Patent Publication Number: US-2005133658-A1

Title: Crown-shaped fixture set

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a fixture, or more particularly, to a crown-shaped fixture set for a paper-tube fixture device.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The conventional spinning machine comprises a rotary paper-tube fixture device to fix a paper tube, wherein said paper tube is driven by a rotary engine at high speed to roll the yarn around said paper tube.  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional rotary paper-tube fixture device. A conventional rotary paper-tube fixture device includes a rotary engine (not shown), a master axis  1 , a slave axis  2  and a fixture set, wherein the fixture set further comprises a pair of fixtures  3  which are mounted respectively on the master axis  1  and the slave axis  2 . The forgoing master axis  1  is driven by the rotary engine. The slave axis  2  of the conventional rotary paper-tube fixture device works in combination with the master axis  1  so as to position and fix a paper tube  30  between said pair of fixtures  3 . When the rotary engine is turned on, the master axis  1  is propelled to force the fixture and the paper tube  30  to generate friction so as to position and fix the paper tube  30 . Then the movement of the master axis  1  causes the paper tube  30  to rotate at high speed so as to roll the yarn around the paper tube  30 .  
       FIG. 2  shows a conventional fixture. The conventional fixture  3  is in the shape of a disc and features three protruding points  5  which are evenly scattered on the circular ring  4  along the edge the fixture  3 . Height difference is disposed between the protruding points  5  and the circular ring  4  so as to engage a paper tube. Conventionally, a fixture on a master axis  1  will press against a paper tube  30  with only three protruding points  5  in touch with the paper tube  30 , and then causes a fixture on a slave axis  2  to rotate in sync. The limited contact area between the paper tube  30  and the three protruding points  5  on the fixture  3  generates limited friction in-between. Besides, the imbalance arising out of external force or deformation of the paper tube  30  may make the paper tube  30  escape from its normal movement path. Especially, at the onset of rotation when the inertia is minimal and the bore size of the paper tube  30  is not expanded, the occurrence of deviation from the intended movement path is common. Therefore, the escaping paper tube  30  at high speed will damage the fixture  3  seriously.  
      Furthermore, erosion of the protruding points  5  caused by the fixture  3  may easily induce the deviation and the erosion of the fixture on the slave axis. The increase of pressure against the fixture though reduces the deviation of the fixture from the slave axis, may result in the disengagement and deformation of the fixture on the slave axis and influence the efficiency of the fixtures. In addition, conventional fixtures with various diameters shall be provided to fit into paper tubes with different bore sizes, which increases the manufacturing cost. Extra labor is required to change the fixtures on the master and slave axes for paper tubes with different diameters. Furthermore, close contact is required between the outer diameter of the fixture and the inner diameter of the slave axis. Otherwise, vibration and centrifugal movement may occur and disturb the balanced inertia.  
      The disadvantages in application and operation of the conventional fixtures with three protruding points include the axis deviation of the fixture set resulting from problematic fixtures, little contact area between the paper tube and the fixture, serious erosion of the fixtures caused by the paper tube leading to shorter life cycle of the fixtures, and limited applicability and high manufacturing cost of the fixtures.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A plurality of convex clips on the present invention of a crown-shaped fixture set is designed based upon the principle of clip connection. The deployment of convex clips along the crown portion increases the contact area between the fixtures and paper tubes so as to improve the efficiency and solve the abovementioned problems.  
      One object of the present invention is to provide a crown-shaped fixture set for a paper-tube fixture device.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixture for a paper-tube fixture device, featuring a crown portion which accommodates a plurality of convex clips to fit into paper tubes with various diameters and to quickly position the paper tubes.  
      The other object of the present invention is to provide a fixture set to position and fix paper tubes, which features a crown portion with a plurality of convex clips to increase the contact area.  
      The present invention of the crown-shaped fixture set includes a fixture which comprises a disc and a crown portion both cast in one mold. Said crown portion is disposed on one side of the disc and the disc forms a ring along the circumference thereof. Pluralities positioning slots are disposed on said ring of the disc. Pluralities of grooves are disposed along the circumference of the crown portion and along the surface of the crown portion are convex clips. Each two adjacent convex clips further define a groove which then corresponds to said positioning slot on the disc. Said fixture has an aperture in the middle.  
      In one embodiment of the present invention, a rotary fixture device is provided, which includes an engine, a master axis, a slave axis and a crown-shaped fixture set. Said crown-shaped fixture set further comprises a pair of fixtures which are mounted on the master and slave axes respectively. Each said fixture comprises a disc and a crown portion in one mold. Said crown portion is disposed on one side of the disc and the disc forms a ring along the circumference thereof. Pluralities positioning slots are disposed on said ring of the disc. Pluralities of grooves are disposed along the circumference of the crown portion and along the surface of the crown portion are convex clips. Each two adjacent convex clips further define a groove which then corresponds to said positioning slot on the disc. Said fixture has an aperture in the middle.  
      Two blind vias are disposed separately at two ends of said aperture on the fixture so as to easily fix paper tubes thereon.  
      Further, said convex clips along the circumference of said crown portion can fit into paper tubes of various diameters and increase the contact area so as to improve the effect of contact.  
