EP1564173A1 - Device for splicing yarns between two yarn treating machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus consists of a supporting frame (1) with a guide unit (2) for individual threads that are then inserted into an assembly unit (3) for knotting or welding together. It also has a feed unit (4) that provides temporary individual support for threads from an upstream machine, a unit (5) for inserting the threads into the assembly unit (3), and fixing units (6, 7, 8), and a cutter for the free ends of the threads prior to assembly. The supporting frame can be free-standing and mobile, or fixed to one of the thread treatment machines, either upstream or downstream. It consists basically of two parallel side flanges (10) with guide, feed, assembly and other units located between them and able to move in grooves (13, 14) in the flanges.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of the textile industry, especially machines for assembling sheets of threads between two wire processing machines, such as heat-setting machines and winding or coupling or steaming and winding machines or of coupling or between means for feeding a multitude of wires and weaving or tufting machines, and relates to a device wire assembly between such wire processing machines.

We currently know different assembly devices of a wire to another, especially for the connection of the wire end of the end of a coil with the end of the wire from the beginning of another coil. It is thus possible to introduce long lengths of yarn into different textile machines, these lengths being limited only by the number of coils artwork.

These wire assembly apparatus, generally referred to as splicers, operate according to two principles. These principles consist of in an intermingling with a swirling jet of air that achieves a entanglement of the end fibers of two ends of wire to be assembled, that is, when the material constituting the son allows it, namely in the case of son thermoplastics, by melting the two ends together.

USA 6,073,434 and US 5,003,676 respectively describe devices which allow the simultaneous assembly of a plurality of pairs of son and who perform the assembly of each pair of wire following one of the principles outlined above. However, US 6,073,434 discloses a device, in which each wire, coming from both the machine and upstream than the downstream machine, is inserted individually into the medium assembly by entanglement. It follows that the insertion of the wires requires a long and tedious intervention.

In addition, USA 5,297,323 discloses a device that moves an assembly unit in front of each pair of wires to be assembled and realizes thus an assembly of pairs of wires one after the other.

The use of devices and assembly devices multi-filaments known to date and as described above makes it possible to obtain a substantial time saving compared to an assembly process manual of each pair of wires to be assembled.

However, these known devices and devices require a significant preparation time to present each individual thread, constituting a pair of wires to be assembled, in a correct position by relative to the assembly device.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages devices and devices known to date by proposing a device wire assembly, in particular between two yarns, such as heat-setting and winding machines or coupling or steaming and winding machines or or between means for feeding a multitude of wires and weaving or tufting machines, allowing positioning fast and accurate ends of a pair of wires to assemble them.

For this purpose, said wire assembly device is characterized in that it consists essentially of a support frame, a means of individually guiding the wires coming from the machine downstream and of simultaneous insertion of all these threads into an assembly means by entanglement, by fusion or otherwise, by means of feeding and holding temporary individual son from the machine upstream, by a simultaneous insertion device of all the wires coming from the machine of upstream processing in the assembly means by entanglement, by fusion or else, by locking assemblies in position of the wires before and during assembly by entanglement, fusion or otherwise, and by means of cutting free ends of the son before said assembly.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention disposé entre deux machines de traitement de fils ;

la figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective, à plus grande échelle, représentant le dispositif sans le châssis de support ;

la figure 3 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 2, représentant le dispositif en position d'insertion des fils provenant de la machine en aval dans un moyen de nouage ;

la figure 4 est une vue partielle, à plus grande échelle, représentant le début de la phase de mise en place des fils provenant de la machine en amont, et

les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues en perspective, à échelle encore agrandie, représentant respectivement l'insertion finale des fils, provenant de la machine en amont, dans le moyen de nouage et la coupe des extrémités libres des fils avant leur assemblage.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention disposed between two son processing machines;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view, on a larger scale, showing the device without the support frame;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing the device in the insertion position of the son from the downstream machine in a knotting means;

FIG. 4 is a partial view, on a larger scale, showing the beginning of the phase of placing the wires coming from the machine upstream, and

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views, scale further enlarged, respectively showing the final insertion of the son from the machine upstream in the knotting means and the cutting of the free ends of the son before assembly.

FIG. 1 of the attached drawings represents, by way of example, a device to be mounted between two wire processing machines, such as heat-setting and winding machines or machines for steaming and winding or winding or between means of feeding a multitude of yarns and weaving machines or tufting, with a view to assembling the threads.

