The present invention relates to a bobbin creel comprising a number of approximately vertical rods and a number of bobbin holders intended for holding a respective bobbin, on which yarn is wound, in an unwinding position in the bobbin creel, wherein each bobbin holder is fastened in such a way that the bobbin holder is rotatable around an approximately vertical axis between a working position in order to hold a bobbin placed on the bobbin holder in the unwinding position and a non-working position in order to remove a bobbin placed on the bobbin holder from the bobbin holder or to place a bobbin on the empty bobbin holder, and means for retaining each bobbin holder in the working position.

The present invention also relates in particular to a bobbin creel that is intended to hold cylindrical or conical bobbins in an unwinding position and to unwind the yarn over the free head end (in defile) of each bobbin and to move it to a textile machine. Unwinding over the head end of the bobbin takes place without rotation of the bobbin. The present invention also relates to a combination of a bobbin creel of this kind and an associated textile machine.

The yarns are led from the respective bobbins in a bobbin creel to a textile machine in order to use these during a yarn-incorporating or yarn-processing process. The textile machine is for example a weaving machine on which a weaving process is carried out. A bobbin creel of this kind often comprises large numbers of bobbin holders. More than ten thousand bobbin holders, on which respective bobbins are placed, for example is no exception. The yarns are for example warp yams that are processed into a fabric that is produced during the weaving process, or pile-warp yarns that are incorporated in a fabric. The necessary yam is unwound from the bobbins systematically, as the yarn-incorporating process proceeds, while the tension of the yarn is kept under control.

During unwinding, yarn is moved from the bobbin to the textile machine and as a result a tensile force in the direction of the textile machine is exerted on the yarn. In known bobbin creels for a weaving machine, the yam extends from the bobbin to a guide eye in a transverse direction relative to the axis of the bobbin, and the yam is unwound from the bobbin because the bobbin rotates around its axis. A weight is placed on each yarn to keep the yam under tension. In known bobbin creels for a tufting machine, the yarn extends from the bobbin to a guide eye that is located approximately in the extension of the axis of the bobbin. In this unwinding, called axial unwinding hereinafter, the yarn is unwound from the free head end of the bobbin (in defile) without the bobbin rotating.

Known bobbin creels for a weaving machine comprise one or more carrying structures assembled from horizontal and vertical rods that are joined together to form an open structure that occupies a substantially beam-shaped space with two approximately parallel flanks that extend in the longitudinal direction of the carrying structure. Often there are several such carrying structures (called doors) with parallel flanks, with spacing mounted next to one another and optionally also above one another. On each flank, several vertical rods are provided with identical intermediate distances next to one another distributed over the length of the carrying structure. On each flank, several bobbin holders are fastened to each vertical rod at intervals one above the other. Thus, the bobbin holders are distributed over a number of vertical rows on one flank and a number of vertical rows on the other flank and an operator can easily reach each bobbin holder from one of the flanks of the carrying structure to place a bobbin thereon or to remove a bobbin therefrom.

In the preliminary part of this description, the term "bobbin creel" is used in the meaning of a carrying structure of a bobbin creel, assembled from rods.

Because the amount of yarn on a bobbin is usually not sufficient for carrying out the whole yarn-incorporating or yam-processing process, this yam stock must be supplemented during the process. When the yam has been unwound completely, or almost completely, from a first bobbin, an operator will remove this first bobbin from the bobbin holder and then place a second bobbin with a new supply of wound yarn on the bobbin holder that is now free. The end of the yam from the first bobbin is joined to the end of the yarn that is located on the second bobbin, so that replenishing the yarn stock can be realised without interrupting the yam-incorporating or yarnprocessing process. Because we want to keep the total volume of the bobbin creel limited - in view of the large number of bobbins - often no more space is provided per bobbin in the bobbin creel than is necessary for unwinding the yam unhindered and leading it to the textile machine. As a result, in the vicinity of a bobbin holder that is in the working position, often there is not sufficient free space to place a bobbin thereon or to remove a bobbin therefrom.

From patent application US 2016/0229657 Al it is known to fasten each bobbin holder in a bobbin creel in such a way that it can be rotated to a non-working position wherein there is indeed sufficient space in the vicinity of the bobbin holder to place a bobbin thereon or to remove a bobbin therefrom. In this patent application, the non-working position of a bobbin holder does not mean one defined position, but every possible position in which the bobbin can be removed from the bobbin holder and/or in which a bobbin can be placed on the empty bobbin holder. The term "non-working position" thus means a series of positions of the bobbin holder within a well-defined range. In a non-working position, the bobbin holder is for example in a position in which a bobbin placed thereon is located at least partially outside the bobbin creel and/or wherein a bobbin placed thereon is positioned in such a way that the bobbin can be moved rectilinearly from a position where it is carried by the bobbin holder in the direction of the axis of the bobbin into a position substantially outside the bobbin creel, wherein the bobbin is no longer carried by the bobbin holder.

It is very important that a bobbin in a bobbin creel is in a well-defined unwinding position during unwinding of yam. A "well-defined unwinding position" means a position with a certain allowed deviation or tolerance. The term "unwinding position" may thus also mean several positions within a defined range. The unwinding position must on the one hand be such that the bobbin cannot come into contact with other bobbins and components of the bobbin creel and must on the other hand also be such that the yarn, during the unwinding thereof, at every moment runs towards the first yarn guiding means following a path wherein it cannot come into contact with bobbins or other yams or components of the bobbin creel and also cannot get stuck on its own bobbin from which it is being unwound. The working position of each bobbin holder is defined in such a way that a bobbin placed on a bobbin holder is in the unwinding position when the bobbin holder is in the working position. In view of the need to position the bobbin quite accurately in the bobbin creel, the positional tolerance of the working position is also preferably quite small. It is very important that a bobbin holder can be placed in the working position quickly and accurately. This prevents time loss through the correct positioning of the numerous bobbin holders and also prevents incorrect positioning of the bobbins, which may cause errors and interruptions in the execution of the process on the associated textile machine.

