US3701247A

US3701247A - Automatic switch-off assembly for feed spools in textile machines

Info

Publication number: US3701247A
Application number: US142903A
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Rehn; Klaus Detlef Otten
Original assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Oerlikon Barmag AG
Priority date: 1970-05-16
Filing date: 1971-05-13
Publication date: 1972-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-31
Also published as: DE2024122B2; CA948501A; DE2024122A1; JPS5438221B1; FR2091676A5; CH518231A; GB1349794A

Abstract

An automatic switch-off assembly in the operation of individual feed spools on textile machines essentially including a balloon thread guide connected to a holder on the machine frame in such a manner that the thread guide as a monitor or sensing element is urged to tilt against the normal tension exerted by the thread running thereagainst and as a guide element is also rotatable on said holder laterally away from the normal balloon thread path, both the tilting and rotating movements actuating a switch to its shut off position for at least the associated operating unit of the textile machine.

Description

United States Patent" Rehn et al.

1151 3,701,247 1451 Oct.31,1972

[s41 AUTOMATIC SWITCH-OFF ASSEMBLY FOR FEED SPOOLS IN TEXTILE MACHINES [72] Inventors: Karl-Heinz Rehn; Klaus Detlef Otten, both of Remscheid, Germany [73] Assignee: Barmag Barmer' Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Wuppertal, .Ger-

many

[22] Filed: 'May 13,1971 21 App1.No.: 142,903'

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2/1956 Saunders et al.", ..242/37 X 10/1960 Bahnson,.lr. ..s7/'s1x 2,977,663 4/1961 Evans ..57/81 X 2,984,964 5/1961 Bates; ..57/8lX 3,132,466 5/1964 Preisser ..57/8l 3,272,048 9/1966 Archer ..57/8l 3,438,188 4/1969 Boggs ..242/37 X Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Johnston, Root, OKeeffe,'Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff v 7 157 A A ABSTRACT.

An automatic switch-off assembly in the operation of individual feed spools on textile machines essentially including a balloon thread guide connected to a holder on the machine frame in such a manner that the thread guide as a monitor or sensing element is urged to tilt against the normal tension exerted by the thread running thereagainst and as a guide element is also rotatable on said holder laterally away from the normal balloon thread path, both the tilting and rotat ing movements actuating a switch to its shut off position for at least the associated operating unit of the textile machine.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnc-m 1972' 3.7401. 247

sum 1 or 2 )NVENTORS. KARL-HEINZ REHN KLAUS DETLEF OTTEN This invention generally relates to a switch-off device for use in combinationwith textile machines in the event of thread or yarn breakage or exhaustion of the supply spool, using ,an electrically operating switching device;

In the textile industry, there are several differentmonitoring systems for textile machines which bring either the entire machine or, more usually a particular machine station or unit, to a standstill in the event that thread breakage occurs. In particular, thread-monitoring systems for textile machines are known which include a housing having arranged therein an electrical switch which is connected toa rocker arm or thread sensing lever that contacts the thread to be monitored in such a way that, if the thread breaks, the rocker arm or lever pivots into another position, for example under its own weight or under spring pressure, and thereby actuates a switch to bring the machine station or unit affected to a standstill.

In one known thread monitoring system, for example, the travelling thread pulls a probe or sensing lever into its balanced working position against the pressure of a spring. If the thread breaks, the spring pulls the lever into the switch-off position. The electrical contact is closed by this movement of the lever and the machine or the particular unit affected is switched off.

In another known device for switching off textile machines in the event of thread breakage, the sensing lever is arranged in such a way that it can rotate freely about a pivot, being held in a vertical or substantially vertical position by the travelling thread. When the thread breaks, the lever swings around laterally and actuates an electrical contact in its swivelled or swungout position.

Although these and other knownthread-monitoring systems which actuate an electrical switch in the event of thread breakage usually function reliably, they have the disadvantage of occupying aconsiderable amount of space and are often extremely cumbersome. This is particularly so where they must be incorporated into modern textile machines, for example with horizontally or substantially horizontally arranged very tightly packed spindles with only a very narrow gap between the individual stations or units. Under these circumstances, the spindle changing operation becomes very difficult to carry out, i.e. fresh feed spools cannot be quickly and easily mounted on the spindles after stripping off an empty spool.

