Patent Application
20230166938
This application is related to and claims priority benefit of European Patent Application No. 21315253.1 filed on Nov. 29, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to the field of systems for winding the free end of a thread on a spool and more particularly to the field of systems for initiating the winding of the free end of a thread.
The thread treatment operations, in particular the thread heat treatment operations, are carried out in a machine over the length of a thread moving through the machine. Conventionally, the machine is configured to carry out the simultaneous processing of several threads grouped together in the form of a strand. On leaving the machine, the various treated threads of the strand are distributed on respective spools or balls so that these are stored. When the thread is stored in the form of a spool, it is wound around a substantially straight axis with a distribution over the entire length of this axis, so as to adopt a substantially cylindrical storage shape.
When a spool reaches its maximum volume, the thread being wound around a spool is then cut so that the winding operation is continued around a new straight axis, so that a second spool can be made. The transfer of the winding operation from a first spool to a second one thus involves a cutting operation of the continuous thread during winding, then a fixing operation of the free end of the unwound thread on a new straight axial structure so that the winding operation can be continued.
However, when the thread being wound has been treated in such a way as to give it a deformation by twisting, the cutting of the thread during the spool change operation causes the loss of this twist over a length of the free end of the thread. This disappearance of the twist occurs on both sides of the cutting zone. If the loss of a twist of the thread disappears at a length of the free end of the thread already wound on the first spool, this thread portion can be easily removed when using the spool of thread by unwinding a length of the thread from this first spool, which corresponds to an altered length, so that the thread used from the spool is only a perfect thread. Conversely, the disappearance of the twist at a length of the free end of the thread which is not yet wound leads to initiating the winding of the thread by a free end which corresponds to a portion whose twist is altered. The thread thus wound on the second spool then incorporates an altered portion at its end located on the spool central axis. However, the particular positioning of this altered portion of thread in the center of the spool does not allow access allowing a user to easily remove this portion of thread prior to unwinding the rest of the thread from the spool. Therefore, the user who uses the thread from the spool is forced to monitor the end of the unwinding of the spool to intervene in order to remove the altered portion at the end of the thread.
The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a system making it possible to provide a spool of thread in which the portion of the thread at the end located on the spool central axis is not altered by a relaxation of its twist, which may occur, in particular, when cutting the spooled thread during a spool change.
The invention thus relates to a system for winding a thread end of a central axis of a spool, characterized in that the system comprises:
The invention also relates to a method for implementing a winding system according to the invention, characterized in that the method comprises:
The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
The invention relates to a system for winding a thread end 1 of a central axis 2 of a spool, characterized in that the system comprises:
The winding system of the invention is configured to allow initiating the winding of the thread 1 on a central axis 2 of the spool so that the end of the thread 1, which is fixed for rotational drive by the central axis 2 of the spool, corresponds to a portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound positioned downstream of the free end 11 of the thread 1. This portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound then corresponds to a portion of thread 1 sufficiently distant from the free end 11 of the thread 1 to not be subject to an alteration related to the free end 11 of the thread 1, such as a degradation of its twist. The winding system of the invention is thus arranged to coordinate the various elements and means of which it is made so that, when fixing the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound remote from the free end 11 of the thread 1 on the central axis 2 of the spool, the free end 11 of the thread 1 is jointly removed by cutting. The junction in time, on the one hand, of the fixing operation of a portion 15 of the thread 1 and, on the other hand, of the detachment operation makes it possible to carry out the fixing of an end of thread 1 on the central axis 2 of the spool which corresponds to a portion 15 of the thread 1 devoid of alteration supported by the free end 11 of the thread 1 before its winding.
In the winding system of the invention, the recovery of the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound from which the hooking to the central axis 2 of the spool is made involves the moving mechanism 5. This moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 can be produced in the form of various means capable, on the one hand, of effecting the gripping or recovery of the thread 1 at a portion 15 of the length remote from the free end 11 of the thread 1 and, on the other hand, of directing the thread 1 at the hooking interface 6 positioned at the end of the central axis 2. This is how the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 comprises, in particular, an interface intended to interact with a portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound in order to grip it. By way of example, this gripping may be carried out by pinching the thread 1 between two parts hinged together and forming jaws.
