Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a winding tube processing device, a yarn winding machine, and a yarn winding system.

BACKGROUND
[0002] As a technique related to a winding tube processing device, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-187632 describes a bobbin direction changing mechanism configured to change the orientation of a bobbin (winding tube) introduced from one direction and to deliver the bobbin to another direction. The bobbin direction changing mechanism described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-187632 includes a first support part supporting one end of the bobbin in an axial direction, a second support part supporting the bobbin from a direction different from the first support part, and an air cylinder configured to move a bobbin support part to a receiving position and a discharging position.

SUMMARY
[0003] The technique described above requires a large number of parts for the winding tube processing device, which may increase costs and assembly man-hours.
[0004] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a winding tube processing device, a yarn winding machine, and a yarn winding system capable of avoiding the number of parts from increasing.
[0005] A winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a winding tube processing device including a placement part having a placement surface on which a winding tube is placed, an introducing part configured to introduce the winding tube onto the placement surface such that a longitudinal direction of the winding tube crosses the placement surface and one end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction is in contact with the placement surface, and an orientation changing unit configured to change an orientation of the winding tube introduced onto the placement surface, in which the orientation changing unit includes a drive unit configured to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in a direction along the placement surface and a control unit configured to control drive of the drive unit in a first state, in which the winding tube is introduced onto the placement surface, to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in the direction along the placement surface.
[0006] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the first state, in which the winding tube is introduced onto the placement surface by the introducing part, the drive unit moves at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in the direction along the placement surface, and thereby the winding tube can be tilted and overturned to lie on the placement surface. Consequently, without using many parts, the orientation of the winding tube can be changed from the direction crossing the placement surface to the direction along the placement surface to deliver the winding tube to the subsequent stage. Thus, the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention can avoid the number of parts from increasing.
[0007] In the winding pipe processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the introducing part may include a restricting part provided so as to be capable of being in contact with another end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction in the first state to restrict overturning of the winding tube by self-weight until the winding tube lies on the placement surface by control of the control unit, and the control unit may control drive of the drive unit in the first state to move at least either the placement surface or the restricting part in the direction along the placement surface and to move at least either the one end being in contact with the placement surface or the other end being in contact with the restricting part along with the movement and thereby tilt the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part to cause the winding tube to be overturned to lie on the placement surface. In this case, changing the orientation of the winding tube can be specifically achieved.
[0008] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the placement part may form a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and the control unit may control drive of the drive unit in the first state to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction, to tilt the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part, and to make a second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, and then control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube in the second conveying direction. In this case, the placement part can function also as the conveying part, thereby simplifying the configuration.
[0009] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention, a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the first conveying direction may be lower than a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the second conveying direction. In this case, the orientation of the winding tube can be surely changed, and the subsequent conveyance of the winding tube can be efficiently performed.
[0010] The winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention may further include a sensor configured to detect the winding tube in the second state, in which the control unit may change a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when the winding tube in the second state is detected by the sensor. In this case, a detection result of the sensor is utilized, and thus the moving direction of the placement surface can be changed at appropriate timing.
[0011] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention, the control unit may change a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a certain time has elapsed after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part. In this case, the moving direction of the placement surface can be changed without using a sensor, for example, and thus the configuration can be simplified.
[0012] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention, the control unit may change a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a distance moved by the placement surface in the first conveying direction after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part reaches a certain distance. In this case, the moving direction of the placement surface can be changed utilizing the distance moved after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface.
[0013] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the drive unit may include a stepping motor, and the control unit may calculate the distance moved of the placement surface based on a number of pulses of a pulse signal input to the stepping motor. In this case, the number of pulses of the stepping motor is utilized, and thus the distance moved of the placement surface can be easily calculated.
[0014] The winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention may further include a wall part provided on or around one end side in the first conveying direction above the placement surface to block movement of the winding tube on the placement surface in the first conveying direction. In this case, the winding tube can be surely prevented from falling off from the placement surface toward the first conveying direction.
[0015] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the winding tube conveyed by the conveying part may be received by a receiving part, and the introducing part, when the winding tube is delivered to the receiving part and the other winding tube is not present on the placement surface, may introduce the new winding tube onto the placement surface. In this case, collisions between winding tubes on the placement surface can be avoided.
[0016] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conveying part may include an endless belt forming the placement surface, the drive unit may feed the endless belt in the first conveying direction or the second conveying direction to move the placement surface, and the control unit may be capable of executing first control to reverse the endless belt from the first state to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then rotate the endless belt forward to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube and second control to rotate the endless belt forward from the first state to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then reverse the endless belt to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube. In this case, the winding tubes can be sorted in desired orientations.
[0017] In the winding tube processing device according to one aspect of the invention, a coefficient of friction of the placement surface may be larger than a coefficient of friction of a surface of the restricting part capable of being in contact with the other end. In this case, it is surely possible to achieve moving at least either the placement surface or the restricting part in the direction along the placement surface to tilt the winding tube until the restriction by the restricting part is released.
[0018] A yarn winding machine according to one aspect of the present invention includes a winding unit configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package, a work carriage including a magazine configured to accommodate the paper tube and a bobbin mounting mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube accommodated in the magazine to the winding unit, and a bobbin feeder including a bobbin stocker configured to store a plurality of the paper tubes, the winding tube processing device configured to process the paper tube supplied from the bobbin stocker, and a delivery mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube processed by the above-described winding tube processing device to the work carriage. This yarn winding machine also produces, with the above-described winding tube processing device, the effect of making it possible to avoid the number of parts from increasing.
[0019] A yarn winding system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a spinning frame configured to wind yarn onto a winding tube to form a yarn supply bobbin, an automatic winder configured to wind yarn from the yarn supply bobbin to form a package, and the above-described winding tube processing device configured to process the winding tube to be supplied to the spinning frame. This yarn winding system also produces, with the above-described winding tube processing device, the effect of making it possible to avoid the number of parts from increasing.
