Device for feeding a thread, particularly an elastic thread, for knitting machines, hosiery knitting machines, or the like
OwnerLorenzo Massardiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The thread feeding device has a supporting element for a spool of thread to be fed, and a variable-speed motor having a body connected to the supporting element and an output shaft connected to an arm that is rotatable about the axis of the spool with respect to the spool itself. The arm is provided, proximate to its end that is spaced from the spool axis, with a thread passage so as to perform, as a consequence of its own rotation, the gradual unwinding of the thread from the spool. The device also has an actuation and control element that drives the motor with a speed that can vary according to the tension required for the thread during feeding.
Claims31
Device for feeding thread for knitting machines and hosiery knitting machines comprising:
- a supporting element;
- a spool of thread to be fed, said spool defining an axis thereof and being fixedly connected to said supporting element;
- a variable-speed motor having a body and an output shaft, said body being connected to said supporting element;
- an arm having a first end thereof connected to said output shaft for rotating about the axis of said spool, said arm gradually unwinding the thread from said spool;
- a thread passage provided at a second free end of said arm for guiding the unwound thread;
- an actuation and control element for controllably driving said motor with a speed that is variable according to a tension required for the thread during feeding;
- a thread tension sensor operatively connected to said actuation and control element, said tension sensor being arranged between said arm and the knitting machine along a thread feeding direction for sensing a tension degree of the thread being fed to the knitting machine, and wherein said tension sensor comprises:
- at least two passages forming a thread path for the thread to be controlled;
- an oscillatable lever, said lever having a contact end arranged along the path formed by said two passages, said contact end making contact with the thread for performing a deflection of the thread path between said two passages;
- and
- oscillation sensing means for sensing the oscillation of said lever as a consequence of the tension degree of the thread engaged by said contact.
Device for feeding an elastic thread for knitting machines and hosiery knitting machines comprising:
- a supporting element;
- a spool of thread to be fed, said spool defining an axis thereof and being fixedly connected to said supporting element;
- a variable-speed motor having a body and an output shaft, said body being connected to said supporting element;
- a small mass arm having a first end thereof connected to said output shaft for rotating about the axis of said spool, said arm gradually unwinding the thread from said spool along a direction tangential to the spool;
- a thread passage provided at a second free end of said arm for guiding the thread from said tangential direction to a thread feeding direction, said feeding direction intersecting the axis of the spool;
- a thread tension sensor arranged between said arm and the knitting machine along said thread feeding direction for sensing tension of the thread being fed to the knitting machine;
- and
- an actuation and control element for controllably driving said motor with a speed that is variable according to a tension required for the thread during feeding, said tension sensor being operatively connected to said actuation and control element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.