(19)
(11) EP 0 422 093 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
02.06.1993 Bulletin 1993/22

(21) Application number: 89907803.4

(22) Date of filing: 28.06.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B65H 51/20, D03D 47/34
(86) International application number:
PCT/GB8900/719
(87) International publication number:
WO 9000/148 (11.01.1990 Gazette 1990/02)

(54)

YARN STORE

GARNSPEICHER

MAGASIN A FIL


(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE GB NL

(30) Priority: 29.06.1988 GB 8815500

(43) Date of publication of application:
17.04.1991 Bulletin 1991/16

(73) Proprietor: BONAS GRIFFITH LIMITED
Sunderland Tyne & Wear SR5 3TX (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • GRIFFITH, John, Dalton
    Tyne and Wear (GB)

(74) Representative: Dealtry, Brian et al
Eric Potter & Clarkson St. Mary's Court St. Mary's Gate
Nottingham NG1 1LE
Nottingham NG1 1LE (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-B- 1 280 105
US-A- 3 312 381
GB-A- 695 615
US-A-33 457 02
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a yarn storage apparatus for a yarn consuming apparatus.

    [0002] In textile fabric forming machines, a large number of yarns are commonly needed to be fed in to the fabric forming process. This is typically the case in weaving and warp knitting machines. This is done by either storing the yarn on a large number of packages (or creel) or by winding all the yarns from a store onto one large drum (the beam). In some cases, for instance, in patterned carpet weaving and in sample weaving of fabrics with multi-coloured warp, the warp preparation is time consuming and wasteful in yarn, as it is difficult to ensure that exactly the correct length of yarn is on each package for a given requirement.

    [0003] It is an object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a yarn storage apparatus for supplying yarn to a yarn consuming apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising a plurality of yarn storage bodies arranged side by side, each storage body having a bore in which yarn is stored, the bore having a yarn discharge opening at one end and a yarn insertion opening at its opposite end, at least one mobile yarn loading means for inserting yarn into the bores of preselected ones of said bodies, each yarn loading means being movably mounted for insertion into said yarn insertion opening of a selected body, each yarn loading means including a rotatable yarn guide which is located within the bore when the yarn loading means has been inserted into said yarn insertion opening of a selected body and which on rotation discharges windings of yarn into the bore to create a compact body of coiled yarn which progressively increases in length along the length of the bore during rotation of the yarn guide. Preferably each yarn storage body comprises a tube which is open at each end. Yarn is pulled into the fabric forming machine from the front end of the tube and yarn is loaded in at its back end. Loading can take place without interrupting the fabric forming process as new yarn can be added by tying or splicing its leading end to the tail of yarn in the tube before commencing loading.

    [0004] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

    Figure 1 is a schematic sectional elevation of a yarn storage body according to the present invention

    Figure 2 is a schematic sectional elevation of a yarn storage apparatus according to the present invention.

    Figure 3 is a schematic sectional elevation similar to Figure 1 showing how loading an empty storage body may commence

    Figure 4 is a schematic sectional elevation of a modified yarn storage apparatus according to the present invention.

    Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 showing the yarn loading means partially withdrawn.



    [0005] Referring initially to Figure 1 there is shown a yarn storage body 10 which is preferably in the form of a tube 1. The body 10 includes a bore 20 in which coils of yarn 2 are stored. The yarn is pulled from the tube through a discharge opening 21 of the bore via a small tube 3, which leads yarn to the fabric forming machine (not shown). When loading of the yarn into the bore 20 is not taking place, a tail of yarn 4 is held or lays at the yarn insertion opening 24 of the bore. The tube may be of a round or polygonal cross-section. Advantageously the tube has a rectangular or square cross-section to thereby enable a plurality of tubes to be easily stacked one on top of the other.

    [0006] A yarn loading means 30 is provided which includes a yarn guide 32 in the form of an aperture formed on the periphery of a rotatable disc 6. The aperture is defined by one end of an inclined bore 33 along which yarn 7 to be inserted is fed

    [0007] To add yarn to the store in the tube, the tail 4 is knotted or spliced to the new piece of yarn 7 at 5 (Fig 2). This may be done either manually or automatically. The yarn loading disc 6 holding the new yarn is inserted into the end of the tube as shown and rotated. The yarn passes through the yarn guide 32 and passes through the centre of the shaft 8 on which the disc is mounted. The shaft is held in bearings 9 has an axial bore 36 through which the yarn passes. The disc 6 has an abutment face 37 defined by an axial end face of the disc. When the disc is rotated and pressed against the yarn already in the tube, additional yarn is drawn off and coiled in the tube. As this happens, the windings of the yarn form a compact body (illustrated schematically at 40 ) which grows in length and pushes the yarn already in the bore towards the discharge opening. The yarn being loaded comes from a package 11 and is fed at a constant speed by a feed device 12 to the winding disc. The feed device can be of any known method. Two driven rollers pressed together are illustrated.

