DESCRIPTION
YARN WINDING MACHINE
TECHNICAL FIELD
5 [0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding machine. In more detail, the
present invention relates to a configuration for guiding a yarn to a yarn joining device at a
time of yarn joining.
BACKGROUND ART
10 [0002] A yarn winding machine such as an automatic winder is known in which a spun
yarn wound on a yam supply bobbin is rewound on a winding package with removal of
defects of the spun yam.
[0003] When the automatic winder rewinds the yarn, a tensile force is applied to the
spun yarn unwound from the yarn supply bobbin, and in this condition, the spun yarn is
15 guided through a number of yarn guides and the like to a traversing device, and the
traversing device traverses the yarn and simultaneously winds the yarn on a surface of the
winding package that is rotating. When the yarn supply bobbin becomes empty, this
empty yam supply bobbin is replaced with a new yarn supply bobbin, and then a yarn
joining device performs yarn joining, to continue the winding of the yarn into the
20 package.
[0004] In order that the yarn joining device performs the yam joining, it is necessary
that a yam of the package side and a yam of the yarn supply bobbin side are guided to the
yarn joining device. Conventionally, a suction stream is generated at a distal end of a
pipe-shaped yarn guide member to thereby suck and catch a yarn, and then the yarn guide
25 member is swung so that the yarn is guided to the yarn joining device.
3
[0005] A configuration of such a conventional automatic winder will be briefly
described with reference to FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a side view showing an outline of a
winder unit 90 included in a conventional automatic winder. The winder unit 90 is
configured to rewind a spun yarn 20 of a yarn supply bobbin 21 into a package 30. The
5 winder unit 90 includes a yarn joining device 14 that performs the yarn joining, and yarn
guide pipes (an upper yam guide pipe 91, a lower yarn guide pipe 92).
[0006] The yam guide pipes 91 and 92 are connected to a negative pressure source (not
shown), and configured such that a suction stream is generated at each of a suction port
91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91 and a suction port 92a of the lower yarn guide pipe 92.
10 The upper yarn guide pipe 91 is configured to swing up and down about a pivot point 91b.
Likewise, the lower yarn guide pipe 92 is configured to swing up and down about a pivot
point 92b.
[0007] A yarn joining operation performed in the above-described conventional
automatic winder will be described. In a case where the yarn positioned between the
15 package 30 and the yarn supply bobbin 21 is discontinued because of, for example,
replacement of the yarn supply bobbin 21, the suction port 92a of the lower yarn guide
pipe 92 sucks and catches a yarn end of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side. Then, the upper
yarn guide pipe 91 is swung up, and additionally the package 30 is rotated in a reverse
direction. As a result, a yarn end is pulled out from the package 30 and sucked by the
20 suction port 91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91. This situation is shown in FIG. 20.
[0008] Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the upper yarn guide pipe 91, which is sucking and
holding the yarn (upper yarn) of the package 30 side, is swung down. Thereby, the
upper yam of the package 30 side is introduced to the yarn joining device 14. Then, as
shown in FIG. 22, the lower yarn guide pipe 92, which is sucking and holding the yam
25 (lower yarn) of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side, is swung up. Thereby, the lower yarn of
I the yarn supply bobbin 21 side is introduced to the yam joining device 14. In this
condition, the yarn joining device 14 is actuated so that the yarn joining is performed
I
I between the upper yarn and the lower yarn, to thereby achieve a continuous state of the
yarn between the package 30 and the yarn supply bobbin 21. Performing the yarn
5 joining in the above-described manner enables the winding of the yarn into the package
1 30 to be continued.
i
[0009] Such a conventional configuration, in which the yarn end is guided by swinging
the yam guide member (yarn guide pipes 91 and 92), involves a problem of a complicated
mechanism because a mechanism for driving and swinging the yarn guide member is
10 required. Additionally, the complicated mechanism results in less freedome in layout
design. Moreover, other configuration parts have to be arranged such that they do not
interfere with the yam guide member that is swinging. In this respect as well, the layout
is limited. Furthermore, it takes some time for driving and swinging the yam guide
member and guiding the yarn end. Therefore, a long time is required for the yam
15 joining.
[0010] In this respect, as for a configuration for guiding a yam to a desired position, a
configuration different from the above-described configuration that drives and swings the
yarn guide member has been proposed.
[0011] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a traversing bobbin winding
20 machine including a suction nozzle that sucks in a yarn of the package side by means of
negative pressure. This suction nozzle has a longitudinal slit. The yarn sucked into the
suction nozzle is drawn out through the longitudinal slit, and guided to a yarn breakage
remover (yarn joining device) by a yam grip member. Since the yam is drawn out from
the suction nozzle through the longitudinal slit, the yarn sucked into the suction nozzle
25 can be guided to the yarn joining device without swinging the suction nozzle itself.
[0012] Patent Document 2 discloses a yarn supply processing device configured such
that air is ejected from a blowing nozzle to thereby generate a suction air stream in the
vicinity of an inlet port of a weft-yarn measuring and accumulating device so that a yarn
end is introduced into a yarn winding tube. This configuration, which generates a
5 suction air stream by ejected air, enables the yarn end to be sucked by the suction air
stream, and also enables the yarn end to be guided together with the ejected air to a
desired position. Accordingly, it is not necessary to drive any member for guiding the
yarn end.
[0013] In a case where the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are
10 adopted as a yam guiding configuration, a yam guide member (for example, the yarn
guide pipes 91 and 92 shown in FIG. 19), which largely swings, can be omitted. This
would be able to simplify the structure of the device as a whole, and to improve the
degree of freedom in a layout of configuration parts. This also would be able to shorten
a time required for guiding the yarn, as compared with a case where the yarn guide
15 member is driven to guide the yarn.
PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTS
PATENT DOCUMENTS
[OO 141 Patent Document 1 : Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-2 13563
20 (1992)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-241 136
(1 992)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
25 PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0015] Meanwhile, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, suction air is
applied to the suction nozzle having the slit to thereby suck the yam of a traversing
bobbin. In this configuration, air flows into the suction nozzle through the slit. This
causes a problem that a suction force exerted at the distal end of the suction nozzle is
5 deteriorated and therefore it is difficult to reliably suck and catch the yarn end.
Additionally, in Patent Document 1, an inlet opening of the suction nozzle is enlarged up
to the width of the bobbin (this is true also in the suction port 91a of the upper yarn guide
pipe 91 shown in FIG. 19). The reason therefor is as follows. Where on the
traverse-wound bobbin with respect to the width direction of the bobbin the yam end to
10 be sucked and caught will be positioned is uncertain. Therefore, in order to reliably suck
and catch the yarn end, it is necessary to generate the suction air stream throughout the
entire width of the traversing bobbin. However, forming such a large inlet opening
results in further deterioration in the suction force of the suction nozzle.
[0016] In this respect, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a
15 feather belt that unsticks the yarn end away from a weft-yarn cheese and guides the yarn
end to the inlet port. This configuration merely requires the yam end transported by the
feather belt to be sucked by the inlet port of the weft-yarn measuring and accumulating
device. Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the width of the inlet port up to the
cheese width. Accordingly, the inlet port can be formed with a small opening area.
20 This could maintain the intensity of the suction stream generated in the inlet port, and
thus improve the reliability in sucking and catching the yarn. However, the feather belt
has a complicated structure, because the feather belt has to be driven in a direction toward
and away from the weft-yarn bobbin. Additionally, the feather belt applies scraping to a
cheese surface, which may adversely affect the cheese shape. Therefore, it is not
25 preferable to adopt the feather belt in an automatic winder, or the like, that aims to
manufacture the cheese (package) itself. Furthermore, the configuration disclosed in
Patent Document 2 does not include a yarn joining device, and thus it is impossible to
apply Patent Document 2 directly to a yarn winding machine including a yarn joining
device.
5 [0017] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described
above, and a primary object of the present invention is to provide a yam winding machine
that is able to improve the degree of freedom in a layout and also able to guide a yarn to a
yam joining device in a short time.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS THEREOF
10 1001 81 Problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above, and next,
means for solveing the problems and effects thereof will be described.
[0019] In an aspect of the present invention, a yarn winding machine having the
following configuration is provided. The yam winding machine includes a bobbin
support part, a yarn accumulation device, a winding part, a yam joining device, and a yarn
15 guide part. The bobbin support part supports a yarn supply bobbin. The yam
accumulation device accumulates a yam unwound from the yam supply bobbin. The
winding part winds a yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device, to form a
package. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining between a yarn of the yarn
supply bobbin side and a yarn of the yarn accumulation device side, in a case where a
20 yarn is disconnected between the bobbin support part and the yarn accumulation device.
The yarn guide part pulls out a yam from the yarn accumulation device, and guides the
yarn to the yam joining device. The yarn guide part includes a yarn pull-out ejection
part, an air ejection part, a yarn catch part, and a yarn catch air-stream generation part.
The yam pull-out ejection part pulls out a yarn accumulated on the yam accumulation
25 device and blows off the yarn toward the bobbin support part side. The air ejection part
generates an air stream in the yarn pull-out ejection part, the air stream being for pulling
out and blowing off a yarn. The yarn catch part is arranged between the yarn joining
device and the bobbin support part, and configured to catch a yam blown off by the yarn
pull-out ejection part. The yam catch air-stream generation part generates an air stream
5 in the yam catch part, the air stream being for catching a yarn and introducing the yarn to
the yarn joining device.
[0020] Accordingly, since the yarn is blown off and guided to the yarn joining device
by means of ejected air, a configuration for guiding the yarn is simple. As a result, the
degree of freedom in a layout of configuration parts is improved. Moreover, since
10 guiding of the yarn to the yarn joining device is completed merely by blowing off the
yarn, a time required for an operation for guiding the yam is shortened and thus the
production efficiency of the package is improved. If a yam is pulled out from a package,
it would be necessary to apply a suction stream throughout the entire width of the package
in order to reliably catch a yam end. This results in high energy consumption. On the
15 other hand, in a case where the yarn is pulled out from the yam accumulation device as
described above, it suffices that a suction stream is applied only to a position where a yarn
end exists, which is known. This enables the yarn end to be reliably sucked with less
energy.