According to the invention, this device is essentially constituted by a support frame 1, by an individual guide means 2 wires from the downstream machine and simultaneous insertion of all these yarns in an assembly means 3 by entanglement, fusion or other, by a means 4 for supply and temporary individual maintenance of the son from the machine upstream, by a device 5 of simultaneous insertion of all the wires coming from the upstream processing machine in the middle 3 assembly by entanglement, fusion or other, by assemblies 6 to 8 blocking position of the wires before and during assembly by entanglement, by fusion or otherwise, and by means 9 of cutting free ends of the wires before said assembly.

The support frame 1 can be in the form of a frame movable independent, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, or be secured to one of the yarn processing machines, downstream or upstream, and presents, on the one hand, essentially two lateral flanges parallel 10, between which are mounted the means 2 individual guide wires from the downstream machine and simultaneous insertion of all these yarns in an assembly means 3 by entanglement, fusion or other, means 3 of assembly by entanglement, fusion or other, the device 5 for simultaneous insertion of all the wires coming from the machine upstream treatment, in the entanglement assembly means 3, fusion or other, the assemblies 6 to 8 of blocking in position of the front and during assembly by entanglement, fusion or otherwise, and the means 9 cutting of the free ends of the wires before assembly and, secondly, a means for receiving and maintaining the means 4 for feeding and holding temporary individual of the wires entering the machine downstream.

The means 2 for individually guiding the wires coming from the downstream machine and simultaneous insertion of all these wires in a way 3 assembly by entanglement, fusion or otherwise, is constituted by a grommet plate 11 for guiding the wires coming from the machine downstream, secured between the parallel side flanges 10 of the support frame 1, and by a movable counter plate 12 movable parallel to the eyelet plate 11, via axes (not shown) provided near its edge upper and cooperating with guides 13 provided in the side flanges The guides 13 extend in front of the eyelet plate 11 and describe, between their ends close to the latter, a trajectory not rectilinear deviating from said eyelet plate 11, their so-called ends being provided with notches for stopping and holding in position. In the mode embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, the guides 13 have a semi-cylindrical shape, however, they could also have another curvilinear shape, even a broken line shape.

Moreover, for its actuation on the move in the 13, the movable counterplate 12 is advantageously provided, near its upper edge, at least one handle, not shown. With such a handle, the movable counterplate 12 can be easily brought from its rest position, in normal operation of downstream and upstream processing, at its position of placing wires coming from the downstream machine and inserting these wires into the medium 3 assembly.

The means 3 assembly entanglement, fusion or other, is of the type known as "splicer" and is in the form of a longitudinal bar extending between the parallel lateral flanges 10 and provided at regular intervals with notches 3 'for receiving the ends of the wires to be connected, a pneumatic nozzle or a heating device opening inside each notch 3 'to achieve pneumatic entanglement or fusion welding. In addition, the longitudinal bar forming the means 3 may be provided on its upper face with a partial closure bar from the upper part of the notches 3 '. Such a closing bar is known per se and is movably mounted transversely on the bar forming the means 3, so as to allow pinching of the front and during the beginning of the pneumatic entanglement operation or during the fusion welding.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the means 3 assembly by entanglement, melting or otherwise, is mounted between side flanges parallel 10 with possibility of slight displacements parallel to the ends of the son to be assembled by entanglement or by welding, for example via a pneumatic cylinder, electric or mechanical, during the assembly operation. The order of this displacement of the means 3 can be effected via a PLC or by another automation taking into account the beginning of the entanglement or welding operation and the total duration of the this operation.

The movable counterplate 12 is applied against the plate to eyelets 11 during periods of normal operation of wire treatment and can be moved into an insertion position simultaneous of all the wires coming from the machine downstream in the means 3 assembly by entanglement, fusion or otherwise, by performing a movement following a distance trajectory, spreading, in a first time, the threads of the eyelet plate 11 and then bringing them back simultaneously, each in a notch 3 'of the assembly means 3 (Figure 3).

The means 4 of supply and temporary individual maintenance of son from the upstream machine is preferentially under form a pinch comb of each wire individually, this comb being disposed in the position of simultaneous insertion of all these wires in the corresponding notches 3 'of the assembly means 3, in the means of receiving and holding the support frame 1, in the form of housings for the ends of said comb.

