EP2279146B2 - Yarn-cleaner measuring head with releasable cable connection - Google Patents

Description

AREA OF EXPERTISE

The present invention is in the field of textile quality control. It relates to a Garnreinigermesskopf according to the preamble of the first claim and a combination of a Garnreinigermesskopfes and an electrical connection cable. Such yarn cleaner measuring heads are typically used on spinning or winding machines.

STATE OF THE ART

To ensure the yarn quality so-called yarn cleaners are used on spinning or winding machines. Such a yarn cleaner is z. B. from the EP-1'249'422 A2 known. It includes a yarn cleaner gauge with at least one sensor which senses the moving yarn and measures at least one parameter of the yarn. Frequently used sensor principles are capacitive (see eg EP-0'924'513 A1 ) or the optical (see eg WO 93/13407 A1 ). The aim of yarn cleaning is to detect defects such as thick spots, thin spots or foreign substances in the yarn, to evaluate them according to certain quality criteria and to eliminate them if necessary. The structure of a Garnreinigermesskopfes is in the US Pat. No. 6,422,072 B1 or the EP-1'302'426 A2 described.

A typical open-end spinning machine has several hundred spinning stations, each equipped with a yarn cleaner gauge. The spinning machine is divided into sections of about 20 to 30 spinning stations each. Each section has a clearer section electronics (CSE), which is connected by cables to each associated yarn cleaner gauge heads. The purifier section electronics in turn are connected via a common bus line to a central clearer control unit (CCU). The cleaner control unit is used to enter the cleaning limits, to transmit the Cleaning limits to the measuring heads, to collect quality data from the measuring heads, to output the quality data, etc.

A typical winder has several dozen winding units, each equipped with a yarn cleaner gauge. Here, the yarn cleaner measuring heads are connected via a common bus line directly to the central cleaner control unit. In comparison with the open-end spinning machine thus eliminates the cleaner section electronics.

Both the spinning and winding machines each yarn cleaner measuring head is equipped with a connection cable for power supply and data transmission which is a few decimeters to a few meters long. In this case, custom-made connection cables are usually used for the respective application. The yarn cleaner of the type USTER ^® QUANTUM 2 from Uster Technologies AG, Uster, Switzerland, is, for example, a 15-core shielded connection cable. The Garnreinigermesskopf the associated end of the connecting cable is fixed and partially inseparable connected to the Garnreinigermesskopf, ie the cable cores are soldered to a circuit board and / or plugged into the circuit board, and the cable sheath is clamped in a bolted to the housing of Garnreinigermesskopfes strain relief. The other end is equipped with a detachable plug. If it is necessary to remove the yarn cleaner measuring head, then the yarn cleaner measuring head together with the connecting cable must be removed from the machine. For this purpose, the connection cable must be unplugged at its end facing away from the yarn cleaner measuring head and be threaded out of the machine. This can be cumbersome and cumbersome, because connectors and connecting cables are often difficult to access. Unhinging and unthreading can even be associated with a risk of injury to the operator from rotating and moving machine parts. The same disadvantages occur when installing a new yarn cleaner measuring head.

The US Pat. No. 6,422,072 B1 and the EP-0'761'853 A1 disclose plug connections for the output of signals from the yarn cleaner measuring head to a central machine control or an evaluation unit. However, the corresponding connection cables have hitherto been permanently mounted on the yarn cleaner measuring head, as mentioned above. Detachable connectors for power cables are known per se, z. B. from the FR-2'904'153 A1 , but not for connection cable for yarn cleaner measuring heads.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a yarn cleaner measuring head which can be easily and safely removed, installed, replaced and maintained.

These and other objects are achieved by the inventive yarn cleaner measuring head as well as the inventive combination of a Garnreinigermesskopf invention and an electrical connection cable, as defined in the claims. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea to make the connection between the Gamreinigermesskopf and the connection cable solvable.

Accordingly, the yarn cleaner measuring head according to the invention comprises a measuring head housing, an electronic circuit accommodated in the measuring head housing, and a connection on the measuring head side for an electrical connection cable which can be electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The Meßkopfseitige connection is designed for producing a detachable connection between the Garnreinigermesskopf and the connection cable. The Meßkopfseitige connection includes first connecting means, which are designed to produce a releasable mechanical latching connection with the connecting cable included second connecting means. The first connecting means include an elongated opening adapted for latchingly receiving a resilient tongue with a projection.