[0021] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
20 The yarn pull-out ejection part is a guide tube that guides a yarn of the yarn supply bobbin
side to the yarn accumulation device at a time of yarn winding. The air ejection part is
an air ejection nozzle that blasts compressed air to the inside of the guide tube.
[0022] In this configuration, the yarn is accumulated on the yarn accumulation device
through the guide tube. Therefore, when, reversely, the yarn is pulled out from the yarn
25 accumulation device, the pulling out of the yarn from the yarn accumulation device can
be reliably and smoothly performed by pulling out the yarn through the guide tube.
Accordingly, the above-described configuration in which the guide tube also serves as the
yarn pull-out ejection part enables the yarn wound on the yam accumulation device to be
reliably and smoothly blown off.
5 [0023] Preferably, the above-described yam winding machine includes a deflection
guide member that guides a yarn blown off by the yarn pull-out ejection part to the yarn
catch part.
[0024] Since the yam blown off by the yarn pull-out ejection part is guided to the yarn
catch part by the deflection guide member, the yam pull-out ejection part and the yarn
10 catch part can be freely arranged. This improves the degree of freedom in a layout.
[0025] In the above-described yam winding machine, it is preferable that the deflection
guide member is a tube-like member, in which a slit is formed along a longitudinal
direction of a tube.
[0026] The deflection guide member having such a tube-like shape allows the yam to
15 pass through the inside of the tube and thereby reliably guides the yarn to the yarn catch
part. Since the slit is formed in the deflection guide member having a tube-like shape,
the yam having been guided to the yam catch part can be drawn out through the slit. As
a result, at a time of normal winding, the yarn is able to travel outside the deflection guide
member. This can prevent deterioration in the quality of the yarn, which may otherwise
20 be caused by contact with the deflection guide member.
[0027] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that the deflection
guide member is provided at a position deviated from a travel path through which a yam
travels at a time of yarn winding.
[0028] This prevents the yarn from being in contact with the deflection guide member
25 at a time of the normal winding. Thus, deterioration in the quality of the yam is
prevented.
[0029] Preferably, the above-described yam winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn winding machine includes a second yarn guide part that guides a yarn of the
yarn supply bobbin to the yam joining device. The second yarn guide part includes a
5 lower yam blow-up part, a second yarn catch part, and a second yam catch air-stream
generation part. The lower yam blow-up part is arranged between the bobbin support
part and the yam joining device, and configured to blow off a yarn of the yarn supply
bobbin to a position near the yam joining device. The second yam catch part is arranged
between the yarn joining device and the yarn accumulation device, and configured to
10 catch a yarn blown off by the lower yarn blow-up part. The second yarn catch
air-stream generation part generates an air stream in the second yarn catch part, the air
stream being for catching a yarn.
[0030] Accordingly, the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin side can be blown off and
guided to the yam joining device. This can further improve the degree of freedom in a
15 layout of configuration parts of the yarn winding machine, and further shorten a time
required for the yarn joining.
1003 11 Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine includes a driving part
configured to drive the second yam catch part in a direction toward and away from a yarn
travel path.
20 [0032] This enables the second yarn catch part to be moved to a position (position
close to the yarn travel path) that allows the second yam catch part to easily catch the
yarn.
[0033] Preferably, the above-described yam winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn winding machine includes a control part that controls actuation of the driving
25 part. At a time of normal winding, the control part brings the second yam catch part
close to the yam travel path, and at a time of yarn joining, the control part drives the
second yarn catch part in a direction away from the yarn travel path under a state where a
yarn is caught by the second yarn catch part, to thereby introduce the caught yarn to the
yarn joining device. 5 COO341 Accordingly, at a time of the normal winding, the second yarn catch part is
located close to the yarn travel path, to make it possible to suck and remove cotton fly, or
the like, adhering to the yarn. On the other hand, when the second yam catch part
catches the yam, the second yam catch part is driven in the direction away from the yam
travel path, and thereby the yarn can be introduced to the yarn joining device.
10 [0035] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn winding machine includes a control part that controls the yam joining device,
the yarn pull-out ejection part, and the lower yarn blow-up part. When a new yam
supply bobbin is fed to the bobbin support part, the control part causes the lower yam
blow-up part to blow off a yarn of the new yarn supply bobbin, causes the second yarn
15 catch part to catch the yarn thus blown off, and drives the second yarn catch part in the
direction away from the yarn travel path. At or around this time, the control part causes
the yarn pull-out ejection part to pull out a yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation
device and blow off the yarn, and causes the yarn catch part to catch the yam thus blown
off. Then, the control part actuates the yarn joining device, to perform yam joining.
20 [0036] Accordingly, when the yarn supply bobbin is replaced, the yarn of the yam
supply bobbin side and the yarn of the yarn accumulation device side are guided to the
yarn joining device, and thus the yarn joining can be performed.
[0037] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
The yam winding machine includes a yarn defect detection device and a cutter. The
25 cutter is configured to, at a position at a downstream side of the second yarn catch part,
cut a yam between the yam supply bobbin and the yarn accumulation device. When the
yarn defect detection device detects a yarn defect, the control part actuates the cutter to
cut the yarn, causes the second yam catch part to catch a yam of the yarn supply bobbin
side, and drives the second yarn catch part in the direction away from the yam travel path.
5 At or around this time, the control part causes the yarn pull-out ejection part to pull out a
yam accumulated on the yam accumulation device and blow off the yarn, and causes the
yarn catch part to catch the yam thus blown off. Then, the control part actuates the yarn
joining device, to perform yarn joining.
[0038] Accordingly, after the yarn whose yarn fault has been detected is cut, the yam
10 of the yarn supply bobbin side and the yarn of the yam accumulation device side are
guided to the yarn joining device, and thus the yam joining can be performed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] [FIG. 11 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in an automatic
15 winder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 21 A diagram illustrating a configuration of a yam accumulation device.
[FIG. 31 A diagram showing a situation where a yarn supply bobbin becomes
empty.
[FIG. 41 A diagram showing a situation where a new yarn supply bobbin is fed.
20 [FIG. 51 A diagram showing a situation where a lower yam is introduced to a
lower yarn blow-up part.
[FIG. 61 A perspective view of an external appearance showing an outline of
the lower yam blow-up part.
[FIG. 71 A partial cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of the
25 lower yarn blow-up part.
[FIG. 81 A diagram showing a situation where a yam trap sucks and catches the
lower yarn.
[FIG. 91 A diagram showing a situation where the lower yarn is introduced to a
yam joining device.
5 [FIG. 101 A perspective view of an external appearance showing a
configuration of a deflection guide member.
[FIG. 111 A diagram showing a situation where an upper yarn is guided by the
deflection guide member.
[FIG. 121 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yarn is drawn out
10 from the deflection guide member.
[FIG. 131 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yarn is introduced to
the yam joining device.
[FIG. 141 A diagram showing a modification of the first embodiment.
[FIG. 151 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in an automatic
15 winder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 161 A diagram illustrating a configuration of a yarn accumulation device
included in the winder unit according to the second embodiment.
[FIG. 171 A winder unit included in an automatic winder according to a
modification of the second embodiment.
20 [FIG. 181 A diagram showing a configuration of a yarn accumulation device
included in the winder unit according to the modification of the second embodiment.
[FIG. 191 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in a conventional
automatic winder.
[FIG. 201 A diagram showing a situation where an upper yam and a lower yarn
25 are sucked and caught in a conventional winder unit.
[FIG. 211 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yam is introduced to
a yarn joining device in the conventional winder unit.
[FIG. 221 A diagram showing a situation where the lower yarn is introduced to
the yarn joining device in the conventional winder unit.
5
EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0040] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a winder unit 2 included in an automatic
winder (yarn winding machine) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
10 The automatic winder of this embodiment is configured with a number of winder units 2
arranged side by side. This automatic winder includes a machine management device
(not shown) and a blower box (not shown). The machine management device
collectively manages the winder units 2. The blower box includes a compressed air
source and a negative pressure source.
15 [0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the winder unit 2 mainly includes a bobbin support part 7
and a winding part 8. The winder unit 2 is configured to unwind a yarn (spun yarn) 20
from a yarn supply bobbin 21 that is supported on the bobbin support part 7 and rewind
the yam into a package 30. FIG. 1 shows a state of the winder unit 2 at a time of normal
winding. In the description herein, the "time of normal winding" indicates a state where
20 the yam is continuous between the yarn supply bobbin 21 and the package 30 and
additionally the yarn is being unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21 and wound into
the package 30.
[0042] The bobbin support part 7 is configured to hold the yarn supply bobbin 21 in a
substantially upright state. The bobbin support part 7 is also configured to discharge the
25 yarn supply bobbin 21 that is empty. The winding part 8 includes a cradle 23 and a
traverse drum 24. The cradle 23 is configured such that a wound bobbin 22 is mounted
thereon. The traverse drum 24 is configured to traverse the yam 20 and drive the wound
bobbin 22.
[0043] The traverse drum 24 is arranged opposed to the wound bobbin 22. The
5 traverse drum 24 is driven in rotation, and thereby the wound bobbin 22 is accordingly
rotated. This enables the yarn 20 accumulated on a yarn accumulation device 18, which
will be described later, to be wound on the wound bobbin 22. A traverse groove (not
shown) is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the traverse drum 24. The
traverse groove allows the yam 20 to be traversed (cross-wound) with a predetermined
10 width. In the above-described configuration, the yarn 20 is wound on the wound bobbin
22 while being traversed, to form the package 30 having a predetermined length and a
predetermined shape. In the following description, the terms "upstream side" and
"downstream side" mean the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to a
direction of traveling of the yarn.
