Patent Application
20230002185
The present invention relates to yarn storage containers and yarn storage systems, in particular to yarn storage systems for a plurality of yarns, such as yarn storage systems for yarns used as pile yarn in tufting processes. The present invention also relates to creeling systems.
The invention further relates to methods for producing textiles having a plurality of designs, methods for producing a tufted textile, and methods for producing yarn.
Tufting machines are known in the art. A large number of yarns, even up to or more than 1000 yarns, are tufted simultaneously into a primary backing to provide a greige product. For each yarn tufted, a yarn cone is held in a rack of yarns.
When the color or design of the greige fabric is to be changed, e.g. the same design is to be tufted in a different color palette or scheme. This may require the replacement of this huge number of cones in the rack. This is labor intensive and time consuming to make one change over.
EP 2 885 235 B1 discloses a yarn packaging system comprising metered quantities of yarn for small lot size production of tufted or woven textiles. The packaging system comprises a plurality of vertical yarn containers. The yarns may be routed from the packaging system to a loom or tufting machine. A change-over between different packaging systems may be time consuming.
The present invention in the first place aims at an alternative yarn storage system, wherein, in accordance with preferred embodiments, solutions are obtained for the problem with the yarn storage systems of the prior art.
It is, amongst others, an object of the present invention to provide a yarn storage system, which reduces the change over time for changing the greige product made in the tufting industry. It is also the object of the invention to provide yarn storage containers being part of such yarn storage system, and methods to store yarn in such yarn storage system. The invention further relates to a creeling system for filling such yarn storage system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide alternative methods for producing textiles having a plurality of designs, wherein, in accordance with preferred embodiments the change-over time between designs is limited. Further alternative methods for producing a tufted textile, and methods for producing yarn are aimed at, wherein, in accordance with preferred embodiments advantages over the methods of the prior art are obtained.
According to a first independent aspect of the invention, a yarn storage container and an yarn storage system are provided.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a yarn storage container for storing a yarn, said storage container comprising a tubular and/or elongated container, having an axial length, a tubular, and/or elongated perimetral, wall and a first and second axial extremity, the first axial extremity of said container having an opening for receiving an end of a yarn, said second axial extremity of said container being air-permeably closed, said wall is air permeable by means of a plurality of openings present along the axial length of said container. It is clear that said container is preferably tubular with a cylindrical perimetral wall, i.e. having a circular cross-section. According to variants the container may have a triangular, rectangular, square or hexagonal cross-section. Preferably the cross-section of the container is constant along the length of the container. According to a variant the cross-section of the container is tapering along a part or along the entire length thereof.
The yarn storage container is fit for storing non wound yarn, i.e. yarn in non-wound form.
Preferably, the yarn storage container is internally void. In this way, any obstacles disturbing the yarn in the container is avoided. In so doing, loading the container with yarn can be executed in a uniform manner and tension variation in the yarn can be avoided while feeding a tufter or loom with yarn from the container. According to a variant the container may comprise internal means for guiding the yarn in a desired path. For example, the container may comprise a centrally located cone or frustum. In such case, the yarn is guided to lay freely about the perimeter of the cone or frustrum, ie without tension. Said internal means may be air permeable or impermeable.
As such, the wall, e.g. the tubular wall, of the container is air permeable and allows air passing in radial direction, in particularly from the inner side of the container to the outer side of the container. The container hence has a perforated wall. In the most preferred embodiment, the container is a tubular container having a perforated tubular wall.
Each, e.g. tubular, container is preferably fit for holding only one yarn in non-wound form or appearance, wherein said yarn has a length being at least double, or at least 10 times the axial length of the container and/or a length being at least twenty, or at least hundred times the internal circumference of the cross-section of said container. Preferably said yarn has a length of at least 5 or at least 10 meter. Preferably, said length is shorter than 2 kilometers, or shorter than 750 meters, or shorter than 500 meters or shorter than 250 meters. Preferably, said length is at least 5 meters, and preferably in the range of 500 to 2500 meter. A minimum length of 5 m is desirable to allow fluent threading of the loom or tufter. Preferably a length of yarn is used which is at least 1.5 meter more than what is needed in accordance with the design to be created in the textile.
Yarns which are non-wound are yarns which are not wound or coiled on a spool or bobbin or alike. The yarn is laid down freely and unguided within the void inside the tubular container.
The second axial extremity of said container may be provided with an air permeable closing cap, such as e.g. a perforated cap from polymer or metal, which fits in or over the axial extremity of the tubular container. Alternatively, the second axial extremity of the tubular container is closed with a grid, e.g. a metal or polymer grid which is attached to the axial extremity. The open area of this air permeable closing cap may be in the range of 30 to 90% of the total surface of the cap, such as e.g. in the range of 40 to 80%, more preferred in the range of 45 to 75%.
A yarn storage system according to a second aspect of the invention comprises a plurality of yarn storage containers according to the first aspect of the invention. The working principle of the yarn storage system according to the invention is based upon the fact that such, e.g. tubular, containers can be filled with yarn by blowing yarn into the tube, e.g. by means of compressed fluid, such as air, via the opening at the first axial extremity of each of the containers. The yarn end blown into the container will be blown against the closure of the second axial extremity, and additional yarn length will gradually fill up the container as the yarn is laid freely in the volume of the tubular container. The fluid blown in, escapes the inner void of the container via the air permeable closure of the second extremity, and/or the openings in the wall. In other words, the yarns stuffs and fills the container at least partially. Once the required length of yarns is provided in the tubular container or containers, the yarn storage system may be moved to the apparatus which is to consume the yarns and convert it into the required textile product.
As an example, the yarns may be used by a tufting machine as pile yarn. During consumption of the yarns, the yarns may be gently dragged out of the tubular containers via the opening of the first axial extremity, hence in opposite direction as it was blown in. The yarn taken out of the container, will show very little to no variation on tension, which facilitates the tension control of the yarn during conversion into a textile fabric. The apparatus which is to consume the yarns and convert it into the required textile product may e.g. be a tufting machine, a weaving loom, a warp or weft knitting loom, a sewing or embroidering machine and alike.
According to some embodiments of a yarn storage container according to the first aspect of the invention, the opening of the first axial extremity of said container for receiving an end of said non-wound yarn may be provided by leaving the first axial extremity of said container uncovered, hence open.