    [0008] An alternative construction of loading disc 6 is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 wherein the disc 6 has a rotatable end wall portion 80 defining the abutment face 37. Accordingly, during loading of yarn, the abutment face 37 remains stationary as the disc 6 rotates and thereby avoids resistance to rotation of the disc 6 caused by engagement with the yarn compact body 40.

    [0009] The embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 also includes a yarn retention means 90 located adjacent the insertion opening 24 for resisting inadvertant removal of yarn and thus collapse of the compact body on removal of the yarn loading means 30.

    [0010] In the illustrated embodiment the yarn retention means 90 comprises a resilient stirrup member 91 conveniently made from bent spring wire which in a relaxed condition extends into the interior of the tube.

    [0011] The disc 6 is preferably rotatably mounted in a collar 92 which on insertion into the tube deflects the stirrup member 91 to a stowed position during yarn loading.

    [0012] The embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 also includes a yarn winding restriction means 100 which is located upstream of the loading disc 6 and serves to restrict the cross-sectional size of the compact body to be extruded along the tube downstream of the restriction means without causing excessive resistance at the yarn loading means created by sliding resistance between the compact body and the internal walls of the tube.

    [0013] The restriction means 100 preferably comprises one or more restriction members 103 which project into the bore of the tube to provide a restricted opening. The restriction members 103 may be of a resilient nature or may be rigid.

    [0014] It assists the even formation of coils in the bore if the yarn loading means includes a yarn retraction means 50 which intermittently engages the yarn in its passage from the feed device 12 to the disc 6 so as to alternately pull back and release the yarn as shown. When the yarn is pulled back, the coil formed is tightened and thus pulled to the centre of the bore. When the yarn is released, the yarn forms coils at the inside walls of the bore. The retraction means 50 is preferably in the form of an eccentric disc or cam 13 mounted on a rotatable shaft 14. The disc eccentricity and the relationship between the speed of shaft 14 to shaft 8 can be designed to give the coil formation in the tube which gives the maximum stored length of yarn.

    [0015] When the fabric forming machine is in operation, there will always be yarn in the bore for disc 6 to push against to start winding. However, when first installed, additional means need to be provided to get the coil formation to start. This may be in the form of a bung 16 ( Fig 3 ) resiliently pressed against the bore wall by typically a leaf spring 17. The bung is pushed along the tube as winding proceeds and can be taken out of the front end before transferring the front of the yarn to the fabric forming machine. Alternatively a resistant bung may be provided formed for instance from a body of resilient material such as for example a body of foam plastics material.

    [0016] Once initially set up, the yarn need never be rethreaded to the fabric forming machine.

    [0017] It is envisaged that an array of tubes 1 could be associated with say a weaving loom, an individual tube 1 serving to supply a warp yarn to the loom. A single yarn loading means may be provided which is movably mounted so as to be able to be positioned for loading yarn into any one of the tubes forming the a!ray of tubes. Sensing means may be provided associated with each tube and arranged to provide a signal when a predetermined quantity of yarn is left in the tube. The signal can be used to automatically cause the loading disc 6 to be moved to load fresh yarn into the appropriate tube.

    [0018] It is envisaged that the loading disc 6 may be controlled by programmable control means which can be programmed to automatically move the loading disc 6 to selected tubes and load a predetermined colour into the selected tube.


    Claims

    1. A yarn storage apparatus for supplying yarn to a yarn consuming apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising a plurality of yarn storage bodies arranged side by side, each storage body having a bore in which yarn is stored, the bore having a yarn discharge opening at one end and a yarn insertion opening at its opposite end, at least one mobile yarn loading means for inserting yarn into the bores of preselected ones of said bodies, each yarn loading means being movably mounted for insertion into said yarn insertion opening of a selected body, each yarn loading means including a rotatable yarn guide which is located within the bore when the yarn loading means has been inserted into said yarn insertion opening of a selected body and which on rotation discharges windings of yarn into the bore to create a compact body of coiled yarn which progressively increases in length along the length of the bore during rotation of the yarn guide.
     
