Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a supply apparatus for supplying a yarn winding machine with a bobbin wound with a yarn produced by a spinning machine.

BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Patent Document 1 is JP 2019-064797 A.
[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a bobbin supply apparatus including a parts feeder, a bobbin feed conveyor, and a bobbin sorting device. The parts feeder is provided with a spiral passage. The spiral passage is used to transport a bobbin loaded into the bobbin supply apparatus to the bobbin feed conveyor. The bobbin feed conveyor transports the bobbin supplied from the spiral passage to the bobbin sorting device. The bobbin sorting device includes a bobbin introduction conveyor that transports a bobbin to a downstream side. The bobbin sorting device sorts and arranges the bobbin introduced by the bobbin introduction conveyor into a plurality of bobbin passages.
[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a feature that forwarding speeds of the bobbin feed conveyor and the bobbin introduction conveyor are differed in order to prevent an arrangement of bobbins without gaps when being supplied.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] Patent Document 1 does not describe a feature that a bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is wound and a bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is not wound are distinguished and transported. Therefore, the bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is not wound may be transported toward a yarn winding machine.
[0006] The present invention has be made in view of the above circumstances, and a primary object thereof is to provide a supply apparatus capable of preventing an arrangement of bobbins without gaps, distinguishing between a bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is wound and a bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is not wound, and transporting such bobbins to different positions.
[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is thus described, and next, the means for solving such a problem and the effects thereof will be described.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, a supply apparatus having the following configuration is provided. That is, the supply apparatus supplies a yarn winding machine with a bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn produced by a spinning machine is wound. The supply apparatus includes a conveyor group, a yarn layer sensor, a core tube sensor, and a control device. The conveyor group includes a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in a transport direction of the bobbin and configured to transport the bobbin. The yarn layer sensor is for detecting the bobbin transported by the conveyor group and determining whether there is a yarn layer of the detected bobbin. The core tube sensor is for detecting the bobbin transported by the conveyor group and determining whether there is the bobbin including no yarn layer. The control device controls the conveyor group. The control device controls the conveyor group, based on a determination result evaluated from detection results from the core tube sensor and the yarn layer sensor, to transport the bobbin including the yarn layer to a relay position for supplying such a bobbin to the yarn winding machine and to transport the bobbin including no yarn layer to a collection position. In transporting the bobbin to the relay position or the collection position, the control device operates the conveyor located downstream, out of the plurality of conveyors, at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream.
[0009] As a result, when the conveyor located downstream is operated at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream, it is possible to prevent an arrangement of bobbins without gaps. When the yarn layer sensor, the core tube sensor, the collection position, and the relay position are provided, it is possible to distinguish the bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is wound and the bobbin having a core tube around which a yarn is not wound and transport such bobbins to different positions.
[0010] It is preferable that the supply apparatus includes a collection sensor configured to detect the bobbin transported to the collection position.
[0011] As a result, it is possible to detect whether there is the bobbin to be transported to the collection position.
[0012] The above-mentioned supply apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the control device drives the conveyor group to transport the bobbin including no yarn layer to the collection position. The collection sensor detects the bobbin being transported from the conveyor group to the collection position, and does not detect the bobbin that reaches the collection position.
[0013] As a result, it is possible to detect not only the presence of the bobbin to be transported to the collection position, but also a timing at which the bobbin reaches the collection position.
[0014] The above-mentioned supply apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the supply apparatus includes a shutter and a shutter sensor. The shutter switches between a state where a path for handing over the bobbin from the conveyor group to the collection position is opened and a state where such a path is closed. The shutter sensor detects the bobbin transported by the conveyor group. If the shutter sensor detects the bobbin after it is determined that the bobbin reaches the collection position, the control device drives the conveyor group into a direction in which the bobbin moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor does not detect the bobbin. The relay position is a position at which the bobbin is received from a handover position of the conveyor group. The shutter sensor is capable of detecting whether the bobbin is present at at least one of the relay position and the handover position, or whether the bobbin is not present at either the relay position or the handover position. The shutter sensor is arranged at the handover position to have an optical axis facing a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor so that it is possible to sense both the relay position and the handover position of the conveyor.
[0015] As a result, even if a bobbin not to be collected remains in the conveyor group, it is possible to keep the bobbin away from the shutter so that such a bobbin is caught in the shutter. When the shutter sensor has a function of detecting the bobbins at the handover position and the relay position, it is possible to reduce the number of sensors as compared to a configuration where the sensors are individually provided.
[0016] In the above-mentioned supply apparatus, it is preferable that the control device closes the shutter sensor irrespective of a detection result of the shutter sensor, after the conveyor group is driven in a direction where the bobbin moves away from the collection position and if a threshold value time elapses.
[0017] As a result, even if the shutter sensor continues to detect the bobbin at the relay position, it is possible to close the shutter.
[0018] In the above-mentioned supply apparatus, it is preferable that the control device determines whether the bobbin is present at the relay position, based on a detection result of the shutter sensor after the conveyor group is driven.