15 [0044] Each of the winder units 2 includes a control part 25. The control part 25 is
composed of hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown), and software
such as a control program accumulated in the RAM. The hardware and the software
cooperate with each other, to thereby control each configuration part of the winder unit 2.
The control part 25 included in each winder unit 2 is configured to communicate with the
20 machine management device. Accordingly, the machine management device can
collectively manage operations of the plurality of winder units 2 included in the automatic
winder.
[0045] The winder unit 2 also includes various devices provided in a yarn travel path
between the bobbin support part 7 and the winding part 8. More specifically, in the yarn
25 travel path, an unwinding assist device 10, a lower yarn blow-up part (yarn sucking and
ejecting part) 11, a tension applying device 12, an upper yarn catch part (yarn catch part)
13, a yam joining device 14, a yam trap (second yarn catch part) 15, a cutter 16, a clearer
(yam defect detection device) 17, an upper yarn pull-out part 48, and a yam accumulation
device 18, are arranged in this order from the bobbin support part 7 side toward the
5 winding part 8 side.
[0046] The unwinding assist device 10 assists the unwinding of the yam 20 by bringing
a movable member 40 into contact with a balloon, which is generated above the yarn
supply bobbin 21 as a result of the yarn 20 being unwound from the yam supply bobbin
21 and thrown around, and thereby appropriately controlling the size of the balloon.
10 [0047] The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is an air sucker device arranged between the
bobbin support part 7 and the yam joining device 14 (to be exact, at the immediately
downstream side of the unwinding assist device 10). The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is
configured to blow up a lower yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side toward the yarn
joining device 14 side at a time of yarn joining (details will be given later).
15 [0048] The tension applying device 12 applies a predetermined tension to the yam 20
that is traveling. In this embodiment, the tension applying device 12 is configured as a
gate type in which a movable comb is arranged relative to a fixed comb. The movable
comb is configured to be swung by a rotary type solenoid such that the combs are brought
into engagement or disengagement. However, a configuration of the tension applying
20 device 12 is not limited to this. For example, a disk type tension applying device is also
adoptable.
COO491 The upper yarn catch part 13 is arranged between the yarn joining device 14
and the bobbin support part 7 (to be exact, at the immediately upstream side of the yam
joining device 14). The upper yarn catch part 13 is connected to a negative pressure
25 source (yarn catch air-stream generation part) (not shown), and configured to generate a
suction air stream to suck and catch an upper yarn of the yarn accumulation device 18
side at a time of yam joining (details will be given later).
[0050] The yarn trap 15 is arranged between the yarn joining device 14 and the yam
accumulation device 18 (to be exact, at the upstream side of the cutter 16 and at the
immediately downstream side of the yam joining device 14). A distal end of the yarn
trap 15 is formed as a tube-like member, which is provided close to the travel path of the
yam 20 and connected to a negative pressure source (second yarn catch air-stream
generation part) (not shown). In this configuration, the suction air stream is generated at
the distal end of the yarn trap 15, and thereby dusts such as cotton fly adhering to the
10 traveling yam 20 can be sucked and removed.
[0051] The clearer 17 is configured to detect a yam defect (yarn fault) such as a slub
by, for example, monitoring a yarn thickness of the yarn 20. When the clearer 17 detects
a yam defect, the clearer 17 transmits a disconnection signal to, for example, the control
part 25. The disconnection signal instructs to cut and remove the yarn defect. The
15 cutter 16 is arranged near the clearer 17, for immediately cutting the yarn 20 in response
to the disconnection signal.
[0052] The yarn joining device 14 performs yarn joining between the lower yarn of the
yam supply bobbin 21 side and the upper yarn of the yarn accumulation device 18 side
when the yarn is disconnected between the yam supply bobbin 21 and the package 30,
20 which occurs, for example, at a time of yam cutting in which the clearer 17 detects a yarn
defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn, at a time of yam breakage in which the yam
being unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21 is broken, or at a time of replacing the
yarn supply bobbin 21. As the yarn joining device 14, one using fluid such as
compressed air, mechanical one, or the like, is adoptable.
25 [0053] The upper yarn pull-out part 48 is an air sucker device, and includes a guide
tube 34 (yam pull-out ejection part). The guide tube 34 pulls out the upper yarn of the
yarn accumulation device 18 side and blows the upper yarn toward the bobbin support
part 7 side at a time of yam joining (details will be given later).
[0054] The yarn accumulation device 18 is configured to temporarily accumulate the
5 yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21. In this manner, the yam
accumulation device 18 is interposed between the bobbin support part 7 and the winding
part 8, and a certain amount of the yarn 20 is accumulated on the yarn accumulation
device 18. Accordingly, even when the unwinding of the yarn from the yarn supply
bobbin 21 is interrupted for some reason (for example, during the yarn joining operation),
10 the winding part 8 is able to wind the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device
18. Therefore, the winding of the yarn 20 into the package 30 can be continued. Thus,
since a winding operation of the winding part 8 is not interrupted by the yarn joining
operation or the like, the package 30 can be produced stably at a high speed.
Additionally, unlike the conventional yarn winding machine, sucking and catching of the
15 yarn from the package 30 is not performed in every yarn joining operation. This can
prevent occurrence of disorder in a surface of the package 30. Moreover, since
occurrence of a yarn breakage in the winding part 8 is reduced, falling of the yarn onto an
edge surface of the package 30 or occurrence of a failure in the winding shape is
prevented.
20 [0055] A bobbin feeder 26 of magazine type is arranged at the front side of the winder
unit 2. The bobbin feeder 26 includes a rotary magazine can 27. The magazine can 27
is configured to hold a plurality of extra yarn supply bobbins 21. The bobbin feeder 26
intermittently drives and rotates the magazine can 27, and thereby feeds a new yarn
supply bobbin 21 to the bobbin support part 7. The bobbin feeder 26 includes a yarn end
25 holder 28 for sucking and holding a yam end of the yarn supply bobbin 21 held on the
magazine can 27.
[0056] Next, the yarn accumulation device 18 will be described with reference to FIG.
2. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn accumulation device 18 mainly includes a yarn
accumulation roller 32 and a roller drive motor 33.
5 [0057] The yarn accumulation roller 32 is a substantially cylindrical member and
configured to accumulate the yam 20 by winding the yarn 20 on an outer circumferential
surface thereof. The roller drive motor 33 is configured to drive and rotate the yarn
accumulation roller 32 around the central axis thereof. An operation of the roller drive
motor 33 is controlled by the control part 25. Herein, an end portion of the yarn
10 accumulation roller 32 at the side where the roller drive motor 33 is arranged will be
called a proximal end portion, and the opposite end portion will be called a distal end
portion.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, a proximal side taper portion 32a is formed in the proximal
end portion of the yarn accumulation roller 32. The proximal side taper portion 32a has
15 a tapered shape whose diameter increases toward an end portion. On the other hand, a
distal side taper portion 32b is formed in the distal end portion of the yarn accumulation
roller 32. The distal side taper portion 32b has a tapered shape whose diameter increases
toward an end portion. Forming such taper portions prevents the yarn 20 from slipping
off from the end portions of the yarn accumulation roller 32. In the yam accumulation
20 roller 32, a portion having a cylindrical shape (a portion having a substantially constant
diameter) will be called a cylindrical portion 32c. The cylindrical portion 32c also has
an extremely small taper for moving the accumulated yarn toward the downstream side.
[0059] The guide tube 34 of the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is arranged near a
boundary portion between the proximal side taper portion 32a and the cylindrical portion
25 32c of the yam accumulation roller 32 (a configuration of the upper yarn pull-out part 48
will be described later). The guide tube 34 is a tube-like member, and arranged such
that one end portion (suction side end portion 34a) thereof is located close to the surface
of the yam accumulation roller 32. At a time of the normal winding, the yarn of the yarn
supply bobbin 21 side is introduced into the guide tube 34 through the other end portion
5 (ejection side end portion 34b) of the guide tube 34, and then pulled out from the suction
side end portion 34a toward the surface of the yarn accumulation roller 32. Thus, at a
time of the normal winding, the guide tube 34 guides the yarn 20 of the yarn supply
bobbin 21 to the surface of the yarn accumulation roller 32.
[0060] The yarn accumulation roller 32 having the yarn 20 wound thereon is rotated in
10 one direction, and thereby a tensile force is applied to the yarn 20 existing at the upstream
side (yam supply bobbin 21 side) of the yarn accumulation device 18. This enables the
yarn 20 to be unwound from the yam supply bobbin 21 and wound on the surface of the
yam accumulation roller 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn 20 is guided to the boundary
portion between the proximal side taper portion 32a and the cylindrical portion 32c.
15 Therefore, while the yarn 20 is sequentially wound on the cylindrical portion 32c, the
yam 20 pushes up a preceding yam layer from the proximal end portion side. As a
result, the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 is pushed by the newly
wound yarn 20, and sequentially fed toward the distal end portion side on the surface of
the cylindrical portion 32c. In this manner, the yarn 20 is, while being orderly arranged
20 into a spiral shape, regularly wound on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn
accumulation roller 32 from the proximal end portion side. In the following description,
a rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32 at a time of the normal winding will be
called a "positive rotation", and a rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32 in a
direction opposite to the positive rotation will be called a "reverse rotation".
25 [0061] On the other hand, the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32
is pulled out from the distal side taper portion 32b of the yarn accumulation roller 32, and
fed toward the downstream side (winding part 8 side). In the distal side taper portion
32b, the yam 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 is pulled out toward the
downstream side through a pull-out guide 37 that is arranged on an extension of the
5 central axis of the yarn accumulation roller 32. Since the yam 20 is pulled ovt toward
the extension of the central axis of the yarn accumulation roller 32, it is possible to pull
out the yam 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32 irrespective of a state of rotation of
the yam accumulation roller 32. To be specific, in any of the cases where the yarn
accumulation roller 32 is in the positive rotation, the yam accumulation roller 32 is in the
10 reverse rotation, and the rotation of the yam accumulation roller 32 is stopped, the
winding part 8 is able to unwind the yarn 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32 and
wind the yarn 20 into the package 30.
