Winder for winding a band of fabric or knitting or the like on a roller, particularly for circular knitting machines

Abstract

A winder for winding a band of fabric or knitting or the like on a roller, particularly for circular knitting machines, comprising a frame which supports a takeup roller and a traction roller, which is supported by the frame and can be actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis with respect to the frame, the traction roller making contact with the takeup roller, with the interposition of the band wound around the takeup roller, the traction roller being arranged so that its axis is above the axis of the takeup roller and can move toward or away from the axis of the takeup roller as the winding diameter of the band on the takeup roller varies, the winder comprising elements for the actuation of the traction roller with a rotary motion about its own axis with a substantially constant actuation torque.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A winder for winding a band of fabric or knitting or the like on a roller, particularly for circular knitting machines, comprising a frame which supports, so that it can rotate about its own horizontally arranged axis, a takeup roller, on which the band of fabric or knitting or the like is to be wound, and at least one traction roller, which is supported, so that it can rotate about its own axis, which is arranged in parallel to the axis of said takeup roller, by said frame and can be actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis with respect to said frame; said traction roller making contact with said takeup roller, with the interposition of said band wound around said takeup roller, for a transmission of the rotation of said traction roller to said takeup roller, wherein said traction roller is arranged so that its axis is above the axis of said takeup roller and can move toward or away from the axis of said takeup roller as the winding diameter of said band on said takeup roller varies, means being provided for the actuation of said traction roller with a rotary motion about its own axis with a substantially constant actuation torque. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuation means comprise a rack, which is supported, so that it can slide, by said frame along a direction which is perpendicular to the axis of said traction roller, said rack meshing with a pinion connected to said traction roller by means of a unidirectional motion transmission device adapted to render said pinion integral with said traction roller in rotation about its own axis in a forward rotation direction which actuates a rotation of said takeup roller in the direction of the winding of said band on said takeup roller and to uncouple said pinion from said traction roller in a return direction of rotation which is opposite to said forward rotation direction, said rack being actuated with a translational motion along its own axis, at least in the direction of translation that causes said forward rotation direction of said pinion, with a substantially constant force. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuation means comprise a rack which meshes with a pinion, which is connected to said traction roller by means of a corresponding unidirectional motion transmission device for each one of the axial ends of said traction roller. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said unidirectional motion transmission device is a device of the freewheel type. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said pinion is fitted coaxially on an axial end of said traction roller, said unidirectional motion transmission device being interposed between said traction roller and said pinion. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the axis of said traction roller and the axis of said takeup roller lie on a same vertical plane. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein axial ends of said traction roller are accommodated slidingly within vertical guides which are integral with said frame. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said rack is actuated with a translational motion along its own axis, in the direction of translation that causes said forward rotation direction of said pinion, by means of a spring which is reloaded cyclically by a fluid-operated cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said rack is actuated with a translational motion along its own axis, in the direction of translation that causes said forward rotation direction of said pinion, by means of a pneumatic spring which is embedded in a fluid-operated cylinder which can be actuated cyclically in order to reload said pneumatic spring. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said rack is actuated with an alternating translational motion along its own axis by means of a double-acting fluid-operated cylinder. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising means for adjusting an actuation force of said rack at least in the direction of translation that causes said forward rotation direction of said pinion.