[0019] If it is desired to specify the presence of the bobbin at the relay position, when the conveyor group is driven, the bobbin present at the handover position is moved from the handover position. Therefore, when the shutter sensor is used after the bobbin at the handover position is moved, it is possible to detect whether the bobbin is present at the relay position.
[0020] The above-mentioned supply apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the conveyor group includes an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is arranged downstream in the transport direction relative to the upstream conveyor. An entrance sensor is provided upstream of a center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor. An exit sensor is provided downstream of the center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor.
[0021] As a result, it is possible to detect at which position on the downstream conveyor the bobbin is present.
[0022] The above-mentioned supply apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, in driving the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor is restarted from a state where the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are stopped, if the entrance sensor detects the bobbin, the control device restarts driving the upstream conveyor, after the driving of the downstream conveyor is restarted and after the entrance sensor does not detect the bobbin.
[0023] As a result, it is possible to prevent an arrangement of bobbins without gaps at a position where the upstream conveyor connects to the downstream conveyor.
[0024] In the above-mentioned supply apparatus, it is preferable that after restarting driving the downstream conveyor and if a first threshold value time elapses, the control device restarts driving the upstream conveyor irrespective of the detection result of the entrance sensor.
[0025] As a result, it may be possible to resolve the abnormality without calling an operator.
[0026] The above-mentioned supply apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, an upstream exit sensor is provided downstream of the center area in the transport direction of the upstream conveyor. The control device increases a transport speed of the upstream conveyor if a second threshold value time elapses in a state where the upstream exit sensor does not detect the bobbin.
[0027] As a result, it is possible to avoid an excessively long interval between the bobbins to increase the transport efficiency of the bobbin.
[0028] In the above-mentioned supply apparatus, it is preferable that in the conveyor group, the conveyor is provided to include at least four of the plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction.
[0029] As a result, it is possible to efficiently transport the bobbin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030]FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the supply apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conveyor group.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of transporting a bobbin to a relay position and a collection position.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating that an arrangement of bobbins without gaps is eliminated due to a difference in conveyor speed.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating that an arrangement of bobbins without gaps is eliminated by driving the conveyor in a reverse direction.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow when a bobbin including a yarn layer is transported to the relay position.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow when a bobbin including no yarn layer is transported to the collection position.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process of determining whether a bobbin is present at the relay position, based on a detection result of a handover sensor.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a situation before and after a fourth conveyor is driven in a reverse direction.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process of starting driving the conveyor when an operation is restarted from a temporary stop.
FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating positions of an N-th entrance sensor and an N-th exit sensor.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow in which when driving a third conveyor is started, a third entrance sensor thereby does not detect the bobbin, and thereafter, driving a second conveyor is started.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process of increasing a speed of an N-th conveyor according to a detection result of the N-th exit sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Next, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0032] Firstly, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an overview of a supply apparatus 1 will be described. In the following description, an upstream and a downstream in a direction in which a bobbin 91 is transported are simply referred to as upstream and downstream.
[0033] The supply apparatus 1 supplies the bobbin 91 to a yarn winding machine such as an automatic winder. The bobbin 91 is a yarn-supplying bobbin formed by winding a yarn produced by a spinning machine around a core tube. The yarn winding machine winds the yarn wound around the bobbin 91 to form a package. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the supply apparatus 1 includes a reception unit 10, an individualization unit 20, a transport unit 29, a setting unit 30, and a control device 40.
[0034] A housing body 90 illustrated in FIG. 1 houses a plurality of the bobbins 91 formed by a spinning machine. The housing body 90 is a box-shaped member with a top side formed thereon with an opening. When the housing body 90 is inclined by an operator or an unillustrated loading device so that the opening faces downward, the plurality of bobbins 91 housed in the housing body 90 are loaded into the reception unit 10.
[0035] The reception unit 10 has a retention part 11, a restriction part 12, and a loading part 13. Each bobbin 91 loaded from the housing body 90 is temporarily retained in the retention part 11. The retention part 11 has an inclined surface with its height decreasing toward the downstream side so that it is possible to transport the bobbin 91 by its own weight. It is noted that the bobbin 91 may be transported by using a conveyor instead of the inclined surface.
[0036] The restriction part 12 is provided between the retention part 11 and the loading part 13 in a transport direction of the bobbin 91. The restriction part 12 is capable of being raised and lowered. As the restriction part 12 raises and lowers, the restriction part 12 changes its position between a raised state and a lowered state. While the restriction part 12 is in the raised state, movement of the bobbin 91 is prevented. While the restriction part 12 is in the lowered state, movement of the bobbin 91 is allowed. When the restriction part 12 switches between the raised state and the lowered state at a predetermined timing, it is possible to adjust an amount of bobbins 91 to be supplied from the retention part 11 to the loading part 13.
[0037] The loading part 13 has an inclined surface with its height decreasing toward the downstream side. The loading part 13 transports the bobbin 91 by its own weight and loads the bobbin 91 into the individualization unit 20.