[0020] One aspect of the present invention can provide a winding tube processing device, a yarn winding machine, and a yarn winding system capable of avoiding the number of parts from increasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a spinning machine according to one embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a spinning unit and a doffing carriage of the spinning machine in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a winding tube processing device in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the winding tube processing device in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the winding tube processing device in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the winding tube processing device in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating the winding tube processing device according to a modification; and FIG. 7B is a front view illustrating the winding tube processing device according to the modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] One embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, like or equivalent elements are designated by like numerals, and duplicate description is omitted. In the description, terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “rear” that indicate directions are terms of convenience based on the conditions illustrated in the drawings.
[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spinning machine (yarn winding machine) 1 includes a plurality of spinning units (winding units) 2, a splicing carriage 3, a doffing carriage (work carriage) 4, a first end frame 5A, a second end frame 5B, and a bobbin feeder 60. The spinning units 2 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the spinning machine 1. Each spinning unit 2 forms yarn Y and winds the yarn Y onto a bobbin (winding tube) B to form a package P. In the present embodiment, a work passage through which workers can pass is provided in front of the spinning machine 1.
[0030] The first end frame 5A accommodates, for example, a collection device configured to collect fiber waste, yarn waste, and the like generated in the spinning unit 2. The first end frame 5A is disposed at one end of the group of the spinning units 2 in the arrangement direction (the left-right direction in the drawing). The second end frame 5B accommodates an air supply unit configured to adjust air pressure of compressed air supplied to the spinning machine 1 and supply the air to the respective units of the spinning machine 1. The second end frame 5B may accommodate, for example, a drive motor configured to supply power to the respective units in the spinning units 2. The second end frame 5B is disposed at the other end of the group of the spinning units 2 in the arrangement direction. The second end frame 5B includes a machine control device (control device) 5C, a display screen 5D, and input keys 5E.
[0031] The machine control device 5C centrally manages and controls the respective units of the spinning machine 1. The display screen 5D can display, for example, information on settings and the status of the spinning units 2. An operator can make the settings of the spinning units 2 by performing appropriate operations with the input keys 5E.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 2, each spinning unit 2 includes, in the order from the upstream side in a direction in which the yarn Y travels, a drafting device 6, an air-jet spinning device 7, a yarn monitoring device 8, a tension sensor 9, a unit controller 10, a yarn storage device 11, a waxing device 12, and a winding device 13. The unit controller 10 is provided for every predetermined number (one or more) of spinning units 2, and controls operations of the spinning units 2.
[0033] The drafting device 6 drafts a sliver S. The air-jet spinning device 7 twists a fiber band F, which has been formed by drafting the sliver S by the drafting device 6, using swirling air flow to form the yarn Y. The yarn storage device 11 stores the yarn Y between the air-jet spinning device 7 and the winding device 13 to eliminate slack in the yarn Y. The waxing device 12 applies wax to the yarn Y between the yarn storage device 11 and the winding device 13. The winding device 13 winds the yarn Y onto the bobbin B to form the package P.
[0034] The yarn monitoring device 8 monitors information on the yarn Y traveling between the air-jet spinning device 7 and the yarn storage device 11, and detects the presence or absence of a yarn defect on the basis of the monitored information. When having detected a yarn defect, the yarn monitoring device 8 transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit controller 10. The tension sensor 9 measures the tension of the yarn Y traveling between the air-jet spinning device 7 and the yarn storage device 11, and transmits a tension measurement signal to the unit controller 10. When the unit controller 10 has determined that abnormality has occurred based on at least either detection result of the yarn monitoring device 8 or the tension sensor 9, the yarn Y is cut in the spinning unit 2.
[0035] The winding device 13 winds the yarn Y onto the bobbin B to form the package P. The winding device 13 includes a cradle arm 21, a winding drum 22, and a traverse guide 23. The cradle arm 21 rotatably supports the bobbin B. The cradle arm 21 is swingably supported by a spindle 24, and brings the surface of the bobbin B or the surface of the package P into contact with the surface of the winding drum 22 with appropriate pressure. The traverse guide 23 of each spinning unit 2 is provided on a shaft shared by the spinning units 2.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the yarn Y has been cut or the Y has broken for some reason in a certain spinning unit 2, the splicing carriage 3 performs splicing operation in the spinning unit 2. The splicing carriage 3 travels on a traveling path R1 extending along the arrangement direction of the spinning units 2. The splicing carriage 3 includes a suction pipe 31, a splicing device 32, and a suction mouth 33.
[0037] The suction pipe 31 is rotatably supported, and catches the yarn Y from the air-jet spinning device 7 and guides the yarn Y to the splicing device 32. The suction mouth 33 is rotatably supported, and catches the yarn Y from the winding device 13 and guides the yarn Y to the splicing device 32. The splicing device 32 splices the yarns Y thus guided. The splicing device 32 is, for example, a splicer using compressed air, or a knotter configured to mechanically splice the yarns Y. The spinning unit 2 may be a piecer configured to join the yarns Y, in which the yarn Y from the package P is caused to reversely travel to the air-jet spinning device 7 or upstream of the air-jet spinning device 7, and the drafting operation by the drafting device 6 and the spinning operation by the air-jet spinning device 7 are started.
[0038] When the package P has been fully wound in a certain spinning unit 2, the doffing carriage 4 performs discharge operation of discharging the package P and bobbin-setting operation of mounting a new bobbin B on the cradle arm 21 of the spinning unit 2 to prepare for winding of the yarn Y. When the package P has been fully wound in one spinning unit 2, the doffing carriage 4, in response to a control signal from the machine control device 5C, travels to this spinning unit 2 and stops, and performs both operations (doffing operation) of the discharge operation and the bobbin-setting operation. The operator may discharge the package P. In this case, the doffing carriage 4 does not need to include a device to perform the discharge operation for the package P.
[0039] The doffing carriage 4 includes a housing 40, a magazine 41, a bobbin mounting mechanism 42, a cradle operating arm 43, a suction pipe 44, and a control unit 46. The magazine 41, the bobbin mounting mechanism 42, the cradle operating arm 43, the suction pipe 44, and the control unit 46 are accommodated in the housing 40. The magazine 41 stores bobbins B fed from the bobbin feeder 60. The bobbin mounting mechanism 42 feeds bobbins B stored in the magazine 41 to the cradle arm 21. The bobbin mounting mechanism 42 receives the bobbin B from the magazine 41 and delivers the bobbin B to the cradle arm 21.
[0040] The suction pipe 44 suctions, at a suction section thereof, the yarn Y delivered from the air-jet spinning device 7 thereby catching the yarn Y, and guides the caught yarn Y to the winding device 13. The cradle operating arm 43 performs operation of opening the cradle arm 21 to remove a fully wound package P from the winding device 13, or operation of closing the cradle arm 21 to mount a new bobbin B onto the cradle arm 21. When the cradle arm 21 is opened by the cradle operating arm 43, the package P is removed from the cradle arm 21 and discharged to a conveying device 80. The conveying device 80 is a conveyor belt in which an endless belt is driven by drive rollers (not illustrated). The control unit 46 controls various operations of the doffing carriage 4.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bobbin feeder 60 is disposed at one end of the group of the spinning units 2 in the arrangement direction (the end where the first end frame 5A is disposed). The bobbin feeder 60 includes a plurality of bobbin stockers 61, a takeout mechanism 63, a winding tube processing device 65, and a delivery mechanism (receiving part) 75. In the present embodiment, each bobbin B is formed as a tubular body. The bobbin B is a paper tube. When the bobbin B is viewed from the front, the bobbin B has a folding-fan shape that spreads from one end toward the other in the axial direction. Hereafter, the one end is also called the small-diameter end and the other end is also called the large-diameter end.
[0042] The bobbin stocker 61 is a mechanism configured to store a plurality of bobbins B. The bobbin stocker 61 includes a plurality of pegs 62A each of which is a rod-shaped member capable of holding the bobbin B. The bobbin stocker 61 includes an endless chain 62B configured to be driven in a circulating manner in a vertical plane that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each peg 62A. The pegs 62A are fixed to the endless chain 62B. Thus, by driving the endless chain 62B in one direction continuously or intermittently in a circulating manner, the bobbins B attached to the pegs 62A can be conveyed along the longitudinal direction of the endless chain 62B. The endless chain 62B is driven by a drive unit.