The device 5 for simultaneous insertion of the wires coming from the machine upstream in the means 3 assembly by entanglement, by fusion or other, is advantageously constituted in the form of a bar of detour and guide with parallel circumferential grooves of a number equal to that of the notches of the comb forming the means 4, as well as notches of the assembly means 3 and whose spacing of the grooves is equal to that of said notches 3 ', and is mounted on the support frame 1 of displaceably in guide grooves 14 of the lateral flanges parallel 10. These guiding grooves 14 extend preferentially substantially parallel to the guide grooves 13 of the counterplate mobile 12 of the means 2 and externally to these grooves 13 relative to the center of the flanges 10, these guide grooves 14 being provided at each end of a stop and hold notch, as well as a notch intermediate stop and hold 14 ', close to its upper end and away from the means 2.

Thus, the detour and guiding bar forming the device 5 can be moved from a lower rest position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in an intermediate position (Figure 4), in which the comb forming the middle 4 can be passed over said bar of detour and guidance and in front of the middle 2, with a view to its placement on the support frame 1 (FIG. 5), in its holding position represented at Figure 1. It follows that each individual wire, held by the comb forming the means 4, is guided in a peripheral groove of the bar forming the device 5 and, after mounting said comb in its position of maintenance in the support frame 1, each wire will be in front of a notch 3 'of the assembly means 3 by entanglement, fusion or other, all the son being set up simultaneously.

The means 9 for cutting the free ends of the front wires the assembly consists of a cutting blade mounted on a moving carriage and transversely guided under the assembly means 3, close immediate of the latter.

Sets 6 to 8 for blocking in position of the front and during assembly by entanglement, fusion or other, consist, basically, in three crosspieces nipping the wires individually, these sleepers being, on the one hand, arranged respectively, the first, 6, under the bar forming the middle 3 and away from the latter, the second, 7, between the first, 6, and the cutting means 9 mounted movable under the bar forming the means 3 and the third, 8, above the bar forming the medium 3 and, on the other hand, each provided with its own means pinch actuation. The first crosspiece 6 and the second cross 7 are movable perpendicular to their longitudinal extension by guidance in the parallel side flanges 10 and are affected, respectively, the first, 6, at the pinch of the son of the sheet of son from the downstream processing machine and the second, 7, at simultaneous pinching of the son of the sheet of threads from the machine of upstream processing, after they are put in place and the wires already in place of the sheet of wires from the machine downstream, the third crosses 8 simultaneously pinching said wires in pairs, during the cutting operations of their end and interlocking assembly, by merger or otherwise. Such sleepers have notches insertion of the son each provided with a movable nipping element, all the movable pinching elements of a cross member being connected to an actuator, such as a cylinder.

The crossbar 6 is, moreover, advantageously provided with its part bottom of a transverse cutting means with a blade or a heating filament (not shown), for cutting wires from the downstream machine, after putting them in position.

The wire assembly device described above operates from the following way:

After stopping a processing machine, downstream and / or upstream, possibly following a wire break or other problem of functioning, all the wires, coming from the processing machine in downstream still threaded or possibly re-threaded in the guide means 2 the individual wires, must be connected to the corresponding wires from the upstream processing machine.

For this purpose, the ends of the threads threaded in the means 2 are moved simultaneously via the movable counterplate 12 of the means 2 for individually guiding the wires, the initial position of this last shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings in the position shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. This move is made by slightly lifting the movable counterplate 12 out of the notches stop and hold in position at the upper end of the guides 13 equipping the parallel side flanges 10 of the support frame 1, to using the handle or handles advantageously provided near the edge upper of said movable counterplate 12.

When moving the movable counterplate 12, the wires threaded into the eyelet plate 11 and the movable counterplate 12 are pulled simultaneously through the eyelet plate 11 and brought vertically in the notches 3 'of the joining means 3 by entanglement, by fusion or other, and, in the lower extreme position of the movable counterplate 12, the part of the wires coming out of the notched notches 3 'of said assembly means 3 is simultaneously fed into the first cross member 6 forming one of the locking assembly in the position of the son and is tightened in this cross by pinch. During this operation, the second crossbar 7 blocking in position of the threads is affected by a backward motion relative to the plane passing through the front faces of the assembly means 3 and the first 6. After this nip, the end of the wires protruding to the part lower crossbar 6 is cut by means of the cutting device equipping the latter.