[0038] The individualization unit 20 separates the plurality of bobbins 91 loaded from the loading part 13 of the reception unit 10 into individual bobbins 91 and transports such bobbins 91 one by one. The individualization unit 20 includes a vertical conveyor 21 and a support stand 25. The vertical conveyor 21 includes a belt and a motor. When the belt is driven by the motor in the vertical direction, the vertical conveyor 21 is moved in the vertical direction. The vertical conveyor 21 is fixed with the support stand 25. The support stand 25 supports the bobbin 91 placed thereon and transports the bobbin 91 upward. The bobbin 91 transported by the vertical conveyor 21 is supplied to the setting unit 30 via the transport unit 29. It is noted that the transport unit 29 will be described in detail below.
[0039] The setting unit 30 sets the bobbin 91 supplied from the individualization unit 20 on a tray 92. The tray 92 is movable along a transport path 93 configured by a conveyor or the like. The bobbin 91 moves along the transport path 93 while being set on the tray 92, and is supplied to the yarn winding machine.
[0040] The control device 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU, a RAM, and a storage. The storage is an HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, or the like. The storage stores therein a program related to the supply apparatus 1 and data such as a condition necessary for executing such a program. The arithmetic device reads the program stored in the storage into the RAM and executes such a program. As a result, the control device 40 performs various controls regarding the supply apparatus 1.
[0041] Next, the transport unit 29 will be described in detail.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transport unit 29 transports the bobbin 91 by using a plurality of conveyors, and transports the bobbin 91 to a collection position or a relay position. The collection position is a position of a collection unit 55 configured to collect the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer. Having no yarn layer as used herein includes not only a state where a yarn is not wound around the core tube, but also a state where a yarn is slightly wound around the core tube. In other words, the bobbin 91 determined by the apparatus to have little or no yarn layer corresponds to the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer. The relay position is a position to pass through for the bobbin 91 to be set in the yarn winding machine. The relay position is, for example, a part of the setting unit 30. The relay position may be a position provided between the transport unit 29 and the setting unit 30 in the transport direction. Among the positions of the conveyor group 50, the position for handing over the bobbin 91 to the relay position is referred to as a handover position.
[0043] The transport unit 29 includes a conveyor group 50 configured to transport the bobbin 91. The conveyor group 50 includes a plurality of conveyors. Specifically, the conveyor group 50 includes, in order from the upstream side, a first conveyor 51, a second conveyor 52, a third conveyor 53, and a fourth conveyor 54. Each conveyor includes a drive source and a belt. The drive source generates power according to a command from the control device 40, and the belt is driven by such a driving force. When two adjacent conveyors are selected from the plurality of conveyors included in the conveyor group 50, the conveyor on the upstream side corresponds to the upstream conveyor, and the conveyor on the downstream side corresponds to the downstream conveyor. In the present embodiment, the number of conveyors included in the conveyor group 50 is four, but the number may be other than four.
[0044] In each conveyor of the conveyor group 50, a speed is changeable according to a command from the control device 40. In the present embodiment, the speed is changeable in two stages, that is, low speed and high speed, but the speed may be changed in multiple stages or steplessly. The drive source is rotatable in forward and reverse directions. As a result, the control device 40 is capable of driving each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in either the forward direction or the reverse direction. It is noted that the forward direction is a direction in which the bobbin 91 is transported downstream (in other words, toward the relay position).
[0045] The transport unit 29 includes, as a sensor configured to detect the bobbin 91, a yarn layer sensor 61, a core tube sensor 62, a collection sensor 63, a shutter sensor 64, a handover sensor 65, a first exit sensor 71, a second entrance sensor 72, a second exit sensor 73, a third entrance sensor 74, a third exit sensor 75, and a fourth entrance sensor 76. All of these sensors are transmission-type optical sensors. That is, if the bobbin 91 is not present in a detection area, a light reception unit is irradiated with light projected by a light projection unit. If the bobbin 91 is present in the detection area, the light projected by the light projection unit is blocked by the bobbin 91, so that the light reception unit is not irradiated with the light. It is noted that a reflection-type optical sensor may be used instead of the transmission-type optical sensor. Such sensors are not limited to optical sensors, and for example, contact-type sensors may be used. Detection ranges of the shutter sensor 64 and the handover sensor 65 are approximated. Therefore, the shutter sensor 64 may have a function of the handover sensor 65, and the handover sensor 65 may be omitted.
[0046] Next, a control on the conveyor group 50 performed by the control device 40 according to the above-mentioned sensors and detection results of such sensors will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 4.
[0047] While the transport unit 29 is in operation, the control device 40 receives detection results of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (S101).
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 are arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction. The yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 transported by the fourth conveyor 54. Specifically, a detection height of the yarn layer sensor 61 is at a position higher than a height of a core tube placed on a transport surface of the fourth conveyor 54, and lower than an upper end of the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer placed on the transport surface. Therefore, the yarn layer sensor 61 does not detect the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer, but detects only the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer. That is, the yarn layer sensor 61 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 and determining whether there is the yarn layer on the detected bobbin 91. The detection height of the core tube sensor 62 is at a position higher than the transport surface of the fourth conveyor 54 and lower than an upper end of the core tube placed on the transport surface. Therefore, the core tube sensor 62 detects both the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer and the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer. The yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 are used to detect a presence of the bobbin 91 and to detect whether there is the yarn layer on the bobbin 91. That is, the core tube sensor 62 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 and determining whether there is the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer.