The measuring-head-side connection may have third connecting means spaced from the first connecting means for producing a detachable mechanical connection with fourth connecting means included in the connecting cable. Here are the third connecting means preferably for producing a releasable hinge-like connection, for. B. as a pivot bearing for swing cam formed.

When electrical connection cable for a combination with the invention Garnreinigermesskopf one end of the connection cable includes a cable-side connection for connection to the electronic circuit of the Gamreinigermesskopfes. The cable-side connection is designed to produce a detachable connection between the yarn cleaner measuring head and the connection cable. The cable-side connector includes a connector housing having second connection means configured to provide a releasable mechanical latching connection with first connector means contained within the gauge housing.

The second connecting means include a resilient tongue having a projection adapted to engage in the elongated opening. The cable-side terminal may comprise fourth connection means spaced from the second connection means for producing a releasable mechanical connection with third connection means included in the measurement head housing. The fourth connecting means are preferably for producing a releasable hinge-like connection, for. B. as a pivot axis forming pivot cams formed.

In the inventive combination of a yarn cleaner measuring head and an electrical connection cable, the yarn cleaner measuring head includes a measuring head housing and an electronic circuit accommodated in the measuring head housing. One end of the connection cable is electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The yarn cleaner measuring head and the connection cable are connected to each other via a detachable connection. The measuring head housing is mechanically connected via a releasable snap-in connection with the connecting cable. The releasable latching connection includes a resilient tongue on the one hand and an elastic tongue receiving elongate opening on the other.

The measuring head housing can additionally be mechanically connected to the connecting cable via a detachable hinge-like connection. The hinged connection becomes preferably formed by a pivot bearing and pivotally mounted in the pivot bearing, forming a pivot axis pivot cams.

The connection is both electrical and mechanical. These two functions may or may not necessarily be separate. The detachable electrical connection is preferably designed as a plug connection. The releasable mechanical connection is designed as a snap connection.

Another aspect relates to a terminal housing, in particular a plug or coupling housing, for an electrical cable. The connection housing has an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the cable and at least two substantially planar housing walls. The exit opening is mounted in a first of the at least two housing walls. At least a second of the at least two housing walls has sufficiently large dimensions to accommodate the exit opening. Thanks to these features, it is possible to mount the output port in either the first or second enclosure wall without having to change the rest of the junction box. The connection housing is preferably made of a plastic by injection molding. With a replaceable slide in the injection mold, depending on the position of the slide, the output port can be mounted in the first or the second housing wall. Thus, a large variety of variants of the connection housing can be produced in a simple and cost-saving manner.

Preferably, one end of the connection cable is equipped with the connection housing. For example, connection housings for connection cables that are suitable for installation in various machine types can be produced with the same injection mold.

Thanks to the invention, the removal, installation, replacement and maintenance of the yarn cleaner measuring head become significantly easier, more convenient and safer. For removal, only the yarn cleaner measuring head must be disconnected from the connection cable; for installation, it must only be connected to the corresponding loose end of the connection cable. The loosening and making the snap connection can be carried out conveniently with one hand. The snap-in when making the connection is a noticeable and audible Confirmation of the establishment of a perfect connection. There is no need to manipulate hard-to-reach, dangerous points in the machine, in particular no handling at the cable end facing away from the Garnreinigermesskopf and no unthreading of the connection cable from the machine.

TITLE OF DRAWINGS

Figur 1

zeigt eine erfindungsgemässe Kombination eines Garnreinigermesskopfes und eines Anschlusskabels in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

Figur 2

zeigt eine erfindungsgemässe Kombination eines Garnreinigermesskopfes und eines Anschlusskabels in einer teilsweise offengelegten perspektivischen Ansicht.

Figur 3

zeigt eine erfindungsgemässe Kombination eines Garnreinigermesskopfes und eines Anschlusskabels in einer anderen teilsweise offengelegten perspektivischen Ansicht.

Figur 4

zeigt ein mit IV bezeichnetes Detail von Figur 3, in dem die Verbindungsmittel vom Gehäuseinneren her sichtbar sind.