The hooking interface 6, mounted at the end of the central axis 2, is arranged to be fixed in rotation with the central axis 2. Thus, once the thread 1 is caught by the hooking interface 6, it is driven in rotation with the central axis 2 which, through its support means 3 in the system, is itself pivoted by a drive mechanism. The rotation of the hooking interface 6 at the end of the central axis 2 executes a continuous and repeated movement of the hooking part to catch the portion 15 of the thread 1 which is coming near. By way of example of construction, the hooking interface 6 is made in the shape of a disc whose peripheral edge comprises one or more hooks capable of catching a thread 1 coming near their moving zone.
The cutting mechanism 4 of the thread 1 comprises at least one cutting blade preferably arranged to move perpendicular to the axis of the thread 1 at the cutting point. This cutting mechanism 4 is ideally configured to cut the thread 1 along its length, close to the point of the thread 1 caught by the hooking interface 6. By way of example, the cutting mechanism 4 comprises a single cutting blade which cooperates with a counter-blade with which the cutting blade articulates. According to an alternative example, the cutting mechanism 4 comprises at least a pair of cutting blades which articulate with each other to cut the thread 1.
According to a first construction variant of the system, the cutting mechanism 4 constitutes a mechanism that is structurally independent of the moving mechanism 5. Although associated in its operation with the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 and with the hooking interface 6, this cutting mechanism 4 is then integrated into the system in an autonomous manner with respect to the mechanism 5 for moving the thread 1 without sharing any part of its structure or its operating mechanism. According to a second construction variant of the system, the cutting mechanism 4 is structurally associated with the mechanism 5 for moving the thread 1, so that the gripping or retrieving operation of the thread 1 is preferably configured to perform a positioning of the thread 1 at the cutting mechanism 4, between two cutting blades or between the cutting blade and its counter-blade, so that this thread 1 can be cut at a determined point of its length.
According to an example relating to a construction variant of the invention, the mechanism 5 for moving the thread 1 comprises a mobile arm 7. Such a mobile arm 7 comprises at least one interface intended to interact with a portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound in order to grip it. Such an interface is preferably positioned at one end of the movable arm 7, the other end of the movable arm 7 being mounted on a structure forming a frame. According to a specific characteristic of the construction, the mobile arm 7 comprises at least one articulation making it possible to optimize the mobility of the arm 7 and, in particular, the spatial mobility of its interface for gripping the thread 1. According to another specific characteristic of the construction that may be combined with the previously described specific characteristic, the mobile arm 7 is configured to be movable along at least one axis of translation. By way of example, the mobile arm 7 is slidably mounted on a straight axis, this sliding axis itself being fixedly mounted with the structure forming the frame. According to another example, which may also be combined with the previously described example, the mobile arm 7 comprises a telescopic arrangement capable of involving a piston actuation mechanism.
According to an example relating to another construction variant of the invention that may be combined with the previously described construction variant, the system comprises a mobile arm 7 which carries at least the cutting mechanism 4. This mobile arm 7 is designed to have characteristics substantially identical to those of a mobile arm 7 previously detailed in the context of the moving mechanism 5 which carries the interface for gripping the thread 1. According to this construction variant, the cutting mechanism 4 may be moved in order to come near the thread 1 and, more particularly, to the point along the length of the thread 1 at which the cutting must be carried out. According to an example corresponding to a specific characteristic of this variant of construction, the cutting mechanism 4 is mounted at the end of a specific mobile arm 7 whose movement is configured to be coordinated with the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1. According to this specific characteristic, the cutting mechanism 4 and the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 are structurally independent in their respective movements. According to an example corresponding to another specific characteristic of this construction variant which provides an alternative to the previous specific characteristic, the cutting mechanism 4 is mounted at the end of a movable arm 7 common with the movable arm 7 which carries and positions the interface of the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 intended to interact with a portion 15 of the thread 1. According to this specific characteristic, the interaction of the moving mechanism 5 with the thread 1 by the dedicated interface jointly achieves a positioning of the thread 1 in the cutting mechanism 4. Thus, when the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 positions the portion 15 of the thread 1 near the hooking interface 6 to be caught, the cutting mechanism 4 is ready to perform a cutting of the free end 11 of thread 1 to be wound.