One object of the present invention is to provide a thread monitoring assembly or device for textile machines which functions both as a thread monitoring means and also as a balloon thread guide in all of the various types of twisting machines, and which does not interfere with the changing of spools or bobbins. Other objects and advantages are explained more fully hereinafter. I I

It has now been found, in accordance with the present invention that one can achieve a very desirable improvement in textile machines of the type generally known and described herein by providing in combination therewith an automatic electrical switch-off asreceive said thread in running contact at the required height of the thread balloon during normal operation, a holder to which said thread'monitor is pivotally connected so as to be urged in tilting relationship against the tension exerted by the running thread, said holder also including means to rotate said thread monitor about the holder axis laterally away from the axis of the thread balloon path, and electrical switching means arranged in said holder for actuation to its shut off position in response to movement of said thread monitor to its tilted position free of thread tension and alsoin response to movement of said thread monitor to its rotated position away from said balloon path.

According to the invention, there is thus essentially provided a device for switching off a textile machine or one operating unit thereof in the event of thread breakage at any time or in the event of exhaustion of thread from a supply spool, no supervision being required. The assembly in combination with the textile machine includes a thread monitor which is connected to a holder which in turn is adapted to be fixedly attached to a machine frame and preferably adjustable in its distance from the machine sothat it can be adapted to the required height of the thread balloon, the monitor thereby being adapted to act simultaneously as a balloon thread guide. This monitor or thread guide is then urged to tilt against the effect of the thread tension, the monitor further being adapted to rotate laterally thereof and to cooperate with a built-in electrical switch which is brought into its closed or shut-off position both in the fully tilted and also in the fully rotated position of the thread guide or monitor.

The thread-monitoring device in the combination according to the invention enables the thread guide for the balloon to be brought during operation into the most favorable position for friction free completion of a winding operation and, when spools are being changed, it can be rotated or swung out to provide completely free access to the spindles and thus does not interfere with the spool changing operation. The automatic stoppage of the machine or the particular unit when in the switch-off position, i.e. after the thread guide has been rotated or'swung down or away, is'a safety measure against any accidental switching on of the machine unit before the spool changing operation has been completed. Optionally the thread guide can be locked both in its working position in contact with the running thread, and also in its swung-out or laterally rotated position by any suitable locking means. This ensures that the thread guide cannot be in-v advertently rotated and/or tilted to the wrong position.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention, for positioning the assembly as shown in side elevation below a horizontally arranged twisting spindle, the assembly being in its working position;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken on line A-A of FlG.il to show the arrangement of certain elements in the holder of the assembly;

taneously as a balloon thread guide positioned to FIG. 2 is the same embodiment as FIG. 1 but shown in its tilted position following thread breakage;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the threadmonitoring arrangement for positioning above a horizontally arranged twisting spindle;

FIG. 3A is a partly schematic and enlarged perspective view of certain elements extracted from the interior of the holder shown in FIG. 3; I 2

FIG. 4 illustrates a slightly modified embodiment including a suitable locking means for the thread-monitoring arrangement, with the holder positioned below a twisting spindle; and

FIG. illustrates an embodiment similar to FIG. 4 but positioned above a twisting spindle.

FIG. 1 generally shows'a yarn or thread-monitoring device located below a typical thread balloon B which forms around aloaded twisting spindle (indicated in phantomlines) asthethread is rapidly withdrawn and twisted or otherwise processed. The balloon thread guide 1 also acts as a thread sensing lever and has a looped wire thread guiding eyelet 2 at its upper and a switch actuating element 4 is arranged at the'lowe'r end of thelever 1 inside a housing or casing 18. The thread guide 1 together with the switch actuating'element4 are capable of being tilted or pivoted about the axis or pivot pin 3 under the effect of gravity when a thread 25 breaks after being in contact with and travelling through the guide 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The switch element 4 isprovided on one side with a protruding cam 5 against which there bears or engages a switching tongue 6 of a microswitch 7. In addition, a guide pin 8 is arranged on the switching element 4 perpendicularly of the pivot 3. Some of these elements are more clearly shown in FIG. 1A. j