[0049] The control device 40 determines whether there is an arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, based on the detection results of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (S102). The arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps means that two bobbins 91 are located without any gap in the transport direction. The control device 40 determines whether there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, based on a length of time during which the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbin 91. That is, if there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 do not detect the bobbin 91 when an interval of the bobbins 91 passes the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62. On the other hand, if there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 continue to detect the bobbins 91, and thus, it takes a long time for the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 to continuously detect the bobbins 91. Here, the length of the bobbins 91 and the transport speed of the fourth conveyor 54 are known, and thus, it is possible to calculate a time required for one bobbin 91 to pass through the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62. Therefore, if the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 continuously detects the bobbin 91 for a longer time than a calculated time, the control device 40 determines that there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps.
[0050] As illustrated in the upper part of FIG. 5, the third conveyor 53 is driven at a low speed, and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a high speed. Therefore, even if there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps at the stage of being transported on the third conveyor 53, the first one of the bobbins 91 is transported at a high speed by the fourth conveyor 54, and thus, the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps is eliminated, as illustrated in the lower part of FIG. 5. Therefore, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps at the time of passing the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62. Therefore, the control device 40 determines that there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps (S102). If determining that there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, the control device 40 omits a process of step S103, which will be described later.
[0051] On the other hand, as illustrated in the top part of FIG. 6, if the two bobbins 91 are transported in an overlapping manner, when the bobbins 91 are placed on the fourth conveyor 54 at a high speed, the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps is eliminated. However, at the same time that the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps is eliminated, the last one of the bobbins is transported by the fourth conveyor 54. As a result, there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps again. In such a case, the control device 40 determines that there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps (S102).
[0052] If determining that there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, the control device 40 drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction, and thereafter, drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S103). At such a time, the control device 40 drives, at a low speed, a conveyor at an upstream side when driving in the reverse direction, and drives, at a high speed, a conveyor at a downstream side when driving in the reverse direction. Specifically, when the control device 40 drives a conveyor in the reverse direction, as illustrated in the third part from the top of FIG. 6, the third conveyor 53 (and the unillustrated first conveyor 51 and second conveyor 52) is driven at a high speed and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a low speed. When the control device 40 drives a conveyor in the forward direction, as illustrated in the fourth part from the top in FIG. 6, the third conveyor 53 (and the unillustrated first conveyor 51 and second conveyor 52) is driven at a low speed and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a high speed. As a result, as illustrated in the fourth part from the top of FIG. 6, it is possible to eliminate the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps.
[0053] In the present embodiment, a speed difference is set to the conveyor in both the reverse direction and the forward direction, but the speed difference may be set to the conveyor only in one of the reverse direction and the forward direction.
[0054] Next, the control device 40 determines whether the bobbin 91 includes the yarn layer, based on the detection results of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (more specifically, based on a determination result evaluated from the detection results) (S104). That is, when both the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 as illustrated in FIG. 7, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 includes the yarn layer. As illustrated in FIG. 8, if only the core tube sensor 62 of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 includes no yarn layer. Thus, the yarn layer sensor 61 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer, and the core tube sensor 62 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer, in cooperation with the yarn layer sensor 61.
[0055] It is noted that instead of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62, a line sensor may be used to distinguish and detect the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer and the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer.
[0056] In determining that the bobbin 91 includes the yarn layer, the control device 40 transports the bobbin 91 to the relay position as illustrated in FIG. 7 (S105).
[0057] In determining that the bobbin 91 includes no yarn layer, the control device 40 transports the bobbin 91 to the collection position as illustrated in FIG. 8. Specifically, the control device 40 opens a shutter 56 and transports the bobbin 91 to the collection position (S106). The shutter 56 is arranged between the fourth conveyor 54 and the collection unit 55. In a state where the shutter 56 is opened, it is possible to transport the bobbin 91 from the fourth conveyor 54 to the collection unit 55. In a state where the shutter 56 is closed, the bobbin 91 is blocked from moving toward the collection unit 55, and thus, it is not possible to transport the bobbin 91 to the collection unit 55. As illustrated in the second part from the top of FIG. 8, while the bobbin 91 is being transported to the collection position, the fourth conveyor 54 is changed to be driven at a low speed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the next bobbin 91 transported adjacently from being collected at the collection position. It is noted that the process of changing the speed of the fourth conveyor 54 to a low speed may be omitted.
[0058] Next, the control device 40 determines whether the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position (S107). Such a determination is made by using the detection result of the collection sensor 63. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the collection sensor 63 is arranged in the collection unit 55. The collection sensor 63 detects the bobbin 91 being transported from the fourth conveyor 54 to the collection position, and does not detect the bobbin 91 already reaching the collection position. Therefore, if the collection sensor 63 does not detect the bobbin 91 after detecting the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position.