[0062] A rubber band (O-ring) 32d is arranged in a boundary portion between the
cylindrical portion 32c and the distal side taper portion 32b of the yam accumulation
15 roller 32. When the yam 20 is pulled out from the yarn accumulation roller 32, the yarn
20 passes between the rubber band 32d and the surface of the yam accumulation roller 32.
Due to the distal side taper portion 32b, the rubber band 32d itself is inhibited from being
dragged by the yarn and falling off. In the above-described configuration, an adequate
tensile force caused by the rubber band 32d fastening the yarn accumulation roller 32 can
20 be applied to the yarn 20 unwound from the yam accumulation roller 32. This can
stabilize the unwinding of the yam 20. Furthermore, it is possible to unwind the yarn
while untangling a mass of the yarn. This can prevent a trouble called slaffing in which
a mass of the yarn on the yam accumulation roller 32 wholly falls off at one time. This
also exerts an effect of preventing generation of a balloon, which is otherwise generated
25 by a yam being thrown around when unwound.
[0063] An upper limit sensor 36 and a lower limit sensor 35 are arranged near the yarn
accumulation roller 32. The upper limit sensor 36 detects that the amount of the yarn 20
on the yarn accumulation roller 32 reaches a predetermined upper limit value or more.
The lower limit sensor 35 detects that the amount of the yarn 20 on the yam accumulation
5 roller 32 falls below a predetermined lower limit value. Results of detection obtained by
the lower limit sensor 35 and the upper limit sensor 36 are sent to the control part 25.
[0064] When it is detected that the amount of yam accumulated on the yarn
accumulation roller 32 falls below the lower limit value, the control part 25 appropriately
controls the roller drive motor 33 to increase the speed of rotation of the yarn
10 accumulation roller 32. This increases the speed of winding of the yam 20 onto the yarn
accumulation roller 32. At a time of the normal winding, the speed of rotation of the
traverse drum 24 is substantially constant, and therefore the speed of unwinding of the
yarn 20 from the yam accumulation roller 32 into the package 30 side is substantially
constant. The control part 25 controls the roller drive motor 33 such that the speed of
15 winding of the yam 20 onto the yam accumulation roller 32 is higher than the speed of
unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yam accumulation roller 32. As a result, the amount
of the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 can be gradually increased.
[0065] On the other hand, when it is detected that the amount of yarn accumulated on
the yam accumulation roller 32 reaches the upper limit value or more, the control part 25
20 appropriately controls the roller drive motor 33 to reduce the speed of rotation of the yarn
accumulation roller 32. This reduces the speed of winding of the yarn 20 onto the yarn
accumulation roller 32. The control part 25 controls the roller drive motor 33 such that
the speed of winding of the yarn 20 onto the yarn accumulation roller 32 is lower than the
speed of unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32. As a result, the
25 amount of the yarn 20 on the yarn accumulation roller 32 can be gradually reduced. The
above-described control enables the amount of the yam 20 accumulated on the yarn
accumulation roller 32 to be kept in the range from the lower limit value or more and less
than the upper limit value.
[0066] Next, an operation for replacing the yam supply bobbin 21 will be described.
5 [0067] When the yarn of the yam supply bobbin 21 runs out, the yarn remaining on the
yarn supply bobbin 21 is fully wound on the yam accumulation device 18. This causes
the yam to be discontinuous between the yarn supply bobbin 21 (empty bobbin) and the
yarn accumulation device 18, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, in order to continue the
winding of the yarn 20, it is necessary to feed a new yarn supply bobbin 21 and then
10 connect a yarn of this new yarn supply bobbin 21 to the yarn accumulated on the yarn
accumulation device 18 (yarn joining). Even when the yarn supply bobbin 21 becomes
empty, a predetermined amount of the yarn 20 is accumulated on the yarn accumulation
device 18. Therefore, it is not necessary to interrupt the winding of the yarn 20 into the
package 30 performed in the winding part 8, until the accumulated yarn 20 runs out. In
15 the following, the operation for replacing the yam supply bobbin 21 will be described in
sequence.
[0068] Firstly, the control part 25 drives the bobbin support part 7, to discharge the
empty bobbin. Then, the control part 25 drives the magazine can 27 of the bobbin
feeder 26, to feed a new yarn supply bobbin 21 to the bobbin support part 7. At this time,
20 as shown in FIG. 4, the new yarn supply bobbin 21 is fed with an inclined attitude. As
described above, the yarn end of the yarn supply bobbin 21 held on the magazine can 27
is sucked and held by the yarn end holder 28. Therefore, a situation is created in which
the yam 20 stretches between the yarn end holder 28 and the yam supply bobbin 21 fed
from the magazine can 27. In the following description, when particularly needed, the
25 yarn 20 of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side will be referred to as a lower yarn 20a.
[0069] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the control part 25 drives the bobbin support part 7,
to make the new yam supply bobbin 21 stand upright, and also drives a yam displacement
member 43 that is arranged near the lower yarn blow-up part 1 1. The yarn displacement
member 43 is engageable with the lower yarn 20a existing between the yarn supply
5 bobbin 21 and the yam end holder 28, and movable toward the lower yam blow-up part
11. When the yarn displacement member 43 is driven while being engaged with the
lower yarn 20a, the yam displacement member 43 displaces the lower yam 20a toward
the lower yam blow-up part 11, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0070] The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is in the shape of a block as shown in a
10 perspective view of an external appearance of FIG. 6. The block has a yarn introduction
hole 41 and a slit 42 that communicates with the yarn introduction hole 41. The lower
yam 20a is displaced by the yam displacement member 43, and introduced into the yarn
introduction hole 41 through the slit 42.
[0071] Here, the lower yarn blow-up part 11 will be described in more detail with
15 reference to a partial cross-sectional side view of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, an air
ejection nozzle 44 that communicates with the yarn introduction hole 41 is formed in the
lower yarn blow-up part 11. The air ejection nozzle 44 is a circular hole having an
elongated shape. The air ejection nozzle 44 is connected to an appropriate compressed
air source 46 via an electromagnetic valve 45. The electromagnetic valve 45 is
20 controlled by the control part 25. In the above-described configuration, when the control
part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve 45 into an open state, compressed air is supplied
through the air ejection nozzle 44 into the yarn introduction hole 41.
[0072] An ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 44 is formed such that air is ejected
toward the downstream side with respect to the direction of traveling of the yam 20.
25 Accordingly, when the compressed air is ejected through the air ejection nozzle 44, an air
stream flowing toward the downstream side (upward in FIG. 7) with respect to the
direction of traveling of the yam 20 is generated in the yarn introduction hole 41. As a
result, the lower yam 20a introduced into the yarn introduction hole 41 is blown off
toward the downstream side by the air stream.
5 [0073] Here, the description of the operation for replacing the yarn supply bobbin 21
will be resumed. After the yarn displacement member 43 introduces the lower yarn 20a
into the yam introduction hole 41, the control part 25 cuts the lower yarn 20a between the
yarn supply bobbin 21 and the yarn end holder 28 by means of a cutter (not shown), and
additionally opens the electromagnetic valve 45 to supply the compressed air to the air
10 ejection nozzle 44. As a result, an air stream flowing toward the downstream side is
generated in the yarn introduction hole 41: This air stream blows off the lower yam 20a
toward the downstream side.
[0074] The yarn trap 15 described above is arranged at the downstream side of the
lower yam blow-up part 11. The suction stream is generated at the distal end of the yam
15 trap 15. The lower yarn 20a blown off by the lower yarn blow-up part 11 is sucked and
caught by the yarn trap 15. This situation is shown in FIG. 8.
COO751 A yarn trap driver 47 is arranged near the yarn trap 15. The yam trap driver
47 is configured to drive the yarn trap 15 in a direction toward and away from the yarn
travel path. An operation of the yam trap driver 47 is controlled by the control part 25.
20 After the yarn trap 15 sucks and catches the lower yam 20a, the control part 25 actuates
the yam trap driver 47 to thereby drive the yarn trap 15 in the direction away from the
yarn travel path. Thereby, the lower yam 20a is introduced to the yarn joining device 14,
as shown in FIG. 9. In the above-described manner, the lower yam 20a can be
introduced to the yam joining device 14 by means of the lower yam blow-up part 11 and
25 the yarn trap 15. Accordingly, it can be considered that the lower yarn blow-up part 11,
the yarn trap 15, and the negative pressure source that generates the suction air stream in
the yarn trap 15, form a lower yarn guide part (second yarn guide part).
[0076] As thus far described, the lower yarn 20a is blown off and guided to the
downstream side of the yam joining device 14 by means of the air stream. This enables
5 the lower yarn to be quickly guided with a simple configuration, as compared with, for
example, a lower yarn guide member (the lower yarn guide pipe 92 shown in FIG. 19)
included in the conventional winder unit. After an operation for guiding the lower yarn
20a to the yam joining device 14 is completed, the control part 25 puts the
electromagnetic valve 45 into a closed state. This can prevent wasteful consumption of
10 the compressed air.
[0077] Around a time of performing the above-described control for guiding the lower
yarn 20a to the yarn joining device 14, the control part 25 performs a control for guiding
the yam of the yam accumulation device 18 side to the yarn joining device 14. A
specific description will be given below. In the following description, when particularly
15 needed, the yarn 20 of the yarn accumulation device 18 side will be referred to as an
upper yarn 20b.
[0078] Firstly, the upper yarn pull-out part 48 will be described with reference to FIG.