The movable counter plate 12 is then put back in its position starting point, in which it is held against the eyelet plate 11. Then, the detour and guide bar forming the device 5 is moved from its lower rest position, namely under the first and second sleepers 6 and 7 and under the assembly means 3, by guiding in the grooves 14 parallel side flanges 10, to a position intermediate, in which it is held in the notches and intermediate holding 14 'of said grooves 14. The pinching comb each wire individually forming the means 4 for feeding and holding temporary individual son from the machine upstream, on which said threads have previously been threaded, is then put in place, successively by passing over the guide bar and detour forming the device 5, so that each wire of all the wires brought simultaneously is guided in a circumferential groove of said bar, in front of the means 2 for individually guiding the wires coming from the machine downstream and in front of the assembly means 3, as well as in front of the second crossbar 7 blocking position of the son, then by mounting its ends in the corresponding housing of the support frame 1.

It follows that all the wires held by the comb forming the medium 4 are brought simultaneously in front of the notches 3 'of the means assembly 3, as well as in front of the notches for insertion of the wires of the second crossbar 7, the first crossbar 6 already pinching the son from the downstream processing machine then being brought into a position retracted from the front face of the second crossbar 7. The bar of detour and guidance forming the device 5 is then moved in its extreme position by stalling out of the notches and stops intermediate holding 14 'and guiding in the grooves 14 to the upper end of these and penetration of its axis into the corresponding end stop and hold notches (Figure 4).

By arriving in this position, the device 5 moves simultaneously the wires, guided on the detour and guide bar the constituting, in a position such as to penetrate, on the one hand, in the insertion notches of the wires of the second crossbar 7 and, secondly, in the notches 3 'of the assembly means 3 (FIG. 5). The tongs of the second crossbar 7 are then actuated at closing, so that the wires from the upstream processing machine, as well as the wires from of the downstream processing machine are pinched simultaneously in this 7. Indeed, because of the prior withdrawal of the first crosses 6 pinching the wires from the downstream processing machine, these wires have penetrated automatically into the corresponding notches of the second cross on arrival at the service position thereof, after the pinching of the son coming downstream by the first crossbar 6.

Simultaneously, the closing bar of the assembly means 3 is also actuated in the direction of a pinching of the wires, as well as the third crossbar 8, so that the ends of the wires are entirely immobilized, particularly at the level of the longitudinal bar forming the means of assembly 3. The cutting means 9 is then actuated and its blade cutting, mounted on a mobile cart, makes a quick move transversal in which all the threads are cut flush with the face lower part of the bar forming the connecting means. heating devices equipping the notches 3 'of the latter are then supplied with air under pressure or electrically, so as to achieve a entanglement or welding of the fibers of the cut ends of each pair of wires housed in each notch 3 '. To perfect this entanglement or this welding, the assembly means 3 may be affected by a slight downhill and uphill movement.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to produce a device wire assembly between wire processing machines, such as machines for heat-setting and winding or winding or machines for steaming and winding or winding or between means of feeding a multitude of yarns and weaving machines or tufting, allowing to achieve very quickly and very accurately the preparatory work of positioning the wire ends of a pair of son to assemble between them.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the mode of embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, without going out for as much of the field of protection of the invention.

Claims (16)