[0043] A plurality of the bobbin stockers 61 having the above-described configuration are provided. In the present embodiment, two (two lines of) bobbin stockers (a first bobbin stocker 61A and a second bobbin stocker 61B) are provided and arranged in the left-right direction. The first bobbin stocker 61A and the second bobbin stocker 61B are accommodated in one housing 60A. The spinning machine 1 may include only one bobbin stocker 61.
[0044] The takeout mechanism 63 is a mechanism configured to take out the bobbins B from the pegs 62A. The takeout mechanism 63 is provided at the path of movement of the pegs 62A moved with the corresponding endless chain 62B driven in a circulating manner. The takeout mechanism 63 includes a takeout member 63A and detection sensors 63C. The takeout member 63A is a member configured to detach the bobbin B from the corresponding peg 62A by pushing the bobbin B forward. The takeout member 63A is driven to move in the front-rear direction by a drive unit such as an air cylinder. The detection sensors 63C each detect the presence or absence of the bobbin B. Each of the detection sensors 63C is provided to be able to detect the presence or absence of the bobbin B upstream of the takeout mechanisms 63 in the direction in which the corresponding endless chain 62B is circulated.
[0045] The winding tube processing device 65 is a device configured to process the bobbin B taken out by the takeout mechanism 63 (that is, supplied from the bobbin stocker 61). The winding tube processing device 65 forms a direction changing mechanism configured to change the orientation of the bobbin B. The winding tube processing device 65 receives the bobbin B from the takeout mechanism 63 with the large-diameter end of the bobbin B facing upward and the small-diameter end facing downward. The winding tube processing device 65 changes the orientation of the bobbin B such that the longitudinal direction of the received bobbin B is in line with the conveying direction of a conveyor device 67 (hereinafter also referred to simply as a “conveying direction”). The winding tube processing device 65 conveys the bobbin B to the delivery mechanism 75 by the conveyor device 67.
[0046] The delivery mechanism 75 is a mechanism configured to receive the bobbin B conveyed by the conveyor device 67 and to feed the received bobbin B to the doffing carriage 4. The delivery mechanism 75 is disposed so as to be continuous with one end of the conveyor device 67 in the conveying direction. When the doffing carriage 4 has reached the supply position SP of the bobbin feeder 60, the delivery mechanism 75 feeds bobbins B to the doffing carriage 4.
[0047] The following describes the winding tube processing device 65 in detail.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the winding tube processing device 65 includes the conveyor device 67 and a chute part 66. The conveyor device 67 is a conveying part configured to convey the bobbin B to the delivery mechanism 75. The conveyor device 67 is, for example, a belt conveyor and includes a pair of rollers 67A, 67A, an endless belt 67B wound around the pair of rollers 67A, 67A, and a drive unit 69 configured to drive one of the pair of rollers 67A, 67A. The conveyor device 67 has a conveying surface 67Z along a horizontal plane. The endless belt 67B is formed of a rubber material. The conveying surface 67Z includes the upper surface of the endless belt 67B. That is, the endless belt 67B forms the conveying surface 67Z. The conveying surface 67Z corresponds to a placement surface on which the bobbin B is placed, and the conveyor device 67 corresponds to a placement part.
[0049] The drive unit 69 includes a stepping motor. The drive unit 69 is controlled by the machine control device 5C. The drive unit 69 moves the conveying surface 67Z in the left-right direction (a direction along the conveying surface 67Z or the longitudinal direction of the conveying surface 67Z). The drive unit 69 drives the roller 67A in a reverse direction to drive the endless belt 67B so as to reverse and to move the conveying surface 67Z in a first conveying direction (the right direction in the drawing or a direction departing from the delivery mechanism 75). The drive unit 69 drives the roller 67A in a forward direction to drive the endless belt 67B so as to rotate forward and to move the conveying surface 67Z in a second conveying direction (the left direction in the drawing or a direction approaching the delivery mechanism 75). The drive unit 69 may include an induction motor or a servo motor, for example. The direction along the conveying surface 67Z is not limited to the left-right direction and may be inclined with respect to the left-right direction. The direction along the conveying surface 67Z may mean a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the bobbin B introduced by the chute part 66, a horizontal direction, a direction along the horizontal direction, a direction on the conveying surface (placement surface) 67Z, a direction following the conveying surface (placement surface) 67Z, or the like.
[0050] The chute part 66 is an introducing part configured to introduce the bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z such that the longitudinal direction of the bobbin B crosses the conveying surface 67Z and one end on the small-diameter end side is in contact (direct contact) with the conveying surface 67Z. The chute part 66 includes a pair of restricting plates (restricting parts) 66A, 66B. The chute part 66 drops the bobbin B taken out by the takeout mechanism 63 from between the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B with the large-diameter end of the bobbin B upward and charges the bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z such that the one end on the small-diameter end side is in contact with the conveying surface 67Z with the large-diameter end of the bobbin B pointing upward. A first state, which is a state when the bobbin B is introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66 (hereinafter also referred to simply as a “first state”), is a state in which the bobbin B stands on the conveying surface 67Z with the small-diameter end downward. The first state is a state in which the longitudinal direction of the bobbin B crosses the conveying surface 67Z. The first state is a state in which the bobbin B does not lie on the conveying surface 67Z. The first state is a state in which the large-diameter end of the bobbin B is away from the conveying surface 67Z. One end of the bobbin B, which is not limited to a particular part, is the surface (end surface) on the small-diameter side in this example.
[0051] The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B restrict overturning of the bobbin B by self-weight therebetween until the bobbin B lies on the conveying surface 67Z by control of the machine control device 5C. The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B are provided so as to be capable of being in contact with at least part of the other end of the bobbin B on the large-diameter end side in the first state. The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B are plate members facing each other with the conveying direction of the conveying surface 67Z as their thickness direction. The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B are formed of metal, for example. The coefficient of friction of respective principal surfaces (surfaces capable of being in contact with the bobbin B) facing each other of the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B is larger than the coefficient of friction of the conveying surface 67Z. The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B bring at least part of the other end of the bobbin B on the large-diameter end side into contact with the facing principal surfaces to prevent the bobbin B from being overturned until the bobbin B is placed with its side on the conveying surface 67Z even when the longitudinal direction of the bobbin B introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z is tilted. In the first state, at least part of the other end of the bobbin B on the large-diameter end side may be in contact with at least either the restricting plate 66A or the restricting plate 66B, or is not necessarily in contact therewith. The other end of the bobbin B, which is not limited to a particular part, is a bobbin peripheral surface in the region near the end on the large-diameter side in this example.
[0052] The winding tube processing device 65 is provided with a front guide plate (not illustrated) and a rear guide plate (not illustrated) extending in a direction crossing the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B. The front guide plate and the rear guide plate are plate members with the width direction of the conveying surface 67Z as their thickness direction and are provided on one side and the other side of the conveying surface 67Z in the width direction. These members restrict overturning and displacement of the bobbin B to one side and the other side of the conveying surface 67Z in the width direction in the first state. The height of the front guide plate and the rear guide plate (the height in a direction orthogonal to the conveying surface 67Z) is not limited to a particular height. The front guide plate and the rear guide plate only need to have a height capable of restricting the bobbin B.
[0053] The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B are disposed spaced apart from the conveying surface 67Z by a first distance a above the conveying surface 67Z. The pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B are disposed side by side so as to be parallel to each other spaced apart from each other by a second distance rb. The first distance a is shorter than a distance A0 in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin B, for example. The second distance rb is longer than a diameter RB0 of the large-diameter end of the bobbin B, for example. The distance A0 of the bobbin B is longer than the first distance a, and thus even if the bobbin B in the first state is about to overturn unintentionally, the bobbin B is restricted from moving by the restricting plate 66a or the restricting plate 66b and stops with a slight inclination from the state illustrated in FIG. 3. The diameter RB0 of the large-diameter end of the bobbin B is smaller than the second distance rb (because there is a gap between the chute part 66 and the bobbin B), and thus the bobbin B taken out of the takeout mechanism 63 and passing through the chute part 66 does not make its end on the large-diameter end side keep rubbing against the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B while passing through the chute part 66.
