Combined thread-feeding and lubricating device for knitting machines

Claim 1

In a textile machine, in particular a knitting machine, designed for use with lubricant treated threads, and equipped with a thread storage device which takes the thread off a supply spool and conducts it to the knitting system, the improvement comprising a lubricating device disposed between the take-off point of the thread storage device and the thread supply spool for the direct lubrication of the thread, the storage device including a drum toward which the thread is fed tangentially from the supply spool, the drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending slots formed therein, the storage device also including a guidance and axial transport element for the thread supply which is slanteD in relationship to the drum''s axis, said transport element being equipped with arms extending through said slots and positioned on the outside of the drum circumference for axially transporting the thread to the take-off point of the drum, whereby the thread coming from the supply spool is led to the drum tangentially at a take-on point of the drum surface area which is located between a first imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference farthest from the take-off point of the drum and a second imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference closest to the take-off point, this drum surface area having a maximum of one wrap-around of thread thereon located between said first and second points of intersection, and the lubricating device being arranged in relation to the drum in such a manner that the lubricant is applied directly on a section of said drum surface area between said first and second imaginary points of intersection, this drum section being first thread-free and subsequently overridden by the one wrap-around of thread as it is pushed in the axial direction of the drum by the transport element.

Claim 7

An apparatus for supplying thread to a textile machine, particularly a knitting machine, said apparatus including a storage mechanism adapted to have thread wound thereon, said storage mechanism including a drum adapted to have the thread wound on the periphery thereof, and means associated with said storage mechanism for drawing thread from a thread storage spool and for feeding same tangentially onto said drum, said storage mechanism including a guidance and axial transport element which is slanted in relationship to the drum axis and is provided with arms positioned on the outside of the drum circumference for pushing the thread stored on the drum axially toward the pulling off end of the drum, whereby the thread coming from the storage spool is fed tangentially to the drum at a take-on point of the drum surface area which is located between a first imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference furthest from the thread pull-off point and a second imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference closest to the pull point, this drum surface area having a maximum of one wrap-around of thread thereon located between said first and second points of intersection, the improvement comprising a lubricating device associated with the drum for applying lubricant directly onto the surface of the drum in a region thereof on which the thread is wound, the lubricating device being arranged in relation to the drum such that lubricant is applied directly on a section of said drum surface area between the first and second imaginary points of intersection, this drum section being first thread-free and subsequently overridden by the one wrap-around of thread as it is pushed axially toward the pulling-off end of the drum by the transport element.

Claim 8

An apparatus for supplying thread to a textile machine, particularly a knitting machine, said apparatus including a storage mechanism adapted to have thread wound thereon, said storage mechanism including a drum adapted to have the thread wound on the periphery thereof, and means associated with said storage mechanism for drawing thread from a thread storage spool and for feeding same tangentially onto said drum, said storage mechanism including a guidance and axial transport element which is slanted in relationship to the drum axis and is provided with arms positioned on the outside of the drum circumference for pushing the thread stored on the drum axially toward the pulling off end of the drum, whereby the thread coming from the storage spool is fed tangentially to the drum at a take-on point of the drum surface area which is located between a first imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference furthest from the thread pull-off point and a second imaginary point of intersection of the arms and the drum circumference closest to the pull point, this drum surface area having a maximum of one wrap-around of thread thereon located between said first and second points of intersection, the improvement comprising a lubricating device associated with the drum for applying lubricant directly onto the surface of the drum in a region thereof on which the thread is wound, the lubricating device being arranged in relation to the drum such that lubricant is applied directly on a section of said drum surface area between the first and second imaginary points of intersection, this drum section being first thread-free and subsequently overridden by the one wrap-around of thread as it is pushed axially toward the pulling-off end of the drum by the transport element.