2. The upper yarn pull-out part 48 includes the above-mentioned guide tube 34 (yarn
pull-out ejection part) and an air ejection nozzle (air ejection part) 49 that communicates
20 with the inside of the guide tube 34. The air ejection nozzle 49 is a circular hole having
an elongated shape. The air ejection nozzle 49 is connected to the appropriate
compressed air source 46 via an electromagnetic valve 51. The electromagnetic valve
51 is controlled by the control part 25. In the above-described configuration, when the
control part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve 51 into an open state, compressed air is
25 supplied through the air ejection nozzle 49 into the guide tube 34.
[0079] An ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 49 is formed such that air is ejected
toward the ejection side end portion 34b (such that air is ejected in a direction away from
the surface of the yam accumulation roller 32). Accordingly, when the compressed air
is ejected through the air ejection nozzle 49, an air stream flowing toward the ejection
5 side end portion 34b is generated in the guide tube 34. As a result, air is ejected from
the ejection side end portion 34b. On the other hand, along with the air stream generated
in the guide tube 34, a suction stream is generated in the opposite end portion (suction
side end portion 34a).
[0080] To guide the upper yarn 20b of the yarn accumulation device 18 side to the yam
10 joining device 14, the control part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve 51 into the open state
so that the compressed air is supplied through the air ejection nozzle 49 into the guide
tube 34. Under this condition, the control part 25 appropriately controls the roller drive
motor 33, thereby causing reverse rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32. As a
result, a yarn end is unwound from the proximal end portion side of the cylindrical
15 portion 32c of the yarn accumulation roller 32. This yarn end is sucked by the suction
stream generated in the suction side end portion 34a of the guide tube 34, and introduced
into the guide tube 34.
[0081] In the conventional automatic winder as shown in FIG. 19, it is necessary that
the suction port 91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91 for sucking and catching a yam end
20 of a yam wound into the package 30 is enlarged with respect to a width direction of the
package. The reason therefor is as follows. Since the yarn is traversed when being
wound on the surface of the package 30, where on the package 30 with respect to the
width direction thereof the yarn end of the yam wound into the package 30 is positioned
is uncertain after the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn or
25 after the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 is fully wound. Therefore, in order to
reliably suck and catch the yam end, it is necessary to generate the suction stream
throughout the entire width of the package 30.
[0082] In this respect, in the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn 20 is
regularly wound on the yarn accumulation roller 32 while being orderly arranged from the
5 boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 32c and the proximal side taper portion
32a. This is achieved because, at a time of the normal winding, the guide tube 34 guides
the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side to the boundary portion between the cylindrical
portion 32c and the proximal side taper portion 32a. Accordingly, after the clearer 17
detects a yarn defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn or after the yarn of the yarn supply
10 bobbin 21 is fully wound, the yarn end of the yarn wound on the yarn accumulation roller
32 is always positioned near the boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 32c and
the proximal side taper portion 32a. Therefore, by generating the suction stream only in
this boundary portion, the yarn end can be reliably sucked. That is, by generating the
suction stream in the guide tube 34, the yam end can be reliably sucked. Thus, in the
15 automatic winder of this embodiment including the yarn accumulation device 18, unlike
the conventional configuration, an enlarged suction port for sucking the upper yarn is not
required. This enables a suction stream sufficient for sucking the upper yarn to be
generated by less energy.
[0083] The yam end sucked into the guide tube 34 is, along with the air stream
20 generated in the guide tube 34, blown out from the ejection side end portion 34b. Air
ejection from the ejection side end portion 34b is oriented toward a position where a yarn
inlet 61 of a deflection guide member 60 is arranged.
[0084] As shown in a perspective view of FIG. 10, the deflection guide member 60 is a
curved tube-like member having the yarn inlet 61 at one end side thereof and a yarn outlet
25 62 at the other end side thereof. Air ejected from the ejection side end portion 34b of the
29
guide tube 34 flows through the yarn inlet 61 into the deflection guide member 60, and is
guided through a curved path while passing through the inside of the curved deflection
guide member 60, and then is discharged through the yarn outlet 62 to the outside of the
deflection guide member 60. Accordingly, the upper yarn 20b blown out together with
5 the ejected air from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is, along with an air stream flowing in
the curved path inside the deflection guide member 60, guided from the yarn inlet 61 to
the yarn outlet 62, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0085] The yam outlet 62 leads to a position where the upper yarn catch part 13 is
arranged. The upper yarn catch part 13 is connected to the negative pressure source (not
10 shown) and configured such that a suction stream is generated in a suction stream
generation port that is provided at the distal end of the upper yarn catch part 13. A
movable lid 13a is arranged in the suction stream generation port of the upper yarn catch
part 13. The lid 13a is driven by the control part 25, and switched between a state where
the suction stream generation port is closed and a state where the suction stream
15 generation port is open.
[0086] Around a time when the upper yarn pull-out part 48 pulls out the upper yarn
20b from the yarn accumulation device 18, the control part 25 drives the lid 13a to open
the suction stream generation port of the upper yarn catch part 13, so that a suction stream
is generated in the upper yarn catch part 13. In the above-described configuration, the
20 upper yarn 20b guided to the yarn outlet 62 of the deflection guide member 60 can be
sucked and held by the upper yarn catch part 13. When it is not necessary to generate a
suction stream in the upper yarn catch part 13, the control part 25 performs a control to
close the suction stream generation port with the lid 13a. This can prevent air from
flowing into the upper yarn catch part 13, and therefore can prevent wasteful consumption
25 of energy. Here, instead of controlling the presence or absence of a suction air stream
by opening and closing a lid, for example, an air flow may be controlled by means of an
electromagnetic valve.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 10, the deflection guide member 60 has a slit 63 through
which the outside and inside of the deflection guide member 60 are communicated with
5 each other. The slit 63 is formed along a longitudinal direction of the tube-like
deflection guide member 60, and connects the yarn inlet 61 and the yarn outlet 62 to each
other. In this embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 has a substantially U-like
shape, and the slit 63 is formed along an inner portion of this U-like shape.
[0088] Since such a slit 63 is formed in the deflection guide member 60, when the
10 upper yam 20b guided to the yarn outlet 62 is sucked and caught by the upper yarn catch
part 13, the upper yarn 20b is drawn out through the slit 63 to the outside of the deflection
guide member 60, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0089] The upper yarn 20b drawn out from the deflection guide member 60 is further
sucked by the upper yam catch part 13, and thereby the upper yarn 20b can be introduced
15 to the yarn joining device 14, as shown in FIG. 13. As described above, the guide tube
34, the air ejection nozzle 49, the deflection guide member 60, the upper yarn catch part
13, and the negative pressure source that generates a suction air stream in the upper yarn
catch part 13, achieve a configuration for guiding the upper yarn 20b to the upstream side
of the yarn joining device 14. Accordingly, it can be considered that the guide tube 34,
20 the air ejection nozzle 49, the deflection guide member 60, the upper yam catch part 13,
and the negative pressure source, form an upper yarn guide part (yarn guide part).
[0090] As thus far described, the air stream is used to blow off the upper yarn 20b and
guide the upper yarn 20b to the upstream side of the yarn joining device 14. This
enables the upper yarn to be quickly guided with a simple configuration, as compared
25 with, for example, an upper yarn guide member (the upper yarn guide pipe 91 shown in
FIG. 19) included in the conventional winder unit. Therefore, a time required for the
yarn joining operation is shortened, and thus the production efficiency of the package 30
is improved.
[0091] After an operation for guiding the upper yam 20b to the yarn joining device 14
5 is completed, the control part 25 stops the reverse rotation of the yarn accumulation roller
32 and additionally puts the electromagnetic valve 51 into a closed state. Then, the
control part 25 closes the lid 13a of the upper yarn catch part 13. Then, the control part
25 actuates the yam joining device 14, thus performing yarn joining between the upper
yam 20b and the lower yarn 20a.
10 [0092] After the yarn joining is completed, the control part 25 starts positive rotation of
the yarn accumulation roller 32, thus starting to unwind the yarn from the new yarn
supply bobbin 21. Around a time of starting the positive rotation of the yam
accumulation roller 32, the control part 25 drives the yarn trap 15 to a position close to
the yam travel path, and restarts to suck and remove cotton fly. Additionally, the control
15 part 25 opens the lid 13a of the upper yarn catch part 13 for a short time. Thereby, a
piece of the yarn (the upper yam having been cut in the yarn joining) caught by the upper
yarn catch part 13 is sucked and removed. Thus, the normal winding operation shown in
FIG. 1 can be restarted.
[0093] As described above, the upper yam 20b is drawn out from the inside of the
20 deflection guide member 60. Accordingly, at a time of the normal winding (the state
shown in FIG. I), the yarn 20 does not pass through the inside of the deflection guide
member 60. Here, if the yarn 20 passed through the inside of the deflection guide
member 60 during the normal winding operation, the yam 20 might be in contact with the
deflection guide member 60 and thus damaged to deteriorate the quality of the yam. In
25 this respect, in the above-described configuration, the yam 20 is not in contact with
deflection guide member 60 during the normal winding operation. Therefore,
deterioration in the quality of the yarn is prevented.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the deflection guide member 60 is not
connected with other members. More specifically, the deflection guide member 60 is
5 arranged such that the yam inlet 61 of the deflection guide member 60 is spaced apart
from the upper yarn pull-out part 48. Likewise, the deflection guide member 60 is
arranged such that the yarn outlet 62 of the deflection guide member 60 is spaced apart
from the upper yam catch part 13. In this manner, a space is formed between the
deflection guide member 60 and the other members. In other words, the deflection
10 guide member 60 is arranged at a position deviated from the yam travel path. Therefore,
the yarn 20 drawn out from the deflection guide member 60 is able to travel without any
contact with the deflection guide member 60. In this point as well, damage to the yarn
20 which may be caused by contact with the deflection guide member 60 is prevented at a
time of the normal winding. Thus, deterioration in the quality of the yarn is prevented.
