Patent Abstract:
An assembly for a textile machine includes a carrier bar for attachment to the textile machine; a module base body carrying a plurality of tools and having a mounting; and an adapter received in the mounting and including holding and orienting arrangements for holding the module base body and for orienting the module base body relative to the carrier bar. The adapter is suitable to conform variously configured module base bodies to variously configured carrier bars.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of German Application No. 199 28 885.2 filed Jun. 24, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a module, particularly a tufting module which has a module base body carrying a plurality of tools and which is to be mounted on a carrier bar of a textile machine. 
     Textile machines are conventionally provided with carrier bar assemblies which include a carrier bar for holding modules with module base bodies each carrying a number of tufting, knitting or Raschel tools. In addition to needles, the base body may support velour grippers, reed fingers, loop grippers and knives. 
     German Utility Model No. 295 20 281 discloses a carrier bar system in which the carrier bar has an essentially planar contact face for the cooperating contact faces of base bodies for tufting modules. According to an embodiment, a groove is provided in the planar contact face of the carrier bar, and at each clamping location for a tufting module an extension projects laterally in the direction of the tools. The base bodies of the tufting modules are accordingly provided with a T-shaped rib which fits into the groove and positions the tufting module. A securing screw is provided for tightening the tufting module to the carrier bar. 
     The tufting modules provided with T-shaped ribs can be used only with carrier bars provided with grooves specifically designed for such ribs. 
     The above-noted German Utility patent document further discloses an additional embodiment in which the contact face of the carrier bar is provided with a groove which extends through the carrier bar along its length. A strip provided with recesses is inserted into the groove. Each recess has a bottom which approximately covers the contact face of the carrier bar. The regions rising between the recesses form projections beyond the contact face of the carrier bar when the strip is positioned in the groove. The base bodies of the tufting modules have corresponding openings for the projections so that the projections are seated in a form-locking manner on the strip and are oriented by the strip relative to one another. 
     Such tufting modules can be utilized only in the specifically designed carrier bar/strip combination. 
     According to yet another embodiment disclosed in the above-identified German Utility Model document, a throughgoing strip is accommodated in the groove. The strip cooperates with a throughgoing groove provided in each module base body. Further, the module base body has at its end oriented away from the strip, a U-shaped recess into which extends an adapter member positioned in a recess of the carrier bar. Again, the base body of the tufting module is designed specially for such a configuration of the carrier bar. 
     Further, German Patent No. 4,406,412 discloses a carrier bar assembly for holding modules with tufting, knitting or Raschel tools. A fitting member is inserted between the base body of the respective module and the carrier bar. The fitting member has a first flat side oriented towards the carrier bar and a second flat side which is parallel to the first flat side and which is oriented towards the module base body. The module base body which, with one side, contacts the fitting member face-to-face, is pressed against the fitting member and the carrier bar by means of a pressing member contacting the other side of the module base body. As a result, the module base body is clamped between the fitting member and the pressing member. For orienting the module base body, a strip having an elongated contact face is provided at that end of the module base body which is oriented toward the needles. 
     The modules are not adapted for use for other carrier bars with profiled contact faces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a module of the above-outlined type which may be used with carrier bars having different configurations. 
     This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, an assembly for a textile machine includes a carrier bar for attachment to the textile machine; a module base body carrying a plurality of tools and having a mounting; and an adapter received in the mounting and including holding and orienting arrangements for holding the module base body and for orienting the module base body relative to the carrier bar. The adapter is suitable to conform variously configured module base bodies to variously configured carrier bars 
     The module according to the invention is structured as a standard module which may be adapted by means of suitable adapters to carrier bars having a wide variety of mounting systems, and dependent on the carrier bar system, the appropriate adapter is used. The base body of the module is provided with a mounting for accommodating the replaceable adapter. No firm connection has to be provided between the mounting and the adapter; it suffices if the mounting unequivocally positions the adapter and the module base body relative to one another. The mounting may be formed by a contact face forming part of the base body The adapter may have orienting means for a correct positioning relative to the base body as well as additional orienting means for the correct positioning relative to the carrier bar. Various adapters may have specific orienting means for various carrier bars. The module is then properly positioned on the carrier bar by means of the adapter. Dependent on the embodiment of the adapter the module may be adjusted along one or two axes (that is, it may be adjusted laterally or in height). By means of the position-determining adapter, the standard module may be used not only in various tufting machines with different carrier bar techniques but it is also feasible to reproduce the position of a module individually and independently from the entire module formation in various carrier bar mounting systems in various machines. 
     The adapter may be secured to the module in a form-fitting manner, for example, by means of profiles having a conical guide, a dovetail guide, a T-shaped guide or similar undercut contours. By means of a certain resilience of the adapter or parts thereof, a snap-in detent effect may be achieved. 