In order to be able to carry out the rotation of bobbin holders easily between a nonworking position and a working position in a bobbin creel, it is known from the aforementioned document US 2016/0229657 Al to provide an adapter between each bobbin holder and bobbin creel consisting of an upper part that carries the bobbin holder and a lower part that is fastened to the bobbin creel, and wherein the upper part is rotatable relative to the lower part around a vertical axis. A component of the upper part fits in a slot-shaped space of the lower part so that the rotation range is limited, and the upper part comprises a ball that is forced downwards by a spring and is pushed into a well-defined rotational position in a cavity of the lower part so that the upper part is retained in this rotational position and the bobbin holder is retained in the working position.

Another bobbin creel with rotatable bobbin holders is described in patent application US 5 944 272. In order to be able to achieve the rotation of bobbin holders between a non-working position and a working position, a rotation device is also provided here, with two parts rotatable relative to each other, which are connected to the bobbin creel and to the bobbin holder, respectively. In order to retain the bobbin holder in the working position, rolling elements are provided, which form part of the upper part, and end up in corresponding cavities of the lower part when the bobbin holder is in the working position.

Bobbin holders of this kind have the considerable drawback that they are assembled from various quite complex components made of different materials, so that the cost of producing and assembling them is relatively high. Bobbin creels that are to contain a large number of rotatable bobbin holders, such as bobbin creels for weaving machines, among others, will consequently be very expensive when the bobbin holders are fastened rotatably with the means known hitherto.

A first aim of the present invention is to remedy this by developing a bobbin creel, the bobbin holders of which are simple and consist of a very small number of different components, which in addition can also each be produced separately according to simple and relatively cheap production processes from relatively inexpensive materials, while the bobbin holders themselves can also be fastened easily and quickly rotatably in the bobbin creel and allow precise positioning of the bobbin holders in the working position in a quick and efficient manner.

These aims are achieved by providing a bobbin creel with the characteristic features from the first paragraph of this description, wherein, according to the present invention, each bobbin holder comprises a fastening part in which a passage is provided, wherein an approximately vertical rod of the bobbin creel extends through the passage so that the bobbin holder is rotatable around the rod, and wherein the fastening part comprises a supporting edge and the rod comprises a bearing element projecting from its external surface so that the bobbin holder rests with the supporting edge on the bearing element during rotation thereof, and wherein the supporting edge and the bearing element are intended to interact in order to retain the bobbin holder in the working position.

The interaction between the supporting edge of the bobbin holder and the bearing element may be a mechanical interaction, which for example is achieved because the supporting edge and/or the bearing element are configured in such a way that the resistance to the mutual relative movement of the supporting edge and the bearing element is greater when the bobbin holder is in the working position than when the bobbin holder is not in the working position. The supporting edge and/or the bearing element may for example be configured with a zone with locally increased frictional resistance or with one or more stopping means, for example such as one or more projections, ribs, edges, grooves, notches, recesses or surfaces sloping upwards or downwards, which hamper the mutual relative movement of the supporting edge and the bearing element when the bobbin holder is in the working position. A sloping surface is for example obtained by configuring the contact surface of the bearing element and/or of the supporting edge with a convex or a concave portion. In this patent application, concave and convex surfaces are not only concave or convex surfaces but also surfaces consisting of partial surfaces that are connected together at an angle and defining a substantially recessed or projecting total surface.

The supporting edge provided on the bobbin holder is preferably an edge that extends in an approximately horizontal or slightly inclined plane and, over at least a part of the perimeter of the rod, is located opposite the external wall of the rod. This edge may be the bottom edge of a wall of the bobbin holder but may for example also be the top edge of an oblong opening in a wall of the bobbin holder. The bobbin holder is then supported with this top edge on the bearing element. The aforementioned stopping means may then be formed by an end edge of the oblong opening.

A bobbin holder of this kind may be configured as a very simple element and may be made as a one-piece element, for example of plastic, wherein an injection moulding technique is preferred. A rod which, in one or more well-defined positions, comprises a bearing element projecting from the external wall, can also be produced very simply and easily. The rotatable fastening does not require any additional component at all, besides the vertical rod and the bobbin holder itself. A bobbin creel of this kind thus only requires two different simple components for fastening the bobbin holders rotatably, on the one hand a number of rods that are configured for being incorporated in the bobbin creel in an approximately vertical position and on which one or more bearing elements are provided, and on the other hand bobbin holders with a passage for a rod and a supporting edge that can rest on the bearing element when the rod extends through the passage and that can interact with the bearing element in order to retain the bobbin holder in the working position, as stated above. The bearing elements may also be made separately and then be fastened to the rod by simple techniques without additional components, but also these separate bearing elements may be very simple and for example also made of plastic, wherein besides other production methods, an injection moulding technique may also be employed.

