U.S. patent application number 09/667265 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for washing machine for continuously running yarn.
Invention is credited to Kudrus, Heiner.
Application Number | 20020043584 09/667265 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7923178 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020043584 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kudrus, Heiner |
April 18, 2002 |
WASHING MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING YARN
Abstract
The washing machine for a continuously running yarn includes a
machine housing (1), a supporting arm (12) projecting from an upper
part of the machine housing; two bobbin spindles (6,7) for
respective bobbins sleeves (8,9); changing units for the bobbin
spindles in the supporting arm (12); a contacting roller (13);
drive motors for the bobbins spindles, the contacting roller (13)
and the changing units (14) and an electronic device including a
rectifier for supplying the drive motors with electrical energy.
The electronic device, the supporting arm, the contacting roller
and the bobbins spindles are all on the same side of the machine
housing. In order to provide improved cooling the flat control
housing (19) for the electronic unit is separately mounted below
the supporting arm (12) near the feet (2,3) of the washing machine
and has the cooling ribs (20) facing the bobbins so that an air
flow is produced over the cooling ribs during operation because of
motion of the bobbins.
Inventors: |
Kudrus, Heiner; (Barmstedt,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STRIKER STRIKER & STENBY
103 EAST NECK ROAD
HUNTINGTON
NY
11743
|
Family ID: |
7923178 |
Appl. No.: |
09/667265 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/474.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/31 20130101;
B65H 54/72 20130101; B65H 2301/5305 20130101; B65H 54/70
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/474.5 |
International
Class: |
B65H 054/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 1999 |
DE |
199 45 823.5 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A washing machine for continuously running yarn, said washing
machine comprising a machine housing (1); a supporting arm (12)
projecting from an upper portion of the machine housing, said
supporting arm (12) comprising at least one changing unit (14); a
contacting roller (13); at least one bobbin spindle (6,7) for
holding at least one bobbin sleeve (8,9), according to a total
number of said at least one changing unit; drive motors (DM) for
said at least one bobbin spindle, said contacting roller and said
at least one changing unit; and an electronic unit (EU) comprising
a rectifier (R) for supplying the drive motors with electrical
energy; wherein said electronic unit (EU) is arranged on a side of
the machine housing on which the supporting arm, the contacting
roller and the at least one bobbin sleeve are also arranged; and
wherein said electronic unit is arranged under the supporting arm
(12).
2. The washing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said
electronic unit (EU) is accommodated in a control housing (19).
3. The washing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said control
housing (19) has a side facing said at least one bobbin spindle
(6,7) and said control housing (19) is provided with cooling ribs
(20) on said side of said control housing (19) facing said at least
one bobbin spindle (6,7).
4. The washing machine as defined in claim 3, further comprising
stand member (2,3) and wherein the control housing (19)
accommodating the electronic unit (EU) is flat and arranged in the
vicinity of said stand members and the cooling ribs (20) are
oriented transversely to an axis of the contacting roller (13).
5. The washing machine as defined in claim 3, having a long side
and wherein the control housing (19) accommodating the electronic
unit is flat and has an edge, said control housing rests on said
edge and extends on said long side and the cooling ribs (20) are
vertically oriented.
6. A washing machine for a continuously running yarn, said washing
machine comprising a machine housing (1), a supporting arm (12)
projecting from an upper part of the machine housing; two bobbin
spindles (6,7) for respective bobbins sleeves (8,9); changing units
(14) arranged in the supporting arm (12); a contacting roller (13);
an electronic device (EU) for supplying and controlling electrical
energy for driving the bobbin spindles, the changing units and the
contacting roller (13); and a flat control housing (19)
accommodating said electronic device (EU) and having a plurality of
cooling ribs (20); wherein the electronic device, the supporting
arm, the contacting roller and the bobbins spindles are arranged on
one and the same side of the machine housing; and wherein the flat
control housing (19) for the electronic unit is separately mounted
below the supporting arm (12) in the vicinity of supporting members
(2,3) for the machine housing and the flat control housing (19) is
arranged so that the cooling ribs (20) face the bobbin spindles,
whereby an air flow is produced over the cooling ribs (20) during
operation because of bobbin motion that the electronic device with
the rectifier is sufficiently cooled during operation.
7. The washing machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said
supporting arm (12) has an operator's control panel (18) and said
control panel (18) is connected electrically with said electronic
device in said flat control housing (19).