15 [0095] Here, the traversing bobbin winding machine disclosed in the Patent Document
1 also includes a suction nozzle having a slit. However, in the configuration of Patent
Document 1, negative pressure is used to suck a yarn and guide the yarn to the yarn
joining device. Thus, there is a possibility that air may flow into the suction nozzle
through the slit and a suction force generated in the distal end of the suction nozzle may
20 be deteriorated. On the other hand, in the automatic winder of this embodiment, a
suction stream is directly generated near the yarn accumulation device 18 by means of
ejected air. Therefore, even though the slit 63 is formed in the deflection guide member
60, a problem such as deterioration in a suction force does not occur. Moreover, in this
embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 is a tube-like member. Therefore, air
25 ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 can be successfully guided from the yarn
inlet 61 to the yarn outlet 62.
[0096] Furthermore, as described above, the yarn 20 is blown off and guided.
Therefore, a member driven into large movement, such as the yarn guide pipes 91 and 92
shown in FIG. 19, is not necessary. Accordingly, the configuration of the automatic
5 winder is simplified, and additionally the degree of freedom in a layout of configuration
parts is increased. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a path through which the upper
yam 20b is guided is curved because of the deflection guide member 60. Therefore,
even though a direction in which the yarn is blown out from the upper yarn pull-out part
48 is not oriented to the position where the upper yarn catch part 13 is arranged, the upper
10 yarn 20b can be guided to the upper yam catch part 13. Thus, devising the shape of the
deflection guide member 60 allows a free layout of the positions of the upper yarn
pull-out part 48 and the upper yarn catch part 13.
[0097] Next, an operation performed in a case where the clearer 17 detects a yam
defect will be described.
15 [0098] When the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect at a time of the normal winding as
shown in FIG. 1, the control part 25 actuates the cutter 16 to cut the yam 20. At this
time, a yarn end at the upstream side of the cutter 16 is sucked and caught by the yarn trap
15 that is arranged at the immediately upstream side of the cutter 16. On the other hand,
a yarn end at the downstream side of the cutter 16 is wound on the yam accumulation
20 roller 32 that is in positive rotation. As a result, a portion of the yarn containing the yarn
defect is wound to the proximal end portion side of the yam accumulation roller 32.
[0099] At this time, the state of the lower yarn 20a and the upper yarn 20b is similar to
the state shown in FIG. 8. However, in a case where the cutter 16 cuts the yam 20, the
end of the yam having been cut is directly sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15.
25 Therefore, the operation for blowing the lower yam 20a upward by the lower yarn
blow-up part 11 is not necessary. In this point, this operation is different from the
operation for replacing the yarn supply bobbin 21.
[0100] Then, the yam trap 15 is driven in the direction away from the yarn travel path,
and thereby the lower yarn 20a sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15 is introduced to the
5 yarn joining device 14 (similar to the state shown in FIG. 9). Around this time, the yam
accumulation roller 32 is put into reverse rotation, and at the same time the
electromagnetic valve 51 is put into the open state. Additionally, the lid 13a is opened.
Thus, the upper yarn 20b is introduced to the yarn joining device 14 (similar to the state
shown in FIG. 13). Under this condition, the reverse rotation of the yam accumulation
10 roller 32 is continued for a predetermined time period. Thereby, the portion containing
the yam defect, which has been wound on the yarn accumulation roller 32, is pulled out
and sucked by the upper yam catch part 13. Thus, the portion containing the yarn defect
detected by the clearer 17 can be removed. Then, the control part 25 actuates the yarn
joining device 14, to perform yarn joining.
15 [0101] As described above, also in the yarn joining operation performed upon
detection of a yarn defect, the upper yam 20b is blown off and guided by means of
ejected air. This enables the upper yam 20b to be quickly guided with a simple
configuration, as compared with the upper yam guide member (the upper yarn guide pipe
91 shown in FIG. 19) included in the conventional winder unit. Moreover, in the yarn
20 joining operation performed upon detection of a yarn defect, the lower yam 20a can be
guided to the yarn joining device 14 simply by driving the yam trap 15 under a state
where the lower yarn 20a is sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15. Therefore, in a case
where a yarn defect is detected, the lower yarn 20a is easily and quickly guided. In this
manner, also in a case where a yam defect is detected, a time required for the yarn joining
25 operation is shortened, and thus the production efficiency of the package 30 is improved.
[0102] As thus far described, the automatic winder of this embodiment includes the
bobbin support part 7, the yarn accumulation device 18, the winding part 8, the yam
joining device 14, and the upper yarn guide part. The bobbin support part 7 supports the
yam supply bobbin 21. The yarn accumulation device 18 accumulates the yarn 20
5 unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21. The winding part 8 winds the yarn 20
accumulated on the yam accumulation device 18, to form the package 30. The yarn
joining device 14 performs yarn joining between a yarn of the yam supply bobbin 21 side
and a yarn of the yarn accumulation device 18 side, in a case where the yam 20 is
disconnected between the bobbin support part 7 and the yam accumulation device 18.
10 The upper yam guide part pulls out a yarn from the yarn accumulation device 18 and
guides the yarn to the yarn joining device 14. The upper yarn guide part includes the
guide tube 34, the air ejection nozzle 49, the upper yarn catch part 13, and the negative
pressure source. The guide tube 34 pulls out the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn
accumulation device 18, and blows off the yarn 20 toward the bobbin support part 7 side.
15 The air ejection nozzle 49 generates an air stream in the guide tube 34, the air stream
being for pulling out and blowing off the yarn. The upper yarn catch part 13 is arranged
between the yarn joining device 14 and the bobbin support part 7, and catches the yarn 20
blown off by the guide tube 34. The negative pressure source generates an air stream in
the upper yarn catch part 13, the air stream being for catching the yarn and introducing
20 the yarn to the yam joining device 14.
[0103] Accordingly, since the upper yarn 20b is blown off and guided to the yarn
joining device 14 by means of ejected air, the configuration for guiding the upper yarn
20b is simple. As a result, the degree of freedom in a layout of configuration parts is
improved. Moreover, since guiding of the upper yarn 20b to the yarn joining device 14
25 is completed merely by blowing off the upper yarn 20b, a time required for the operation
for guiding the upper yam 20b is shortened and thus the production efficiency of the
package 30 is improved. Furthermore, in a case where the upper yam 20b is pulled out
from the yarn accumulation device 18 as described above, it suffices that the suction
stream is applied only to a position where the yarn end exists, which is known. This
5 enables the yam end to be reliably sucked with less energy.
[0104] The automatic winder of this embodiment is configured as follows. At a time
of yarn winding, the guide tube 34 guides the yam 20 of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side to
the yam accumulation device 18. The air ejection nozzle 49 blasts compressed air to the
inside of the guide tube 34.
10 [O105] In this configuration, the yam 20 is accumulated on the yam accumulation
device 18 through the guide tube 34. Therefore, when, reversely, the yarn is pulled out
from the yarn accumulation device 18, the pulling out of the yam from the yam
accumulation device can be reliably and smoothly performed by pulling out the yarn
through the guide tube 34. Accordingly, the above-described configuration in which the
15 guide tube 34 also serves as a yarn pull-out ejection part enables the yam 20 wound on
the yarn accumulation device 18 to be reliably and smoothly blown off.
[0106] The automatic winder of this embodiment further includes the deflection guide
member 60 that guides the upper yarn 20b, which has been blown off by the guide tube
34, to the upper yam catch part 13.
20 [0107] Since the upper yarn 20b blown off by the guide tube 34 is guided to the upper
yarn catch part 13 by the deflection guide member 60, the guide tube 34 and the upper
yarn catch part 13 can be freely arranged. This improves the degree of freedom in a
layout.
[0108] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 is
25 a tube-like member, in which the slit 63 is formed along a longitudinal direction of a tube.
[O109] The deflection guide member 60 having such a tube-like shape allows the upper
yarn 20b to pass through the inside of the tube and thereby reliably guides the upper yarn
20b to the upper yarn catch part 13. Since the slit 63 is formed in the deflection guide
member 60 having a tube-like shape, the upper yarn 20b having been guided to the upper
5 yarn catch part 13 can be drawn out through the slit 63. As a result, at a time of the
normal winding, the yarn 20 is able to travel outside the deflection guide member 60.
This can prevent deterioration in the quality of the yarn 20, which may otherwise be
caused by contact with the deflection guide member 60.
[0110] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 is
10 provided at a position deviated from the travel path through which the yarn 20 travels at a
time of the yam winding.
[Olll] This prevents the yarn 20 from being in contact with the deflection guide
member 60 at a time of the normal winding. Thus, deterioration in the quality of the
yarn 20 is prevented.
15 [0112] The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the lower yarn guide part
that guides the lower yarn 20a of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side to the yam joining
device 14. The lower yarn guide part includes the lower yarn blow-up part 11, the yarn
trap 15, and the negative pressure source. The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is arranged
between the bobbin support part 7 and the yarn joining device 14, and configured to blow
20 off the lower yarn 20a of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side to a position near the yarn
joining device 14. The yarn trap 15 is arranged between the yarn joining device 14 and
the yarn accumulation device 18, and configured to catch the lower yam 20a blown off by
the lower yam blow-up part 11. The negative pressure source generates an air stream in
the yam trap 15, the air stream being for catching the lower yarn 20a.
25 [0113] Accordingly, the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side can be blown off and
guided to the yam joining device 14. This can further improve the degree of freedom in
a layout of configuration parts of the yarn winding machine, and further shorten a time
required for the yarn joining.
[0114] The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the yam trap driver 47 that
5 drives the yarn trap 15 in the direction toward and away from the yam travel path.
[0115] This enables the yam trap 15 to be moved to a position (position close to the
yarn travel path) that allows the yam trap 15 to easily catch the yarn 20.