The bobbin holder, in particular the supporting edge and/or the bearing element, may additionally also be provided with simple means for rotating the bobbin holder to the working position automatically, for example under the effect of gravity acting upon the bobbin holder or under the effect of elasticity. The bobbin holder for example comprises a sloping surface that during rotation of the bobbin holder slides over the bearing element or a component connected thereto, and/or the bearing element comprises a sloping surface over which the supporting edge or a component connected thereto slides during rotation of the bobbin holder, so that the bobbin holder, under the effect of its own weight, rotates automatically to an end position determined by a stopping means. The stopping means is for example an upright edge of one or more of the aforementioned stopping means.

The interaction between the supporting edge of the bobbin holder and the bearing element may also be a magnetic interaction, wherein for example one or more permanent magnets are incorporated in the supporting edge and/or in the bearing element in order to retain the supporting edge relative to the bearing element when the bobbin holder is in the working position.

The bearing element itself may be formed on the rod during production of the rod or may be formed on the rod during a post-processing step, for example by deforming the wall of the rod locally and pushing it outwards so that locally projecting volumes or edges are formed. The bearing element may, however, also be produced as a separate component and then be fastened to the external wall of the rod or in an opening in this external wall, for example by welding or gluing or by means of a click fastening. The bearing element is preferably a one-piece element made of plastic.

The working position and the non-working position of the bobbin holder are rotational positions of the bobbin holder relative to the rod to which the bobbin holder is fastened rotatably. The bobbin holder is for example able to rotate through an angle of at least about 90° relative to the working position, so that the bobbin holder may be in a nonworking position wherein a bobbin placed thereon is located substantially outside the bobbin creel and is positioned in such a way that the bobbin, from a position wherein it is carried by the bobbin holder, may be removed from the bobbin holder by a rectilinear movement in the direction of the axis of the bobbin. The bobbin holder is preferably rotatable through an angle of 180° relative to its working position. The working position of a bobbin holder is preferably a rotational position of the bobbin holder wherein the axis of the bobbin held in the unwinding position extends in a vertical plane which, relative to the vertical flank plane, being the vertical plane of the flank of the bobbin creel where the bobbin holder in question is accessible, makes an angle (a) that is at least 15° and at most 30°. This angle (a) is located on the part of the flank plane that faces the other flank plane of the bobbin creel. In an even more preferred embodiment said angle (a) is between 18° and 25°. In the most preferred embodiment this angle (a) is at least about 20° and at most about 22°.

In an embodiment wherein the bobbin holder is configured so that the rotation angle relative to its working position is limited to a maximum angle of about 180°, the bobbin holder is at most rotatable to a non-working position wherein the axis of the bobbin extends in a vertical plane which, on the other side of the flank plane (the side turned away from the other flank plane), makes an angle (P) with the flank plane that is equal to (180° - a).

A non-working position of the bobbin holder is preferably a rotational position of the bobbin holder wherein the axis of the bobbin extends in a vertical plane which, on said other side of said vertical flank plane, makes an angle (P) with the flank plane that is at least about 80° and is at most about 100°. Ideally the bobbin holder is rotated to a non-working position wherein said angle (P) is about 90°.

As defined above, the angles (a) and (P) are angles between the vertical plane of the axis of a bobbin placed on the bobbin holder and a vertical flank plane of the bobbin creel. In the case of a bobbin holder with a holder body that is intended to be located in a bobbin case of a bobbin, the axis of the holder body and the axis of a bobbin placed thereon are located approximately in the same vertical plane. The aforementioned angles (a) and (P) are thus angles between the vertical plane of the axis of the holder body of the bobbin holder and the vertical flank plane of the bobbin creel.

The aforesaid vertical rod is a rod that is preferably a constituent element of the carrying structure of the bobbin creel. A bobbin holder according to the present invention is also preferably intended to carry a bobbin on which the yarn is wound in several layers lying on one another on a substantially cylindrical bobbin case, so that the yarn package has an approximately cylindrical or conical external surface. For this purpose the bobbin holder comprises for example an elongated holder body with a length and radial dimensions such that the holder body can be located in the cylindrical interior space of a bobbin case and can carry the bobbin. Preferably the holder body comprises retaining means that are in contact with the internal surface of the bobbin case of the bobbin placed thereon in order to avoid unwanted movement of the bobbin towards the free end of the holder body, through friction between the retaining means and the bobbin case.

In a preferred embodiment said interaction between the supporting edge of the bobbin holder and the bearing element comes about because the supporting edge comprises a receiving space accessible from the underside, and because the bearing element is located at least partially in the receiving space when the bobbin holder is in the working position, so that the bobbin holder is retained in the working position.

In an alternative embodiment said interaction is obtained because the bearing element comprises a receiving space accessible from the top, and because the supporting edge comprises a downwards projecting edge portion that is located at least partially in the receiving space when the bobbin holder is in the working position, so that the bobbin holder is retained in the working position.

Preferably the supporting edge of the bobbin holder is configured to interact with the bearing element in two different rotational positions relative to the bearing element.

A retaining system of this kind is very simple to produce and in addition is also very efficient. The greater the weight of the bobbin, the greater is the resistance to relative movement of the bobbin holder and the bearing element.