     If required, other or additional measures may be taken to securely hold the adapter captive on the module. Thus, for example, the adapter may be attached to the module by an adhering or adhesive substance. Further, a frictional securement is feasible by clamping in a recess or by pins which are frictionally seated in openings. As far as manufacture is concerned, a standard module may be provided which fits a specific carrier bar of a specific machine merely by using a specific adapter. The adapters may be irremovably attached to the module. Preferably, however, they are releasably held in a mounting of the module so that the modules may not only be specified by the manufacturer but also, by using different adapters, may be transferred by the user from one machine to another. 
     Basically, various adapter embodiments are feasible. For example, the adapter may be essentially a component on which no forces are exerted and which merely serves for positioning. In such a case a direct contact between the module base body and the carrier bar exists and thus a direct force transmission between these two components occurs. 
     In the alternative, the adapter may be an intermediate component so that the clamping and holding forces are transmitted over large areas. 
     In a further alternative the adapter may be a force-transmitting element positioned between the carrier bar and the base body and thus forms a connecting member between the module and the carrier bar. The mounting formed on the base body cooperates with the adapter preferably in a form-fitting manner. In such a module system, several adapters (that is, an adapter kit), each fitting into the module mounting, belong to a module and each adapter is configured in a carrier bar-specific manner. The adapters, which may be made of metal or plastic, make it possible to provide module base bodies having a simple basic form and even make possible a fit with carrier bar contact faces which have a complex geometry. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing a carrier bar with standard tufting modules and adapters. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views, similar to FIG. 1, of two further embodiments of the invention, illustrating carrier bars, modules and adapters. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the standard module and adapter according to FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views, as seen from opposite sides, of the adapter shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a standard module with adapter shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views, as seen from opposite sides, of the adapter shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the module of FIG.  2  and further showing a modified adapter. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views, as seen from opposite sides, of the adapter shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective illustrations of a further embodiment of the module with adapter for a carrier bar having a planar contact face, showing different relative positions of the adapter and the module. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of a further embodiment of a module and an adapter for a carrier bar having vertical openings, showing different relative positions of the adapter and the module. 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views of a module and an adapter for a carrier bar according to FIG. 1, showing different relative positions of the adapter and the module. 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a carrier bar, a module and an adapter. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a carrier bar  1  of a tufting machine on which modules  2  (tufting modules) are serially mounted in an accurate distribution. Each module  2  may carry needles, velour grippers, reed fingers, loop grippers and/or knives, not shown in detail. Each module includes a module base body  3  in or on which the needles, grippers, etc. are mounted. The needles are illustrated only by their short shanks  4 . 
     The base body  3  is essentially rectangular and has, as shown in FIG. 4, a substantially planar contact face  6  on its side oriented towards the carrier bar  1 . The contact face  6  is subdivided by a shallow and relatively wide groove  7  into two surface regions  6   a  and  6   b.  An orienting or force-transmitting surface  8  is provided which is perpendicular and adjacent to the surface region  6   b  and which forms a part of a rib  9  connected with the base body  3 , preferably as a one-piece component thereof. 
     The groove  7  constitutes a receiver or mounting  11  for an adapter  12  which serves for orienting the module  2  on the carrier bar  1 . The mounting  11  has a flat, planar bottom  14  extending parallel to the contact face  6 . The bottom  14  is bounded by parallel, planar side walls  15 ,  16 . In the bottom  14  two spaced recesses (blind bores)  17 ,  18  are formed, and between the blind bores  17 ,  18 , in the bottom  14 , the base body  3  is provided with a throughgoing mounting opening  19 . 
     The adapter  12  is a plastic or metal component having a plate-shaped portion  21  dimensioned such that it fits with a small play between the side walls  15 ,  16  and thus essentially fills the mounting  11  of the module base body  3 . As shown in FIG. 5, two oval projections  22  and  23 , serving as orienting means, rise from the plate-shaped portion  21  and fit into the blind bores  17 ,  18  of the base body  3 . Further, the mounting opening  19  provided in the base body  3  cooperates with an opening  24  which passes through the plate-shaped portion  21  of the adapter  12  and which is in alignment with the mounting opening  19 . That planar side of the portion  21  which is oriented towards the carrier bar  1  is situated approximately coplanar with the flat regions  6   a,    6   b  when the adapter  12  is in its inserted position in the mounting  11 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, two further projections  25  and  26  serving as positioning (orienting) means extend outwardly from that planar face of the portion  21  which is oriented toward the carrier bar  1 . The projections  25 ,  26  are adapted to be received by orienting openings  27 ,  28  (FIG. 1) provided in the carrier bar  1 . 