The tubular container has a perforated, e.g. tubular, wall, i.e. a wall with openings. The openings may have any suitable shape, e.g. circular, polygonal shaped such as triangular, square, rectangular, diamond shaped, pentagonal, hexagonal and alike, optionally all of these polygonal shapes having rounded corners; capsule shaped (i.e. rectangular but terminated with half a circle at the short side of the rectangle); dog bone shaped; elliptic, or alike. At the inner side of the tube, the perforations may have a rim free of burrs. The inner rim of the perforations is preferably flush with the inner surface of the tubular container.
According to some embodiments the openings in the perforated, e.g. tubular, wall may be circular or rectangular, the latter optionally terminated with half a circle at the short side of the rectangle or having rounded corners. The rectangular opening, optionally terminated with half a circle at the short side of the rectangle (also referred to as capsule-shaped) or having rounded corners, may have its long side parallel or perpendicular to the axial length of the container.
The openings define a total sum of open area along the wall of the container, hereinafter referred to as “open area”. The average open area per surface unit of inner, e.g. tubular, wall may be in the range of 0.1 to 2.5%, more preferred in the range of 0.25 to 1%. Each opening preferably has a surface area in the range of 0.003 to 0.196 inch2, such as in the range of 0.008 to 0.05 inch2.
Preferably, the openings may be distributed along the wall according to a geometrical pattern.
According to some embodiments, the amount of open area per surface unit of inner, e.g. tubular, wall adjacent the first axial extremity may be smaller than the amount of open area per surface unit of inner, e.g. tubular, wall adjacent the second axial extremity. The amount of open area per surface unit of inner tubular wall may increase gradually from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity. According to some embodiments, the amount of open area per surface unit of inner wall may increase stepwise from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity.
The amount of open area per surface unit of inner, e.g. tubular, wall may increase stepwise (with at least one step) or gradually along the axial length of the container from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity. Possibly the amount of open area increases stepwise from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity. As such different sections along the axial length of the, e.g. tubular, wall of the, e.g. tubular, container are defined.
The open area per surface unit of wall near the first axial extremity of the container is in the range of 0.1 to 2.5%, more preferred in the range of 0.1 to 1% such as in the range of 0.1 to 0.5%.
The open area per surface of wall near the second axial extremity of the container is in the range of 0.1 to 2.5%, more preferred in the range of 0.5 to 2.5% such as in the range of 0.5 to 1.5%.
The open area may be varied over the surface of the container by varying the number of openings per surface unit, by varying the shape of the openings, by varying the dimensions of the openings or by any combination of these measures.
According to some embodiments, the inner, e.g. tubular, wall may comprise at least two sections, the amount of open area per surface unit of inner tubular wall in the section adjacent the first axial extremity is less than the amount of open area per surface unit of inner wall in the section adjacent the second axial extremity.
In some of its preferred embodiments, the, e.g. tubular, wall has two sections, i.e. with length Le1 and Le2, each located adjacent to one of the extremities. The lengths Le1 and Le2 together is the axial length of the container. The length of the section adjacent the first axial extremity may have a length Le1 being 50 to 85% of the total axial length of the container. The length of the section adjacent the second axial extremity may have a length Le2 being 15 to 50% of the total axial length of the container. Preferably Le1 is about 75% of the total axial length of the container, Le2 being about 25% of the axial length of the container.
The open area expressed as % of the surface area of inner wall of the section adjacent the first axial extremity may be in the range of 0.1 to 2.5%, more preferred in the range of in the range of 0.1 to 1%, such as in the range of 0.1 to 0.5%. The open areas expressed as % of the surface area of inner wall of the section adjacent the second axial extremity may be in the range of 0.1 to 2.5%, more preferred in the range of 0.5 to 2.5% such as in the range of 0.5 to 1.5%.
The openings may be distributed over the, e.g. tubular, wall according to rows of openings parallel between themselves, and aligned in axial direction, i.e. parallel to the axis of the tubular container. The openings may be equidistant within the row within each section. The distances between adjacent openings in a row may vary, e.g. decrease, in case the wall has a varying, e.g. increasing, amount of open area per surface unit of wall. The number of rows of openings may be constant along the axis of the container or may vary between sections. The number of rows of openings may vary, e.g. increase, in case the wall has a varying, e.g. increasing, amount of open area per surface unit of wall for a given section. Or a combination of both these measures may be provided to provide varying open areas along the axial length of the container.
According to some embodiments, the first axial extremity of said, e.g. tubular, container may comprise a lid substantially closing said first axial extremity, said lid is provided with a hole for providing said opening for receiving an end of the yarn or non-wound yarn. Such a lid may provide for a further minimization of the risk of the yarn becoming entangled and/or tensioned. Furthermore, the lid prevents the yarn from being removed from the container unintentionally for example while moving the container on a slope.
The first axial extremity of said container may be provided with a lid, such as e.g. a lid from polymer or metal, which fits in and/or over the axial extremity of the, e.g. tubular, container. The lid may be e.g. a plug or a cap. The lid may be removably attached to the first axial extremity. It may be attached by clips or clamps, or just may fit in and/or over the containers first axial extremity, where it fits and stays in place due to friction forces.
According to some embodiments, the first axial extremity of said, e.g. tubular, container may comprise a grommet for receiving said end of said non-would yarn, said grommet being preferably mechanically coupled to the first axial extremity of said container. The grommet may fit into the hole of a lid substantially closing the first axial extremity.
The grommet may be part of said lid, thereby providing the opening to the lid. The grommet may be a tube, typically of relative short length, such as 0.5 to 2 inches. The inner diameter of the tube opening may vary, such as between 0.25 and 2 inches, such as between 0.5 and 1 inches. The grommet may be electrically conductive.
The grommet may be made from metal, such as iron, steel, copper, aluminum, bronze, messing, or any alternative metal alloy, or may be made from electrically conductive polymers, like carbon fiber or carbon powder filled polymer, such as carbon powder filled polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinylchloride or alike. In the alternative, the grommet may be porcelain.
According to some embodiments the lid may comprise one or a plurality of small openings along the contact zone where said lid contacts said first axial extremity.
The openings may be small perforations, holes, slits and alike. Via these small openings a laminar air stream may be provided by gently blowing or sucking air through the small openings into the inner volume of the, e.g. tubular, container.