According to an example relating to another construction variant of the invention that may be combined with the previously detailed construction variants, the system comprises a tensioning mechanism 8 of the free end 11 of the thread 1 to be wound. This tensioning mechanism 8 is configured to interact with the free end 11 of the thread 1, so that the portion 15 of the thread 1 intended to be wound is easily graspable and manipulated by the moving mechanism 5 of the thread 1 and can be cut by the cutting mechanism 4. This tensioning of the free end 11 of the thread 1 also makes it possible to control the position of at least one length of the thread 1 which comprises at least the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound positioned downstream of the free end 11 of the thread 1. This position control thus makes it possible to impose a substantially axial orientation of the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound, so that the mechanism 5 for moving the thread 1 is able to interact without difficulty with the thread 1 to operate its grip. The axial orientation of the portion 15 of the thread 1 is then determined by, on the one hand, the point of arrival of the thread 1 at the system or the point of contact of the thread 1 with an element of the system and, on the other hand, the point of interaction of the thread 1 with the tensioning mechanism 8. It should be noted that, in the context of the positioning of the winding system of the invention downstream of a continuous supply of thread 1, for example at the output of a thread processing device 1, the tensioning mechanism 8 is configured to operate a movement of the thread 1 whose speed is at least equal to or greater than the speed of movement of the thread 1 at its supply in the system. Furthermore, the tensioning mechanism 8 is capable of operating a removal of the portion of the thread 1 cut by the cutting mechanism 4.
According to an example relating to a specific variant of the previously detailed construction variant, the tensioning mechanism 8 involves a suction nozzle. This suction nozzle is configured to interact with the free end 11 of the thread 1 which arrives in the system, so as to swallow a length of thread 1 associated with the free end 11. The use of a suction nozzle as a tensioning mechanism 8 allows, by suction of a continuous air flow, the realization of a tensioning of the thread 1 without friction exerted against the surface of the thread 1 susceptible to a degradation of the thread 1. Also, from a constant suction flow, the suction nozzle of the tensioning mechanism 8 makes it possible to generate a tensioning of the thread 1 independently of any variations in the continuous arrival speed of the thread 1 in the system. According to a specific variant of this example, the suction nozzle is mounted at the end of an articulated arm or along a translation axis so as to be able to be movable and moved to allow adjusting the axial orientation of the portion 15 thread 1 in the system, in particular to facilitate the gripping of the thread 1 by the moving mechanism 5. According to an example relating to another specific alternative variant, the tensioning mechanism 8 involves a pair of counter-rotating rollers. The free end 11 of thread 1 is then arranged to be positioned between the two rotating rollers.
According to an example relating to another specific variant that may be combined with certain previously detailed construction variants, the system is preferably configured so that the run of the thread 1 inside the system, from the entry point up to the point of interaction with the tensioning mechanism 8, runs along a portion of the cylindrical surface of the central axis 2 of the spool along a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spool. It should be noted that the axis of the portion 15 of the thread 1 is oriented from the last point of contact of the thread 1 with the surface of the central axis 2 of the spool towards the point of interaction of the thread 1 with the tensioning mechanism 8. Preferably, the run of the thread 1 adopts a direction similar to the direction of rotation of the central axis 2 of the spool. This particular run of the thread 1 inside the system, and, in particular, around part of the central axis 2 of the spool, makes it possible to initiate the positioning of the thread 1 around at least part of the central axis 2 of the spool prior to the fastening of the thread 1 to the hooking interface 6. Thus, prior to the fastening of the thread 1 to the hooking interface 6, the thread 1 is in friction against the surface of the axis spool center 2. Once fastened to the hooking interface 6, the thread 1 is rotated by the hooking interface 6 to be wound around the central axis 2 of the spool.