[0054] The chute part 66 introduces a new bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z when the bobbin B is delivered from the conveying surface 67Z to the delivery mechanism 75, and no other bobbin B is present on the conveying surface 67Z. However, if the situation is such that collisions between bobbins B can be avoided, the new bobbin B may be introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z even if bobbins B are present on the conveying surface 67Z.
[0055] The winding tube processing device 65 includes the drive unit 69 and the machine control device 5C described above as an orientation changing unit 70. The orientation changing unit 70 changes the orientation of the bobbin B introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66. The machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z to the left direction or the right direction. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction. This movement causes the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z to move along with (in association with) the movement and thereby tilts the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plates 66A, 66B to make a second state, in which the bobbin B is overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 after making the second state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the bobbin B in the second conveying direction.
[0056] The machine control device 5C drives the drive unit 69 such that the conveying surface 67Z moves slower when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the first conveying direction than when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the second conveying direction. That is, the moving speed of the conveying surface 67Z when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the first conveying direction is lower than the moving speed of the conveying surface 67Z when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the second conveying direction.
[0057] The winding tube processing device 65 includes a sensor S1 and a wall part 68. The sensor S1 is a detector configured to detect the bobbin B (indicating a situation in which the bobbin B has completely overturned and is not detected by the sensor S1). When the sensor S1 detects the bobbin B in the second state, the machine control device 5C changes the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z moving in the first conveying direction from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction. As the sensor S1, a photoelectric sensor can be used, for example. The sensor S1 is provided at a position from which it can be confirmed that the bobbin B has overturned. The sensor S1 projects light along the horizontal direction at a position below the chute part 66 and above the conveying surface 67Z by a distance not less than the diameter RB0 of the large-diameter end of the bobbin B. The light projected by the sensor S1 is blocked by the bobbin B in the first state (sensor ON). On the other hand, the light projected by the sensor S1 is received unobstructed by the bobbin B in the second state (sensor OFF). Thus, the sensor S1 detects the bobbin B in the second state by detecting a change from sensor ON to sensor OFF.
[0058] The wall part 68 is provided around one end side in the first conveying direction above the conveying surface 67Z. The wall part 68 in this example is erected at a position close to one end of the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction. The wall part 68 is plate-shaped with the first conveying direction as its thickness direction and has a wall surface perpendicular to the first conveying direction. The wall part 68 blocks the movement of the bobbin B on the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction. The wall part 68 may be omitted.
[0059] In the winding tube processing device 65 configured as described above, first, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bobbin B is introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66 to make the first state. In the first state in this example, the bobbin B stands on its own on the conveying surface 67Z. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the first state, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to reverse the endless belt 67B, to move the conveying surface 67Z at a first speed in the first conveying direction, and to move the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z along with the movement. This movement tilts the bobbin B such that the large-diameter end thereof moves in the second conveying direction (which is opposite to the first conveying direction) and brings the other end on the large-diameter end side into contact with the restricting plate 66A.
[0060] Subsequently, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to reverse the endless belt 67B, to move the conveying surface 67Z at the first speed in the first conveying direction, and to move the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z along with the movement. This movement tilts the bobbin B while the end of the bobbin B on the large-diameter end side slides downward on the restricting plate 66A, releases the restriction by the restricting plates 66A, 66B (releases the contact of the other end of the bobbin B on the large-diameter end side with the restricting plate 66A), and makes the second state, in which the bobbin B has overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z as illustrated in FIG. 5. The change from sensor ON to sensor OFF of the sensor S1 detects the bobbin B in the second state.
[0061] With the detection by the sensor S1 as a trigger, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to rotate the endless belt 67B forward, to move the conveying surface 67Z at a second speed, which is higher than the first speed, in the second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the bobbin B in the second conveying direction. Consequently, the bobbin B oriented with the large-diameter end downstream and the small-diameter end upstream is conveyed to the delivery mechanism 75. When the bobbin B moves from the conveying surface 67Z to the delivery mechanism 75, the machine control device 5C stops the forward rotation of the endless belt 67B. Subsequently, when the bobbin B is delivered to the delivery mechanism 75 and no bobbin B is present on the conveying surface 67Z, the new bobbin B is introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66, and the series of operations described above are repeated. At the timing when the new bobbin B is introduced by the chute part 66, the drive of the drive unit 69 may be stopped, or when a sensor S2 is used, for example, the drive of the drive unit 69 may have been started.
[0062] When conveying the bobbin B to the delivery mechanism 75, the machine control device 5C reverses the endless belt 67B to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction, but this is not limiting, and the conveying surface 67Z does not need to be moved in the first conveying direction. When conveying the bobbin B oriented with the large-diameter end upstream and the small-diameter end downstream to the delivery mechanism 75, for example, the machine control device 5C may control the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction and to move the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with conveying surface 67Z along with the movement. This movement tilts the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plates 66A, 66B and the bobbin B is overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. The machine control device 5C may subsequently control the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction and to convey the bobbin B in the second conveying direction. In this process, the machine control device 5C may control the moving speed of the conveying surface 67Z to be higher than the moving speed until the bobbin B overturns. In general, in the spinning machine 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of spinning units 2 are disposed facing each other around a work passage through which workers can pass. Spinning machines arranged in such a way of facing each other often have a left-right reversed configuration. In such a case, one spinning machine 1 controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction and subsequently controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction. The other spinning machine 1 controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction and subsequently controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to further move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction. This configuration is effective not only for the spinning machines 1 in which the spinning units 2 are disposed facing each other as described above but also for a double-sided spinning machine (not illustrated) integrated on the back of the spinning machines 1.
[0000] In a spinning machine integrated on the back side of two rows of a plurality of spinning units, the control unit performs, in one spinning unit row, control to control the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction and to subsequently control the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z and the bobbin B in the second conveying direction and, in the other spinning unit row, controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction and subsequently controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to further move the bobbin B in the second conveying direction. In other words, the spinning machine is a yarn winding machine including at least two winding unit rows, each of which is a row of a plurality of winding units configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package, the two winding unit rows being integrated with each other on a back side, the yarn winding machine including the winding tube processing device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the placement part forms a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and the control unit performs, in one of the spinning unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction and performs, in another of the spinning unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to further move the placement surface in the second conveying direction. This configuration can, while employing the conveyor device 67 and the chute part 66 of the same configuration, cause the bobbin B to be overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z in a direction suitable for the unit row. Cost reduction by providing commonality of members can be achieved.