In general, the yarn storage container according to the first aspect of the invention may comprise means for providing a laminar air stream in axial direction from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity along the walls of the, e.g. tubular, container. This in fact provides a second, independent aspect of the present invention. According to said second independent aspect of the invention, a yarn storage container for storing a yarn is provided, said storage container comprising a tubular and/or elongated container, having an axial length, a tubular, and/or elongated perimetral, wall and a first and second axial extremity, the first axial extremity of said container having an opening for receiving an end of a yarn, said container further comprising means for providing a laminar air stream in axial direction, preferably from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity, along the walls of the container. It is clear that the yarn storage container of the second aspect may show the features of the yarn storage container of the first aspect of the invention and/or the preferred embodiments thereof.
The laminar air stream may prevent the yarn from bridging inside the container, i.e. from forming an obstruction in the inner part of the container by self-accumulating before having reached the end of the inner void of the container. Such accumulation may lead to the yarn becoming entangled, and to a lack of volume to store sufficient yarn inside the container.
According to some embodiments of the first and/or second aspect, the first axial extremity of said, e.g. tubular, container may comprise a brush for contacting said end of said yarn.
The brush may be fitting into a hole provided in a lid which substantially closes the first axial extremity.
Possibly the bristles of the brush close said opening or hole. The bristles contacting the non-wound yarn in or passing through the opening is provided with a minimum of tension when the yarn is drawn out of the container. The brush may be a straight brush with bristles all being substantially parallel, or a circular brush with bristles oriented towards a central point. For a circular brush, the bristles may overlap at the central point, but preferably leave a central opening, e.g. an opening of about ¼″ to 1″, such as about ¾″.
The bristles may be electrically conductive and may be grounded to reduce the static loading of the yarn passing the opening.
The storage container may comprise a grounding system for grounding the electrically conductive brush, grommet, container or tube.
According to some embodiments, the container may comprise means for providing a laminar air stream in axial direction, preferably from the first axial extremity to the second axial extremity, at least along the walls of the tubular container.
According to some embodiments, the container may comprise means to create a sub-atmospheric pressure in the, e.g. tubular, container via the second axial extremity.
With sub-atmospheric pressure is meant a pressure being less than the ambient pressure.
Causing such sub-atmospheric pressure via the second axial extremity, will help the yarn end, and the length of yarn blown into the container, to move more easily and completely up to the second axial extremity. It may also help to increase the amount of yarn that can be introduced in to the container because it may compress the inserted yarn in a direction towards the second axial extremity.
This means to create sub-atmospheric pressure in combination with lids comprising one or a plurality of small openings along the contact zone where the lid contacts the first axial extremity may be part of, or may be sufficient to provide a means to create a laminar stream along the inner wall of the, e.g. tubular, container.
According to some embodiments, the container may have, in radial cross section, a circular, oval, square or rectangular cross section profile.
According to some embodiments, the surface of a radial cross section of the tubular container may be between 0.75 and 13 inch2. More preferred, the surface of a radial cross section of the tubular container may be between 1.5 and 13 inch2, such as between 2 and 13 inch2.
According to some embodiments, the container may be provided from steel, aluminum, cardboard or polymer, preferably a polymer chosen from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystyrene and polyvinylchloride.
Preferably the container may be provided from any suitable material, preferably from metal, like aluminum, or polymer, preferably polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS). The, e.g. tubular, wall is preferably transparent, allowing visual inspection of the yarn stored in the container.
The, e.g. tubular, containers may have a wall with a thickness which may be between 0.042 inch and 0.1 inch, when the containers are metal or metallic containers.
The, e.g. tubular, containers may have a wall with a thickness which may be between 0.0625 and 0.25 inch when the containers are cardboard or polymeric containers.
According to some embodiments, the container is a cardboard or polymeric, e.g. tubular, container, the inner wall of said container being made electrically conductive.
It is in general preferred that at least the inner wall of said container contains electrically conductive paths and/or said inner wall is electrically conductive. As such build-up of electrostatic charges can be prevented. The prevention of electrostatic charges may keep the yarn from sticking to the inner wall of the container, and thus may prevent the yarn from bridging inside the container, i.e. from forming an obstruction in the inner part of the container by self-accumulating before having reached the end of the inner void of the container. Such accumulation may lead to the yarn becoming entangled, and to a lack of volume to store sufficient yarn inside the container.
The above described problem of bridging is especially prevalent with such yarns that are based on PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PTT (poly tri methylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide), wool or cotton.
The electrical conductivity of the inner wall of the container may be obtained by providing e.g. an electrically conductive coating along the whole inner wall. Alternatively, coating strips in axial direction or a spiraling strip along the length of the tubular container, made out of electroconductive material may be provided. Such electroconductive coating material may e.g. be silver, gold, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, tin or similar metal or metallic coatings.
As the yarn storage containers form part of a storage system, said system may comprise a grounding system for grounding electrically conductive, e.g. tubular, containers or the electrically conductive inner wall of the, e.g. tubular containers. This grounding system may be the same grounding system for grounding the electrically conductive grommets.
According to some embodiments, the axial length of the, e.g. tubular, container may be between 15 and 110 inch. More preferred, the axial length of the, e.g. tubular, containers may be between 20 and 100 inch, such as between 24 and 96 inch.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a yarn storage system is provided, the system comprising at least two yarn storage containers according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention.
According to some embodiments, all containers may have identical dimensions.
According to some embodiments, the containers may be organized in a rack.
One rack may comprise 16 to 1024 containers, more preferred 36 to 1000 containers, which may be organized in a matrix setting. The matrix may comprise 4 to 32 rows and 4 to 32 columns, more preferred 6 to 30 rows and 6 to 30 columns.
Preferably, a container is positioned adjacent to a plurality of other similar containers in a matrix, wherein at least a part of the outer wall of said container is free from contact with any of said plurality of adjacent containers, in other words, preferably the stack comprises voids at least partially defined by the outer wall portions of a plurality of containers. Preferably such voids are open in the length direction of the containers, namely at the surface of the stack comprising said first axial extremities and/or at the surface of the stack comprising said second axial extremities. Preferably, said voids are closed in any direction transverse to the length direction in that they are bound for example by outer wall portions of adjacent containers. For example, in the case of a tubular and cylindrical container, contacts or near contacts may be formed at the topmost and bottommost part and at the leftmost and the rightmost part of the outer wall, however several zones of the outer wall, for example the zone in between the topmost part and for example the rightmost part of the outer wall, are free from contact with any other container in the stack. The availability of voids in between the stacked containers is beneficial for the air to escape the stack while filling the respective containers in the stack with yarn.