8. The washing machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said bobbin
sleeves (6,7) are mounted on opposite sides of a rotatable bobbin
support (5) supported in said machine housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine for
continuously running yarn or thread, and, more particularly, to a
washing machine for continuously running yarn or thread comprising
two bobbin spindles, which are mounted on a rotatable spindle below
a projecting supporting arm extending from a machine housing and
which can be alternately positioned between a winding position and
a waiting position. Each spindle can support several bobbin
sleeves. Several changing units are arranged next to each other in
the supporting arm.
[0002] This sort of washing machine for continuously running thread
or yarn is described in EP 0 845 432 A1. An especially advantageous
feature of this prior art machine is that the electronic unit or
controller is not arranged, as usual in the prior art, in a
separate control unit or panel behind the washing machine, but
instead in the supporting arm which is arranged on the washing
machine itself. The supporting arm has a U-shape in this machine,
with its U-cross-section open upwardly, and the electronic unit is
arranged between the upwardly extending sides of the supporting
arm. It is provided with a cover and cooling ribs are provided on
the top side of the cover. Because of the cooling ribs heat
generated in the rectifier, which in operation provides the energy
for the drive, is dissipated. However generation of an air flow
over the cooling ribs or bodies is recommended to provide needed
cooling during operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved washing machine for continuously running yarn or thread,
in which the cooling is improved in a special way without
additional costs or efforts.
[0004] According to the invention the washing machine for
continuously running yarn or thread, comprises
[0005] a machine housing;
[0006] a supporting arm projecting from an upper portion of the
machine housing, said supporting arm comprising at least one
changing unit;
[0007] a contacting roller;
[0008] at least one bobbin spindle for holding at least one bobbin
sleeve, according to a total number of the changing units
present;
[0009] drive motors for the at least one bobbin spindle, the
contacting roller and the at least one changing unit; and
[0010] an electronic unit comprising a rectifier for supplying the
drive motors with electrical energy and means for controlling the
drive motors;
[0011] wherein the electronic unit is arranged on the same side of
the machine housing as the supporting arm, the contacting roller
and the at least one bobbin sleeve; and the electronic unit is
arranged below the supporting arm.
[0012] The washing machine according to the invention has a
structure that enables the required air flow for cooling the
electronic unit or device to be supplied during operation by the
rapidly rotating bobbins.
[0013] Various preferred embodiments provide additional
advantages.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment the electronic unit is
accommodated in a flat control housing having a side facing the
bobbin spindle or spindles and the control housing is provided with
cooling ribs on a side facing the spindle or spindles. In an
especially preferred embodiment the control housing accommodating
the electronic unit is flat and arranged in the vicinity of
supporting members or feet of the washing machine and cooling ribs
are oriented transversely to an axis of the contacting roller. In
another especially preferred embodiment the control housing
accommodating the electronic unit is flat, rests on one of its
small edges and extends on a long side of the washing machine and
the cooling ribs are vertically oriented. In both especially
preferred embodiments the control housing is spaced from the bobbin
spindles or bobbins with the cooling ribs facing them, so that a
sufficient air flow for cooling is provided during operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0015] The objects, features and advantages of the invention will
now be illustrated in more detail with the aid of the following
description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cutaway, front view of a
first embodiment of a washing machine according to the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine shown in
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a second embodiment of a
washing machine according to the invention; and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the washing machine shown in
FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] A machine housing 1 rests on two stand or supporting members
2,3 in the form of horizontal pipes each having a rectangular
cross-section, which are connected with the lateral edge regions of
a base of the machine housing and are provided with damping
elements 4 on their bottom ends. A disk-like bobbin support 5 is
rotatably mounted so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis.
Two projecting spindles 6,7 are mounted on opposite sides of the
bobbin support, spaced about 180.degree. from each other. Two
axially aligned empty spindle sleeves. 8,9 are supported on the
spindle 6, which is shown above the other spindle 7 in the drawing.
Two finished wound bobbins 10, 11 sit on the other spindle 7,
already ready for removal and transport.
[0021] A projecting supporting arm 12, whose cross-section extends
almost over the entire width of the machine housing 1, is attached
to the machine housing 1 above the bobbin support 5. A contacting
roller 13, which extends parallel to the spindles 6,7 substantially
over their entire length, is mounted in the vicinity of a
longitudinal edge of the supporting arm. Respective changing units
14 associated with the individual spindle sleeves 8,9 are
accommodated in the supporting arm 12 above the contacting roller
13. Each changing unit 14 is equipped with two rotors driven in
opposite rotational directions, which each have two or three
propeller-like vanes or blades. These changing units, the so-called
blade changers, are described in EP 0 771 302 B1. Respective curved
slots 15, 16 are provided above the individual changing units 14 in
a cover of the supporting arm 12 for each of the corresponding
yarns or threads. The cover is provided with a common guiding
bracket 17, which extends over an entire length of the spindles
6,7. An operator's panel 18 is provided on the free end of the
supporting arm 12, which provides controls for the operating
personnel for control of the machine.
