Yarn tensioner, textile machine, and method for tensioning a continuously running yarn

A yarn supply canister for use in a direct-cabling textile machine, said supply canister comprising:

• a canister housing designed for holding a yarn supply package upstream of the textile machine;
• a yarn guide located inside said canister housing for receiving running yarn pulled from the supply package at an unwinding tension;
• a yarn tensioner downstream of said yarn guide for adjusting unwinding tension in the running such that yarn exits said canister housing at an adjusted delivery tension, said yarn tensioner comprising:
• a base;
• an adjustable pin rack carried by said base and comprising a first plurality of spaced apart parallel friction pins;
• a fixed pin rack carried by said base and comprising a second plurality of spaced apart parallel friction pins residing alternately between said friction pins of said adjustable pin rack, whereby the running yarn travels across said yarn tensioner by snaking over and under adjacent parallel friction pins of said adjustable pin rack and said fixed pin rack;
• and
• a fastener assembly attaching said adjustable pin rack to said base, such that said adjustable pin rack is movable relative to said fixed pin rack, thereby controlling frictional drag on the running yarn, and wherein said adjustable pin rack has opposing distal and proximal ends, and a lift tab located at said distal end adjacent a rounded nose of said fixed pin rack.

A method for adjusting tension in a running yarn, said method comprising:

• drawing the running yarn alternatively over and under adjacent parallel friction pins of an adjustable pin rack and a fixed pin rack;
• enabling pivoting movement of the adjustable pin rack relative to the fixed pin rack, such that a distal end of the adjustable pin rack is capable of lifting upwardly at a rounded nose of the fixed pin rack;
• and
• enabling planar upward and downward adjustment of the adjustable pin rack relative to the fixed pin rack, such that:
• a lowered position of the adjustable pin rack relative to the fixed pin rack increases tension in the running yarn;
• and
• a raised position of the adjustable pin rack relative to the fixed pin rack reduces tension in the running yarn.