The racks may be provided with a transporting system, rendering the yarn storage system movable. As an example, the rack may be provided with a plurality of wheels.
According to some embodiments, the first axial extremities of all, e.g. tubular, containers may be coplanar.
Typically also the second axial extremities of all, e.g. tubular, containers are coplanar as preferably all tubular containers are of equal length, and preferably are identical.
According to some embodiments, the, e.g. tubular, containers may be oriented in a vertical position. According to the most preferred embodiments, the, e.g. tubular, containers may be oriented in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position. Preferably the containers are oriented in a level manner. However, in accordance with a variant, they may be positioned slopingly, for example with the first extremity downwardly directed, and preferably under an angle of 15° or less with the horizontal plane. The horizontal or slightly sloping orientation of the containers may improve the taking out of the yarn, for example when connected with a tufting machine. Due to the horizontal orientation or the substantially horizontal orientation of the containers, several storage systems, for example for subsequent designs to be tufted on the same tufting machine, can be placed on top of each other, and the change-over from one storage system to the other can be made fluently. Also, the filling of the containers of several storage systems can be carried out with a more compact machine in a more fluent manner.
The horizontal or substantially horizontal positioning of the containers within the storage system forms in itself a particular independent aspect of the present invention, being a yarn storage system comprising at least two yarn storage containers for storing unwound, untensioned and/or freely provided yarn, wherein said containers are elongated and comprise a first extremity from which yarn can be drawn, an wherein said containers are oriented horizontally or substantially horizontally in said yarn storage system, wherein, preferably, a sloping orientation comprises a first extremity of said containers being oriented downwardly and/or a sloping orientation comprises said containers making an angle with the horizontal plane of 15° or less. It is clear that the storage system of the present particular independent aspect of the invention may show the features of one or more of the preferred embodiments of the third aspect of the invention, without the containers necessarily having to show the air permeable wall and impermeable second extremity of the containers of the first aspect of the invention and/or the means for creating a laminar air stream as provided for in the second aspect of the invention.
Each, e.g. tubular, container in the storage system of the invention may be provided with at least one yarn detector, e.g. an electronical, mechanical or optical yarn detector, detecting the presence of a yarn at the opening of the first axial extremity of said containers. The yarn detectors may be part of a yarn detecting system, further equipped with a processing unit to receive signals of said yarn presence detectors indicating the presence or non-presence of yarns, and a signal generating means to generate a signal when at least one yarn detector fails to detect a yarn. Then the yarn storage system cooperates with machinery consuming yarn, e.g. a tufting machine, this machine may use the signal of said yarn detecting system to interrupt its yarn consumption when one or more containers fail to have a yarn present, e.g. when it ran out of yarn stored in said container.
According to some embodiments, the yarn storage system further may comprise a yarn end holding means comprising a number of apertures or slots, said number of apertures or slots being identical or more than the number of containers of the yarn storage system, each aperture or slot being fit to receive one yarn end from one of the containers.
The apertures or slots may all be adjacent one next to the other in a row, or may be organized in two or more rows, optionally in zig-zag setup. Each slot or aperture may be provided with a ceramic tube to prevent the passing yarn to wear out the aperture or slot.
The yarn end holding means typically may be provided as a beam, i.e. rectangular, balk-like piece of metal or plastic in which the apertures or slits are provided. Most preferably the yarn end holding means has a comb-like structure.
According to a fourth independent aspect of the invention, a yarn storage system is used to supply textile machinery with yarn.
According to some embodiments, the use of a yarn storage system according to the third aspect of the invention is provided, for providing yarn to a textile machine, such as to provide pile yarn to a tufting machine. Preferably, such yarn storage system contains at least one yarn storage container per needle of the tufting machine. Preferably, such yarn storage system contains a number of yarn storage containers which is identical to or a multiple of the number of needles in the tufting machine.
The yarn storage system may be used to store bulked continuous filament yarns, such as used by tufting machines to provide pile yarn of the tufted greige, hence of the tufted carpet.
It is clear that the yarn storage system may as well be used to provide yarns to other textile producing equipment, such as warp knitting machines, as warp yarn for weaving looms, such as carpet weaving looms, and alike.
According to a fifth independent aspect of the invention, a method to store yarns in provided.
The method to store yarn according to this fifth aspect comprises the steps of
for a plurality of containers, optionally until all containers are at least partially filled with yarn.
According to some embodiments, the N may be more than 1. Preferably, the number of yarns used will be between 2 and 10, even more preferably between 2 and 8, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 yarns.
According to some embodiments, the injecting of said yarn in said tubular containers may be performed by a robot, comprising a spool rack comprising said N spools of yarn.
According to some embodiments, the robot may comprise a memory unit memorizing filling date, being for each, e.g. tubular, container memorizing
the robot comprising an input means for inputting said filling date in said memory unit, said robot comprising a control unit defining the filling sequence of said containers and controlling the injection of said yarns in said containers while executing said filling sequence.
The robot hence fills each container with the correct yarn. It first ensures it selects the yarn end needed to fill the next tubular container, brings its injection instrument in front of the opening at the axial extremity of the selected container, and injects yarn while measuring the length of yarn, either directly or indirectly.
According to some embodiments, when N>1, the yarns of said N spools of yarn all may be mutually different yarns.
The yarns may e.g. differ in color or color tone, or may have a different linear weight or composition.
According to some embodiments, the yarns may be bulked continuous filament yarns.
More preferably the yarns used are so-called direct tuft yarn, which are yarns being more delicate as compared to standard BCF yarn.
According to some embodiments, the defined lengths of yarns may be in the range of 2000 to 10000 ft.
More preferred, the injected lengths are in the range of 2000 to 10000 ft of yarn, even more preferred in the range of 3500 to 7500 ft of yarn.
It is understood that any type of yarn can be held in the yarn storage system. Yarns with a titer (i.e. the weight per length unit) in the range of 900 to 4000 denier may be stored, such as in the range of 1100 to 3600 denier.