According to an example relating to another specific variant that may be combined with certain previously detailed construction variants, the tensioning mechanism 8 is configured to position the axis of the thread 1 in tension close to the end of the central axis 2 of the spool which comprises a hooking interface 6. This particular positioning of the thread 1 by the tensioning mechanism 8 makes it possible to reduce the length of the run imposed by the moving mechanism 5 on the portion 15 of the thread 1 so that the thread 1 interacts with the hooking interface 6. This particular positioning of the thread 1 may be achieved by a mobile tensioning mechanism 8, for example mounted at the end of an articulated arm or along a translation axis, so as to be able to be moved and therefore, to adjust the position of the thread 1 inside the system and, in particular, with respect to the run of the gripping interface of the moving mechanism 5. According to an example of construction, the tensioning mechanism 8 of the thread 1 is configured to be movable along a run comprising at least one axial component substantially parallel to the central axis 2 of the spool.
According to an example relating to another construction variant of the invention that may be combined with the previously detailed construction variants, the system also comprises a thread guide 10 mounted movable in translation along an axis parallel to the central axis 2 of the spool for managing the winding distribution of the thread 1 along the central axis 2 of the spool. This thread guide 10, also called “fly”, is, on the one hand, configured to catch the thread 1 driven in winding around the central axis 2 of the spool and, on the other hand, arranged to operate a repeated movement along the length of the central axis 2 of the spool. The thread guide 10 is movably mounted in the system to catch the winding thread 1 at a length portion positioned between, on the one hand, an arrival of the thread 1 and, on the other hand, the first point of contact of the thread 1 against the surface of the central axis 2 of the spool. By way of example, the thread guide 10 has an arrangement in the form of a flared-shaped, even triangular-shaped, groove, with a first end of narrow width open in the direction of the central axis 2 of the spool, and a widened second end open towards the arrival of the thread 1. The axis of the groove is arranged along an axis substantially perpendicular to the central axis 2 of the spool and/or to the axis of translation of the thread guide 10. Each of the two side edges of the groove are curved in the shape of a respective lip which sits above the bulk of a respective half of the groove while leaving an interspace in the middle of the groove in order to allow the insertion of a thread 1 to be guided. As part of the operation of the thread guide 10, the thread 1, positioned on the run of the thread guide 10 in translation, slides against the surface of one of the lips to be inserted into the groove through the interspace of the central part. The translation of the thread guide 10 along the length of the central axis 2 of the spool directs the winding of the thread against the surface of the central axis 2 of the spool through the narrow opening of the groove. At the same time, the successive and repeated translations of the thread guide 10 in opposite directions along its axis of movement operate a successive and alternate positioning of the thread 1 in the groove against each of the edges of the groove, between the bottom of the groove and one of the lips that covers part of the groove. The movement of the thread 1 by the thread guide 10 allows the winding of the thread 1 to be guided around the central axis 2 of the spool and the distribution of the thread 1 over the length of this central axis 2.
According to an example relating to a specific variant of the previously detailed construction variant, the system comprises a spacer mechanism 9 of the thread 1 relative to the thread guide 10. This spacer mechanism 9 is configured to modify the run of the thread 1 upstream of its winding around the central axis 2 of the spool between two positions. A first position corresponds to a positioning of the run of the thread 1 so that it is moved away from the axial run of the thread guide 10 in translation in order to avoid any interaction with the thread guide 10 so as not to be caught. A second position corresponds to a positioning of the run of the thread 1 at the axial run of the thread guide 10 in translation so that the thread 1 is caught by the thread guide 10.