Preferably the bobbin creel comprises, for each bobbin, yam guiding means that are configured so that the yarn is unwound over the head end of the bobbin as a result of a tensile force exerted on the yam. In an arrangement according to the present invention, a bobbin creel of this kind is provided in combination with a weaving machine. In existing bobbin creels for weaving machines, the yarns are unwound by rotating the bobbins, and the yam tension is kept under control by means of weights resting on the yarn. By unwinding the yarn over the head end it is possible to join the end of the yam on a first bobbin beforehand - before the first bobbin has been unwound - to the unwinding end of the yarn on a second bobbin. In this way, a reserve bobbin can be made ready beforehand and yarn is unwound from the second bobbin automatically as soon as the first bobbin is empty. This is not possible when the bobbins rotate during unwinding. The yarn tension is then preferably kept under control by means of yam tensioning elements, which for example comprise a roll drivable by a motor, which is configured to rotate, in contact with at least one yam, in the one or the other sense of rotation, in order to move the yarn in a direction that is opposite to the feed direction of the warp threads or in a direction that is the same as this feed direction, to raise or to lower the yam tension, respectively. A weaving machine bobbin creel of this kind can also be made more compact than the existing bobbin creels for weaving machines.

In another particular embodiment the passage in the fastening part is delimited by an internal surface of the fastening part and this internal surface is located, at least over a part of the perimeter of the rod, opposite the external surface of the rod, so that the bobbin holder is retained rotatably around the rod.

The rod functions herein as a holder for the rotatable fastening of a fastening part located around it, without extra fastening means being required. The internal surface of the fastening part and the external surface of the rod are located opposite each other without intermediate components and thus form the rotatable joint alone, without extra components.

In a most preferred embodiment each rod comprises a cylindrical external surface and the aforesaid internal surface of the fastening partis a substantially cylindrical surface.

As a result, no separate elements are necessary to fasten the bobbin holder rotatably and nevertheless obtain an inexpensive and very efficient and stable rotatable joint. The fastening part is preferably ring-shaped but may for example also be configured as a curved wall whose edges are located next to each other with an intermediate distance so that the fastening part forms a U shape or an open ring with a lateral access opening. By deforming the wall, the width of the access opening can be increased, so that the rod can be placed in the passage via this opening, after which the wall can spring back to a position that the rod encloses over a portion of its perimeter. As a result, each bobbin holder can be placed on the rod at the correct level above the bearing element interacting therewith, and does not have to be movable beyond the bearing elements that are provided at one or more other levels on the rod.

In a particularly simple embodiment, each rod comprises a hollow interior space enclosed by an external wall; a fastening opening for a bearing element, opening into the hollow interior space, in which a bearing element is fastened, is provided on at least one level in the external wall, wherein the bearing element comprises an insert portion extending into the interior space and a carrying portion projecting outside the rod for supporting the supporting edge.

Preferably each fastening opening has a wider part that is in communication with a narrower part, so that one continuous oblong opening is formed, with a wider part and a narrower part. The insert portion of a bearing element can be brought into the hollow interior space of the rod via the wider part of the insert opening, after which the bearing element can be moved until it is located in the narrower part of the fastening opening. In this position, retaining lips provided on the bearing element are located in the hollow interior space of the rod behind the edges of the narrower part of the fastening opening so that the bearing element is retained in the fastening opening. Accordingly, no separate fastening means are necessary for fastening the bearing elements.

The wider part of the fastening opening is preferably located above the narrower part so that a bearing element that is located in the fastening opening is pushed downwards by the weight of the bobbin holder resting thereon and the weight of the bobbin placed on the bobbin holder and cannot move undesirably towards the wider part of the fastening opening and come loose from the fastening opening. The bearing elements may for example be made as a one-piece item from plastic. The rods are preferably made of metal as hollow tubular elements. The openings in the external wall may be formed by simple post-processing using simple, known techniques after production of the rods. The rods may also be made of plastic as a hollow tube with the necessary fastening openings therein. The rods made of plastic may also consist at least partially of a plastic composite material, for example such as a glass-fibre reinforced plastic.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one approximately vertical rod of the bobbin creel comprises, on at least one level, fastening means for fastening a bearing element to the rod at a first fastening place or at a second fastening place, wherein the first fastening place and the second fastening place have a different orientation relative to the axis of the rod, so that a bobbin holder, depending on the selected fastening place of the bearing element, is retained in a first rotational position or in a second rotational position relative to the rod, by interaction between the supporting edge and the bearing element, and the bearing element is fastened to the rod at the first fastening place so that the bobbin holder is retained in a working position in the first rotational position.

These two fastening places for a bearing element may be configured so as to be able to place the bobbin holder selectively in a first or a second working position, but may also be configured so as to be able to obtain one and the same working position in two different installation positions of the rod, as explained hereunder. Preferably a separate fastening means is provided on the rod for each fastening place.

Preferably said rod is intended to be incorporated in the bobbin creel in a first or a second predetermined installation position; in the first installation position the rod is incorporated in the bobbin creel, and the bearing element is fastenable to the rod at the second fastening place in order to retain the bobbin holder in a working position in the second rotational position when the rod is incorporated in the bobbin creel in the second installation position.

The two fastening places for a bearing element are thus preferably provided because the rod can be incorporated in the bobbin creel in two different, predetermined installation positions, wherein for each installation position of the rod, an associated fastening place is provided for the bearing element, so that in each of the two installation positions of the rod, by fastening the bearing element at the relevant fastening place, an almost identical working position (in the sense of roughly the same angle with respect to the vertical flank plane of the bobbin creel) is obtained for the bobbin holder.

The orientation of a fastening place relative to the axis of the rod means the direction of the vertical plane in which both the vertical centre line of the fastening means or of the bearing element fastened at this place and the axis of the rod are located. A different orientation of two fastening places signifies that the vertical planes of these fastening places intersect each other.

Preferably the supporting edge of the bobbin holder is configured to interact with the bearing element in two different rotational positions relative to the bearing element.