     The adapter  12  may be, for example, frictionally held in the mounting  11 . For this purpose the projections  22 ,  23  may be, for example, slightly conical to ensure that they are firmly held in the blind bores  17 ,  18 . In the alternative or in addition, the portion  21  may be slightly oversized relative to the distance between the two side walls  15 ,  16  to fit frictionally therebetween. 
     As a further alternative, it is feasible, particularly if the adapter  12  is plastic, to secure the same on the base body  3  by means of a snap-in connection. For this purpose the side walls  15 ,  16  may be provided with a conical, arcuate or similar undercut in which case at the long narrow sides of the plate-shaped portion  21  suitable snap-in detents are provided. 
     The adapter  12  is replaceable and can be, for example, exchanged for another adapter  12   a  shown in FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 . The adapter  12   a  differs from the adapter  12  according to FIG. 4 in that the cylindrical or slightly conical projections  25  and  26  of the adapter  12  are absent. In other respects the adapters  12 ,  12   a  are structurally identical and fit in an identical, mutually replaceable manner into the mounting  11  of the base body  3 . By means of the adapter  12   a  which may be regarded as a standard adapter, the module  2  may be mounted on carrier bars which have a planar contact face for receiving the contact face  6  of the module  2  and have a further planar, narrow contact or orienting surface which extends perpendicularly to the contact face  6  and which serves for transmitting forces between the module and the carrier bar. If the adapter  12   a  is substituted for the adapter  12  of FIG. 4, the same module  2  may be mounted on a carrier bar  1  shown in FIG.  1 . The projections  25 ,  26  engage into the corresponding orienting openings  27 ,  28  which are provided in an otherwise planar contact face  29  and thus position the module  2  on the carrier bar  1 . The contact face  29  is interrupted by securing openings  30  into which securing screws may be threadedly inserted. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a modified carrier bar  1 ′ which holds standard modules  2  using modified adapters  12   b . The carrier bar  1 ′ has positioning grooves  31  which are formed in the contact face  29  and which extend transversely to the length dimension of the carrier bar  1 ′. An internally threaded securing opening  30  is provided in the bottom of each positioning groove  31 . The positioning grooves  31  are bounded by parallel-extending flanks. The corresponding adapter  12   b  is illustrated in FIGS. 7,  8  and  9 . The face of the adapter  12   b  oriented towards the module is configured identically to that of the adapters shown in FIGS. 4,  5 ,  6  or FIGS. 10,  11 ,  12 . As concerns these components of FIG. 2, reference is made to the preceding description of the previously presented embodiments. The side of the adapter  12   b  oriented towards the carrier bar  1 ′ is structured differently from that of adapters  12  and  12   a : From the face of the rectangular plate portion  21  a positioning rib or web  33  projects, whose shape corresponds to the shape of the positioning groove  31  of the carrier bar  1 ′. In particular, the distance between the flanks  34 ,  35  of the web  33  is identical to the distance between the flanks of the positioning groove  31  so that the adapter  12   b  may be seated on the carrier bar  1 ′ with a small clearance or with no clearance at all. The height of the positioning web  33  may be slightly less than the depth of the positioning groove  31  in order to ensure that the force-transmitting engagement between the base body  3  and the carrier bar  1  is limited to the surface portions  6   a,    6   b  of the contact face  6  and also possibly to that face of the portion  21  of the adapter  12   b  which is oriented toward the carrier bar  1 ′. 
     Based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a further variant shown in FIG. 3 may be developed. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, a modified adapter  12   c  and, for the module  2   a , additionally a modified base body  3   a  are provided. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is configured in accordance with that of FIG. 2, except that the adapter  12   c  has no projections  22 ,  23  for securement in the mounting  11 . Instead, the plate-shaped portion  21  of the adapter  12   c  is provided with openings  38 ,  39  which, similarly to the projections  22 ,  23 , are asymmetrically arranged with respect to an axis passing perpendicularly through the middle of the plate-shaped portion  21 . Such an arrangement ensures an unequivocal inserting orientation of the adapter into the mounting  11 . 
     For connecting the adapter  12   c  to the base body  3   a,  in the latter, openings  41  and  42  are provided which have approximately the same diameter as that of openings  38  and  39  provided in the adapter  12   c . The opening  41  is in alignment with the opening  38  and the opening  42  is in alignment with the opening  39 . Positioning pins  43 ,  44  fit into the aligned openings  38 ,  41  and, respectively,  39 ,  42  for attaching the adapter  12   c  with a respective module  2   a.    