[0063] As described above, in the winding tube processing device 65, in the first state, in which the bobbin B is introduced onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66, the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the conveying direction by the drive unit 69, and thereby the bobbin B placed on the conveying surface 67Z in an upright position can be tilted, and the bobbin B can be overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. Consequently, without using many parts, the orientation of the introduced bobbin B can be changed from the up-down direction to the left-right direction, and the bobbin B can be delivered to the delivery mechanism 75.
[0064] Consequently, the winding tube processing device 65 can avoid the number of parts from increasing. Increases in costs and assembly man-hours can be avoided. A dedicated inversion mechanism (an air cylinder or an assist blast, for example) is eliminated, and its adjustment is also unnecessary. The orientation of the bobbin B can be stably changed. The number of false alarms can be reduced. The time required to change the orientation of the bobbin B in the winding tube processing device 65 can also be reduced. In other words, the speed of processing the bobbin B by the winding tube processing device 65 increases.
[0065] In the winding tube processing device 65, the chute part 66 includes the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B. The machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z to the left direction or the right direction and to move the one end on the small-diameter end side being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z to the left direction or the right direction along with the movement and thereby tilts the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plate 66A, 66B and causes the bobbin B to be overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. In this case, changing the orientation of the bobbin B can be specifically achieved.
[0066] In the winding tube processing device 65, the machine control device 5C may control the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction (the right side in FIG. 4), to tilt the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plates 66A, 66B, and to make the second state, in which the bobbin B is overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z, and then control the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction (the left side in FIG. 6), and to convey the bobbin B in the second conveying direction. In this case, the conveyor device 67 can be functioned as the placement part and the conveying part, and the endless belt 67B has both of two functions, specifically a direction changing function and a transfer function. Having both the two functions can simplify the configuration.
[0067] In the winding tube processing device 65, the moving speed of the conveying surface 67Z when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the first conveying direction is lower than the moving speed of the conveying surface 67Z when the conveying surface 67Z is moved in the second conveying direction. In this case, the orientation of the bobbin B can be surely changed, and the subsequent conveyance of the bobbin B can be efficiently performed.
[0068] The winding tube processing device 65 includes the sensor S1 configured to detect the bobbin B. When detecting the bobbin B in the second state by the sensor S1 (after determining that the sensor S1 has switched from the situation in which the bobbin B is detected to the situation in which the bobbin B is not detected), the machine control device 5C changes the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction. In this case, the detection result of the sensor S1 is utilized, and thus the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z can be changed at appropriate timing.
[0069] The winding tube processing device 65 includes the wall part 68. This configuration can surely prevent the bobbin B from falling off from the conveying surface 67Z toward the first conveying direction. The position at which the wall part 68 is provided is not limited to a particular position, and it only needs to be provided on or around one end side in the first conveying direction above the conveying surface 67Z.
[0070] In the winding tube processing device 65, the bobbin B conveyed by the conveyor device 67 is received by the delivery mechanism 75. When the bobbin B is delivered to the delivery mechanism 75, and no other bobbin B is present on the conveying surface 67Z, the chute part 66 introduces the new bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z. In this case, collisions between bobbins B on the conveying surface 67Z can be avoided. In some cases, the new bobbin B may be introduced by the chute part 66 while other bobbins B are present on the conveying surface 67Z.
[0071] In the winding tube processing device 65, the coefficient of friction of the conveying surface 67Z may be larger than the coefficient of friction of the principal surfaces of the restricting plates 66A, 66B. In this case, it is possible to surely achieve moving the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z along with the movement of the conveying surface 67Z and moving the conveying surface 67Z in the conveying direction to tilt the bobbin B until the restriction by the restricting plates 66A, 66B is released.
[0072] The spinning machine 1 includes the spinning unit 2, the doffing carriage 4 including the magazine 41 and the bobbin mounting mechanism 42, and the bobbin feeder 60 including the bobbin stocker 61, the winding tube processing device 65, and the delivery mechanism 75. In the spinning machine 1 also, the winding tube processing device 65 produces the effect of making it possible to avoid the number of parts from increasing and the like.
[0073] The winding tube processing device 65 also produces the following effects. Specifically, there are fewer restrictions on installation space, the size of the winding tube processing device 65 can be made compact, and the spinning machine 1 as a whole does not become larger. Even if the bobbin B is not made of plastic but of paper with higher frictional force, the bobbin B can be surely inverted in a compact space. Compared to a case in which the bobbin B is slid by an inclined surface (slope) to perform direction changing, there is no need to secure a longer length for the bobbin B to move along with the direction changing of the bobbin B, and the size of the winding tube processing device 65 can be avoided from increasing. By controlling the drive of the drive unit 69 of the conveyor device 67 and controlling the conveying direction of the conveying surface 67Z as appropriate, the orientation of the bobbin B to be received by the delivery mechanism 75 can be controlled to both the orientation with the large-diameter end side upstream and the orientation with the large-diameter end side downstream.
[0074] One aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the invention.
[0075] The embodiment above may include the sensor S2 instead of the sensor S1 (refer to FIG. 3) as illustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. The sensor S2 is a detector configured to detect the bobbin B. When the sensor S2 detects the bobbin B in the second state, the machine control device 5C changes the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z moving in the first conveying direction from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction. As the sensor S2, a photoelectric sensor can be used, for example. The sensor S2 is provided at a position from which it can be confirmed that the bobbin B has normally overturned. The sensor S2 projects light along the horizontal direction at a position at an end in the first conveying direction above the conveying surface 67Z and above the conveying surface 67Z by a distance not greater than the diameter of the small-diameter end of the bobbin B. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the light projected by the sensor S2 is received in the first state (sensor OFF). On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the light projected by the sensor S2 is blocked by the bobbin B in the second state and is thus not received (sensor ON). Thus, the sensor S2 detects the bobbin B in the second state by detecting a change from sensor OFF to sensor ON.
[0076] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the winding tube is the bobbin B, but this is not limiting. The winding tube may be at least one of a spun bobbin, an empty bobbin for roved yarn, a tube before a fiber material such as yarn or roved yarn is wound, and a tube onto which a fiber material is wound (a long member such as a twill winding package or a roved yarn package or the like).
[0077] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the machine control device 5C may change the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z moving in the first conveying direction from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a certain time has elapsed after the introduction of the bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66. The elapse of the certain time can be grasped by a timer of the machine control device 5C, for example. This modification can change the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z without using a sensor, for example, and can thus simplify the configuration.
[0078] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the machine control device 5C may change the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z moving in the first conveying direction from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a distance moved by the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction after the introduction of the bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z by the chute part 66 reaches a certain distance. This modification can change the moving direction of the conveying surface 67Z utilizing the distance moved after the introduction of the bobbin B onto the conveying surface 67Z. In this modification, the machine control device 5C may calculate the distance moved of the conveying surface 67Z based on the number of pulses of a pulse signal input to the stepping motor included in the drive unit 69. This modification utilizes the number of pulses of the stepping motor and can thus easily calculate the distance moved of the conveying surface 67Z.