In a much preferred embodiment, the bobbin creel comprises a first rod and a second rod, which on at least one level comprise fastening means for fastening a bearing element to the rod at a first or a second fastening place; the first rod and the second rod are incorporated in the bobbin creel in a first and a second installation position respectively with a different orientation wherein the orientation of the second rod is obtained by rotating the first rod around its longitudinal axis through an angle that is less than 360°, a first bearing element is fastened to the first rod in the first fastening position, a second bearing element is fastened to the second rod in the second fastening position, a first bobbin holder is fastened to the first rod and a second bobbin holder is fastened to the second rod, and the first bearing element on the first rod and the second bearing element on the second rod are provided for retaining the bobbin holder in almost identical working positions.

Here, "almost identical working positions" means that the bobbin holders in these two working positions are provided for holding a bobbin in an unwinding position such that the angle between on the one hand the vertical flank plane of the bobbin creel flank where the bobbin is fastened and on the other hand the axis of the bobbin (the aforementioned angle (a)), is roughly the same. As already stated above, in embodiments wherein the bobbin holder comprises a holder body that is intended to be located in a bobbin case of a bobbin, the angle (a) is also the angle between the vertical plane of the axis of the holder body of the bobbin holder and the vertical flank plane of the bobbin creel.

Preferably the first rod and the second rod are rods that are almost identical. Preferably the first bobbin holder and the second bobbin holder are also almost identical bobbin holders.

The first rod and the second rod could be interchanged during assembly of the bobbin creel. It would then be sufficient to fasten the respective bearing elements to the rod at the other fastening place, in order to obtain a bobbin creel in which both bobbin holders are retained in almost identical working positions.

In a particular embodiment the first rod and the second rod are incorporated in the bobbin creel on different flanks. The first rod and the second rod are then for example oriented differently relative to each other in such a way that the orientation of the second rod is obtained by rotating the first rod around its longitudinal axis through an angle that is approximately 180°. During construction of the bobbin creel, no difference has to be made between rods for the one flank and rods for the other flank of the bobbin creel. Each rod may be provided on both flanks of the bobbin creel. The desired working positions for the bobbin holders are obtained by correct choice of the fastening place of the bearing elements.

Preferably each approximately vertical rod comprises a positioning means for incorporating the rod in a first or a second predetermined installation position in the bobbin creel.

Preferably the rod comprises a first positioning means, and at a first place and at a second place of the bobbin creel, in each case a corresponding second positioning means is provided, wherein the first and the second positioning means together, at the first place of the bobbin creel, determine a first installation position of the rod, and at the second place of the bobbin creel determine a second installation position of the rod. The second positioning means are preferably provided on a different component of the bobbin creel, respectively.

For this purpose the rod comprises for example a recess in the external wall thereof or a flattened side so that the rod is either fastenable only to a first flank of the bobbin creel in a first installation position or only to a second flank of the bobbin creel in a second installation position.

In a particular embodiment each bobbin holder comprises a holder body connected to the fastening part for carrying a bobbin and the holder body extends from the fastening part in a direction that is approximately horizontal or slopes upwards towards the free end.

The holder body preferably consists at least partially of a plastic composite material, preferably a glass-fibre reinforced plastic.

This increases the resistance to deformation of the holder body or of certain parts thereof, to keep the deformation of the holder body under the weight of the bobbin as small as possible.

In a most preferred embodiment the holder body comprises at least three wings that extend radially from a common central portion and the holder body is configured to extend into a cylindrical hollow space of a bobbin in order to carry the bobbin.

Preferably the holder body comprises three wings that extend in a radial direction from the common central portion with each time an included angle of about 120° between two adjacent wings. The wings are preferably flat. The aforesaid cylindrical hollow space is preferably the hollow space of a cylindrical bobbin case of a bobbin.

Each wing more preferably comprises an outer end edge that extends in the longitudinal direction of the holder body, whereas the outer end edge of each wing comprises a first edge portion that extends from the front end of the end edge, the outer end edge of at least one wing comprises a second edge portion extending in the longitudinal direction beyond the first edge portion of the wing, and the second edge portion is located at a greater radial distance from the central axis of the holder body than each first edge portion.

In other words, at the level of the first edge portions, the circumscribed cylinder round the holder body has a smaller diameter than the circumscribed cylinder at the level of each second edge portion. Preferably all the wings have a second edge portion of this kind. The outer end edge of a wing is the edge that extends from the front of the holder body towards the rear of the holder body. The first and the second edge portions of the outer end edge also extend in the direction of the rear of the holder body. The first edge portion and the second edge portion are contiguous with one another, preferably via a step-like transition part between them. The second edge portion may also be a radial projecting lip or a projection that is provided on the end edge.

In addition, an edge that is located at a greater radial distance from the central axis of the holder body than the first edge portion may also be provided on another part of the holder body, for example on a strengthening rib thereof. This edge then has the same function as the second edge portion. This function is explained hereunder.

Each second edge portion preferably determines a circumscribed cylinder round the holder body with a diameter that is at least equal to the inside diameter of a bobbin case of a bobbin placed on the holder body. Preferably the diameter of the circumscribed cylinder is greater than the diameter of the bobbin case. During placement of a bobbin on the holder body, each second edge portion comes into contact with the internal wall of the bobbin case so that the second edge portion deforms to a slight extent and/or the bobbin case is deformed to a slight extent. Owing to the frictional forces between each second edge portion and the internal wall of the bobbin case, the bobbin is retained on the bobbin holder body and it cannot be displaced undesirably, for example by the tensile force that is exerted on the bobbin during unwinding of the yarn, towards the free end of the holder body.