    2. A yarn storage apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein each yarn guide is located at the yarn insertion opening during yarn insertion and has an associated abutment face against which the yarn windings abut such that during rotation of the yarn guide the compact body moves toward the discharge opening of the bore as it progressively increases in length.
     
    3. A yarn storage apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein each yarn guide comprises an aperture formed in the periphery of a rotatable disc and said abutment face is defined by an axial face of said disc.
     
    4. A yarn storage apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the or each yarn loading means includes yarn feed means for positively feeding yarn to said yarn guide.
     
    5. A yarn storage apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein yarn retraction means are provided inbetween the yarn feed means and the yarn guide fed thereby, the yarn retraction means acting intermittently on the yarn being fed to the yarn guide to cause the yarn to be pulled from the yarn guide to thereby reduce the size of the windings being created.
     
    6. A yarn storage apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the yarn retraction means includes a rotatable cam which on rotation intermittently engages the yarn being fed to the yarn guide.
     
    7. A yarn storage apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the yarn storage body comprises a tube.
     
    8. A yarn storage apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each body includes a yarn retention means located adjacent its insertion opening for resisting inadvertent removal of yarn on retraction of a mobile yarn loading means from the body.
     
    9. A yarn storage apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each yarn storage body is provided with a sensor for sensing when a predetermined length of said compact body remains in an associated bore, a plurality of mobile yarn loading means being provided each having a different coloured yarn, and programmable means for controlling movement of said plurality of mobile yarn loading means in response to said sensors to cause a preselected mobile yarn loading means to load yarn into a preselected yarn storage means.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ein Garnspeichergerät zum Zuführen von Garn zu einem Garnverbrauchenden Gerät, wobei das Speichergerät eine Mehrzahl nebeneinander angeordneter Garnspeicherkörper, wobei jeder Speicherkörper eine Bohrung aufweist, in der Garn gespeichert wird, wobei die Bohrung an einem Ende eine Garn-Auslaßöffnung und an ihrem gegenüberliegenden Ende eine Garn-Einführöffnung aufweist, sowie mindestens eine mobile Garnbeschickungseinrichtung zum Einführen von Garn in die Bohrungen von vorgewählten Körpern umfaßt, wobei jede Garnbeschickungseinrichtung zum Einführen in die Garn-Einführöffnung eines gewählten Körpers beweglich befestigt ist und eine drehbare Garnführung umfaßt, die sich innerhalb der Bohrung befindet, wenn die Garnbeschickungseinrichtung in die Garn-Einführöffnung eines gewählten Körpers eingeführt worden ist, und die bei Drehung Windungen von Garn in die Bohrung entlädt, um einen kompakten Körper bzw. Preßkörper aus gewickeltem Garn zu erzeugen, welcher während der Drehung der Garnführung fortschreitend entlang der Länge der Bohrung an Länge zunimmt.
     
    2. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei jede Garnführung während des Einführens von Garn an der Garn-Einführöffnung angeordnet ist und eine zugeordnete Stoßfläche aufweist, gegen die die Garnwindungen in der Weise stoßen, daß sich der kompakte Körper bzw. Preßkörper während der Drehung der Garnführung mit fortschreitender Zunahme an Länge auf die Auslaßöffnung der Bohrung zubewegt.
     
    3. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei jede Garnführung eine Öffnung umfaßt, welche am Umfang einer drehbaren Scheibe ausgebildet ist, und wobei die Stoßfläche durch eine axiale Fläche der Scheibe definiert ist.
     
    4. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei die oder jede Garnbeschickungseinrichtung Garnvorschubmittel zum fortschreitenden Vorschieben bzw. Zuführen von Garn zur Garnführung umfaßt.
     
    5. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei Garnrückzugsmittel zwischen den Garnvorschubmitteln und der davon versorgten Garnführung vorgesehen sind, wobei die Garnrückzugsmittel diskontinuierlich auf das der Garnführung zugeführte Garn einwirken, damit das Garn von der Garnführung gezogen wird, um dadurch die Größe der erzeugten Windungen zu verringern.
     
    6. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei die Garnrückzugsmittel einen drehbaren Nocken umfassen, der bei Drehung diskontinuierlich mit dem der Garnführung zugeführten Garn in Eingriff gelangt.
     
    7. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß irgend einem vorstehenden Anspruch, wobei der Garnspeicherkörper ein Rohr bzw. eine Röhre umfaßt.
     
