Calibrated yarn tensioner, textile machine, and method for tensioning a continuously running yarn

Abstract

An adjustable yarn tensioner includes a housing, first and second opposing yarn engaging surfaces, and a tension control assembly for controlling a degree of frictional force applied by the yarn engaging surfaces to a continuously running yarn. The housing has a yarn guiding inlet for receiving the running yarn at an unwinding tension from a yarn supply source, and a yarn guiding outlet for guiding the running yarn exiting the housing at a delivery tension. The first and second yarn engaging surfaces are disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the housing. At least one of the yarn engaging surfaces is adjustably biased towards the other to frictionally engage opposite sides of the running yarn along a path of yarn travel through the housing. The tension control assembly enables a plurality of user-selected graduated tension settings within a tension range greater than 800 grams, and respective tension settings have positive or negative increments of less than 20 grams.

1 . An adjustable yarn tensioner, comprising:
 a housing having a yarn guiding inlet for receiving a continuously running yarn at an unwinding tension from a yarn supply source, and a yarn guiding outlet for guiding the running yarn exiting said housing at a delivery tension;   first and second opposing yarn engaging surfaces disposed between said inlet and said outlet, and at least one of said yarn engaging surfaces being adjustably biased towards the other to frictionally engage opposite sides of the running yarn along a path of yarn travel through said housing; and   means for controlling a degree of frictional force applied by said yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn, and comprising a plurality of user-selected graduated tension settings within a tension range greater than 800 grams, and wherein respective tension settings comprise positive or negative increments of less than 20 grams.   
     
     
         2 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 1 , wherein said first yarn engaging surface is substantially convex. 
     
     
         3 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 2 , wherein said first yarn engaging surface is freely rotatable along the path of yarn travel through said housing. 
     
     
         4 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 3 , wherein said second yarn engaging surface is substantially concave. 
     
     
         5 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 4 , wherein said second yarn engaging surface comprises a plurality of fixed arcuately-spaced cylindrical pins. 
     
     
         6 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 1 , wherein said means comprises a hand-rotatable tensioning dial with an attached elongated threaded shaft, a movable bearing plate defining a complementary threaded opening receiving said dial shaft, and at least one compression spring located between said bearing plate and said second yarn engaging surface, whereby rotation of said tensioning dial causes said bearing plate to move along said dial shaft thereby adjusting a biasing force of said compression spring and controlling the degree of frictional force applied by said first and second yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn. 
     
     
         7 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 6 , wherein said dial shaft defines a circumferential arrangement of spaced dimples formed between said tensioning dial and thread, and said dimples cooperating with a spring-biased ball to hold said tensioning dial in a selected fixed position. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable yarn tensioner, comprising:
 a housing having a yarn guiding inlet for receiving a continuously running yarn at an unwinding tension from a yarn supply source, and a yarn guiding outlet for guiding the running yarn exiting said housing at a delivery tension;   a friction roller rotatably mounted within said housing, and having a circumferential portion defining a first yarn engaging surface;   a spring-biased friction block mounted within said housing proximate said friction roller, and having a generally concave side wall defining a second yarn engaging surface;   said first and second yarn engaging surfaces adapted to frictionally engage opposite sides of the running yarn along a path of yarn travel through said housing; and   means for controlling a degree of frictional force applied by said first and second yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn, and comprising a plurality of user-selected graduated tension settings for selectively urging said friction block towards said friction roller.   
     
     
         9 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 8 , and comprising a plurality of fixed arcuately-spaced cylindrical pins carried by said friction block at said second yarn engaging surface. 
     
     
         10 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 8 , wherein said means comprises a hand-rotatable tensioning dial with an attached elongated threaded shaft, a movable bearing plate defining a complementary threaded opening receiving said dial shaft, and at least one compression spring located between said bearing plate and said friction block, whereby rotation of said tensioning dial causes said bearing plate to move along said dial shaft thereby adjusting a biasing force of said compression spring on said friction block and controlling the degree of frictional force applied by said first and second yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 10 , wherein said dial shaft defines a circumferential arrangement of spaced dimples formed between said tensioning dial and thread, and said dimples cooperating with a spring-biased ball to hold said tensioning dial in a selected fixed position. 
     
     
         12 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 8 , wherein said friction roller has a beveled face. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable yarn tensioner according to  claim 8 , and comprising a thumb handle for manually moving said spring-biased friction block away from said friction roller. 
     
     
         14 . In combination with a textile machine, an adjustable yarn tensioner comprising:
 a housing having a yarn guiding inlet for receiving a continuously running yarn at an unwinding tension from a yarn supply source, and a yarn guiding outlet for guiding the running yarn exiting said housing at a delivery tension;   first and second opposing yarn engaging surfaces disposed between said inlet and said outlet, and at least one of said yarn engaging surfaces being adjustably biased towards the other to frictionally engage opposite sides of the running yarn along a path of yarn travel through said housing; and   means for controlling a degree of frictional force applied by said yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn, and comprising a plurality of user-selected graduated tension settings within a tension range greater than 800 grams, and wherein respective tension settings comprise positive or negative increments of less than 20 grams.   
     
     
         15 . A combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said first yarn engaging surface is substantially convex. 
     
     
         16 . A combination according to  claim 15 , wherein said first yarn engaging surface is freely rotatable along the path of yarn travel through said housing. 
     
     
         17 . A combination according to  claim 16 , wherein said second yarn engaging surface is substantially concave. 
     
     
         18 . A combination according to  claim 17 , wherein said second yarn engaging surface comprises a plurality of fixed arcuately-spaced cylindrical pins. 
     
     
         19 . A combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said means comprises a hand-rotatable tensioning dial with an attached elongated threaded shaft, a movable bearing plate defining a complementary threaded opening receiving said dial shaft, and at least one compression spring located between said bearing plate and said second yarn engaging surface, whereby rotation of said tensioning dial causes said bearing plate to move along said dial shaft thereby adjusting a biasing force of said compression spring and controlling the degree of frictional force applied by said first and second yarn engaging surfaces to the running yarn. 
     
     
         20 . A combination according to  claim 19 , wherein said dial shaft defines a circumferential arrangement of spaced dimples formed between said tensioning dial and thread, and said dimples cooperating with a spring-biased ball to hold said tensioning dial in a selected fixed position.