A forwardly curved cam member 10 is fixed to the flange 11 of a hollow pin 12 which in turn is connected to a stationary holder member 16 of the device by another pin 13 and is thereby prevented from rotating. The holder 16 is preferably adjustably arranged for axial movement in the machine frame F, as indicated for example by the set screw and flange indicated by S in FIG. 2. The flange of the hollow pin 12 acts in conjunction with a spring 17 fixed at one end to the flange 11 and at its other end to the rear wall or reentrant annular portion of the housing 18, as a retaining means for-the rotatable housing 18 which is closed by its cover 19. If the housing 18 is rotated clockwise with its cover 19, a'slide or cammed surface 9 of the forwardly curved section 10 causesthe lever 1 to swing abouttheaxis 3 through the cammed contact with the guide pin 8. As a result, the spring 17 makes a frictional contact between the rear wall of the housing 18 and the facing front wall of the forwardly projecting portion 14 of the holder 16, thus preventing unintentional rotation. If necessary, this effect can be further enhanced by a locking mechanism acting in both positions.

If the thread 25 breaks or if it runs off the supply spool, the tongue 6 of the microswitch is actuated by the thread guide 1 which is tilted or dropped down, i.e. the microswitch 7 is essentially actuated by the protruding cam orv finger 5' arranged on the switch actuating element 4, thus closing or opening the circuit, as the case may be, by which the particular working station or operating unit of the machine is effectively switched off. v i

The same effect occurs when the housing 18 together with its cover 19 is rotated counterclockwise and locked in this position.

The position which is assumed in the event of threadbreakage is shown in FIG. 2. The lever arm 1 of the thread guide has rotated about the pivot pin 3, thereby swing down or tilt under 'the'effect of gravity in the event of thread breakage, it is advantageously assisted by a spring 23 which loads the switch actuating element 4 against the normal thread tension of the running thread. The switch actuating element 4 can only pivot or tilt together with the thread guide 21 when the pressure of the spring approaches zero, i.e. when the thread 25 breaks. The thread guide 21 with its wire eyelet 22 is turned with switching element 4through an'angle' of l in comparison with the embodiment .shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. I

Once again, as more clearly shown by reference to both FIGS. 3 and 3A, the switch actuating element 4 has a guide pin 8 but in this case, on account of the oppositely directed rotating movement in comparison to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this pin 8 cooperates with a curved section which has an effective slide way 26 on the opposite side of the pin 8 in comparison to that of FIG. 1. In other respects, however, the mode of operation isexactly the same as that described earlier for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the miscroswitch 7 is thus arrangedin exactly the same way as in the firstdescribed embodiment and is connected in such a way that the circuit is closed when the tongue 6 swings down,-

In order to-lock the thread guide .1 or 21 in its pivoted or tilted position, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 have a cammedpin or lug 20 which, when rotated through about its axis, locks the thread guide in its tilted out position. By contrast, FIGS.- 4 and 5 Show a different form of a locking mechanism. In this instance, a slide member 28 movable in slot 27 in the housing 18 or in the cover l9.can be displaced between the inside of the housing cover and the switching element 4 in such a way that the yarn guide or 21 cannot be tilted down into the working or operating position. Instead of using spring 23 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, one can also insert simple magnetic means, e.g. a pair of opposed magnets, as indicated by the double-arrow 29 in FIG. 4. i

So far, theprovision of the thread monitoring arrangement according to the invention has been described only with reference to horizontally or substantially horizontally arranged spindles. However, itv

can also be used advantageously whatever the arrangement of the spindles. Whether one uses the e mbodiment shown in FIG. 1 or the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is something determined by the strength of the monitored thread or yarn. Thus, it is usually necessary to employ the second embodiment in the case of small denier or weak textile yarns and vertical spindles, the

first embodiment being better suited to. the same arrangement of spindles and larger denier yarns. In either case, the invention affords very desirable advantages in the combination of the balloon thread guide and the thread monitor or sensing lever and also in the possibility of rotating or swivelling the guide -1 or 21 down or away during spool changing or create enough space of the unhindered, rapid completion of this operation. In addition, the arrangement can also be used asa very effective switch for switching the individual twisting or winding unit on and off. By locking the yarn guide after it has been tilted or swung down, it is also possible to prevent the twisting or winding unit from being unintentionally switched on'again. In large multispindle twisting machines with many units placed closely together, the switch-off assembly of the invention has proven to be most effective.