[0022] The spindles 6,7, the contacting rollers 13 and the changing
units 14 are provided with drive motors DM, which are shown only
diagrammatically in the drawing. The different drive motors DM are
coupled with each other in a known manner. A flat box-shaped
control housing 19 is arranged at a short distance under the region
described in more detail hereinbelow, which is reserved for the
bobbin structure and for the motion of the bobbins according to the
rotational motion of the spindle support 5. It essentially fills
the entire free area between both stand members 2,3, which extends
approximately over the length of the spindles 6,7 (that is also
true for the stand member 2 which is shown cutaway in the drawing
to improve the clarity of the illustration). The height of the
controller housing 19 is small in comparison to its dimensions in
the transverse and longitudinal direction, so that it has
approximately the form of a plate. Its upper side is provided with
cooling ribs 20, which extend transversely. Damping elements 21 are
provided on its lower side. It is supported on the ground
independently of the machine housing 1. An electronic unit or
device EU, which especially includes a rectifier R for supplying
the drive motors with electrical energy, is accommodated in the
interior of the controller housing 19. The electronic unit or
device EU in the controller housing 19 also includes electronic
means for control of machine operation and for signal transmission.
The electronic device EU unit is connected with the drive motors,
with the operator's panel 18, with unshown sensors and with an
external control system by means of a plug strip and by means of an
unshown cable.
[0023] In operation, bobbins are wound on the spindle sleeves 8,9,
which sit on the spindle 6 in a winding position. Accordingly the
bobbin support 5 is rotated --as already described for example in
EP 770 030 B1--in the direction of the arrow 23 according to the
increasing diameter of the bobbins, so that the bobbins in the
structure are continuously under a gentle pressure from the
spatially fixed contacting roller 13. If the spindle 6 is in the
position 24 shown with dashed lines, the new bobbin 25 has reached
the predetermined diameter. The bobbin or spindle support 5 now
quickly rotates further, until the spindle 7, which in the meantime
is provided with a fresh spindle sleeve after withdrawal of the
finished bobbins 11,12, arrives at the contacting roller 13 in the
position in which the spindle 6 is shown in FIG. 1. During this
rotation the bobbin 25 passes through a spatial region which
extends up to a sleeve surface 26.
[0024] A powerful air flow is produced by the rotating bobbins
present in the structure which rotate at a high rotation speed, for
example 2000 m/sec, which sweeps or brushes over the top side of
the controller housing 19 provided with the cooling ribs 20 in the
direction in which the cooling ribs 20 extend. Because of this
feature the heat, which is produced by the electronic components,
especially by the rectifier for the drive motor, is effectively
dissipated. A failure of the cooling during the winding operation
is thus prevented. Because of the independent mounting of the
controller housing 19 vibrations of the machine are not transferred
or transmitted to the control housing and the electronic components
in it. The damping elements 4,21 prevent the indirect transfer of
vibrations from the machine to the electronic components through
the floor.
[0025] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the
above-described embodiment, because the control housing 19 is
arranged beside the spatial region, which is reserved for the
bobbin structure and the motion of the bobbins according to the
rotation of the spindle support 5. The control housing of course
extends on the long side of the spindles which is opposite to the
long side on which the contacting roller 13 contacts. The control
housing 19 stands on its small or narrow edge on the stand member 3
and extends upward until its upper edge nearly reaches the
supporting arm 12. Damping elements 27,28 are arranged between the
control housing 19 and the stand member 3 and/or the supporting arm
12. The ribs 20 are formed on the side which is facing the sleeve
surfaces 26, and extend vertically. The spacing of the ribs 20 from
the sleeve surfaces 26 is large enough so that the full bobbin 25
remains unhindered in its motion.
[0026] The operation of the second embodiment is similar to that of
the first embodiments and so further description of the operation
is dispensed with.
[0027] The disclosure in German Patent Application 195 45 823.5-26
of Sep. 24, 1999 is incorporated here by reference. This German
Patent Application describes the invention described hereinabove
and claimed in the claims appended hereinbelow and provides the
basis for a claim of priority for the instant invention under 35
U.S.C. 119.
[0028] While the invention has been illustrated and described as
embodied in a washing machine for continuously running yarn, it is
not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various
modifications and changes may be made without departing in any way
from the spirit of the present invention.
[0029] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
specific aspects of this invention.
[0030] What is claimed is new and is set forth in the following
appended claims.
* * * * *