In a much preferred embodiment the holder body comprises a top end with at least one outer end edge that comprises a chamfer, where the end edge, in the direction of the front end of the holder body, slopes in the direction of the central axis of the holder body. Owing to this chamfer, an operator can place the bobbin on the holder body more easily from a level that is higher or lower than the bobbin holder. Herein, in a tilted position with an inclined axis, the bobbin may be placed with the internal wall of the bobbin case against a chamfer and may then be brought onto the holder body, sliding further over the chamfer, to a position with an approximately horizontal axis.

In a very advantageous embodiment, each bobbin holder comprises a fastening part and a holder body for holding a bobbin, and this is made of plastic as a one-piece element.

With said embodiment, a considerable decrease of production cost may be achieved, especially for a bobbin creel with a very large number of bobbin holders.

In another embodiment of the bobbin creel, a channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the rod, and opening into the passage, is provided in the wall of the passage in the bobbin holder, and the channel has dimensions such that the bobbin holder is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rod located in the passage from a level under a bearing element to a level above this bearing element, or vice versa, whereas the part of the bearing element that projects from the external surface of the rod is located in the channel.

This channel makes it possible to move a bobbin holder in the longitudinal direction of the rod, past bearing elements provided on the rod, to a higher or a lower level. Preferably this channel has a substantially U-shaped profile. Viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rod, the width and the height of the channel are preferably greater than the width and the height of the part of the bearing element projecting relative to the external wall of the rod.

The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the following more detailed description of a possible embodiment of a bobbin creel for a weaving machine according to the present invention. In this detailed description, reference is made by means of reference numbers to the figures appended hereto, where

■ Figs. 1 and 2 show two different perspective views of a bobbin holder;

■ Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show a front view, a perspective view and a side view of a bearing element, respectively;

■ Fig. 6 shows a lower portion of a rod of the bobbin creel;

■ Fig. 7 shows the rod from Fig. 6 after a bearing element has been fastened in the left fastening opening thereof;

■ Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a rod in cross-section at the level of the fastening openings, with a bearing element fastened in one of the fastening openings;

■ Fig. 9 is a top view of the cross-section of a rod shown in Fig. 8;

■ Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the lower portion of a rod to which a bobbin holder is fastened, and a portion of a horizontal profile to which the rod must be fastened during assembly of the bobbin creel;

■ Fig. 11 shows a perspective side view of a portion of the bobbin creel, with a bobbin holder in a non-working position:

■ Fig. 12 shows a perspective side view of the portion of the bobbin creel given in Fig. 11, after placement of the bobbin holder in the working position;

■ Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a portion of a bobbin creel with a number of bobbin holders, one of which is in the non-working position and all others are in the working position; and

■ Fig. 14 shows a top view of a portion of a bobbin creel with a number of bobbin holders, one of which is in the non-working position and all others are in the working position.

In a preferred embodiment, the bobbin holder (1) according to the present invention, shown in perspective in Figs. 1 and 2, is a one-piece element made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic that comprises a fastening part (2) and a holder body (4). The fastening part (2) is substantially ring-shaped and has a cylindrical external wall (2a) and a cylindrical internal wall (2b) that delimits a passage (3) with an axis (B). The holder body (4) is elongated and extends along a central axis (A) that extends approximately perpendicularly relative to the axis (B) of the passage (3). It comprises a main portion (5-8) and a top portion (9). The main portion (5-8) extends between a circular flat rear wall (4a) abutting against the fastening part and located in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis (A) of the holder body (4) and a front wall (4b) parallel thereto, close to the free end of the holder body (4). The main portion (5-8) comprises a common central portion (5) and three flat wings (6), (7), (8) that extend from the central portion (5) in a different radial direction and abut against the front wall (4b) and the rear wall (4a), wherein an included angle of about 120° is formed between every two adjacent wings.

Each wing (6), (7), (8) has, from the front wall (4b), a first width (the dimension in the radial direction) and then a transition into a part with a larger width. As a result, the wings have outer end edges (6a, 6b), (7a, 7b), (8a, 8b) that extend between the front wall (4b) and the rear wall (4a) with a first edge portion (6a), (7a), (8a) that extends from the front wall (4b) and is located at a first radial distance (dl) from the central axis (A), and a second edge portion (6b), (7b), (8b) that abuts further on the first edge portion and is located at a second radial distance (d2) from the central axis (A) that is greater than the first radial distance (dl). The transition between the first edge portion (6a), (7a), (8a) and the second edge portion (6b), (7b), (8b) passes via a sloping transition edge (Vi), (V2), (V3).

At the front of the front wall (4b), the holder body (4) comprises a top portion (9) consisting of three flat walls (10), (11), (12) that extend in the plane of a respective wing (6), (7), (8) and meet at a central apex (T) of the holder body (4). The edges (10a), (I la), (12a) of these walls (10), (11), (12) abut against the front wall (4b) and are located there at about the same diametrical distance (dl) from the axis (A) as said first edge portions (6a), (7a), (8a) of the wings (6), (7), (8). From the front wall (4b), the edges (10a), (I la), (12a) run in the direction of the end of the holder body (4), first obliquely in a direction wherein they approach the axis (A) of the holder body (4), forming the chamfer (Si),(S2),(Ss) discussed hereunder, and then run in a transverse direction relative to the axis (A) towards the centrally located apex (T) of the holder body (4) where the edges meet. The sloping portions of the edges (10a), (I la), (12a) form a chamfer (Si),(S2),(S3), which may be very useful for facilitating placement of a bobbin on the bobbin holder and removal of a bobbin. Owing to the chamfers (Si),(S2),(S3), the bobbin may be located on the top portion (9) while the bobbin is in a position wherein the bobbin axis does not extend in the extension of the axis (A) of the holder body (4). Therefore an operator may first place the bobbin in a starting position on the top portion (9), wherein the bobbin axis in this starting position does not extend in the extension of the axis (A) and for example slopes upwards or downward. This is particularly advantageous if the operator has to place a bobbin on the bobbin holder from a level that is higher or lower than the bobbin holder. From this starting position, the operator can easily move the bobbin to a further end position wherein the bobbin axis is approximately horizontal and thus roughly coincides with the axis (A) and wherein the holder body (4) is located almost completely in the hollow interior space of the bobbin case.