[0116] The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the control part 25 that
controls actuation of the yarn trap driver 47. At a time of the normal winding, the
10 control part 25 brings the yarn trap 15 close to the yam travel path, and at a time of the
yam joining, the control part 25 drives the yarn trap 15 in the direction away from the
yam travel path under a state where the yarn 20 is caught by the yarn trap 15, to thereby
introduce the caught yarn 20 to the yam joining device 14.
[0117] Accordingly, at a time of the normal winding, the yarn trap 15 is located close
15 to the yarn travel path, to make it possible to suck and remove cotton fly, or the like,
adhering to the yarn 20. On the other hand, when the yarn trap 15 catches the yarn, the
yam trap 15 is driven in the direction away from the yarn travel path, and thereby the yam
20 can be introduced to the yarn joining device.
[0118] The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the control part 25 that
20 controls the yam joining device 14, the upper yarn pull-out part 48, and the lower yam
blow-up part 1 1. When a new yarn supply bobbin 21 is fed to the bobbin support part 7,
the control part 25 causes the lower yam blow-up part 11 to blow off the lower yarn 20a
of the new yam supply bobbin 21 side, causes the yam trap 15 to catch the yarn thus
blown off, and drives the yarn trap 15 in the direction away from the yarn travel path.
25 At or around this time, the control part 25 causes the upper yarn pull-out part 48 to pull
out the upper yarn 20b from the yam accumulation device 18 and blow off the upper yarn
20b, and causes the upper yarn catch part 13 to catch the yarn thus blown off. Then, the
control part 25 actuates the yarn joining device 14, to perform the yarn joining.
[O 1 191 Accordingly, when the yarn supply bobbin 2 1 is replaced, the lower yarn 20a of
5 the yarn supply bobbin 21 side and the upper yam 20b of the yarn accumulation device 18
side are guided to the yarn joining device 14, and thus the yarn joining can be performed.
[0120] The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the clearer 17 and the cutter
16. The cutter 16 is configured to, at a position at the downstream side of the yarn trap
15, cut the yam between the yarn supply bobbin 21 and the yarn accumulation device 18.
10 When the clearer detects a yarn defect, the control part 25 actuates the cutter to cut the
yam, causes the yarn trap 15 to catch the lower yam 20a of the yam supply bobbin 21
side, and drives the yam trap 15 in the direction away from the yarn travel path. At or
around this time, the control part 25 causes the upper yarn pull-out part 48 to pull out the
upper yam 20b of the yarn accumulation device 18 side and blow off the upper yarn 20b,
15 and causes the upper yarn catch part 13 to catch the yarn thus blown off. Then, the
control part 25 actuates the yarn joining device 14, to perform the yarn joining.
[0121] Accordingly, after the yarn whose yarn fault has been detected is cut, the yarn
of the yarn supply bobbin side and the yarn of the yarn accumulation device side are
guided to the yarn joining device, and thus the yarn joining can be performed.
20 [0122] Next, a modification of the above-described first embodiment will be described.
In a description of the modification given below, configuration parts identical or similar
to those of the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference
numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. In
this modification, as shown in FIG. 14, the lower yam blow-up part 11 is omitted and
25 instead a lower yarn guide pipe 92 is provided. In this modification, the lower yarn
guide pipe 92 guides the lower yarn 20a to the yam joining device 14. A configuration
of the lower yarn guide pipe 92 is similar to the configuration of the lower yarn guide
pipe 92 included in the conventional automatic winder shown in, for example, FIG. 19.
Therefore, a description thereof will be omitted.
5 [0123] A configuration of this modification is also possible, in which the lower yarn
20a is guided to the yam joining device 14 by means of the conventional yarn guide
member (yarn guide pipe 92). In this configuration as well, the upper yarn 20b is guided
to the yam joining device 14 by means of ejected air. Therefore, as compared with the
conventional configuration (the configuration shown in FIG. 19) in which both the upper
10 yam 20b and the lower yarn 20a are guided by means of the yam guide pipes 91 and 92, a
simple configuration is achieved and additionally a time required for the yarn joining is
shortened.
[O124] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In a
description of the modification given below, configuration parts identical or similar to
15 those of the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference
numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0125] As shown in FIG. 15, a winder unit 100 included in an automatic winder
according to this embodiment includes a yarn accumulation device of different type from
that of the above-described first embodiment. In the following, this yarn accumulation
20 device 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 16.
[0126] As shown in FIG. 16, the yarn accumulation device 64 includes a rotation shaft
casing 70, a yarn accumulation part 71, and a yam guide part 72. The rotation shaft
casing 70 includes a cylindrical tube portion 78 that is open at the upper side thereof, and
a flange portion 79 that is formed at an open end portion of the tube portion 78. The
25 upper yam pull-out part 48 is arranged at the immediately upstream side of the yarn
accumulation device 64.
to1271 The yarn accumulation part 71 is arranged above the flange portion 79. The
yam accumulation part 71 includes a support plate 81 having a disk shape, a plurality of
rod members 82 that protrude upward from the support plate 81, and a mounting plate 83
5 having a disk shape to which distal end portions of the plurality of rod members 82 are
connected. The yam accumulation part 71 is arranged such that there is a gap between
the support plate 81 and the flange portion 79. A winding tube 75, which will be
described later, is rotatable within the gap.
[0128] The plurality of rod members 82 are arranged side by side at regular intervals
10 on the circumference of a circle that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. These rod
members 82 define a substantially cylindrical shape of the yam accumulation 71.
The yarn 20 is wound on an outer circumferential portion of the yarn accumulation part
71 having a substantially cylindrical shape defined by the plurality of rod members 82.
Thereby, the yam 20 is accumulated on the yarn accumulation part 71.
15 [0129] The yarn guide part 72 is arranged within the rotation shaft casing 70. In the
rotation shaft casing 70, an introduction hole 80 is formed in a lower portion (at the end
opposite to the yarn accumulation part 71 side) of the tube portion 78. The guide tube
34 of the upper yam pull-out part 48 is connected to the introduction hole 80. The yam
20 pulled out from the yarn supply bobbin 21 is guided to the introduction hole 80 by the
20 guide tube 34, and led through the introduction hole 80 to the yam guide part 72.
[0130] Within the tube portion 78, the rotation shaft casing 70 and a rotation shaft 73
are arranged. The rotation shaft 73 is mounted to the yarn accumulation part 71 in a
relatively rotatable manner. A servomotor (yarn accumulation driving part) 55 is
incorporated between the rotation shaft 73 and the tube portion 78, and thus positive
25 rotation and reverse rotation of the rotation shaft 73 are allowed. A yarn passage 74 in
the shape of an axial hole is provided at the center of the rotation shaft 73.
[0131] A winding tube (winding means) 75 having a cylindrical shape is fixed to one
end of the rotation shaft 73 (an end portion thereof opposite to the introduction hole 80
side). The winding tube 75 is slightly inclined upward, and obliquely extends out
5 through the gap between the rotation shaft casing 70 (flange portion 79) and the support
plate 81. A part of a distal end portion of the winding tube 75 slightly protrudes out
from the rotation shaft casing 70. The winding tube 75 is rotatable integrally with the
rotation shaft 73. The inside of the winding tube 75 is connected to the yarn passage 74.
[0132] In the above-described configuration, the yarn 20 is led through the introduction
10 hole 80 of the yam guide part 72 into the rotation shaft casing 70, and then passes through
the yam passage 74 and the inside of the winding tube 75, and then is discharged from the
distal end of the winding tube 75. As a result, the yam 20 is guided to a side surface
portion of the yarn accumulation part 71. Accordingly, when the servomotor 55 is
driven in a positive direction, the winding tube 75 is rotated together with the rotation
15 shaft 73, thus winding the yarn 20 around the side surface portion.
LO1331 In the yarn accumulation part 71, each of the plurality of rod members 82 is
arranged such that it is inclined more inward of the yarn accumulation part 71 at a
location farther from its end at the support plate 81 side and closer to its end at the
mounting plate 83 side. Such inclination of the rod member 82 causes the yam wound
20 on the yarn accumulation part 71 to move upward in a sliding manner. Accordingly,
when the winding tube 75, which will be described later, continuously wind the yarn 20,
the yarn wound on the inclined portion moves upward. Thus, in the side surface portion
formed of the rod members 82, the yarn 20 is accumulated while being orderly arranged
into a spiral shape.
25 [0134] Similarly to the above-described first embodiment, the upper yarn pull-out part
48 includes the guide tube 34 and the air ejection nozzle 49. As shown in FIG. 16, the
air ejection nozzle 49 is connected to the electromagnetic valve 51 that is controlled by
the control part 25. The electromagnetic valve 51 is connected to the compressed air
source 46. An air ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 49 is formed such that air is
5 ejected toward the upstream side with respect to the direction of traveling of the yarn.
[0135] In the second embodiment, to pull out the yam from the yam accumulation
device 64, the control part 25 stops the servomotor 55 and puts the electromagnetic valve
5 1 into the open state, to generate an air stream in the guide tube 34. Thereby, the yam
can be pulled out from the yarn accumulation device 64.
10 [0136] As shown in FIG. 16, the guide tube 34 is formed with an appropriate curve.
A distal end portion of the guide tube 34 having such a curve is oriented to a position
where the yarn inlet 61 of the deflection guide member 60 is arranged. Accordingly, the
yam pulled out from the yam accumulation device 64 can be introduced to the deflection
guide member 60. In this second embodiment as well, the above-described
15 configuration enables the upper yam of the yarn accumulation device 64 side to be guided
to the yarn joining device 14.
[0137] Next, a modification of the above-described second embodiment will be
described. In this modification, the deflection guide member is omitted as shown in FIG.
17, and the guide tube 34 has a cylindrical shape without any curve as shown in FIG. 18.
20 Furthermore, the distal end of the guide tube 34 is oriented toward the yam supply bobbin
21. This configuration allows the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device 64
to be pulled out to the immediately upstream side without being curved.