Figur 5

zeigt die Verbindungsmittel von Figur 4 in einer Ansicht vom Gehäuseäusseren her.

Figur 6

zeigt ein Kupplungsgehäuse für ein Anschlusskabel in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

Figuren 7 und 8

zeigen zwei Ausführungsformen eines Anschlusskabels in Draufsichten.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1

shows a combination according to the invention a Garnreinigermesskopfes and a connecting cable in a perspective view.

FIG. 2

shows a combination according to the invention a Garnreinigermesskopfes and a connecting cable in a partially exposed perspective view.

FIG. 3

shows an inventive combination of a Garnreinigermesskopfes and a connecting cable in another partially exposed perspective view.

FIG. 4

shows a detail labeled IV of FIG FIG. 3 in which the connecting means are visible from inside the housing.

FIG. 5

shows the connecting means of FIG. 4 in a view from the exterior of the housing.

FIG. 6

shows a coupling housing for a connecting cable in a perspective view.

FIGS. 7 and 8

show two embodiments of a connection cable in plan views.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 an inventive combination of a Garnreinigermesskopfes 1 and an electrical connection cable 4 is shown. The yarn cleaner measuring head 1 includes a measuring head housing 11 for receiving a yarn sensor, an electronic circuit, a Garnschneidzeugs and / or other components. In the example of FIG. 1 are the Yarn sensor and the electronic circuit in a lower housing part 12, the Garnschneidzeug accommodated in an upper housing part 13. Between the lower housing part 12 and the upper housing part 13, an anvil belonging to the Garnschneidzeug 14 can be seen from the outside. The measuring head housing 11 may be made of metal or plastic.

The connection cable 4 is releasably connected to the Garnreinigermesskopf 1. It serves both the power supply of the yarn cleaner measuring head 1 and the data transmission to and from the yarn cleaner measuring head 1. Preferably, it is a multi-core shielded connection cable. In the example of FIG. 1 based the connection cable 4 on a commercially available 15-wire game port cable, in which at a Meßkopfseitigen end 41 a (in FIG. 1 not visible) coupling was mounted in a coupling housing 5. At the end facing away from Garnreinigermesskopf 1 end 42 carries the connection cable 4 a plug 7, z. As a commercially available connector of the widely used type D-Sub 15, for connecting the connecting cable 4 to a (not shown) Purigersektionselektronik, to a (not shown) bus line, which is connected to a central cleaner control unit, or to another component.

FIG. 2 shows the Garnreinigermesskopf 1 and the connection cable 4 of FIG. 1 but with the measuring head housing 11 partially exposed and the coupling housing 5 is detached from the measuring head housing 11. Thanks to the disclosure of the measuring head housing 11, a printed circuit board 2 accommodated in the interior of the measuring head housing 11, more precisely in the lower housing part 12, can be seen, which carries at least parts of an electronic circuit. In the printed circuit board 2 is a measuring slot 22, which serves for receiving a (not shown) to be cleaned yarn and to which a (not shown) yarn sensor for scanning the yarn is attached.
The yarn cleaner measuring head 1 has a measuring-head-side connection 3, and the connection cable 4 carries a cable-side connection 6 for producing a detachable connection between the yarn-cleaning measuring head 1 and the connection cable 4. The connection is both electrical and mechanical. These two functions are separate from each other in the embodiments discussed herein, but need not necessarily be.

The detachable electrical connection between the circuit board 2 and the connecting cable 4 is in the example of FIG. 2 designed as a plug connection. For the preparation of the connector is on the circuit board 2 in the region of the measuring head side terminal 3, a plug 31 (see Fig. 3 ) appropriate. Preferably, it is an indirect multi-pin connector 31, the z. B. is soldered on the circuit board 2. At its Meßkopfseitigen end 41, the connecting cable 4 carries the matching connector 31 to the connector 61, z. Hirose DF11-16DS-2C, as available from Hirose Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. The plug 31 and the coupling 61 together form a connector.