[0079] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the machine control device 5C may be capable of executing first control and second control below. The first control controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to reverse the endless belt 67B, to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction, and to move the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z along with the movement and thereby tilts the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plates 66A, 66B to make the second state, in which the bobbin B is overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. The first control, after making the second state, controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to rotate the endless belt 67B forward, to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the bobbin B in the second conveying direction. The second control controls the drive of the drive unit 69 in the first state to rotate the endless belt 67B forward, to move the conveying surface 67Z in the second conveying direction, and to move the small-diameter end of the bobbin B being in contact with the conveying surface 67Z along with the movement and thereby tilts the bobbin B so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting plates 66A, 66B to make the second state, in which the bobbin B is overturned to lie on the conveying surface 67Z. The second control, after making the second state, controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to reverse the endless belt 67B, to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first conveying direction, and to convey the bobbin B in the first conveying direction. After making the bobbin B the second state in the second control, the drive unit 69 may control the drive of the drive unit 69 such that the conveying surface 67Z moves at the moving speed until then or at a moving speed higher than the moving speed until then. The machine control device 5C may temporarily stop the movement of the conveying surface 67Z after the orientation of the bobbin B has been changed and before starting conveyance of the bobbin B. This modification can sort the bobbin B oriented as desired.
[0080] In the embodiment and the modifications above, an aspect has been described in which the present invention is applied to the spinning machine 1, but this is not limiting. Another aspect of the present invention may be a yarn winding system including a spinning frame configured to wind yarn onto a spinning bobbin (winding tube) to form a yarn supply bobbin, an automatic winder configured to wind yarn from the yarn supply bobbin onto the bobbin B to form a package, and a winding tube processing device similar to the winding tube processing device 65 configured to process the spinning bobbin to be supplied to the spinning frame. Such a yarn winding system also produces the effect of making it possible to avoid the number of parts from increasing due to the winding tube processing device. In this case, when a plurality of spinning bobbins are aligned in the left-right direction, for example, the spinning bobbins may be sorted such that a leftward (an orientation with the large-diameter end side positioned on the left side) spinning bobbin and a rightward (an orientation with the large-diameter end side positioned on the right side) spinning bobbin are alternately mixed in order of the alignment.
[0081] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the chute part 66 includes the pair of restricting plates 66A, 66B as the restricting part, but it may include only either the restricting plate 66A or the restricting plate 66B, or it may include a cylindrical member instead of the restricting plates 66A, 66B. The embodiment and the modifications above may include a placement part not having the function of conveying the bobbin B instead of the conveyor device 67.
[0082] In the embodiment and the modifications above, it is not necessary that all of the lower edge of the restricting part is spaced apart from the conveying surface 67Z by the first distance a, and it is enough that part of the lower edge of the restricting part is spaced apart from the conveying surface 67Z by the first distance a. When viewed from the conveying direction, for example, the shape of the lower edge of the restricting part may be a straight line parallel to the conveying surface 67Z, it may be a shape inclined with respect to the conveying surface 67Z, or it may be another shape such as a wavy shape. The distance from the conveying surface 67Z to the lower edge of one of the restricting plates 66A, 66B may be longer than the distance from the conveying surface 67Z to the lower edge of the other of the restricting plates 66A, 66B. In the embodiment above, the distance from the conveying surface 67Z to the lower edge of the restricting plate 66A may be longer than the distance from the conveying surface 67Z to the lower edge of the restricting plate 66B.
[0083] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the machine control device 5C controls the drive of the drive unit 69 to move the conveying surface 67Z in the first state, but this is not limiting. A drive unit such as an air cylinder configured to move the restricting plates 66A, 66B in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 may be separately provided, for example, and in the first state, instead of or in addition to moving the conveying surface 67Z, the machine control device 5C may control the drive of the drive unit to move the restricting plates 66A, 66B in the left direction or the right direction. However, if the configuration is to move the conveying surface 67Z, the existing drive unit 69 of the conveyor device 67 can be utilized as the drive unit, eliminating the need for the separate drive unit.
[0084] In the embodiment and the modifications above, an example has been described in which one conveyor device 67 is disposed, but a plurality of conveyor devices 67 may be disposed such that their conveying surfaces 67Z are arranged in a row. In this case, in one conveyor device 67 to which the bobbin B is introduced by the chute part 66, the conveying surface 67Z may be moved at a low speed to accurately perform changing the orientation of the bobbin B, while in the other conveyor devices 67, the conveying surfaces 67Z may be moved at a high speed.
[0085] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the bobbin feeder 60 may include a dedicated bobbin conveying path to the magazine 41. In this case, the winding tube processing device 65 is mounted upstream of the bobbin conveying path. In the embodiment and the modifications above, the doffing carriage 4 includes the magazine 41. However, it may be configured that a bobbin conveyor is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the spinning machine 1, and the doffing carriage 4 receives the bobbin B from the bobbin conveyor at an appropriate position. In this case, the winding tube processing device 65 is disposed upstream of the bobbin conveyor.
[0086] In the embodiment and the modifications above, an example of a configuration has been described in which the yarn winding machine is the spinning machine 1 and the winding units are the spinning units 2. However, the yarn winding machine may be an automatic winder or an open-end spinning machine.
[0087] In the embodiment and the modifications above, an example of a configuration has been described in which the bobbin feeder 60 is disposed at one end of the group of the spinning units 2 in the arrangement direction (the end where the first end frame 5A is disposed). However, the bobbin feeder 60 may be disposed at the other end of the group of the spinning units 2 in the arrangement direction (the end where the second end frame 5B is disposed). A plurality of the bobbin feeders 60 may be provided.
[0088] In the embodiment and the modifications above, the respective devices are disposed in the spinning machine 1 such that the yarn Y fed from the upper side in the height direction is wound at the lower side. However, in the spinning machine 1, the respective devices may be disposed such that yarn fed from the lower side is wound at the upper side. In the embodiment and the modifications above, an example of a configuration has been described in which the second end frame 5B includes the display screen 5D and the input keys 5E. However, the second end frame 5B may include a touch panel display instead of the display screen 5D and the input keys 5E.
[0089] In FIG. 1, the spinning machine 1 is illustrated such that cone-shaped packages P, in which the diameters of the winding tubes are different at the longitudinal ends, are wound. However, cheese-shaped packages P, in which the diameters of the winding tubes are the same at the longitudinal ends, may also be wound. This is especially advantageous in the case of a directional winding tube in which a marking is given at one end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the bobbin feeder 60 feeds cheese-shaped bobbins B to the doffing carriage 4. In the spinning unit 2, the yarn storage device 11 has a function of pulling out the yarn Y from the air-jet spinning device 7. However, the yarn Y may be pulled out from the air-jet spinning device 7 by a delivery roller and a nip roller. When the yarn Y is pulled out from the air-jet spinning device 7 by a delivery roller and a nip roller, instead of the yarn storage device 11, a slack tube and/or a mechanical compensator, for example, configured to absorb slack of the yarn Y using suction airflow may be provided. The spinning machine 1 may include a device for causing each spinning unit 2 to perform splicing without including the splicing carriage 3.
[0090] In the above description, the materials and shapes of the respective components are not limited to those described above, and various types of materials and shapes may be used.
[0091] The following describes requirements for one aspect of the present invention.

