamping member 6 in the direction towards the release position for releasing the yarn, the yarn clamping device 1 includes a centrifugal force unit (not shown here) in a well-known manner, and the centrifugal force mechanism includes a number of centrifugal force members that separate the axially slidable clamping member 6 from the yarn separator 4a as soon as the spindle rotates at a specific minimum rotational speed, thereby opening the clamping gap 7 and releasing the yarn arranged in the clamping gap 7.

[0029] Figure 2 schematically and simply illustrates another embodiment of the inner sleeve 3b having a coaxially circumferential meshing portion 14 consisting of a number of connecting members 10 for non-rotatable coupling with the thread separator 4a shown in Figure 3 at the contact area 8b. The configuration of the meshing portion 14 in the inner sleeve 3b is adapted to match the configuration of the meshing portion 14 of the thread separator 4a shown in Figure 3, thereby ensuring a secure, rotation-free coupling between the thread separator 4a and the inner sleeve 3b when the thread clamping device 1 is assembled to the upper part of the spindle.

[0030] Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the thread separator 4b, in which the connecting member 9 is formed by a spherical cap 16, which is press-fitted into the contact area 8a of the inner sleeve 3a when the first clamp unit 2 is assembled, thus ensuring a secure connection through the thread separator 4b which is positioned to prevent rotation on the upper portion of the spindle.

[0031] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the thread separator 4c in which the engaging member 9 for a rotation-preventing connection with the inner sleeve 3a is formed by a plurality of webs 17 arranged to be sequentially front-to-back in the circumferential direction, and these webs form polygonal contact surfaces that, together with the contact area 8a of the inner sleeve 3a, establish a shape-joint connection in the circumferential direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1. Thread clamping device 2. First clamping unit 3a, 3b Inner sleeve 4a, 4b, 4c thread separators 5. Second clamping unit 6. Clamping Member 7. Clamp gap 8a, 8b contact area 9 Engaging Member 10 Connecting member 11 Long axis 12 Compression coil spring 13. Sealing member 14. Mating part 15 teeth 16 Ball crown 17 Web

Claims

1. A yarn clamping device (1) for a spindle of a spinning or twisting machine, for removably securing yarn in a clamp gap (7), - The first clamp unit (2) comprises inner sleeves (3a, 3b) that can be positioned coaxially with respect to the spindle, and thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) that can be fixed to the inner sleeves (3a, 3b) in the axial direction, wherein the first clamp unit (2) can be fixed to the upper portion of the spindle while being positioned in the axial direction, and - A thread clamping device comprising a second clamping unit (5) having a clamping member (6) that is axially adjustable relative to the first clamping unit (2) between a clamping position that closes the clamping gap (7) between the thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) and the clamping member (6), The thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) are configured for fixing the axial position on the upper portion of the spindle, and for coupling with the upper portion of the spindle in a way that prevents relative rotation. The thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) and the inner sleeves (3a, 3b) are connected to each other in a way that prevents relative rotation. The thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) have engaging members (9) that can be engaged with or press-fitted into the contact areas (8a, 8b) of the inner sleeves (3a, 3b). The contact areas (8a, 8b) have a connecting member (10) that can be connected to the engaging member (9). A thread clamping device characterized in that the engaging member (9) and the connecting member (10) are configured as a meshing portion (14).

2. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) can be pressed into the upper portion of the spindle.

3. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) can be coupled to the inner sleeves (3a, 3b) in a frictional and / or morphological manner so as not to rotate relative to each other.

4. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thread separators (4a, 4b, 4c) are formed from a metal-containing material by a sintering method.

5. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the engaging member (9) can be press-fitted into the contact area (8a) which is made of a deformable material for clamping the inner sleeve (3a) at the upper portion of the spindle.

6. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a coupling member disposed in the region between the contact area (8a, 8b) and the thread separator (4a, 4b, 4c), which is coupled to the contact area (8a, 8b) and the thread separator (4a, 4b, 4c) in a friction-bonding and / or shape-bonding manner so as not to be able to rotate relative to them.

7. The thread clamping device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting member is configured as a fixing ring or a toothed ring.

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