[0059] As illustrated in the third part from the top of FIG. 8, if the shutter 56 is closed at a timing when the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position, there is a possibility that the next bobbin 91 is caught in the shutter 56. Therefore, the control device 40 performs the following processes. That is, the control device 40 determines whether the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 (S108). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the shutter sensor 64 is a sensor for determining whether the bobbin 91 is present near the shutter 56.
[0060] Specifically, the shutter sensor 64 is arranged within a length of the bobbin 91 with the shutter 56 being used as a reference. Therefore, in a situation where the shutter sensor 64 does not detect the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 is not caught by the shutter 56 even if the shutter 56 is closed. Therefore, if the shutter sensor 64 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109). Thereafter, the control device 40 performs the processes from step S101, onto the next bobbin 91.
[0061] On the other hand, if the shutter 56 is closed in a situation where the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91, there is a possibility that the bobbin 91 is caught by the shutter 56. Therefore, if the shutter sensor 64 detects the next bobbin 91 at the timing when the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position, the control device 40 drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction (S110). While driving each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction, the control device 40 again determines whether the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 (S111). As described above, if the shutter sensor 64 no longer detects the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 is not caught by the shutter 56 even if the shutter 56 is closed. Therefore, if the shutter sensor 64 no longer detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109).
[0062] It is noted that even if each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 is driven in the reverse direction, the shutter sensor 64 may continue to detect the bobbin 91. In such a case, the process does not proceed, and thus, the control device 40 performs the following process. That is, the control device 40 determines whether a threshold value time elapses in a state where the shutter sensor 64 is detecting the bobbin 91 (S112). If the threshold value time elapses, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109).
[0063] Although the flowchart in FIG. 4 includes a plurality of processes illustrated below, each process is independent, and even if only each of the processes is individually executed, an effect of each of the processes may be obtained. That is, the plurality of processes include a process of eliminating the arrangement of bobbins without gaps (S102 and S103), a process of changing a transport destination depending on the presence or absence of the yarn layer (S104 to S106), a process of driving the conveyor group 50 until the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position (S106 and S107), and a process of avoiding the bobbin 91 from being caught by the shutter 56 (S108 to S112).
[0064] Next, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a process of detecting whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position by using the handover sensor 65 when the operation is restarted from a temporary stop, will be described.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the handover sensor 65 is arranged at the handover position with its optical axis directed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor so that a detection range includes both the relay position and the handover position. Therefore, the handover sensor 65 is capable of detecting whether the bobbin 91 is present at at least one of the relay position and the handover position, or whether the bobbin 91 is not present at either the relay position or the handover position. That is, if the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, it is not possible to specify whether the bobbin 91 is present at both the relay position and the handover position, or whether the bobbin 91 is present only at one of the relay position and the handover position. In particular, when the operation is restarted from the temporary stop, there is a possibility that the operator may manually place the bobbin 91 during the temporary stop, so even if a past control history is referred to, it is difficult to accurately determine whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position.
[0066] As described above, the shutter sensor 64 may also serve as the handover sensor 65. In such a case, it is necessary that the shutter sensor 64 (1) is provided at the most downstream of the conveyor group 50 and arranged so as to be able to detect the bobbin 91 being transported by the conveyor group 50, and (2) is arranged so as to detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at at least one of the relay position and the handover position or to detect whether the bobbin 91 is not present at either the relay position or the handover position. If the shutter sensor 64 also serves as the handover sensor 65, the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 at the relay position. Therefore, in the determination in step S111 described above, if the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position, the shutter sensor 64 continues to detect the bobbin 91 even if each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 is driven in the reverse direction. Thus, if the shutter sensor 64 also serves as the handover sensor 65, it is further preferable to perform the processes in steps S111 and S112.
[0067] Therefore, the control device 40 performs the following process in restarting the operation from the temporary stop. That is, the control device 40 determines whether the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91 (S201). If the handover sensor 65 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position (S205).
[0068] If the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction, as illustrated in FIG. 10 (S202). As a result, if the bobbin 91 is at the handover position, the bobbin 91 is retracted from the handover position. A time for driving the fourth conveyor 54 in the reverse direction may be, for example, a previously determined time. Alternatively, such a time may be until the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 and thereafter stop detecting the bobbin 91. It is noted that if there is a space in which the bobbin 91 is retracted, between the handover position and the collection position, each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 may be driven in the forward direction. In such a case, it is preferable to control the conveyor group 50 so that the new bobbin 91 is not supplied to the handover position.
[0069] Next, the control device 40 again determines whether the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91 (S203). At such a point, the bobbin 91 is not present at the handover position. Therefore, if the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position (S204). On the other hand, if the handover sensor 65 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position (S205).