The releasable mechanical connection between the measuring head housing 11 and the coupling housing 5 is designed as a snap connection. As a connection means is at the top of the coupling housing 5 has a resilient tongue 63 with a projection or a nose 64 (see Fig. 4 ) appropriate. At the corresponding point of the measuring head housing 11 is located as a counterpart to the projection 64, a bracket 32 having an elongated opening 33. In addition, on both sides of the coupling housing 5 protruding pivot cams 62.1, 62.2 are mounted, which lie on a common line and together form a pivot axis , On the underside of the measuring head housing 11 are as a counterpart and pivot bearing for the pivot cams 62.1, 62.2 corresponding cam holder 34.1, 34.2 (see Fig. 5 ) available. The pivot cams 62.1, 62.2 can be inserted into the cam holders 34.1, 34.2 and, if necessary, removed therefrom. The pivoting cams 62.1, 62.2 and the cam holders 34.1, 34.2 act together as a hinge, about which the coupling housing 5 and the measuring head housing 11 are mutually pivotable.

To produce the latching connection, the pivoting cams 62.1, 62.2 are first inserted into the cam holders 34.1, 34.2. Then, the coupling housing 5 is pivoted toward the measuring head housing 11, wherein the pivot cams 62.1, 62.2 mounted in the cam holders 34.1, 34.2 define the pivot axis. When pivoting the tongue 63 is inserted into the opening 33. In this case, an inclined front surface of the projection 64 slides along an upper opening edge, so that the tongue 63 is deflected ever further down and biased. As soon as the projection 64 has passed the opening 33, the tongue 63 again jumps upwards and snaps into the bracket 32. A vertical rear surface of the projection 64 then abuts the bracket 32 and forms with the bracket 32 a positive connection, which prevents retraction of the connecting cable 4. This latching connection thus releasably locks the coupling housing 5 on the measuring head housing 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates the detachable connection between the measuring head 1 and the connecting cable 4, and FIGS. 4 and Fig. 5 shows a detailed view thereof. The latching connection between the measuring head housing 11 and the coupling housing 5 also ensures a strain relief for the cable connection 3. Only when the tongue 63 is pressed by an operator so far down that the projection 64 can pass through the opening 33, the snap connection by pulling out be solved again. To completely solve the connection and the coupling 61 must be pulled out of the connector 31. On both sides next to the tongue 63 are two positioning pins 65.1, 65.2, which also in the elongated opening 33 (see Fig. 4 ) and serve the lateral positioning of the connection cable 4. The coupling 61 is in the FIGS. 3 and 4 for the sake of clarity not shown. In FIG. 5 Also, the clutch housing 5 has been omitted to give the view of the cam holder 34.1, 34.2 free. These are, for example, formed as a groove in a bottom surface of the measuring head housing 11.

In FIG. 6 is the measuring head-side coupling housing 5 for the connecting cable 4 shown. Well visible are below the pivot cams 62.1, 62.2 and above the elastic tongue 63 with the projection 64. In a side wall 51 of the coupling housing 5, an output port 53 for the connection cable 4 is attached. In a preferred embodiment, the connection cable 4 is pulled through the outlet opening. Thereafter, a (not shown) molded plastic spout is molded onto the cable jacket enclosing the measuring head end 41 of the connecting cable 4. The connecting cable 4 is then withdrawn until the grommet from the inside of the side wall 51 is present and thereby the connection cable 4 is prevented from exiting the clutch housing 5. Tensile forces acting on the connection cable 4 are absorbed by the spout, by the coupling housing and finally by the measuring head housing 11. This results in an effective strain relief for the connection cable. 4

The coupling housing 5 is preferably made of a plastic by injection molding. With a replaceable slide in the injection mold, the option can be kept open to use the same injection mold to produce coupling housings with differently positioned and aligned outlet openings for the connection cable 4. Thus, different variants of the coupling housing, for. B. for different machine types, in a simple and cost-saving manner. Two such different connection cable 4 or 4 'are in the FIGS. 7 and 8 shown. The connection cable 4 according FIG. 7 has an outlet opening 53 in a side wall 51 of the coupling housing 5, while the connecting cable 4 'according to FIG. 8 an outlet opening 53 'in a rear wall 52' of the coupling housing 5 'has. The exit port could alternatively be in any other wall of the clutch housing, e.g. B. in the top or bottom wall, are. Embodiments with multiple exit openings in different walls are also possible.