Apparatus for assembling yarn between two yarn-processing machines, such as heat-setting and winding machines or meshing machines or steaming and winding machines or meshing machines, or between feeding means for a multitude yarn and weaving or tufting machines, characterized in that it consists essentially of a support frame (1), by means (2) for individually guiding the yarns coming from the machine downstream and of insertion simultaneous of all these son in a means (3) of assembly by entanglement, melting or other, by means (4) for supply and temporary individual maintenance of the son from the machine upstream, by a device (5) ) simultaneous insertion of all the wires coming from the upstream processing machine into the entanglement, merging or other assembly means (3) by means of sets (6 to 8) of locking in position of the wires before and during assembly by fusion entanglement or at and by means (9) of cutting the free ends of the wires before said assembly. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support frame (1) is in the form of a movable independent frame, or is integral with one of the yarn processing machines, downstream or upstream, and presents on the one hand, essentially two parallel lateral flanges (10), between which are mounted the means (2) for individually guiding the wires coming from the downstream machine and simultaneously inserting all these wires into a means (3) assembling, by entanglement, melting or the like, means (3) for entangling, melting or otherwise joining, the device (5) for simultaneous insertion of all the wires from the upstream processing machine into the means (3) for assembling, by entanglement, fusion or other, the sets (6 to 8) of blocking in position of the threads before and during assembly by entanglement, melting or the like, and the means (9) for cutting free ends of the wires before assembly and, secondly, a means of reception and retention means (4) for supplying and maintaining individual provisional son from the upstream machine. Device according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (2) for individually guiding the wires coming from the downstream machine and for simultaneously inserting all these threads in a means (3) of assembly by entanglement, fusion or otherwise, is constituted by a plate with eyelets (11) for guiding the wires coming from the machine downstream, fixed between the parallel lateral flanges (10) of the support frame (1), and by a movable counter plate (12) movable parallel to the eyelet plate (11), via axes provided near its upper edge and cooperating with guides (13) provided in the parallel side flanges (10). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guides (13) extend in front of the eyelet plate (11) and describe, between their ends close to the latter, a non-rectilinear path deviating from said eyelet plate (11), said ends being provided with notches for stopping and holding in position. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the movable counter plate (12) is provided near its upper edge with at least one operating handle. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (3) for assembly by entanglement, melt or otherwise, is in the form of a longitudinal bar extending between the parallel side flanges (10) and provided at regular intervals with notches (3 ') for receiving the ends of the wires to be connected, a pneumatic nozzle or a heating device opening inside each notch (3') for pneumatic assembly. or fusion welding. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal bar forming the means (3) is provided on its upper face with a partial closing bar of the upper part of the notches (3 '). Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the entanglement, fusion or other joining means (3) is mounted between the parallel lateral flanges (10) with the possibility of slight displacements parallel to the ends of the threads to be tied by entanglement or welding, for example by means of a pneumatic cylinder, electrical or mechanical, during the assembly operation. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the movable counter plate (12) is applied against the eyelet plate (11) during the normal operating periods of the wire processing machines and is moved in a position of simultaneous insertion of all the wires coming from the upstream machine into the entanglement, welding or other joining means (3) by moving along a distance path, moving apart, in a first, the threads of the eyelet plate (11), then bringing the latter simultaneously, each in a notch (3 ') of the assembly means (3). Device according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 6, characterized in that the means (4) for supply and temporary individual holding of the son from the machine upstream is in the form of a pinch comb each wire individually, this comb being arranged, in the position of simultaneous insertion of all these son in the corresponding notches (3 ') of the assembly means (3), in the means for receiving and holding the support frame (1 ), being in the form of housings for the ends of said comb. Device according to any one of Claims 1, 2, 6 and 10, characterized in that the device (5) for simultaneous insertion of the threads coming from the machine upstream into the means (3) for assembly by entanglement, by fusion or otherwise, is constituted in the form of a detour and guiding bar having parallel circumferential grooves of a number equal to that of the notches of the comb forming the means (4), as well as notches (3 ' ) of the connecting means (3) and whose gap of the grooves is equal to that of said notches, and is mounted on the support frame (1) displaceably in guide grooves (14) of the parallel lateral flanges ( 10). Device according to any one of claims 3 and 11, characterized in that the guide grooves (14) extend substantially parallel to the guide grooves (13) of the movable counter plate (12) of the means (2). and externally to these grooves (13) relative to the center of the flanges (10), these guide grooves (14) being provided at each end with a stop and hold notch, as well as a stop notch and intermediate support (14 '), close to its upper end and remote from the means (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (9) for cutting the free ends of the wires before assembly consists of a cutting blade mounted on a movable carriage and guided transversely under the assembly means (3), in the immediate vicinity of the latter. Device according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 13, characterized in that the assemblies (6 to 8) for blocking the position of the threads before and during assembly by entanglement, melting or otherwise, essentially consist of in three crosspieces for clamping the wires individually, these crosspieces being, on the one hand, disposed respectively, the first (6) under the bar forming the means (3) and at a distance from the latter, the second (7) between the first (6) and the cutting means (9) movably mounted under the bar forming the means (3) and the third (8) above the bar forming the means (3) and, on the other hand, each provided with a means for actuating the nip. Device according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 14, characterized in that the first crossmember (6) and the second crossmember (7) are displaceable perpendicularly to their longitudinal extension by guiding in the parallel lateral flanges (10) and are respectively assigned the first (6) to the nip of the yarn of the yarn from the downstream processing machine and the second yarn (7) to the simultaneous nip of yarns of the yarn from the yarn processing machine. upstream, after their introduction, and son already in place of the sheet of yarns from the machine downstream, the third crossbar (8) performing a simultaneous pinching of said son in pairs, during the cutting operations of their end and assembly by entanglement, fusion or other. Device according to any one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the first crossbar (6) is further provided at its lower part with a transverse cutting means with a blade or a heating filament for cutting wires coming from the machine downstream, after being put into position.

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