[0070] Thus, it is possible to accurately specify whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position when the operation is restarted from the temporary stop. A process after the operation is restarted will be briefly described. The control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 reaches the handover position as a result of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 changing from a state where the bobbin 91 is detected to a state where the bobbin 91 is not detected. Thereafter, if the handover sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 moves the bobbin 91 at the handover position, to the relay position. As a result, it is determined that the bobbin 91 is not present at the handover position, and it is determined that the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position. It is noted that the shutter is present at the relay position, and when the shutter opens, it is determined that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position. The bobbin 91 not being present at the relay position is one of conditions for moving the bobbin 91 at the handover position to the relay position.
[0071] Next, with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14, a process of starting driving each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 when the operation is restarted from the temporary stop will be described.
[0072] If it is supposed that driving of all the conveyors included in the conveyor group 50 is started at the same time, there is a possibility that there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in such a control, the driving is started sequentially from the downstream conveyor. In such a control, basically, after confirming that there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps, the driving of each conveyor is restarted.
[0073] In such a control, the control device 40 uses detection results of the first exit sensor 71 to the fourth entrance sensor 76, which are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 12. An N-th entrance sensor is a sensor arranged at or near an upstream end of an N-th conveyor. An N-th exit sensor is a sensor arranged at or near a downstream end of the N-th conveyor. It is noted that N is a positive integer, and in a flowchart of FIG. 11, N=2, 3, and 4.
[0074] In restarting the operation from the temporary stop, the control device 40 firstly starts driving the fourth conveyor 54, which is the most downstream conveyor (S301). Next, the control device 40 determines whether the N-th entrance sensor detects the bobbin 91 (S302). In order to start driving the conveyors in order from the downstream side, the control device 40 firstly determines whether the fourth entrance sensor 76 detects the bobbin 91. For example, when the fourth entrance sensor 76 detects the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 is present at the upstream end of the fourth conveyor 54, and thus, when the third conveyor 53 is driven, there is a possibility that there is the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps.
[0075] If determining that the N-th entrance sensor does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 starts driving an (N-1)th conveyor (S304). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 13, it is possible to restart driving the conveyor in a situation where there is no arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps. On the other hand, a situation may occur in which even if the downstream conveyor is driven, the entrance sensor of the conveyor on the downstream side continues to detect the bobbin 91.
[0076] In order to resolve such a situation, the control device 40 performs the following processes. If the N-th entrance sensor detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines whether the first threshold value time elapses after starting driving the N-th conveyor (S303). If determining that the first threshold value time elapses, the control device 40 starts driving the (N-1)th conveyor (S304). As a result, even if such a kind of situation occurs, it is possible to prevent the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps and also possible to start driving the conveyor, based on a determination of the control device 40. An appropriate value of the first threshold value time varies depending on the transport speed of each conveyor and the length of the bobbin 91. Therefore, it is preferable to determine the first threshold value time by experimentally verifying an appropriate value.
[0077] Next, the control device 40 determines whether the driving of all the conveyors included in the conveyor group 50 is started (S305). In determining that there is a conveyor that does not start driving yet, the control device 40 performs the processes from steps S302 to S304 for N that is smaller by one. In determining that the driving of all the conveyors is started, the control device 40 ends the process.
[0078] Thus, it is possible to prevent the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps.
[0079] In the present embodiment, the control device 40 starts driving the conveyor if either one of conditions is satisfied, that is, (1) the entrance sensor of the downstream conveyor does not detect the bobbin 91, and (2) the first threshold value time elapses after the driving of the downstream conveyor is started. It is noted that the condition (2) may be omitted and only the condition (1) may be used to determine whether to start driving the conveyor. In the present embodiment, the conveyors are started to be driven in order from the downstream side, but the order in which the conveyors are started to be driven may not be determined.
[0080] Next, with reference to FIG. 14, a process of reducing the gap if there is a gap between the bobbins 91 will be described. In a flowchart of FIG. 14, N=1, 2, and 3.
[0081] The process illustrated in FIG. 14 is performed after the driving of the conveyor is started. The control device 40 determines whether a situation in which the N-th exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91 passes a second threshold value time (S401). If the N-th exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91, it is possible to infer that the interval between the bobbins 91 is long in the vicinity of the N-th exit sensor.
[0082] If determining that the situation in which the N-th exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91 passes the second threshold value time, the control device 40 increases the speed of the N-th conveyor (S402). As a result, the interval between the bobbins 91 is narrower, and thus, it is possible to increase the efficiency of transporting the bobbins 91. Even in a situation where the conveyor group 50 continues to appropriately transport the bobbin 91, the N-th exit sensor repeats detection and non-detection of the bobbin 91. It is preferable that the second threshold value time is longer than a continued time during which the N-th exit sensor detects no bobbins at this time.
[0083] Next, the control device 40 determines whether the N-th exit sensor detects the bobbin 91 (S403). In determining that the N-th exit sensor detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 returns the speed of the N-th conveyor to an original speed (S404). As a result, it is possible to avoid the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps from occurring.