In the starting position and during movement to the end position, the internal wall of the bobbin case may in addition also be in contact with at least one of the chamfers (Si),(S2),(S3), so that the chamfers also guide and/or support the bobbin during this movement. This facilitates the work of the operator, who must often place large numbers of bobbins on bobbin holders (4) in a bobbin creel.

The cylindrical wall of the fastening part (2) of the bobbin holder (4) has a bottom edge (2c), which is designated with the term "supporting edge (2c)" hereinafter, with which the bobbin holder is supported on the bearing element (30) during its rotation around the rod (25). In this supporting edge (2c), at two places lying diametrically opposite one another, a U-shaped groove (2d), (2e) is provided, which is accessible from the underside of the supporting edge (2c) and serves as a receiving space for the bearing element (30), as will be explained hereunder.

A bobbin creel according to the present invention (see Figs. 13 and 14) comprises a carrying structure (20) assembled from horizontal and vertical profiles (21) that are joined together to form an open structure that occupies a substantially beam-shaped space with two parallel flanks (22), (23) that extend in respective parallel vertical flank planes (F1),(F2) in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the carrying structure. On each flank (22), (23), several vertical rods (25) are provided with identical intermediate distances next to one another distributed over the length of the carrying structure (20). To each of these vertical rods (25), several bobbin holders (1) are fastened at intervals one above another.

The bobbin holders (1) are configured to carry cylindrical bobbins (not shown in the figures). A bobbin comprises a cylindrical bobbin case, for example made of plastic or cardboard, on which yarn is wound in several layers on top of one another so that a yarn package with a substantially cylindrical external surface is formed. A bobbin holder (1) carries a bobbin, supported on the holder body (4) that is located in the interior space of the bobbin case. The yam is led from each bobbin to a first yarn guiding means that is provided in the carrying structure. This first yarn guiding means is placed relative to the bobbin in such a way that the yam, under the effect of a tensile force exerted on the yarn, is unwound over the head end of the bobbin (in defile) without the bobbin rotating. The entrance of the first yam guiding means ideally lies on a line that lies approximately in the extension of the axis (A) of the bobbin holder (1). The yarn guiding means are configured for guiding the yarn towards the textile machine (not shown).

In this embodiment the hollow cylindrical rods (25) are straight tubular elements made of metal that extend along a longitudinal axis (X), and have a hollow interior space

(27) that is enclosed by an external wall (26), the external surface (26a) of which forms a cylindrical surface (see Figs. 8 and 9).

In the external wall (26) of the rod (25), two fastening openings (28), (29) for a bearing element (30) are provided at several levels, which open out into the hollow interior space (27) of the rod. In each case only the fastening openings of one level can be seen in Figs. 6 to 12. These fastening openings (28), (29) define two different places for fastening a bearing element (30) to the rod. Each fastening place has a different orientation relative to the longitudinal axis (X) of the rod (25). The orientation of a fastening place means the direction of the vertical plane (K), (L) in which the axis (X) of the rod (25) and the vertical centre line (M), (N) of the respective fastening opening

(28), (29) (Figs. 6 and 7) are located. A different orientation of two fastening places signifies that their respective vertical planes (K),(L) are not parallel and thus intersect each other (Fig. 9). In the above definition of "the orientation of a fastening place", "the vertical centre line (M), (N) of the respective fastening opening (28), (29)" can be replaced with "the vertical centre line (P) of the bearing element (30) fastened in the respective fastening opening (28), (29) " (Fig. 8).

The rod (25) may be incorporated in the carrying structure (20) in two different installation positions, as will be explained below. One fastening place is configured for fastening the bearing element (30) to the rod (25) in a position such that it retains the bobbin holder (1) in the desired working position when the rod (25) is incorporated in the carrying structure (20) in said one installation position. The other fastening place is configured for fastening the bearing element (30) to the rod (25) in a position such that it retains the bobbin holder (1) in the desired working position when the rod (25) is incorporated in the carrying structure (20) in the other installation position.

In the desired working position (see Fig. 14), the axis (A) of the holder body (4) of a bobbin holder (1) extends in a vertical plane (Hl), (H2) which, relative to the vertical flank plane (F1),(F2), being the vertical plane of the flank (22), (23) of the carrying structure (20) on the side of the bobbin holder (1) in question, makes an angle (a) that is approximately 21°. In a possible non-working position of a bobbin holder, the axis (A) of the holder body (4) extends in a vertical plane (G) which, relative to the respective vertical flank plane (F1),(F2), makes an angle (P) that is approximately 90°. In this non-working position an operator can easily remove a bobbin from the bobbin holder and place another bobbin thereon. However, the bobbin holder (1) may be turned still further around the rod (25) until the axis (A) of the holder body is turned through an angle of 180° relative to the position of the axis (A) of the holder body (4) when the bobbin holder (1) is in the working position. The angle (P) is then equal to 159° (180°-a).