According to an example relating to a specific variant of the spacer mechanism 9 of the thread 1, the latter comprises at least one axial portion arranged along an axis substantially parallel to the central axis 2 of the spool mounted on the support 3. By way of example, the spacer mechanism 9 is made in the form of a structure comprising a substantially straight edge arranged along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the run of the thread guide 10 in translation and mounted movable according to a movement substantially perpendicular to the axis of the run of the thread guide 10. Also, by way of example, the spacer mechanism 9 is created by an axial part having one edge of its surface arranged in the length of the part with a surface continuity against which the moving thread 1 is able to rub without risking to be altered. This axial part is carried at the end of an arm mounted to move in rotation. Also, the tilt of the spacer mechanism 9 moves the thread 1 upstream of its winding around the central axis 2 of the spool in order to move the thread 1 away from the axis of the run of the thread guide 10 in translation, or position it on the axis of this run.
According to an example relating to a specific variant of the spacer mechanism 9 of the thread 1, the latter comprises a guide means 91 of the thread 1 in winding close to the hooking interface 6. This guide means 91 is arranged to direct, or even maintain, the run of the thread 1 close to the hooking interface 6, upstream of its winding around the central axis 2 of the spool. By way of example, the guide means 91 is made in the form of a groove or a notch positioned on the straight edge of the surface of the part against which the thread 1 is moved. This notch or groove is oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spacer mechanism 9 and oriented in the direction of the central axis 2 of the spool around which the moving thread 1 is intended to be wound.
According to an example corresponding to another construction variant of the fastening system of the invention that may be combined with the previously detailed variants, the support means 3 for the central axis 2 of the spool is mounted on a structure forming a frame which is shared with the hooking interface 6 and the rotational drive mechanism, or even also with the thread guide 10 and its translation mechanism. However, the spool support means 3 may be mounted on a structure independent of the other constituent elements of the system of the invention. The spacer mechanism 9 may thus be carried by a structure forming its own frame, or possibly shared with the thread guide 10 and its translation mechanism. Similarly, the mechanism 5 for moving the thread 1 and the cutting mechanism 4 may be mounted on structures forming a frame, respective or shared, possibly by means of a movable arm 7, respective or shared. Such a construction variant makes it possible to operate an assembly of the various elements which make up the winding system of the invention at a central axis 2 of the spool already positioned on an existing support means 3. The system of the invention may thus be assembled several times successively at different axes 2 of spools carried by respective support means 3.
The invention also relates to a method for implementing a winding system according to the invention, characterized in that the method comprises:
It should be noted that, according to the characteristics of the moving mechanism 5 of the system of the invention, the step of gripping the thread 1 may involve a pinching of the portion 15 of the thread 1. It should also be noted that the hooking and cutting steps of the thread 1 are carried out particularly close together in time, if not simultaneously. In order to optimize the coordination of these two steps, the system of the invention may integrate a mechanism for automating the operation of the cutting mechanism 4 with the moving mechanism 5 when the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound is caught by the hooking interface 6. The system of the invention may also integrate a mechanism for detecting the tension exerted on the portion 15 of the thread 1 to be wound in order to identify the hooking of the thread 1 by the hooking interface 6 and authorize the cutting of the thread 1 by the cutting mechanism 4 and/or the release of the thread 1 by the moving mechanism 5.
According to a first implementation variant, the method comprises, prior to the gripping step of a portion 15 of the thread 1, a tensioning step of the free end 11 of the thread 1. This tensioning step of the thread 1 makes it possible to operate a simplified control of the position of the thread 1 inside the system within the framework of the implementation of the method of the invention.
According to another implementation variant that may be combined with the previously detailed variant, the method comprises, prior to the hooking step of a portion 12 of the thread 1, a setting step in axial rotation of the central axis 2 of the spool mounted on the support 3. The axial rotation of the central axis 2 of the spool makes it possible to jointly carry out the setting in motion of the hooking interface 6, so that a portion 12 of the length of the thread 1 may be caught by the hooking interface 6, since the latter is positioned across the run of the hooking interface 6 by the moving mechanism.
It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21315253.1 | Nov 2021 | EP | regional |