[0084] In the present embodiment, the process illustrated in FIG. 14 is performed in any combination of the first conveyor 51 and the second conveyor 52, the second conveyor 52 and the third conveyor 53, and the third conveyor 53 and the fourth conveyor 54. However, the process illustrated in FIG. 14 may be omitted for at least one combination.
[0085] As described above, the reception unit 10 supplies the yarn winding machine with the bobbin 91 having a core tube around wound which the yarn produced by the spinning machine is wound. The supply apparatus 1 includes the conveyor group 50, the yarn layer sensor 61, the core tube sensor 62, and the control device 40. The conveyor group 50 includes a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the bobbin 91 and configured to transport the bobbin 91. The yarn layer sensor 61 is used to detect the bobbin 91 transported by the conveyor group 50 and determine whether there is the yarn layer on the detected bobbin. The core tube sensor 62 is used to detect the bobbin 91 transported by the conveyor group 50 and to determine whether there is the bobbins 91 including no yarn layer. The control device 40 controls the conveyor group 50. The control device 40 controls the conveyor group 50, based on the detection results of the core tube sensor 62 and the yarn layer sensor 61, to transport the bobbin 91 including the yarn layer to the relay position for supplying such a bobbin 91 to the yarn winding machine, and transport the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer to the collection position. In transporting the bobbin 91 to the relay position or the collection position, the control device 40 operates the conveyor located downstream, out of the plurality of conveyors, at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream.
[0086] As a result, when the conveyor located downstream is operated at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream, it is possible to eliminate the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps. When the yarn layer sensor 61, the core tube sensor 62, the collection position, and the relay position are provided, it is possible to distinguish between the bobbin 91 having the core tube around which a yarn is wound and the bobbin 91 having the core tube around which a yarn is not wound and transport such bobbins 91 to respectively different positions.
[0087] The supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the collection sensor 63 configured to detect the bobbin 91 transported to the collection position.
[0088] As a result, it is possible to detect whether there is the bobbin 91 to be transported to the collection position.
[0089] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the control device 40 drives the conveyor group 50 to transport the bobbin 91 including no yarn layer, to the collection position. The collection sensor 63 detects the bobbin 91 being transported from the conveyor group 50 to the collection position, and does not detect the bobbin 91 that already reaches the collection position.
[0090] As a result, it is possible to detect not only that there is the bobbin 91 transported to the collection position, but also a timing at which the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position.
[0091] The supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the shutter 56 and the shutter sensor 64. The shutter 56 switches between a state where a path for handing over the bobbin 91 from the conveyor group 50 to the collection position is opened and a state where the path is closed. The shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 being transported by the conveyor group 50. If the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 after determining that the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position, the control device 40 drives the conveyor group 50 in a direction where the bobbin 91 moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor 64 does not detect the bobbin 91. The relay position is a position for receiving the bobbin 91 from the handover position of the conveyor group 50. The shutter sensor 64 is capable of detecting whether the bobbin 91 is present at at least one of the relay position and the handover position, or whether the bobbin 91 is not present at either the relay position or the handover position. The shutter sensor 64 is arranged at the handover position with its optical axis directed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor so that the shutter sensor 64 is capable of sensing both the relay position and the handover position.
[0092] As a result, even if the bobbin 91 not to be collected remains in the conveyor group, it is possible to separate the bobbin 91 from the shutter 56 so that such a bobbin 91 is not caught by the shutter 56. When the shutter sensor 64 has a function of detecting the bobbins at the handover position and the relay position, it is possible to reduce the number of sensors compared to a configuration in which sensors are provided individually.
[0093] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56, irrespective of the detection result of the shutter sensor 64, after the conveyor group 50 is driven in the direction where the bobbin 91 moves away from the collection position and if the threshold value time elapses.
[0094] As a result, also in a case where the shutter sensor 64 continues to detect the bobbin 91 at the relay position, it is possible to close the shutter 56.
[0095] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the control device 40 determines whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position, based on the detection result of the shutter sensor 64 after the conveyor group 50 is driven.
[0096] If it is desired to specify the presence of the bobbin 91 at the relay position, when the conveyor group is driven, the bobbin 91 present at the handover position moves from the handover position. Therefore, when the shutter sensor 64 is used after the bobbin at the reception position is moved, it is possible to detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position.
[0097] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the conveyor group 50 includes the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is arranged downstream in the transport direction with respect to the upstream conveyor. The entrance sensor is provided upstream of the center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor. The exit sensor is provided downstream of the center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor. It is noted that if the number of conveyors included in the conveyor group 50 is three or more, the conveyor arranged upstream in the transport direction (in particular, the forward direction) corresponds to the upstream conveyor, and the conveyor arranged downstream corresponds to the downstream conveyor, out of any two conveyors selected from the plurality of conveyors.
[0098] As a result, it is possible to detect at which position of the downstream conveyor the bobbin 91 is present.
[0099] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, in restarting driving the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor from a state where the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are stopped, if the entrance sensor detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 restarts driving the upstream conveyor, after the driving the downstream conveyor is restarted and the entrance sensor does not detect the bobbin 91 any more.
