Device for keeping clean the regions os textile machines in contact with feed threads particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like

Abstract

A device for keeping clean the regions of textile machines that are in contact with feed threads, particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like, comprising a housing that delimits a space around a region where the thread makes contact with a supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element arranged along the path followed by the thread from the spool to a thread guide of the machine, where dust is generated and/or accumulates, and an aspirator device which is connected to such space.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for keeping clean the regions of textile machines in contact with feed threads, particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, in hosiery knitting machines the friction of the threads against the supporting and/or guiding and/or braking elements arranged along the path of the threads from the corresponding spool to the thread guides that feed them to the needles of the machine generates dust, which can harm the components of the machine.

Furthermore, accumulation of dust at the various passages through which the threads pass constitutes a considerable problem since, by partially blocking such passages, it can produce an abnormal braking of the threads, even downstream of the elements designed to control and adjust the tension of the threads, with unwanted modifications of the article produced with such threads. In other cases, the thread may even break, stopping the machine and causing production losses.

In order to solve these problems, proximate to the regions of the machine where accumulations of dust may occur more easily, for example passages for supporting and guiding the threads, there are blower nozzles which dispense compressed air jets in order to remove the dust from such regions.

However, this solution has the problem that it scatters the dust in the vicinity of the machine, causing problems as regards the healthfulness of the working environment and because the removed dust tends to settle on other parts of the machine.

For this reason, the components of the machine whose operation might be altered due to contact with the dust must be protected by means of housings.

Furthermore, the air jets, which for reasons related to savings on compressed air cannot be continuous but can only be intermittent, do not ensure the gradual elimination of accumulations of dust, which is no longer removed when it agglomerates into large masses. Sometimes the air jets can also interfere with the regular advancement of the threads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing a device that keeps clean the regions of textile machines that are in contact with feed threads, particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like, avoiding the scattering into the surrounding environment of the dust generated by the friction of the threads against the elements that guide, support and brake them.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device that effectively avoids pollution of the working environment on the part of the dust generated by the friction of the threads against the elements that guide, support and brake them along their path from the spool to the various thread guides of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is structurally simple and can be installed on current textile machines, particularly on hosiery knitting machines or the like.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for keeping clean the regions of textile machines that are in contact with feed threads, particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like, characterized in that it comprises a housing that delimits a space around a region where the thread makes contact with a supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element arranged along the path followed by the thread from the spool to a thread guide of the machine, where dust is generated and/or accumulates, and aspirator means which are connected to such space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the device according to the invention, applied to a thread feeder;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device according to the invention applied to a thread feeder;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device according to the invention applied to a thread feeder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a housing 2, which delimits a space 3 around a region where the thread 4 makes contact with a supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element 5 along the path followed by the thread 4 from the spool to a thread guide of the machine, and aspirator means 6 connected to said space 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device according to the invention is applied to a conventional feeder which is generally designated by the reference numeral 7.

In this embodiment, the space 3 delimited by the housing 2 contains the regions of the feeder 7 at which the thread is subjected to friction against the various elements of the feeder 7, such as for example braking brushes, guiding elements, and the exit passage 8, generally formed by a ceramic ring.

The aspirator means comprise a duct 9, which is connected to an aspirator 10 and is provided with an inlet 9a connected to the space 3.

Along the duct 9 there is conveniently a filter 11, which is designed to retain internally the dust aspirated along the duct 9.

If a plurality of aspirator ducts connected to different housings 2 mounted on a same machine or on a plurality of machines are provided, it is possible to provide also a single filter arranged on a manifold, whereto the various aspirator ducts converge.

Optionally, filter 11 can be of the removable type in order to clean it periodically.

More generally, if the supporting and guiding element for the thread is simply constituted by a passage, the housing 2, whose dimensions and shape can vary according to the requirements, delimits a space 3 that is arranged at least on the side where the thread 4 enters through said passage, i.e., the side at which the greatest quantity of dust forms and deposits due to the sliding of thread through said passage.

Conveniently, the housing 2 is mounted on the supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element or on a suitable supporting structure without a seal with respect to the outside or in such a manner that the suction generated by the activation of the aspirator 10 causes, without problems, a stream of aspirated air through the space 3.

Operation of the device according to the invention is as follows.

The thread 4, in its sliding against the various supporting and/or guiding and/or braking elements arranged along the path of the thread from the spool to the thread guide that feeds it to the needles of the machine, generates dust which is retained within the space 3 thanks to the housing 2. The actuation of the aspirator 10 causes the gradual aspiration of the dust along the duct 9 and its retention within the filter 11.

In this manner, the dust that forms in the space 3 is removed constantly and the thread supporting and/or guiding and/or braking elements, enclosed by the housing 2, stay clean.

It should be noted that the device according to the invention, differently from the blowers currently used to keep clean the thread supporting and/or guiding and/or braking elements, avoids scattering the dust into the surrounding environment but instead captures it and collects it optionally in a filter, thus avoiding contaminations of the working environment, and also avoids scattering the dust onto the other components of the machine.

In practice it has been found that the device according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since by removing and capturing the dust that forms on the elements of the machine affected by the sliding of the threads, it keeps such elements constantly clean and at the same time avoids scattering dust into the working environment.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that it limits the use of housings to protect elements of the machine that are particularly sensitive to the problem of cleanness.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that it keeps constantly clean the thread supporting and/or guiding and/or braking elements, avoiding abnormal friction on the threads and therefore avoiding qualitative changes to the manufactured article.

The device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2001A002476 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A device for keeping clean the regions of textile machines that are in contact with feed threads, particularly for hosiery knitting machines or the like, comprising a housing that delimits a space around a region where the thread makes contact with a supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element arranged along the path followed by the thread from a spool to a thread guide of the machine, where dust is generated and/or accumulates, and aspirator means which are connected to said space.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the supporting and/or guiding and/or braking element forms a passage for the thread, and wherein said space is arranged on the thread inlet side of said passage.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein said aspirator means comprise an aspirator duct having an inlet connected to said space and at least one filter for retaining the dust aspirated from said space being provided along said duct.