The invention is hereby claimed as-follows:

1. In a textile machine having a plurality of spindles representing individual operating units arranged on a machine frame, each spindle being adapted to carry a feed spool from which a thread is supplied in a predetermined balloon path, the improvement of an automatic electrical switch-off assembly in combination therewith which comprises:

a thread monitor acting simultaneously as aballoon thread guide positioned to receive said thread in running contact at the required height of the thread balloon during normal operation;

a holder to which said thread monitor is pivotally connected so as to be urged in tilting relationship against the tension exerted by the running thread, said holder also including means to rotate said thread monitor about the holder axis laterally away from the axis of the thread balloon path; and

electrical switching means arranged in said holder for actuation to its shut off position in response to movement of said thread monitor to its tilted position free of thread tension and also in response to movement of said thread monitor to its rotated position away from said balloon path.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holder is adjustably fastened to said machine frame for movement axially parallel to an adjacent spindle to adjustably arrange said balloon thread guide in its required position.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thread monitor is urged in said tilting relationship by the effect of gravity.

4. The combination as claimed in claiml wherein said thread monitor is urged in'said tilting relationship by spring means arranged on said holder.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thread monitor is urged in said tilting relationship by magnetic means arranged on said holder.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein locking means are included on said holder to releasably' said thread monitor is an elongated thread guide having a guide eyelet at the free end thereof and a switch actuating element at the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a pin fixed within a housing forming the outer front portion of said holder, said switch actuating element bearing a protruding cam member'adapted to cooperatively engage the tongue of a microswitch contained within said housing.

9. The combination as claimed in' claim 8 wherein said housing together with said thread guide is rotatable about a fixed pin protrudingaxially forwardly of the rear portion'of said holder. 1

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein a spring is arrangedaround said protruding fixed pin for compression between a flanged plate mounted on the front of said fixed pin and 'a reentrant annular portion of said housing at the rear end thereof resting on the front face of said rear portion of the holder.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flanged plate of the fixed pin supports a forwardly curved cam member engaging a guide pin on said switch actuating element, thereby urging said thread guide into its tilted position as it is simultaneously rotated with said housing about the holder axis.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein a cammed locking pin is arranged on the front cover portion of said housing for rotation on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the thread guide and switch actuating element, said locking pin being rotatable between an open p'dsition and a closed locking position of the cam against said thread guide holding it in its tilted position.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 9 including a slide member arranged in a slot of said housing adjacent its front cover such that it can be slidably inserted between said cover and said switch actuating element to hold said thread guide in its tilted position.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 9 including a spring loading said switch actuating element against the tension exerted by the running thread on said thread guide and moving said thread guide to its fully tilted position in the absence of thread tension.

Claims

1. In a textile machine having a plurality of spindles representing individual operating units arranged on a machine frame, each spindle being adapted to carry a feed spool from which a thread is supplied in a predetermined balloon path, the improvement of an automatic electrical switch-off assembly in combination therewith which comprises: a thread monitor acting simultaneously as a balloon thread guide positioned to receive said tHread in running contact at the required height of the thread balloon during normal operation; a holder to which said thread monitor is pivotally connected so as to be urged in tilting relationship against the tension exerted by the running thread, said holder also including means to rotate said thread monitor about the holder axis laterally away from the axis of the thread balloon path; and electrical switching means arranged in said holder for actuation to its shut off position in response to movement of said thread monitor to its tilted position free of thread tension and also in response to movement of said thread monitor to its rotated position away from said balloon path.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thread monitor is urged in said tilting relationship by spring means arranged on said holder.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein locking means are included on said holder to releasably maintain said electrical switching means in the shut off position.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said locking means holds said thread monitor in its tilted position corresponding to the shut-off position of said electrical switching means.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thread monitor is an elongated thread guide having a guide eyelet at the free end thereof and a switch actuating element at the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a pin fixed within a housing forming the outer front portion of said holder, said switch actuating element bearing a protruding cam member adapted to cooperatively engage the tongue of a microswitch contained within said housing.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said housing together with said thread guide is rotatable about a fixed pin protruding axially forwardly of the rear portion of said holder.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein a spring is arranged around said protruding fixed pin for compression between a flanged plate mounted on the front of said fixed pin and a reentrant annular portion of said housing at the rear end thereof resting on the front face of said rear portion of the holder.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein a cammed locking pin is arranged on the front cover portion of said housing for rotation on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the thread guide and switch actuating element, said locking pin being rotatable between an open position and a closed locking position of the cam against said thread guide holding it in its tilted position.