According to some embodiments, the system may comprise a vortex injector for injecting said defined length of said selected yarn in the selected, e.g. tubular, container. Any type of injector can be used. Preferably the injector uses the Venturi-effect to suck the yarn into the injector, where it is further propelled by the gas, preferably air, flowing in the Venturi tube. The person skilled in the art is well aware that the Venturi-effect is created by a pressure drop at a constriction in a liquid or gas flow. Substances, in this case the yarn, can be sucked into said flow at the constriction and are further propelled by the liquid or gas flow.
The vortex injector preferably uses 2 to 15 cubic foot per minute (CFM), more preferred 3 to 8 CFM such as 5 to 8 CFM, for example CFM of air. The latter is in particularly advantageous when direct tuft yarn is used.
The method has the advantage that with a limited number of spools of yarns, a wide variety of organized yarn storage can be provided. The yarn storage being organized meaning that it is known for each, e.g. tubular, container, which yarn is contained and at which length. As such a plurality of yarns can be made ready for use, e.g. by a tufting machine, providing one yarn end for each needle of the tuft machine, while only a limited number of spools need to be at hand. The lengths of the yarns in the containers can be measured accurately and may be limited. As such a given “minor” length of a tufted greige carpet can be provided with little yarn waste being created. The latter because the yarn length in the containers can be calculated according to the yarn which will be consumed by the tufting machine to make the length of greige. For each kind of yarn or yarn color needed, only the number of spools are to be provided which together comprise the needed length of yarn. Only the leftovers on these spools used might be seen as waste. The number of spools is not linked to the number of needles in the tufting machine, hence a very significant waste reduction is obtained.
The possibility to move the yarn storage system enables filling the yarn storage system at a dedicated location where the robot is present. The filled and emptied yarn storage systems can move to the position where the textile machine will take out the yarn, which causes only limited storage place being needed as compared with yarn creels carrying the same number of spools as now, e.g. tubular, containers are present.
Said defining for said selected container the length of yarn to be inserted is preferably executed on the basis of the desired length of a desired design of a textile to be produced. Said defining may be done by means of suitable software converting a design of a particular length into a set of yarns with defined properties, such as length, color, quality, needed for producing the design. Preferably, the length of yarn to be inserted is slightly larger than the actual length needed in the textile product, for example the actual length to be inserted can be 100 to 110% of said needed length. The surplus length allows for start-up and running out of the design, as well as for threading the textile machine producing the desired textile.
According to a further, sixth aspect of the invention, a yarn storage container is provided, similar to the yarn storage container of the first aspect and/or second aspect of the invention, however where the, e.g. tubular, wall or walls of the container are air tight, i.e. they do not have openings along their axial length. In particular, yarn storage containers with a container with a limited axial length are provided, e.g. with axial lengths of less than or equal to 1.5 m, e.g. less than or equal to 1 m. such containers preferably have a circular cross section with a diameter preferably less than 4 inch.
According to this sixth aspect, a yarn storage container for storing a yarn is provided, said storage container comprising a, e.g. tubular, container, having an axial length, a tubular wall and a first and second axial extremity, the first axial extremity of said tubular container having an opening for receiving an end of a yarn, said second axial extremity of said tubular container being air-permeably closed, said tubular wall is air impermeable.
All features of the yarn storage containers according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention, which features are not related to the air permeability of the, e.g. tubular, wall, can be applied for the yarn storage containers of this sixth aspect.
According to a seventh aspect, a plurality of yarn storage containers in accordance with the sixth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof, can be used to provide a yarn storage system according to this seventh aspect of the invention. All features of the yarn storage system according to the third aspect of the invention, which features are not related to the air permeability of the tubular wall, can be applied for the yarn storage containers of this seventh aspect.
According to an independent eighth aspect a yarn storage system is provided, wherein said yarn storage system comprises at least a first and a second yarn storage container, said first and second storage containers being elongated, preferably tubular, and having an axial length and an elongated perimetral wall extending between a first and second axial extremity, the first axial extremity of said container having an opening for receiving an end of a yarn, with as a characteristic that said yarn storage system further is provided with at least one of the following features, or with a combination of two or more of the following features:
This feature avoids any disturbing effects from build-up of electrical charges to the safe and trustworthy operation of said yarn storage system;
It is clear that, although the above features have been described in connection to a first and second container within the yarn storage system, that the yarn storage system may contain a plurality of containers, such as between 10 and 10000, preferably from 16 to 1024 containers. Preferably, at least a majority of the number of containers, and even better all containers in a yarn storage system are similar in that they show at least one of the above mentioned features, and preferably two or more of the above mentioned features, in common.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention, a yarn storage system according to the seventh and/or eighth aspect is used to supply textile machinery with yarn. It is clear that this yarn storage system may be used to provide yarns to any textile producing equipment, such as tufting looms, warp knitting machines, as warp yarn for weaving looms, such as carpet weaving looms, and alike.
According to an independent tenth aspect, the present invention also is a textile production assembly, wherein said textile production assembly at least contains a first yarn storage system and a textile producing machine, wherein said machine produces textile on the basis of continuous yarn and/or is chosen from the list consisting of a tufting machine, a weaving machine and a knitting machine, with as a characteristic that said first yarn storage system comprises at least a first and a second yarn storage container for storing continuous yarns, said first and second storage containers being elongated, preferably tubular, and having an axial length and an elongated perimetral wall extending between a first and second axial extremity, the first axial extremity of said container having an opening for receiving an end of a yarn, wherein said first yarn storage system further comprises means for communicating with said textile producing machine, in particular for communicating the lack of a yarn from said first and/or said second container. The ability of the yarn storage system to communicate with the textile producing machine gives way for new advantageous control possibilities of the textile production assembly and prevention of erroneous production.
For example, the yarn storage container may comprise a data storage comprising any data about the yarns that are contained in the plurality of yarn storage containers. Such data may comprise one or more of color indications, length, type of individual yarns, their location in the yarn storage container, the design for which they had been provided in the yarn storage container, the production planning data. According to a variant the yarn storage container may comprise a data storage containing an address where any data about the yarns contained in the plurality of yarn storage containers can be obtained, e.g. using a computer network or the world wide web.
Preferably, said first yarn storage system comprises the features of any of the third, seventh, or eighth aspect of the invention, and/or the preferred embodiments thereof.
Preferably, said first yarn storage system is provided with at least the following features in combination:
Any information about the status of the yarn may be provided by the yarn detector to said textile machine through said means for communicating. Such information may contain data about the tension in the yarn, the availability and/or lack of a yarn, the remaining and/or consumed length of the yarn.
