Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unidirectional winding and unwinding – Variable number of windings on support
Patent
1998-05-18
1999-11-09
Mansen, Michael R.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unidirectional winding and unwinding
Variable number of windings on support
139452, 2423654, B65H 5100, D03D 4736
Patent
active
059798157
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a yarn feeding device having a stationary housing and a rotatable winding element.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
In yarn feeding devices (with or without weft measuring device; with or without integrated brake ring; with rotatable winding element and stationary storage drum or with a rotatable storage drum as the winding element; for weaving machines or for knitting machines), there is a standardized construction used in the axial transition area from the housing to the winding element, as shown in EP 0 567 045 A1, FIG. 5 for a yarn feeding device with rotatable winding element and stationary storage drum. This means that an overlap with an open gap portion is provided between the annular edge of the winding element and the housing flange. The outer circumferential surface of the housing flange is smooth, as is the inner circumferential surface of the edge. Since the winding element rotates at a variable speed relative to the stationary housing flange, and since some clearance must be maintained between the ring and the housing flange because of manufacturing tolerances, the following phenomenon can be observed during operation of such a yarn feeding device: The processed yarn material constantly produces dirt, such as lint, dust, small fiber pieces, and the like, which tends to enter, inter alia, into the gap portion and to get stuck there and to travel gradually from the gap portion into the interior of the yarn feeding device, which may lead to operational malfunctions. Dirt gets, in particular, stuck to the inside of the ring, leading to the formation of a coherent dirt layer.
Attempts have already been made to integrate a fan into the yarn feeding device, wherein the fan comprises fan blades which rotate with the winding element, and produces a flow during operation in order to blow away dirt. As a result, however, dirt is increasingly sucked from the surroundings into the interior of the yarn feeding device.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,947 that the gap portion is designed in the manner of a labyrinth seal to make access more difficult for dirt. Nevertheless, deposits are formed that can grow inwards into the yarn feeding device.
It is the object of the present invention to improve a yarn feeding device of the above-mentioned type in a constructionally simple and inexpensive manner such that malfunctions caused by deposited dirt are largely avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to the invention wherein a catching element is provided in a gap defined between the housing and the winding element for removing dirt therefrom.
With such a configuration, the catching element fulfills two functions. First of all, the formation of a thick dirt layer on the inside of the ring is counteracted because during relative movement the catching element forms a periodic irregularity as a disturbing factor during the accumulation of a dirt layer, with such a factor counteracting the deposition of dirt from the very beginning. Furthermore, surprisingly enough, the catching element mechanically acts on dirt on the inner surface of the ring. On account of the different centrifugal forces acting on the dirt, the latter will expand inwards at a standstill of the ring or at a low speed until it collides with the catching element and is entrained at least at some places. The entrained dirt will choose the path which offers the least resistance and will be catapulted out of the opening of the gap portion. An entrained dirt piece might first hang onto the catching element and then sweep along the inside of the ring. In addition, the air entrained during rotation.
In the embodiment wherein the catching element defines a radial entraining surface, the entraining surface represents a mechanical obstacle as well as a flow obstacle for dirt. When the entraining surface has an undercut, lint clusters will very easily get hooked, whereby deposited dirt is entrained from the inside of the ring and the inside is swept over before the dirt
REFERENCES:
patent: 4645134 (1987-02-01), Sarfati
patent: 4710947 (1987-12-01), Klein
patent: 5094275 (1992-03-01), Shaw et al.
patent: 5310127 (1994-05-01), Deiuri
patent: 5520226 (1996-05-01), Pedrini
patent: 5560556 (1996-10-01), Claesson et al.
patent: 5671783 (1997-09-01), Zenoni et al.
Josefsson Paer
Svanstroem Anders
Iro AB
Mansen Michael R.
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