[0100] As a result, it is possible to prevent the arrangement of bobbins 91 without gaps from occurring at a position where the upstream conveyor is linked to the downstream conveyor.
[0101] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, after restarting driving the downstream conveyor and if the first threshold value time elapses, the control device 40 restarts driving the upstream conveyor irrespective of the detection result of the entrance sensor.
[0102] As a result, it may be possible to resolve the abnormality without calling an operator.
[0103] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the upstream exit sensor is provided downstream of the center area in the transport direction of the upstream conveyor. If the second threshold value time elapses without the upstream exit sensor detecting the bobbin 91, the control device 40 increases the transport speed of the downstream conveyor.
[0104] As a result, it is possible to avoid the interval between the bobbins 91 from becoming excessively long, and thus, it is possible to increase the transport efficiency of the bobbins 91.
[0105] In the supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the conveyor group 50 includes at least four conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction.
[0106] As a result, it is possible to efficiently transport the bobbin 91
, Claims:We claim:

1. A supply apparatus (1) for supplying a yarn winding machine with a bobbin (91) having a core tube around which a yarn produced by a spinning machine is wound, the supply apparatus (1) comprising:
a conveyor group (50) including a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in a transport direction of the bobbin (91), the plurality of conveyors configured to transport the bobbin (91);
a yarn layer sensor (61) configured to detect the bobbin (91) transported by the conveyor group (50) and determine whether there is a yarn layer of the detected bobbin (91);
a core tube sensor (62) configured to detect the bobbin (91) transported by the conveyor group (50) and determine whether there is the bobbin (91) including no yarn layer; and
a control device (40) configured to control the conveyor group (50),
wherein
the control device (40) controls the conveyor group (50), based on a determination result evaluated from detection results of the core tube sensor (62) and the yarn layer sensor (61), to transport the bobbin (91) including the yarn layer to a relay position for supplying the bobbin (91) to the yarn winding machine and to transport the bobbin (91) including no yarn layer to a collection position, and
in transporting the bobbin (91) to the relay position or the collection position, the control device (40) operates the conveyor located downstream, out of the plurality of conveyors, at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream.

2. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
a collection sensor (63) configured to detect the bobbin (91) transported to the collection position.

3. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the control device (40) drives the conveyor group (50) to transport the bobbin (91) including no yarn layer to the collection position, and
the collection sensor (63) is arranged at a collection position so as to detect the bobbin (91) being transported from the conveyor group (50) to the collection position, and not to detect the bobbin (91) that already reaches the collection position.

4. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 3, comprising:
a shutter (56) configured to switch between a state where a path for handing over the bobbin (91) from the conveyor group (50) to the collection position is opened and a state where the path is closed; and
a shutter sensor (64) provided at the most downstream of the conveyor group (50), the shutter sensor (64) configured to detect the bobbin (91) transported by the conveyor group (50);
wherein
if the shutter sensor (64) detects the bobbin (91) after determining that the bobbin (91) reaches the collection position, the control device (40) drives the conveyor group (50) in a direction where the bobbin (91) moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor (64) does not detect the bobbin (91) any more,
the relay position is a position for receiving the bobbin (91) from the handover position of the conveyor group (50),
the shutter sensor (64) is capable of detecting whether the bobbin (91) is present at at least one of the relay position and the handover position, or whether the bobbin (91) is not present at either the relay position or the handover position, and
the shutter sensor (64) is arranged at the handover position with an optical axis facing a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the conveyor so that the shutter sensor (64) is capable of sensing both the relay position and the handover position of the conveyor.
5. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the control device (40) closes the shutter (56) irrespective of a detection result of the shutter sensor (64), after the conveyor group (50) is driven in a direction where the bobbin (91) moves away from the collection position and if a threshold value time elapses.

6. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the control device (40) determines whether the bobbin (91) is present at the relay position, based on a detection result of the shutter sensor (64) obtained after driving the conveyor group (50).

7. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the conveyor group (50) comprises:
an upstream conveyor; and
a downstream conveyor arranged downstream in the transport direction with respect to the upstream conveyor, wherein
an entrance sensor is provided upstream of a center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor, and
an exit sensor is provided downstream of the center area in the transport direction of the downstream conveyor.

8. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein
in restarting driving the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor from a state where the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are stopped,
if the entrance sensor detects the bobbin (91), the control device (40) restarts driving the upstream conveyor, after driving the downstream conveyor is restarted and after the entrance sensor does not detect the bobbin (91) any more.

9. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein
the control device (40) restarts driving the upstream conveyor irrespective of a detection result of the entrance sensor, after the driving the downstream conveyor is restarted and if a first threshold value time elapses.

10. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, wherein
an upstream exit sensor is provided downstream of a center area in the transport direction of the upstream conveyor, and
the control device (40) increases a transport speed of the upstream conveyor if a second threshold value time elapses in a state where the upstream exit sensor does not detect the bobbin (91).

11. The supply apparatus (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein
the conveyor group (50) comprises at least four of the plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction.