Abstract:
A winding frame is provided which is swingably mountable on a machine frame and operable to support a rotatably driveable winding core for the winding of a filament thereon. The winding frame includes a damping apparatus for opposing unscheduled swing movements of the winding frame during regular winding of a filament onto the winding core.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a winding frame which is pivotably securable to a winding machine support for supporting a rotatably driveable winding core onto which a yarn is wound. The term “winding core” is to be understood as a proxy for the term “winding tube” and “winding package”. The term “filament” encompasses the totality of yarn formed geometries such as, for example, spinning or two-for-one or twist yarns of various machine assemblies. 
     A winding frame of the type above referred to is disclosed, for example, in DE-PS 38 09 421 A1, and includes two opposed carry arms between which is rotatably supported a winding core onto which yarn is to be wound. The rotatative driving of the winding core is effected by a friction drive roller against which the winding core lies and which performs the function of a support roller. Another possibility for effecting the driving of the winding core is an individual motor securable on the winding frame which directly drives the winding core which itself is supported against a freely rotatable support roller. In conventional winding frames, the damping apparatus, which is operable to oppose unscheduled swing movements of the winding frame during regular winding of a winding core, comprises a guide rod pivotally mounted to the machine frame along which a guide is movable, the guide being movably secured to the winding frame by ball pins or ball studs and having a friction-or brake-jaw movably secured thereto which is biasable by a spring against the guide rod. In this manner, a swing movement free rotation of the winding core during winding thereon to is ensured. A damping apparatus such as this is—especially because of the movable connection of the braking element on the guide—relatively prone to disruptions and is, thus, not operationally reliable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention achieves the objective of providing a winding frame, having a damping apparatus, of relatively simple construction which is nonetheless operationally reliable. 
     To achieve this objective, the inventive damping apparatus includes a guide rod movably secured to the winding frame upon which can act at least one braking surface adjustably movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide rod, the guide rod extending through a housing pivotally mounted on the machine frame. 
     In accordance with the present invention, only two swing movement dispositions are needed, namely, the swingable positioning of the guide rod on the winding frame and, on the other hand, the swingable positioning—that is, the pivotable positioning—of the housing, which houses the braking surface, on the machine frame. In this manner, a high functioning reliability of the damping apparatus is ensured and this is so especially because the braking surface is adjustable only in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide rod. 
     The braking surface can be actuated by spring or pressurized air. 
     Further features of the invention are set forth in the description and claims hereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the inventive winding frame in which a winding core driveable by a friction drive roller is disposed; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the damping apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of a modified form of the damping apparatus shown in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with FIG. 1, the winding frame  1  of the present invention, which may be configured, for example, as a four link winding frame, is mounted on a console  32  representing a machine frame for swinging movement on an axis  6  in the dual opposed directions f. The winding frame includes two opposed carry arms of which only one carry arm  2  is shown in FIG.  1  and on which a hand grip  3  can be provided for manual raising of the winding frame  1  in order to raise the winding core A off the friction drive roller  4  which drives it. FIG. 1 further depicts, in schematic form, a typical yarn changing guide  5  operable to guide a filament or yarn F onto the winding core A. 
     In the event that there is an individual motor direct drive of the winding core A, an individual motor (not shown) is disposed on one of the carry arms  2 , whereby the friction drive roller  4  is configured as a freely rotating support roller. 
     A guide rod  7 , which is preferably formed of metal, especially chromium-nickel-steel, has one of its ends rotatably mounted to the winding frame  1  for rotation of the guide rod  7  about an axis  8  which is at a spacing from the axis of the four link frame on which the winding frame  1  is mounted. 
     A cylinder housing  10  or  10 ′, shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, is pivotably or swingably mounted to a mounting arm  9  secured to the console or the machine frame  32  This cylinder housing  10  or  10 ′ includes a step recess which forms a first cylinder chamber  20  or  20 ′, respectively, and another cylinder chamber  21  or  21 ′, respectively, communicated therewith. The cylinder housing  10  or  10 ′ is, furthermore, provided in the region of the cylinder chamber  20  or  20 ′. respectively, with diametrically opposed elongate openings  10 . 1  or  10 . 1 ′, respectively, through which the guide rod  7  or  7 ′, respectively, is extended. 
     A piston  11  or  11 ′, respectively, is movably mounted in each housing  10  or  10 ′, respectively, each of which comprises a borehole  12  or  12 ′, respectively, extending perpendicular to the piston axis for receiving therethrough the guide rod  7  or  7 ′, respectively. 
     In the embodiment of the damping apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a loading spring  13  exerts a force on the left hand side of the piston  11 , whereby the guide rod  7  is forced against a portion of the borehole  12  which acts in this capacity as a braking surface. 
     The piston  11 , as well as the piston  11 ′, is formed, at least in the area thereof which forms the braking surface, out of plastic, preferably a thermoplastic. 
     In the modified embodiment of the damping apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the piston  11 ′ is configured as a step piston, the portion of which within the smaller cylinder chamber  21 ′ being impacted by pressurized air communicated into the chamber by a pressurized air connector  26 , with the piston being so configured as a step piston so as to operate in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in which the borehole  12 ′ is configured as a braking surface for applying a predetermined braking force against the guide rod  7 ′. A pressure regulator  28  is actuable for controlling the delivery of pressurized air through a pressurized air conduit  27  (shown only schematically) to the pressurized air connector  26  for impact against the portion of the borehole  12 ′ in the smaller cylinder chamber  21 ′ configured as a braking surface, whereby a braking force tailored to the braking need of the guide rod  7  is delivered. 
     A ring  30  or  30 ′, respectively, preferably formed of thermoplastic, is mounted on the exterior of the housing  10  or  10 ′, respectively, to act as an inner limit of the elongate opening  10 . 1  or  10 . 1 ′, respectively, by forming thereat a counter force body against which the guide rod  7  or  7 ′, respectively, is moved upon the application of force on the guide rod by the braking surface. 
     As needed, a release of the braking force application by the braking surface can be effected in the embodiments shown in both FIGS. 2 and 3 by the application of pressurized air against the respective section or portion of the piston within the larger cylinder chamber  20  or  20 ′, respectively, the pressurized air being delivered through a pressurized air connector  16  or  16 ′, respectively, and the application of the pressurized air being actuated by controllable valve unit  18  or  18 , respectively, connected to a pressurized air conduit  17  or  17 ′, respectively, (shown only schematically) communicated with the pressurized air connector  16  or  16 ′. This permits the release of the piston  11  or  11 ′, respectively, and, thereby, permits the manual hand damping of the winding frame or, respectively, the release of the piston in the event of an automatic raising of the winding frame such as, for example, by the occurrence of a yarn break. 
     The application of pressurized air against the portion of the piston within the larger cylinder chamber  20  or  20 ′, respectively, acts to counter the braking force being applied on the guide rod  7  or  7 ′, respectively, in order to thereby release the guide rod  7  or  7 ′, respectively, if the winding frame is to be raised for, for example, the purpose of performing maintenance. 
     The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 199 24 390.5 of May. 27, 1999. 
     The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.