A winding tube processing device comprising:
a placement part having a placement surface on which a winding tube is placed;
an introducing part configured to introduce the winding tube onto the placement surface such that a longitudinal direction of the winding tube crosses the placement surface and one end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction is in contact with the placement surface; and
an orientation changing unit configured to change an orientation of the winding tube introduced onto the placement surface, wherein
the orientation changing unit includes:
a drive unit configured to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in a direction along the placement surface; and
a control unit configured to control drive of the drive unit in a first state, in which the winding tube is introduced onto the placement surface, to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in the direction along the placement surface.

The winding tube processing device according to Invention 1, wherein
the introducing part includes a restricting part provided so as to be capable of being in contact with another end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction in the first state to restrict overturning of the winding tube by self-weight until the winding tube lies on the placement surface by control of the control unit, and
the control unit controls drive of the drive unit in the first state to move at least either the placement surface or the restricting part in the direction along the placement surface and to move at least either the one end being in contact with the placement surface or the other end being in contact with the restricting part along with the movement and thereby tilts the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part to cause the winding tube to be overturned to lie on the placement surface.

The winding tube processing device according to Invention 2, wherein
the placement part forms a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and
the control unit controls drive of the drive unit in the first state to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction, to tilt the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part, and to make a second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, and then controls drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube in the second conveying direction.