    8. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß irgend einem vorstehenden Anspruch, wobei jeder Körper eine Garnsicherungs- bzw. -rückhalteeinrichtung beinhaltet, die angrenzend an dessen Einführöffnung angeordnet ist, um ein versehentliches Entfernen von Garn beim Zurückziehen einer mobilen bzw. beweglichen Garnbeschickungseinrichtung vom Körper zu verhindern.
     
    9. Ein Garnspeichergerät gemäß irgend einem vorstehenden Anspruch, wobei jeder Garnspeicherkörper mit einem Fühler bzw. Sensor zum Feststellen versehen ist, wenn eine vorbestimmte Länge des kompakten Körpers bzw. Preßkörpers in einer zugeordneten Bohrung verbleibt, und wobei mehrere mobile bzw. bewegliche Garnbeschickungseinrichtungen, die jede ein Garn unterschiedlicher Farbe aufweisen, und eine programmierbare Einrichtung zum Steuern der Bewegung(en) der mehreren mobilen bzw. beweglichen Garnbeschickungseinrichtungen als Reaktion auf die Sensoren vorgesehen sind, um eine vorgewählte mobile Garnbeschickungseinrichtung zum Beschicken von Garn in eine vorgewählte Garnspeichereinrichtung zu veranlassen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil destiné à fournir du fil à un dispositif consommant du fil, le dispositif de mise en réserve comprenant un ensemble de corps de mise en réserve de fil agencés côte à côte, chaque corps de mise en réserve possédant un alésage dans lequel le fil est mis en réserve, l'alésage possédant une ouverture de décharge de fil à une extrémité et une ouverture d'insertion de fil à son extrémité opposée, et au moins un moyen mobile de chargement de fil destiné à insérer le fil dans les alésages de certains corps sélectionnées parmi lesdits corps, chaque moyen de chargement de fil étant monté à déplacement pour pouvoir s'insérer dans ladite ouverture d'insertion de fil d'un corps sélectionné, chaque moyen de chargement de fil comprenant un guide rotatif de fil situé à l'intérieur de l'alésage lorsque le moyen de chargement de fil a été inséré dans ladite ouverture d'insertion de fil d'un corps sélectionné, et qui en rotation décharge des enroulements de fil dans l'alésage pour créer un corps compact de fil bobiné dont la longueur augmente progressivement le long de la longueur de l'alésage pendant la rotation du guide-fil.
     
    2. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque guide-fil est situé à l'ouverture d'insertion de fil pendant l'insertion du fil et possède une surface de butée associée contre laquelle les enroulements de fil viennent buter de telle sorte que pendant la rotation du guide-fil le corps compact se déplace en direction de l'ouverture de décharge de l'alésage à mesure que sa longueur augmente progressivement.
     
    3. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chaque guide-fil comprend une ouverture pratiquée à la périphérie d'un disque rotatif, ladite surface de butée étant définie par une surface axiale du dit disque.
     
    4. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans lequel le moyen de chargement de fil ou chaque moyen de chargement de fil comprend un moyen d'introduction de fil servant à introduire de manière assistée du fil dans ledit guide-fil.
     
    5. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon la revendication 4, dans lequel des moyens de limitation de fil sont prévus entre le moyen d'alimentation de fil et le guide-fil alimenté par ce dernier, le moyen de limitation de fil agissant par intermittence sur le fil en train d'être introduit dans le guide-fil, pour provoquer une traction du fil hors du guide-fil et ainsi réduire la taille des enroulements créés.
     
    6. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le moyen de limitation de fil comprend une came tournante qui en rotation accroche à intermittence le fil en train d'être introduit dans le guide-fil.
     
    7. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon une revendication précédente quelconque, dans lequel le corps de mise en réserve de fil comprend un tube.
     
    8. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon une revendication précédente quelconque, dans lequel chaque corps comprend un moyen de retenue de fil situé à proximité de son ouverture d'insertion pour empêcher l'enlèvement involontaire de fil lors de l'extraction hors de corps d'un moyen mobile de chargement de fil.
     
    9. Equipement de mise en réserve de fil selon une revendication précédente quelconque, dans lequel chaque corps de mise en réserve de fil est doté d'un détecteur servant à déterminer lorsqu'une longueur prédéterminée du dit corps compact est encore présente dans un alésage associé, un ensemble de moyens mobiles de chargement de fil étant prévu et possédant chacun un fil d'une couleur différente, et des moyens programmables destinés à contrôler le déplacement du dit ensemble de moyens mobiles de chargement de fil en réponse au dit détecteur, pour provoquer le chargement de fil dans un moyen présélectionné de mise en réserve de fil par un moyen mobile de chargement de fil présélectionné.
     




    Drawing