Abstract: A motorized rotary drum supported on a motor housing bears a plurality of yarn loops wound thereon, such loops being adapted to be unwound upon request from a downstream machine. A yarn-unwinding sensor comprises light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements both of which are integral with the motor housing. Light-guiding elements which are integral with the drum guide the light from the light-emitting elements to a window which is defined on the rotary drum in a position such that it is repeatedly engaged by the yarn during its rotary unwinding motion, and vice versa. A reflecting surface reflects the light coming out of the window back towards the window. Light-deviating elements which are integral with the motor housing deviate the light coming back from the window towards the light-receiving elements. The unwinding of a yarn loop from the drum is determined on the basis of the variation of light resulting from the yarn transiting on the window.

Abstract: A motorized rotary drum supported on a motor housing bears a plurality of yarn loops wound thereon, such loops being adapted to be unwound upon request from a downstream machine A yarn-unwinding sensor comprises light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements both of which are integral with the motor housing. Light-guiding elements which are integral with the drum guide the light from the light-emitting elements to a window which is defined on the rotary drum in a position such that it is repeatedly engaged by the yarn during its rotary unwinding motion, and vice versa. A reflecting surface reflects the light coming out of the window back towards the window. Light-deviating elements which are integral with the motor housing deviate the light coming back from the window towards the light-receiving elements. The unwinding of a yarn loop from the drum is determined on the basis of the variation of light resulting from the yarn transiting on the window.

Abstract: The three-way connector comprises a first, a second and a third gates directly connected to one another. The first and second gate are pluggable onto respective spans of a bus, and the third gate is connectable to a weft feeder. The three-way connector further comprises a permanent memory containing an identifying code for the associated weft feeder. A managing unit drives a serial bus to which a plurality of weft feeders are connected. The serial bus comprises the cable spans, serially connected to one another through the first and second gates of the connectors, the weft feeders being connected to respective third gates of the connectors.

Abstract: The three-way connector comprises a first, a second and a third gates directly connected to one another. The first and second gate are pluggable onto respective spans of a bus, and the third gate is connectable to a weft feeder. The three-way connector further comprises a permanent memory containing an identifying code for the associated weft feeder. A managing unit drives a serial bus to which a plurality of weft feeders are connected. The serial bus comprises the cable spans, serially connected to one another through the first and second gates of the connectors, the weft feeders being connected to respective third gates of the connectors.