     Further, non-illustrated carrier bar/module/adapter combinations are feasible in which the carrier bar has additional openings, preferably blind bores, which are in alignment with the openings  41 ,  42  of the module and with the openings  38 ,  39  of the adapter. By means of pins  43 ,  44  which have a greater length, the adapter may be coupled with the module and the carrier bar. 
     In FIGS. 13 and 14 a modified standard module  2 ′ is shown, whose base body  3 ′ is significantly shortened with respect to the vertical directions defined by the shanks  4 . The contact face  6 ′ is accordingly reduced to a narrow strip. The force-transmitting surface  8  remains unchanged. 
     At its side oriented away from the needles  4 , the base body  3 ′ has a mounting  11 ′ which is formed as a linear guide and to which an adapter  12 ′ may be attached. The adapter is generally rectangular and has at its long, narrow side oriented towards the base body  3 ′, a rib  47 ′ of T-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The base body  31 , in turn, has a T-shaped groove  48  (mounting) which extends through the base body  3 ′ along its narrow side oriented towards the adapter  12 ′. The T-shaped rib  47  may be received in the T-shaped groove  48 , and the adapter  12 ′ may be slid off the base body  3 ′ as it may be observed in FIGS. 13 and 14. 
     The adapter  121  is entirely flat at its side oriented towards the carrier bar  1  and thus has a planar contact face  49  which is traversed only by the opening  24 . The contact face  49  is flush with the contact face  6  of the base body  3 ′. By virtue of such an arrangement the adapter  12 ′ forms a standard adapter for the carrier bars which have non-profiled contact faces. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 show the module  2   a ′ in conjunction with a further modified adapter  12 ′ a  which, except for a positioning rib  33   a  projecting from the contact face  49 , fully corresponds to the construction of the adapter  12 ′ shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The rib  33   a  corresponds essentially to the positioning web  33  of the adapter  12   b  according to FIGS. 2,  7 ,  8  or  9  and is provided for securing the module  2   a ′ to the carrier bar  1 ′ in accordance with FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 show a module  2   b ′ having a further modified adapter  12 ′ b.  The adapter  12 ′ b  differs from the adapter  12 ′ according to FIGS. 13 and 14 by its two pin-like projections  25 ′,  26 ′ which rise from the planar surface  49  and which correspond approximately to the pins or projections  25 ,  26  of the adapter  12  shown in FIG.  6 . The adapter  12 ′ b  is to be coupled with a carrier bar  1  according to FIG. 1 which has orienting openings  27 ,  28 . 
     In case the rib  47  and the T-shaped groove  48  are arranged centrally on the adapter  12 ′ or the base body  3 ′ and are otherwise symmetrically constructed, the adapter  12 ′ (according to FIGS. 13-18) may be secured to the base body  3 ′ in two different positions. In a first position the contact face  49  is oriented towards the carrier bar  1  while in a second position the contact face  49  is situated at the opposite side and is thus oriented away from the carrier bar  1 . The adapter  12 ′ therefore may be, as required, provided on either flat sides with different profiles to serve as an adapter for two different carrier bar systems. 
     It is also feasible to form the rib  47  and the form-fitting mounting  48  on the module  2 ′ in an asymmetric manner. Such an arrangement prevents a 180° reversed insertion of the tools into the machine. 
     Further non-illustrated embodiments may be provided in which the cross section of the rib  47  has a shape different from a dovetail. In such a case the mounting  48  of the module  2 ′ is form-fittingly configured. 
     FIG. 19 illustrates a further embodiment of the carrier bar  1 ″ illustrated with modules  2  and adapters  12 . The adapter  12  is of planar configuration on its side oriented towards the contact faces  29  of the carrier bar  1 ″. For orienting the adapter  12  with respect to the carrier bar  1 ″, in the adapter  12  openings  50  are provided which are in alignment with openings  51  of the carrier bar and serve as orienting openings. The diameters of the openings  50 ,  51  are substantially identical to one another. The openings  51  are provided, for example, on both sides of the securing opening  30 . Accordingly, the openings  50  in the adapter  12  are arranged on either side of the opening  24  and are together flanked by the projections  22  and  23 . As shown in FIG. 19, pairs of aligned openings  50 ,  51  may each receive positioning elements such as pins  53  which immobilize the adapter in the carrier bar  1 ″. 
     On its side oriented away from the carrier bar  1 ″, the adapter  12  of FIG. 19, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is provided with projections  22 ,  23 . The module  2  and particularly the base body  3  are identical to the FIG. 1 embodiment. The adapter  12  is secured to the carrier bar  1 ″ by a pin connection, so that the base body  3  of the module  2  may be mounted in a correct position on the carrier bar  1 ″ and may be affixed thereto by means of a securing screw. The base body  3  embraces the adapter  12  and directly engages the contact face  29  of the carrier bar  1 ″. 
     It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3