The two fastening openings (28), (29) (Figs. 6 and 7) are identical and have an upper portion (28a), (29a) and a lower portion (28b), (29b), which transition into each other and form one elongated, vertically directed continuous opening that is symmetric relative to a vertical centre line (M), (N). The upper portion (28a), (29a) is substantially wider than the lower portion (28b), (29b). Each bearing element (30) - see Figs. 3, 4 and 5 - is a one-piece element made of plastic, with an insert portion (31) with two opposite sides, on which a sideways projecting retaining lip (31a) is formed, and an elongated carrying portion (32) with a semicylindrical top piece (33), the curved surface (33a) of which is directed upwards, and a semicylindrical bottom piece (34), the curved surface (34a) of which is directed downwards.

The bearing element is fastened to the rod (25) by placing the insert portion (31) thereof via the wider portion (28a) of a fastening opening (28) into the interior space (27) of the rod (25) and then, while the carrying portion (32) is located on the outer side of the rod (25), moving it vertically downwards until it is located in the position shown in Fig. 7 in the narrower portion (28b) of the fastening opening (28). In this position the retaining lips (31a) of the insert portion (31) are located behind the vertical edges of the narrower portion (28b) of the fastening opening (28), so that the bearing element (30) is retained in the fastening opening (28), (29), while only the carrying portion (32) projects from the external wall of the rod (25).

The bobbin holder (1) is fastened to the rod (25) rotatably because the rod (25) extends through the passage (3) of the fastening part (2), while the supporting edge (2c) rests on the curved surface (33a) of the top piece (33) of the bearing element (30). During rotation of the bobbin holder (1) around the rod (25), the supporting edge (2c) slides over the curved surface (33a) of the bearing element (30). When the bobbin holder is rotated into the working position (see Figs. 10 and 12), the semicylindrical top piece (33) of the carrying portion (30) is located in the groove (2e) in the supporting edge (2c) of the bobbin holder (1). As a result, there is a resistance that opposes further rotation of the bobbin holder (1) in both directions of rotation. The greater the weight of the bobbin resting on the bobbin holder (1), the greater is this resistance.

An U-shaped channel (40) extending along the axis (B) of the passage (3) and opening into the passage (3) is provided in the internal wall (2b) of the passage (3) (see Figs. 1 and 2). The depth of this channel (i.e. the dimension of the passage in the radial direction) is greater than the dimension by which the carrying portion (32) of the bearing element (30) projects radially relative to the cylindrical external surface (26a) of the rod. The width of the channel (40) is wider than the largest width dimension of the projecting portion (32) of a bearing element (30). As a result, the bobbin holder (1) can be moved on the rod (25) past a bearing element (30) - i.e. from a level under the bearing element to a level above it, or vice versa. After all, the part of the bearing element (30) projecting from the external surface of the rod is located during this displacement in the U-shaped free space of the channel (40) and does not hamper the displacement.

The carrying structure (20) comprises two parallel horizontal profiles (21), which are provided for fastening the vertical rods (25) thereto. For this purpose, these profiles (21) comprise at several places, at equal intervals and distributed over the length of the profiles (21), an U-shaped space (36), which is accessible sideways (see Fig. 10). The U-shaped spaces (36) are provided on the sides of the profiles (21) turned away from each other. In each U-shaped space (36), the lower end part of a respective rod (25) can be placed in a vertical position. In this U-shaped space (36), the profile (21) has a flat side (36a) extending in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the carrying structure (20). In Fig. 10, only the profile (21) provided on one flank is shown - called the first profile hereinafter - and the identical profile (21) - called the second profile (21) hereinafter - on the other flank is not shown.

On the underside of the rod (25), a rectangular recess (35) is provided in the external wall (26). For this purpose the rod (25) has a non-cylindrical side at this place. The vertical edges (35a) along the recess (35) are located in a vertical plane and thus actually form a flattened side of the rod (25). For the rod (25) there is consequently only one position wherein this can fit into the U-shaped space (36) with the edges (35a) against the flat side (36a). The rod (25) is fastened to the first profile (21) in this position by means of a bolt and nut joint (37, 38) (see Fig. 11). This position is a first installation position of the rod (25).

In order to fasten the rod (25) to the other flank of the carrying structure (20) on the identical second profile (21), the rod (25) shown in Fig. 10 must be rotated through an angle of 180° around its longitudinal axis (X). In this position, the rod can then be placed in the U-shaped space (36) of the second profile and be fitted into the U-shaped space with the vertical edges (35a) against the flat side (36), and be fastened in this way. This position is a second installation position of the rod (25). In the second installation position of the rod (25), the bearing element is no longer located in the position that is required in order to retain the bobbin holder in the desired working position. To obtain the desired working position, the bearing element (30) must be fastened to the rod (25) in the other fastening opening (29) and the bobbin holder must be used in such a way that now the other groove (2d) is used as a receiving space for the top piece (33) of the bearing element. Thus, the bobbin holder is also retained in the same working position in the second installation position of the rod (25).

When the top piece of the bearing element is not located in a groove (2d),(2e), the bobbin holder (1) can be rotated freely around the rod (25). The bobbin holder can then be rotated to a non-working position so that a bobbin can easily be placed on the bobbin holder and a bobbin can easily be removed therefrom. In Fig. 11, the bobbin holder is in a non-working position. This is also the case for the lower bobbin holder on the middle rod in Fig. 13 and for a bobbin holder of the flank (Fl) of the carrying structure that is shown in Fig. 14.