Preferably, said means for communicating are chosen from the list of electric and electronic means, wherein said means for communicating preferably comprise a wireless link between said first storage system and said textile machine. It is of course not excluded that the communication would be executed by means of magnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic means, or by means of optical signals.
Preferably, said textile machine is configured to pause the operation, or to proceed with yarn from an alternative container in said first yarn storage system, or from a different yarn storage system, when it receives a signal through said means for communication, for example the signal that the respective yarn is lacking.
Preferably, said textile machine assembly further comprises means for connecting one or more of the yarns of said first yarn storage system to one or more yarns of a second, preferably similar, yarn storage system. Due to the presence of such means, rethreading of the textile machine, which is entirely time consuming, can be avoided. Preferably, said means for connecting comprise a support for positioning one or more yarns of said first yarn storage system and one or more yarns of said second yarn storage system, wherein said mean for connecting further comprises a welding equipment for connecting said one or more yarns of said first yarn storage system with said one or more yarns of said second yarn storage system, preferably while being positioned on said support; said support preferably comprising a set of spacing individual yarns from said first yarn storage system and/or second yarn storage system respectively.
According to a further eleventh aspect of the invention, a method to store yarns in provided.
The method to store yarn according to this eleventh aspect comprises the steps of
All features of the method according to the fifth aspect of the invention, which features are not related to the air permeability of the, e.g. tubular, wall, can be applied to these methods of this eleventh aspect.
It is clear that the above first till eleventh aspect are in particularly advantageous when used for producing textile at small lot size.
With the aim of providing further alternative methods that are suitable for small lot size production, the present invention in accordance with its twelfth independent aspect is a method for producing textiles with a plurality of designs, wherein each design is created from a set of, preferably continuous, yarns, with as a characteristic that the method comprises
Preferably said containers are yarn storage containers having the features of the first and/or second and/or sixth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof and/or said yarn storage systems have the features of the third and/or seventh and/or eighth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof. The method of the twelfth aspect may be performed using a textile production assembly having the features of the tenth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof.
By connecting the yarns, preferably all yarns, of said first set to the yarns, preferably all yarns, of said second set, a fluent changeover from the first to the second of said plurality of designs can be attained. A fluent changeover may lead to a minimized waste production in between the designs.
Preferably, each container from which yarn is drawn for said first, respectively second design, comprises at most one continuous length of a yarn, wherein said continuous length preferably corresponds to the length of said yarn needed in the first or second design respectively, with a margin, i.e. a surplus amount of yarn, of preferably less than 10%.
Preferably, said containers are tubular.
Preferably, said connecting comprises welding and/or heating one or more, preferably all, yarns of said first set to thermally connect it to one or more, preferably all yarns, of said second set.
Clearly, preferably said yarns are connected one to one.
Preferably, said connecting comprises positioning one or more of the yarns of said first plurality of containers and one or more of the yarns of said second plurality of containers on a support, and connecting said yarns while being on the support. Preferably, said support comprises a set of teeth for spacing individual yarns.
Preferably, all of the yarns of said first set and said second set are drawn from respective containers, wherein said first set comprises at least all the yarn needed for the first design and said second set comprises at least all the yarn needed for said second design. Preferably, said first set and said second set comprises between 100 and 110% of the yarn needed for the respective design, wherein a surplus length of the yarn may be used in a change-over zone from the first to the second of said plurality of designs and/or for threading the respective textile machine.
Preferably, said method further comprises the step of cutting the textile in at least two pieces, each comprising at least one of the first and second designs.
Preferably, said method further comprises the step of cutting the textile in at least three pieces being two pieces each comprising at least one of the first and second designs, and a third piece positioned in between a first and a second design, wherein said third piece may be considered a change-over zone or waste.
Preferably, said first set of yarns is different from said second set of yarns at least in that the number of containers being filled with yarn of a particular color, thickness, and/or material in said first plurality of containers is different from the number of containers being filled with yarn of the same particular color, thickness and/or material respectively in said second plurality of containers. Other differences between the first and second set of yarns may include a difference in entanglement and/or twist and/or shape of the filaments contained in the yarns.
It is clear, that in accordance with a particular independent aspect, the present invention also relates to a semi-product obtained or obtainable with the method of the twelfth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof, wherein said semi-product is, for example, a textile comprising the first design, the second design and a zone in between a first and second design, wherein said zone contains both yarns from said first and from said second set.
It is noted that the first and second of the plurality of designs may in themselves contain repetitions of an individual, e.g. floral, design. The invention in accordance with the above twelfth aspect in particularly concerns the change-over between a first and second design that are different in pattern, color, quality, and/or relief. In other words, it concerns a change-over in the design that requires a different set of yarns.
With the aim of providing a yarn production method which is particularly suitable to be applied with one or more of the other aspects of the invention, the present invention, in accordance with a thirteenth independent aspect, is a method of producing yarn preferably for feeding a tufting machine, comprising
With directly providing said yarn in a container, it is meant that the method of the thirteenth aspect is free from winding operation in between the spinning and the provision of the yarn in said container. Such method avoids an unnecessary winding operation and possible build-up of residual stresses in the yarn.
Preferably, said converting comprises entangling and/or twisting. Said converting may comprise entangling the plurality of filaments via air jets to produce the said yarn, wherein said yarn is preferably suitable for tufting. Said converting may comprise twisting the plurality of filaments to produce the said yarn, wherein said yarn is preferably suitable for tufting and/or wherein said twisting the plurality of filaments comprises applying a S twist or a Z twist. Preferably, said twisting the plurality of filaments comprises adjusting an amount of twist to produce yarns of different texture.
Preferably, said directly providing said yarn in a container comprises filling said container with an amount of yarn corresponding to the amount of yarn needed for a textile design to be produced on a portion of a textile machine, with a margin, i.e. a surplus length, of less than 10%.
Preferably, said directly providing said yarn in a container comprises filling said container with an amount of yarn, cutting the yarn, filling a subsequent container with a different or equal amount of yarn.
Preferably, said method further comprises drawing out yarn from said container for feeding a textile machine.
It is noted that said plurality of filaments may comprise filaments of different colors and/or filaments of different titers.
Preferably, the method of said thirteenth aspect does comprise said step of feeding a tufting machine, wherein preferably a tufted carpet is produced.