[0138] To be specific, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the yam
travel path is bent due to the guide tube 34, and thereby the yarn 20 of the yarn supply
25 bobbin 21 is guided to the yarn accumulation device. When the yam travel path is bent
provided at the downstream side, the upstream yarn trap 115 is able to such and remove
cotton fly.
[0142] To pull out the yarn from the yam accumulation device 64, the control part 25
stops the servomotor 55 and puts the electromagnetic valve 51 into the open state, to
5 generate an air stream in the guide tube 34. Thereby, the yam can be blown off from the
yarn accumulation device 64 straight toward the upstream side. The yam thus blown off
toward the upstream side is sucked by the suction stream that is generated by the
upstream yam trap, and caught by the upstream yarn trap. Under this condition, the
control part retracts the upstream yarn trap. In the above-described configuration, the
10 yam pulled out from the yam accumulation device 64 can be guided to the yam joining
device 14.
[0143] Next, another modification of the above-described second embodiment will be
described. In the yarn accumulation device 64 of the second embodiment, the rod
members 82 are inclined in order that the yam is wound while being orderly arranged in
15 the yarn accumulation part 71. However, such a configuration causes a problem that the
yarn wound on the rod members 82 is loosened as the yam moves upward. Accordingly,
instead of inclining the rod members, a member that actively transfers the yarn upward
may be provided. For example, it may be acceptable that a yarn in a yarn accumulation
part is actively transferred upward by means of a roller member.
20 [O144] While some preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications
thereof have been described above, the above-described configurations can be changed,
for example, as follows.
[0145] In the above-described first embodiment, to pull out the yarn from the yarn
accumulation device 18, the roller drive motor 33 causes reverse rotation of the yarn
25 accumulation roller 32. However, in a case where the upper yarn pull-out part 48
pulling out the upper yarn 20b exerts a sufficiently strong force, it may be acceptable to
merely put the roller drive motor 33 into a neutral mode.
[0146] In the foregoing description of the embodiments, because the description is
given based on the drawings, the lower yam 20a is firstly guided and then the upper yarn
5 20b is guided. However, this is not limiting. The upper yam 20b may be firstly guided.
In the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 19, if the lower yam 20a and the upper
yam 20b are simultaneously guided, a problem arises that the two yarn guide pipes 91 and
92 interfere with each other. Therefore, the upper yarn and the lower yarn cannot be
simultaneously guided. However, in the configurations of the above-described
10 embodiments or modifications thereof, the number of yarn guide pipes is at most one.
Therefore, the problem of interference between yarn guide pipes does not occur.
Accordingly, the automatic winders according to the above-described embodiments or
modifications thereof, the lower yarn 20a and the upper yarn 20b can be simultaneously
guided.
15 [0147] In the above, the yarn trap 15 can be driven in the direction toward and away
from the yam travel path. However, this configuration may be omitted, and instead the
yarn trap 15 may be fixed at a position away from the yarn travel path (position that
allows the lower yam 20a to be introduced to the yarn joining device 14). However,
such a configuration cannot bring the yarn trap 15 close to the yam travel path at a time of
20 the normal winding. Therefore, it is difficult to strongly apply the suction stream to the
yarn 20, and there is a possibility that cotton fly adhering to the yarn 20 cannot be reliably
removed. Such a configuration also involves a possibility that, when a yarn defect is
detected so that the yarn 20 is cut, a yam end of the lower yarn cannot be caught.
Accordingly, it is preferable that the yarn trap 15 can be driven in the direction toward
25 and away from the yarn travel path, as described in the embodiments above.
[0148] The shape of the deflection guide member 60 is not limited to the one adopted
in the above-described embodiments. Any appropriate shape is adoptable, as long as the
air ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 can be appropriately guided to the upper
yarn catch part 13. For example, in a case where it is possible to arrange the upper yarn
5 catch part 13 at a position to which air ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is
oriented, the upper yarn 20b can be guided to the upper yarn catch part 13 without the
deflection guide member 60. In such a case, therefore, the deflection guide member 60
can be omitted.
[0149] It is not always necessary that each winder unit 2 includes the control part 25,
10 and instead a plurality of winder units may be controlled by a single control part. In the
description give above, the single control part 25 collectively controls a plurality of
members. However, this is not limiting. For example, an individual control part may
be provided corresponding to each member to be controlled.
[0150] The control part 25 is composed of hardware and software. However, it may
15 be acceptable that the function of the control part 25 is partially or wholly implemented
by hardware dedicated therefor.
[015 11 In the above-described embodiments, the yarn supply bobbin 21 is fed to the
winder unit 2 by means of the bobbin feeder 26 of magazine type. However, this
configuration is not limiting. For example, in a possible alternative configuration, a tray
20 having the yarn supply bobbin 21 set thereon may be transported along an appropriate
path, to thereby feed the yarn supply bobbin 21 to the winder unit 2.
[0152] In the above-described embodiments, the winding part 8 is configured to
traverse the yarn 20 by means of the traverse drum 24. Instead, for example, an
arm-type traverse mechanism may be adopted to traverse the yarn 20.
25 [0153] The present invention is not limited to an automatic winder, and the present
invention is applicable to other types of yam winding machines including a yam joining
device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
5 [0154] 2 winder unit
7 bobbin support part
8 winding part
1 1 lower yam blow-up part
12 upper yam catch part (yam catch part)
14 yarn joining device
15 yarn trap (second yam catch part)
17 clearer (yarn fault detection device)
18 yam accumulation device
25 control part
34 guide tube
49 air ejection nozzle
48 upper yarn pull-out part (yam pull-out ejection part)
60 deflection guide member

49
CLAIMS
1 . A yarn winding machine comprising:
a bobbin support part that supports a yam supply bobbin;
5 a yarn accumulation device that accumulates a yarn unwound from the yam
supply bobbin;
a winding part that winds a yam accumulated on the yarn accumulation device,
to form a package;
a yam joining device that performs yarn joining between a yarn of the yam
10 supply bobbin side and a yarn of the yarn accumulation device side, in a case where a
yam is disconnected between the bobbin support part and the yam accumulation device;
and
a yarn guide part that guides a yarn accumulated on the yam accumulation
device to the yam joining device,
15 wherein the yarn guide part includes:
a yarn pull-out ejection part that pulls out a yarn accumulated on the
yarn accumulation device and blows off the yam toward the bobbin support part side;
an air ejection part that generates an air stream in the yam pull-out
ejection part, the air stream being for pulling out and blowing off a yarn;
20 a yarn catch part arranged between the yam joining device and the
bobbin support part, and configured to catch a yarn blown off by the yam pull-out
ejection part; and
a yarn catch air-stream generation part that generates an air stream in
the yam catch part, the air stream being for catching a yarn and introducing the yarn to
25 the yarn joining device.
2. The yarn winding machine according to claim 1, wherein
the yarn pull-out ejection part is a guide tube that guides a yam of the yarn
supply bobbin side to the yarn accumulation device at a time of yarn winding,
5 the air ejection part is an air ejection nozzle that blasts compressed air to the
inside of the guide tube.
3. The yam winding machine according to claim 1, further comprising a deflection
guide member that guides a yarn blown off by the yarn pull-out ejection part to the yam
10 catch part.
4. The yarn winding machine according to claim 3, wherein
the deflection guide member is a tube-like member, in which a slit is formed
along a longitudinal direction of a tube.
15
5. The yarn winding machine according to claim 4, wherein
the deflection guide member is provided at a position deviated from a travel
path through which a yarn travels at a time of yarn winding.
20 6. The yarn winding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a
second yam guide part that guides a yam of the yam supply bobbin to the yarn joining
device, wherein
the second yam guide part includes:
a lower yarn blow-up part arranged between the bobbin support part
25 and the yarn joining device, and configured to blow off a yam of the yarn supply bobbin
toward the yam joining device side;
a second yarn catch part arranged between the yam joining device and
the yarn accumulation device, and configured to catch a yarn blown off by the lower yarn
blow-up part; and
5 a second yarn catch air-stream generation part that generates an air
stream in the second yarn catch part, the air stream being for catching a yam.
7. The yarn winding machine according to claim 6, comprising a driving part
configured to drive the second yarn catch part in a direction toward and away from a yam
10 travel path.
8. The yarn winding machine according to claim 7, comprising a control part that
controls actuation of the driving part, wherein
at a time of normal winding, the control part brings the second yarn catch part
15 close to the yarn travel path, and
at a time of yarn joining, the control part drives the second yarn catch part in a
direction away from the yarn travel path under a state where a yarn is caught by the
second yam catch part, to thereby introduce the caught yam to the yarn joining device.
20 9. The yarn winding machine according to claim 8, comprising a control part that
controls the yam joining device, the yarn pull-out ejection part, and the lower yam
blow-up part, wherein
when a new yarn supply bobbin is fed to the bobbin support part, the control
part causes the lower yam blow-up part to blow off a yarn of the new yam supply bobbin,
25 causes the second yam catch part to catch the yam thus blown off, and drives the second
yarn catch part in the direction away from the yam travel path,
at or around this time, the control part causes the yam pull-out ejection part to
pull out a yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device and blow off the yam, and
causes the yarn catch part to catch the yam thus blown off, and
5 then, the control part actuates the yarn joining device, to perform yarn joining.
10. The yarn winding machine according to claim 8, comprising:
a yarn defect detection device; and
a cutter configured to, at a position at a downstream side of the second yam
10 catch part, cut a yarn between the yarn supply bobbin and the yarn accumulation device,
wherein
when the yam defect detection device dete'cts a yarn defect,
the control part actuates the cutter to cut the yarn, causes the second
yarn catch part to catch a yam of the yam supply bobbin side, and drives the
second yarn catch part in the direction away from the yam travel path,
at or around this time, the control part causes the yam pull-out
ejection part to pull out a yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device and blow off
the yarn, and causes the yarn catch part to catch the yarn thus blown off, and
then, the control part actuates the yam joining device, to perform yarn
20 joining.