The winding tube processing device according to Invention 3, wherein a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the first conveying direction is lower than a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the second conveying direction.

The winding tube processing device according to Invention 3 or 4, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the winding tube, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when the winding tube in the second state is detected by the sensor.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 3 to 5, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a certain time has elapsed after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 3 to 6, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a distance moved by the placement surface in the first conveying direction after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part reaches a certain distance.

The winding tube processing device according to Invention 7, wherein
the drive unit includes a stepping motor, and
the control unit calculates the distance moved of the placement surface based on a number of pulses of a pulse signal input to the stepping motor.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 3 to 8, further comprising a wall part provided on or around one end side in the first conveying direction above the placement surface to block movement of the winding tube on the placement surface in the first conveying direction.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 3 to 9, wherein
the winding tube conveyed by the conveying part is received by a receiving part, and
the introducing part, when the winding tube is delivered to the receiving part and the other winding tube is not present on the placement surface, introduces the new winding tube onto the placement surface.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 3 to 10, wherein
the conveying part includes an endless belt forming the placement surface,
the drive unit feeds the endless belt in the first conveying direction or the second conveying direction to move the placement surface, and
the control unit is capable of executing
first control to reverse the endless belt from the first state to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then rotate the endless belt forward to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube and
second control to rotate the endless belt forward from the first state to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then reverse the endless belt to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube.

The winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 2 to 11, wherein a coefficient of friction of the placement surface is larger than a coefficient of friction of a surface of the restricting part capable of being in contact with the other end of the winding tube.

A yarn winding machine comprising:
a winding unit configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package;
a work carriage including a magazine configured to accommodate the paper tube and a bobbin mounting mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube accommodated in the magazine to the winding unit; and
a bobbin feeder including a bobbin stocker configured to store a plurality of the paper tubes, the winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 12 configured to process the paper tube supplied from the bobbin stocker, and a delivery mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube processed by the winding tube processing device to the work carriage.

A yarn winding system comprising:
a spinning frame configured to wind yarn onto a winding tube to form a yarn supply bobbin;
an automatic winder configured to wind yarn from the yarn supply bobbin to form a package; and
the winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 12 configured to process the winding tube to be supplied to the spinning frame.

A yarn winding machine comprising at least two winding unit rows, each of which is a row of a plurality of winding units configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package, the two winding unit rows being integrated with each other on a back side, the yarn winding machine comprising the winding tube processing device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 12, wherein
the placement part forms a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and
the control unit
performs, in one of the spinning unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction and
performs, in another of the spinning unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to further move the placement surface in the second conveying direction.
, Claims:We claim:

1. A winding tube processing device comprising:
a placement part having a placement surface on which a winding tube is placed;
an introducing part configured to introduce the winding tube onto the placement surface such that a longitudinal direction of the winding tube crosses the placement surface and one end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction is in contact with the placement surface; and
an orientation changing unit configured to change an orientation of the winding tube introduced onto the placement surface, wherein
the orientation changing unit includes:
a drive unit configured to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in a direction along the placement surface; and
a control unit configured to control drive of the drive unit in a first state, in which the winding tube is introduced onto the placement surface, to move at least either the placement surface or the introducing part in the direction along the placement surface.

2. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the introducing part includes a restricting part provided so as to be capable of being in contact with another end of the winding tube in the longitudinal direction in the first state to restrict overturning of the winding tube by self-weight until the winding tube lies on the placement surface by control of the control unit, and
the control unit controls drive of the drive unit in the first state to move at least either the placement surface or the restricting part in the direction along the placement surface and to move at least either the one end being in contact with the placement surface or the other end being in contact with the restricting part along with the movement and thereby tilts the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part to cause the winding tube to be overturned to lie on the placement surface.
3. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the placement part forms a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and
the control unit controls drive of the drive unit in the first state to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction, to tilt the winding tube so as to release the restriction caused by the restricting part, and to make a second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, and then controls drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction, which is opposite to the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube in the second conveying direction.

4. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the first conveying direction is lower than a moving speed of the placement surface when the placement surface is moved in the second conveying direction.

5. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the winding tube, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when the winding tube in the second state is detected by the sensor.

6. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a certain time has elapsed after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part.

7. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit changes a moving direction of the placement surface from the first conveying direction to the second conveying direction when a distance moved by the placement surface in the first conveying direction after the introduction of the winding tube onto the placement surface by the introducing part reaches a certain distance.

8. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the drive unit includes a stepping motor, and
the control unit calculates the distance moved of the placement surface based on a number of pulses of a pulse signal input to the stepping motor.

9. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, further comprising a wall part provided on or around one end side in the first conveying direction above the placement surface to block movement of the winding tube on the placement surface in the first conveying direction.

10. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein
the winding tube conveyed by the conveying part is received by a receiving part, and
the introducing part, when the winding tube is delivered to the receiving part and the other winding tube is not present on the placement surface, introduces the new winding tube onto the placement surface.

11. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein
the conveying part includes an endless belt forming the placement surface,
the drive unit feeds the endless belt in the first conveying direction or the second conveying direction to move the placement surface, and
the control unit is capable of executing
first control to reverse the endless belt from the first state to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then rotate the endless belt forward to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube and
second control to rotate the endless belt forward from the first state to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction, to make the second state, in which the winding tube is overturned to lie on the placement surface, to then reverse the endless belt to move the placement surface in the first conveying direction, and to convey the winding tube.

12. The winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a coefficient of friction of the placement surface is larger than a coefficient of friction of a surface of the restricting part capable of being in contact with the other end of the winding tube.

13. A yarn winding machine comprising:
a winding unit configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package;
a work carriage including a magazine configured to accommodate the paper tube and a bobbin mounting mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube accommodated in the magazine to the winding unit; and
a bobbin feeder including a bobbin stocker configured to store a plurality of the paper tubes, the winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 configured to process the paper tube supplied from the bobbin stocker, and a delivery mechanism configured to deliver the paper tube processed by the winding tube processing device to the work carriage.

14. A yarn winding system comprising:
a spinning frame configured to wind yarn onto a winding tube to form a yarn supply bobbin;
an automatic winder configured to wind yarn from the yarn supply bobbin to form a package; and
the winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 configured to process the winding tube to be supplied to the spinning frame.

15. A yarn winding machine comprising at least two winding unit rows, each of which is a row of a plurality of winding units configured to wind yarn onto a paper tube as the winding tube to form a package, the two winding unit rows being integrated with each other on a back side, the yarn winding machine comprising the winding tube processing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the placement part forms a conveying part configured to convey the winding tube, and
the control unit
performs, in one of the winding unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a first conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in a second conveying direction and
performs, in another of the winding unit rows, control to control drive of the drive unit to move the placement surface in the second conveying direction and to subsequently control drive of the drive unit to further move the placement surface in the second conveying direction.