With the same aim as in the thirteenth aspect, the present invention, in accordance with a fourteenth independent aspect, is a method of producing a tufted textile, comprising:
Said converting said plurality of filaments to a plurality of yarns may comprise entangling and/or twisting the plurality of filaments to produce the plurality of yarns.
Said injecting at least one yarn of the plurality of yarns may comprise injecting multiple yarns into multiple containers.
Said injecting at least one yarn into at least one container may comprise blowing a first yarn into a first extremity of a first container.
Said drawing at least one yarn from the at least one container to a tufting machine may comprise drawing the first yarn from the first extremity of the first container into a tufting machine to produce tufted textile. According to a variant, said drawing at least one yarn from the at least one container to a tufting machine may comprise drawing the first yarn from a second extremity of the first container into a tufting machine to produce tufted textile.
Preferably said at least one container is a tubular container.
With the aim of providing a system ideally suitable for providing a yarn storage system as in the previous aspects, filled with yarn, the present invention in accordance with a fourteenth independent aspect, is a creeling system, comprising:
Preferably, said memory comprises information for at least a plurality of yarn storage containers, preferably each storage container, in each of said plurality of yarn storage systems. Preferably, for each yarn storage container of the plurality of yarn storage systems, the memory comprises information of its position in the corresponding yarn storage system, the yarn to be selected for the yarn storage container, and the length of the yarn to be injected in the yarn storage container. Preferably said information is at least partially transferred to a data storage comprises in the respective yarn storage system and/or to an address accessible over a computer network or the world wide web. In the latter case, said address is preferably provided to the respective yarn storage system by uploading it to its data storage and/or by providing a scannable tag to said yarn storage system.
It is clear that any data uploaded from the memory of said creeling system to said yarn storage system may be communicated to a textile machine, for example when the yarn storage systems forms part of a textile production assembly having the features of the tenth aspect and/or the preferred embodiments thereof.
Preferably, the plurality of injectors inject the defined lengths of yarn into the plurality of yarn storage containers in the plurality of storage systems simultaneously.
Preferably, the creeling system is configured to receive a plurality of yarn storage systems, for example at least two or at least four. The creeling system preferably comprises at least one set of a plurality of injectors for each of the yarn storage systems that it can receive. Preferably each injector of said set injects a single type of yarn, i.e. yarn from the same color, type, quality and material, into the containers of a particular yarn storage system. Preferably, each injector is able to inject yarn in a plurality of columns of the stack of containers, for example because the sets of injectors are configured to move horizontally, preferably at least over a distance equal to twice, and preferably at least four times, the horizontal distance D1 between the yarn storage containers. Each injector may also able to inject yarn in a plurality of rows of the stack of containers, as the injectors may be configured to move vertically, preferably at least over a distance equal to four times the vertical distance D2 between the yarn storage containers. Preferably, the injectors are configured to move at least such a distance that they can inject yarn in all containers of a particular row.
The independent and dependent claims set out particular and preferred features of the invention. Features from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent or other dependent claims, and/or with features set out in the description above and/or hereinafter as appropriate.
The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings, wherein:
The same reference signs refer to the same, similar or analogous elements in the different figures.
The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments. It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.
Throughout this specification, reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” are made. Such references indicate that a particular feature, described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, though they could.
Furthermore, the particular features or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
According to a first independent aspect of the invention, a yarn storage system is provided.
A yarn storage system for storing multiple non-wound yarns will be described hereinafter by making use of the figures. In
More in particular, an axial cross section of such tubular container is provided. The tubular container 101 has an axial length L of 72 inch in the axial direction 111 and a first axial extremity 113 and a second axial extremity 115. Each tubular container is fit for holding one non-wound yarn 200 having a length at least double of the axial length of the tubular container. The first axial extremity 113 has an opening 123 for receiving an end of one of the non-wound yarns. The second axial extremity 115 of each of the tubular containers is air-permeably closed, e.g. by means of a polymer grid 125 being welded along the circumference of the second axial extremity 115.
The tubular container 101 has a wall thickness T of ⅛ inch, has a circular radial cross section and an inner diameter D of 2.78 inch.
Notably, the ratio of the axial length L to the inner diameter D is larger than 10, and in this case even larger than 25.
The tubular wall 501 comprises two sections, a first section 511 with length Le1 being 54 inch, and a second section 513 with length Le2 being 18 inch. In each of the sections, the tubular wall has apertures or openings 521 and 523. In section 511, the tubular wall has 4 rows of apertures 521 along its circumference, the rows equidistant one to the other along the circumference. Each row has 18 apertures 521 being circular apertures with diameter d1 of ⅛ inch. The distance wall-to-wall w1 between the apertures in axial direction is 2.875 inch. The distance center to center between the apertures in axial direction is d1+w1 being 3 inch. This first section has an inner tube surface area of 487 inch2. The apertures 521 together provide 0.884 inch2 open surface. Hence the open areas expressed as % of the surface area of tubular wall in this section 511 is 0.18%.
In section 513, the tubular wall has 6 rows of apertures 531 along its circumference, the rows equidistant one to the other along the circumference. Each row has 18 apertures or openings 531 being circular apertures with diameter d2 of ⅛ inch. The distance wall-to-wall w2 between the apertures in axial direction is 0.875 inch. The distance center to center between the apertures or openings in axial direction is d2+w2 being 1 inch. This second section has an inner tube surface area of 163 inch2. The apertures 531 together provide 1.325 inch2 open surface. Hence the open areas expressed as % of the surface area of tubular wall in this section 531 is 0.82%.
In total, the inner surface area of the tube is 650 inch2, and is provided with in total 2.209 inch2 open area by means of the apertures in the first and second section. The open areas expressed as % of the surface area of tubular wall in its totality is 0.34%.
An alternative, also tubular, container 102 is shown in
The grommet 128 is a copper grommet with a diameter of the opening of ¾ inch. Both caps 127 and 126 are made out of polymer. The cap 126 is air permeable as it is provided with a plurality of openings 129.
The tubular container has a wall provided with apertures or openings identical to the wall set out in
An alternative tubular container 103 is shown in
To the outer end of the cap 137, a vacuum system 140 is mounted to create a minor lower air pressure in the tubular container 103. Via the openings 136, air is sucked into the tubular container 103 and creates a laminar flow in the tubular container 103 at least along the walls 109 of the tubular containers.