A prerequisite for the ease of manufacture of such a variety of variants of the coupling housing is that at least two walls 51, 52 of the coupling housing 5 (see Fig. 6 ) each have a sufficiently large area to accommodate the exit port 53.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments discussed above. Instead of the pivotally mounted pivot cams could be provided in the lower part of a snap or other connection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Garnreinigermesskopf

11

Probe housing

12

lower housing part

13

Upper housing part

14

anvil

2

circuit board

21

electronic switch

22

measuring slot

3

Measuring head connection

31

plug

32

hanger

33

elongated opening

34.1, 34.2

cam holder

4, 4 '

connection cable

41

Measuring head end of connection cable 4

42

from Garnreinigermesskopf 1 opposite end of the connection cable. 4

5.5 '

clutch housing

51

Side wall of the coupling housing 5

52 '

Rear wall of the coupling housing 5

53, 53 '

Output opening for connection cable 4

6

cable-side connection

61

clutch

62.1, 62.2

swing cams

63

elastic tongue

64

head Start

65.1, 65.2

positioning

7, 7 '

Plug at the end facing away from Garnreinigermesskopf 1 end 42nd

Claims (8)

1. A yarn clearer measurement head (1) with
   a measurement head housing (11),
   an electronic circuit (21) accommodated in the measurement head housing (11), and
   a connection (3) on the measurement head side, for an electrical connection cable (4) which is electrically connectable to the electronic circuit (21),
   characterised in that
   the connection (3) on the measurement head side is designed for creating a releasable connection between the yarn clearer measurement head (1) and the connection cable (4), wherein
   the connection (3) on the measurement head side contains first connection means (32, 33) which are designed for creating a releasable mechanical lock-in connection to second connection means (63, 64, 65.1, 65.2) contained by the connection cable (4), and
   the first connection means contain an elongate opening (33) which is suitable for the locking-in receiving of an elastic tongue (63) with a projection (64).
2. The yarn clearer measurement head (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connection (3) on the measurement head side comprises third connection means (34.1, 34.2) which are distanced to the first connection means (32, 33), for creating a releasable mechanical connection to fourth connection means (62,1, 62.2) contained by the connection cable (4).
3. The yarn clearer measurement head (1) according to claim 2, wherein the third connection means (34.1, 34.2) are designed for creating a releasable, hinge-like connection.
4. The yarn clearer measurement head (1) according to claim 3, wherein the third connection means (34.1, 34.2) are designed as pivot bearings for pivot cams (62.1, 62.2).
5. A combination of a yarn clearer measurement head (1) according to one of the preceding claims and an electrical connection cable (4), wherein
   one end (41) of the connection cable (4) contains a connection (6) on the cable side, for connection to the electronic circuit (21) of the yarn clearer measurement head (1),
   the connection (6) on the cable side is designed for creating a releasable connection between the yarn clearer measurement head (1) and the connection cable (4),
   the connection (6) on the cable side contains a connection housing (5) with second connection means (63, 64, 65.1, 65.2) which are designed for creating a releasable mechanical lock-in connection to first connection means (32, 33) contained by the measurement head housing (11),
   the end (41) of the connection cable (4) is electrically connected to the electronic circuit (21),
   the yarn clearer measurement head (1) and the connection cable (4) are connected to one another via a releasable connection,
   the measurement head housing (11) is mechanically connected to the connection cable (4) via a releasable lock-in connection and
   the releasable lock-in connection contains an elastic tongue (63) on the one hand and an elongate opening (33) receiving the elastic tongue (63) on the other hand.
6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein the measurement head housing (11) is additionally mechanically connected to the connection cable (4) via a releasable hinge-like connection.
7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the hinge-like connection is formed by a pivot bearing (34.1, 34.2) and by pivot cams (62.1, 62.2) which are pivotably mounted in the pivot bearing (34.1, 34.2) and form a pivot axis.
8. The combination according to one of the claims 5-7, wherein
   the connection (6) on the cable side contains a connection housing (5),
   the cable (4) runs through an entry opening and an exit opening (53) in the connection housing (5),
   the connection housing (5) comprises at least two essentially plane housing walls (51, 52), the exit opening (53) is incorporated in a first (51) of at least two housing walls (51, 52) and
   at least one second (52) of the at least two housing walls (51, 52) has sufficiently large dimensions in order to receive the exit opening (53).

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