      It is preferable that 8 to 20 convex clips are disposed along the circumference of said crown portion, which further define  8  to  20  positioning slots.  
      It is preferred that 18 convex clips are formed along said crown portion with 18 positioning slots defined thereby.  
      According to the present invention of a crown-shaped fixture set, the crown-shaped design can increase the contact area between the fixtures and paper tubes so as to improve the effect of contact and reduce abrasion damage, deviation of axes, escape of paper tubes etc. In addition, the convex clips along the crown portion can fit into paper tubes of various bore sizes so as to achieve the eco-friendly effects, such as no need to replace fixtures, quick positioning, reduction of manufacturing cost of fixtures and recycling of the paper tubes.  
      These and other features and objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings that are provided only for further elaboration without limiting or restricting the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional rotary paper-tube fixture device.  
       FIG. 2  is a 3D drawing of a conventional fixture.  
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of the present invention, showing a crowned-shaped fixture.  
       FIG. 3B  is a 3D drawing of the present invention, showing the front face of the crowned-shaped fixture.  
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective view from below, showing the present invention of the crowned-shaped fixture.  
       FIG. 3D  is a 3D drawing of the present invention, showing the rear face of crowned-shaped fixture.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view, showing the present invention of the crown-shaped fixture set mounted on a rotary paper-tube fixture device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.  
       FIGS. 3A  to  3 D illustrate the present invention of a crown-shaped fixture  20  at various angles. According to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the crown-shaped fixture  20  comprises a disc  29  and a crown portion  28  at one mold. Said crown portion  28  is disposed at one side of said disc  29  and the disc  29  forms a ring. Along the ring has pluralities of positioning slots  22 . A plurality of convex clips  27  are disposed along the circumference of said crown potion  28 , with each two convex clips  27  defining an arc groove  23  which corresponds to said positioning slot  22  upon the disc  29 . In addition, an aperture  21  is disposed upon said crown-shaped fixture  20 .  
      Said aperture  21  has a top blind via  24  and a bottom blind via  25  at the upper and lower surface of said crown-shaped fixture  20  respectively so that a master axis  1  or a slave axis  2  may be engaged and fix said crown-shaped fixture  20  thereon by means of a male or female screw. Besides, an axis-fixing ring  26  is disposed along the circumference of said aperture  21  at the side where said bottom blind via  25  is deployed so that a user may easily position and fix the crown-shaped fixture  20  onto the axis.  
      According to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, said crown portion  28  of the crown-shaped fixture  20  features  8  to  20  convex clips  27 , and said convex clips  27  define  8  to  20  arc grooves  23  which further correspond to 8 to 20 positioning slots  22 . According to another preferable embodiment, 8 to 18 convex clips  27  are formed along the crown portion  28  of the crown-shaped fixture  20 , with adjacent convex clips  27  defining  8  to  18  arc grooves  23  which correspond to 8 to 18 positioning slots  22 .  
      According to forgoing embodiments of the present invention, convex clips  27  of said crown portion  28  operates based on the principle of clip connection and can fit into paper tubes  30  of various diameters. Therefore, the contact area between said crown-shaped fixture  20  and said paper tube  30  is larger than that between the conventional fixture and said paper tube  30  so that the effect of contact is improved and friction is increased to resist the revolution and centrifugal force of the paper tube. Further, the deviation and disengagement of the fixture at high rotation speed resulting from the insufficient rigidity of the deformed and broken fixture may be prevented.  
      In addition, said convex clips  27  along said crown portion  28  assist quick positioning. That is, said convex clips  27  may limit the movement of the fixture and quickly position said fixture within a short period of time so as to balance the rotation inertia.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view, showing the present invention of the crown-shaped fixture set mounted on a rotary paper-tube fixture device. The present invention provides a crown-shaped fixture set, comprising a pair of crown-shaped fixtures  20 , for a rotary paper-tube fixture device. Said rotary paper-tube fixture device comprises a rotary slave axis  2  and a master axis  1  which is driven by an engine. Said pair of crown-shaped fixtures  20  are mounted respectively on said master axis  1  and said slave axis  2  so as to form a master fixture and a slave fixture. Due to the convex clips  27  along the crown portion  28  of said crown-shaped fixtures  20 , paper tubes  30  of various bore sizes can fit into said crown-shaped fixtures  20 . Reused paper tubes  30  will expand gradually due to the tight fit between the crown portion and the paper tubes, while the maximal extent of expansion occurs at the portion proximal to the positioning slots  22  on the disc  29 .  
      The present invention of the crown-shaped fixture set can be applied to a rotary fixture device. The convex clips employed on the crown portion of the present invention is tangent to the surface of the paper tube so as to solve the problems encountered by conventional fixture which employs concentric protruding elements to position said paper tube. The convex clips  27  of the present invention facilitate the introduction of the paper tube to the fixture, and the crown portion functions to stabilize the rotation inertia, which in all achieves the effect of quick positioning and applicability to paper tubes of various bore sizes. According to the most preferable embodiment of the present invention, the 18 positioning slots  22  can prevent the disengagement of the paper tubes efficiently.  
      Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art can easily understand that all kinds of alterations and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.