Caps 130 and 137 are made out of polymer. The cap 137 is air permeable as it is provided with a plurality of openings 129.
The tubular container has a wall provided with apertures or openings identical to the wall set out in
Still another alternative tubular container 104 is shown in
Caps 132 and 135 are made out of polymer. The cap 132 is air permeable as it is provided with a plurality of openings 129.
The tubular container has a wall provided with apertures or openings identical to the wall set out in
In the alternative, the tubular containers of
The grommets 128, the tubes 131 and/or the circumference of the first axial extremity 113 may be electrically conductive and may be grounded.
Optionally the inner wall 109 may be provided with an electrically conductive layer or strips, which on their turn may also be grounded.
The tubular containers of
In
In
In
In
Therefore, the total open area per surface unit in section 613 is double the total open area per surface unit in section 611.
In
In
For all embodiments in
In
Consecutive openings in a row are on a given center to center distance d one to the other in axial direction. From the first axial extremity 662 towards the second axial extremity 663, the interdistance d between adjacent openings 629 decrease gradually.
As such the amount of open area per surface unit of tubular wall increases from first axial extremity 662 towards the second axial extremity 663. Hence the amount of open area per surface unit of tubular wall increase gradually along the axial length of the tubular container.
The skilled person understands that the various measures taken to locally modify the amount of open area per surface unit of tubular wall as applied in
As shown in
Using the tubes as shown in
In front of the side 1100 providing the openings 123 of the tubular containers 1001, a yarn end holding means being a comb-like beam 1005 is provided which comprises at least as much seats as there are tubular containers in the rack 1002. The yarns 200, e.g. BCF yarns, for each of the tubular containers, are guided to one of the seats in the beam 1005. Such yarn end holding means 1005 is also referred to as comb-spacer or detacheable header. The yarn end holding means can be detached from the rest of the yarn storage system 1000.
An alternative setup of a yarn storage system 2000 is shown in
For
A system to execute method to store yarn is schematically shown in
A yarn storage system 5100 is provided. Examples of such system may be the ones shown in
A robot 5110 comprises a memory unit 5111 memorizing filling date, being for each tubular container
The robot comprises an input means 5112 for inputting the filling date in the memory unit. This input means may be a keyboard to manually put in the data, or a data reading device reading the data from a data carrier (such as a floppy disk, a USB key or any other similar data storage medium), or may even by just an input port for coupling the memory unit to a computer or the web.
The robot comprising a control unit 5113 defining the filling sequence of the tubular containers 50XY and controlling the injection of the selected yarn by means of hardware 5114 in the tubular containers while executing the filling sequence.
In this embodiment, three yarn spools each comprising a BCF yarn (A, B and C) are stored in a rack 5100. Though also only one or two yarns may be used, possibly more than 3 yarns are provided such as 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more.
During filling, the control unit will select one tubular container 50XY one after the other and reading out the filling data. In some embodiments, multiple tubular containers 50XY are filled by multiple injectors. The 3D moveable arm 5024 of the hardware 5014, will pick up the end of the selected yarn from the rack 5100 by its air blowing injector 5125. This injector may comprise a vortex injector 5126 which is fed with compressed air from storage 5127 via valve 5128. The injector will be brought in front of the opening 123 of the selected tubular container, and will blow the defined length of yarn into the tubular container via opening 123 using compressed air as fluid.
Once this length is blown in, the injector may be moved in front of the corresponding opening 1006 of the beam 5005, and blows an end of yarn through the opening 1006. The yarn will be a double yarn going through the opening. The yarn is cut and either the same yarn is brought in front of the next selected tubular container, or is brought back to the rack 5100, while the injector 5125 selects another yarn to be used to fill the next tubular container.
This sequence of actions is repeated until all necessary tubular containers are filled.
As such, numerous tubular containers may be filled with a given length of yarn, while only a limited number of yarns on a limited number of spools being available.
In another embodiment, multiple yarn storage systems, such as the yarn storage system 5100 of
It is noted that the yarn end holding means 1005, represented in
The yarn storage system 1000 comprises several yarn storage containers 101 that each store an amount of continuous yarn 200, preferably a yarn 200 formed from bulked continuous carpet filament. The yarn 200 is drawn from the first axial extremity 113 of the containers 101. As is illustrated in
The yarn storage containers 101, as illustrated in
In the case of the yarn storage system 1000 of
The yarn storage system 1000 further comprises means 2010 for communicating with said textile producing machine or tufting machine 2001. As illustrated, amongst others in
Further, in this case, the yarn storage system 1000 comprises means 2012 for detecting the yarn of the containers, i.e. yarn detectors, wherein the yarn detectors 2012 create a signal directly communicated to said textile machine through said means 2010 for communicating. Said means 2010 for communicating may be wired electronic connections between the yarn storage system 1000 and the textile production machine or tufting machine 2001.
The illustrated textile production assembly 2000 comprises a yarn end holding means, in the form of a comb-like beam 1005. As illustrated in
In this case, the yarn end holding means is provided as a beam 1005 of metal in which the slots 2013 are provided. The yarn end holding means has a comb-like structure. In this case, the yarn end holding means comprises a set of teeth 2014 or protrusions for spacing individual yarns 200.
The yarn end holding means forms a support for positioning the yarns 200 of said yarn storage system 1000. In dashed line 2015 a continuous yarn 200 is illustrated being fed to the textile production machine over the support. In dashed line 2016 it is illustrated that two yarn ends can be positioned in a slot 2013. This is advantageous for connecting the said yarn ends. In the represented example the two yarn ends are presented end-to-end. This is not necessarily the case. According to variants, the two yarn ends may be presented alongside each other or on top of each other on said support, preferably in a common slot 2013, preferably with their respective ends pointing in opposite directions.
The creeling system 2029 may further comprise a memory configured to or comprising the necessary data to direct the at least one set of injectors 2028 for injection of the required length of yarn 200 in each of the yarn storage containers.
It is to be understood that although preferred embodiments and/or materials have been discussed for providing embodiments according to the present invention, various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20154821.1 | Jan 2020 | EP | regional |
The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/950,537 filed on Dec. 19, 2019, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/960,495 filed on Jan. 13, 2020 and European Patent Application No. 20154821.1 filed on Jan. 31, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US20/65832 | 12/18/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62950537 | Dec 2019 | US | |
| 62960495 | Jan 2020 | US |
