CORE YARN SUPPLYING DEVICE AND SPINNING MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a 5 core yarn
supplying device and a spinning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional core yarn supplying device, there
10 is known a core yarn supplying device including a tension
applying section adapted to apply tension to a core yarn,
a slack applying section adapted to apply slack to the core
yarn, and a core yarn feeding section adapted to feed the
core yarn at downstream of the tension applying section and
15 the slack applying section in a travelling direction of the
core yarn (see e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2012-131591). Such a core yarn supplying device may
include a detecting section adapted to detect status of the
core yarn (e.g., presence or absence of the core yarn, and
20 the like).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, in the core yarn supplying device described
above, the status of the core yarn may not be accurately
25 detected depending on a type of core yarn.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
an improved core yarn supplying device.
A core yarn supplying device comprises a tension
applying section adapted to apply tension to a core yarn;
30 a slack applying section adapted to apply slack to the core
yarn; a core yarn feeding section adapted to feed the core
3 / 35
yarn at downstream of the tension applying section and the
slack applying section in a travelling direction of the core
yarn; and a detecting section adapted to detect status of
the core yarn at upstream of the tension applying section
5 in the travelling direction.
A spinning machine comprises the core yarn supplying
device; a draft device adapted to draft a fiber bundle; a
pneumatic spinning device adapted to form a yarn by applying
twists to the fiber bundle with the core yarn as a core;
10 and a winding device adapted to wind the yarn to form a
package.
A method of supplying core yarn, the method comprises
applying a slack to the core yarn by a slack applying section,
when feeding the core yarn by a core yarn feeding unit at
15 downstream of the slack applying section in a travelling
direction of the core yarn; and applying a tension to the
core yarn by a tension applying section and detecting a
status of the core yarn at upstream of the tension applying
section in the travelling direction, when the core yarn is
20 being supplied to a feeding destination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a spinning machine according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
25 FIG. 2 is a side view of a spinning unit of the spinning
machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a core yarn supplying
unit of the spinning unit of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of a tension applying
30 section of the core yarn supplying unit of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a core
4 / 35
yarn feeding unit of the core yarn supplying unit of FIG.
3;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views
illustrating operations of a clamping section of the core
5 yarn feeding unit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the core yarn supplying unit
when the core yarn is supplied; and
FIG. 8 is a side view of the core yarn supplying unit
when the supply of the core yarn is interrupted.
10
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the present invention will be
hereinafter described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are
15 denoted on the same or corresponding portions throughout
the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spinning machine 1
includes a plurality of spinning units 2, a yarn joining
cart 3, a doffing cart (not illustrated), a first end frame
20 4, and a second end frame 5. The plurality of spinning units
2 are arranged in a row. Each spinning unit 2 is adapted
to produce a spun yarn (yarn) Y and wind the spun yarn Y
into a package P. The yarn joining cart 3 is adapted to
perform a yarn joining operation in a spinning unit 2 after
25 the spun yarn Y is cut, or is broken for some reason in such
a spinning unit 2. The doffing cart is adapted to doff the
package P and to supply a new bobbin B to the spinning unit
2 when the package P is fully-wound in a spinning unit 2.
The first end frame 4 accommodates, for example, a
30 collecting device adapted to collect fiber waste, yarn
waste, and the like generated in the spinning units 2.
5 / 35
The second end frame 5 accommodates an air supplying
section adapted to adjust air pressure of compressed air
(air) to be supplied to the spinning machine 1 and to supply
the air to each section of the spinning machine 1, a drive
motor adapted to supply power to each section of 5 the
spinning unit 2, and the like. The second end frame 5 is
provided with a machine control device 41, a display screen
42, and an input key 43. The machine control device 41 is
adapted to intensively manage and control each section of
10 the spinning machine 1. The display screen 42 is capable
of displaying information relating to set contents and/or
status, or the like of the spinning units 2. An operator
can perform a setting operation of the spinning units 2 by
performing an appropriate operation with the input key 43.
15 In the following description, on a travelling path
of a sliver S, a fiber bundle F (see FIG. 2), and the spun
yarn Y, a side on which the sliver S is supplied is referred
to as upstream and a side on which the spun yarn Y is wound
is referred to as downstream. A side on which the spun yarn
20 Y travels with respect to the yarn joining cart 3 is referred
to as a front side, and a side opposite to the front side
is referred to as a back side. In the present embodiment,
a work passage (not illustrated) extending in a direction
in which the plurality of spinning units 2 are arranged is
25 provided on the front side of the spinning machine 1.
Therefore, the operator can perform operation, monitoring,
and the like of each spinning unit 2 from the work passage.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each spinning unit
2 includes a draft device 6, a core yarn supplying device
30 200, a pneumatic spinning device 7, a yarn monitoring device
8, a tension sensor 9, a yarn storage device 11, a waxing
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device 12, and a winding device 13 in this order from
upstream in a travelling direction of the spun yarn Y. A
unit controller 10 is provided for every predetermined
number of the spinning units 2 and is adapted to control
5 operations of the spinning units 2.
The draft device 6 is adapted to draft a sliver (fiber
bundle) S. The draft device 6 includes a pair of back
rollers 14, a pair of third rollers 15, a pair of middle
rollers 16, and a pair of front rollers 17 in this order
10 from upstream in a travelling direction of the sliver S.
Each pair of rollers 14, 15, 16, and 17 includes a bottom
roller and a top roller. The bottom roller is rotationally
driven by the drive motor provided in the second end frame
5 or by a drive motor provided in each spinning unit 2. An
15 apron belt 18a is provided with respect to the bottom roller
of the middle rollers 16. An apron belt 18b is provided
with respect to the top roller of the middle rollers 16.
The core yarn supplying device 200 unwinds a core yarn
C from a core yarn package CP, and supplies the core yarn
20 C to the pneumatic spinning device 7. More specifically,
the core yarn supplying device 200 supplies the core yarn
C to the travelling path of the fiber bundle F from between
the pair of middle rollers 16 and the pair of front rollers
17 of the draft device 6. The core yarn supplying device
25 200 thereby supplies the core yarn C to the pneumatic
spinning device 7.
The pneumatic spinning device 7 is adapted to produce
the spun yarn Y by twisting the fiber bundle F, which has
been drafted by the draft device 6, with a whirling airflow,
30 with the core yarn C supplied from the core yarn supplying
device 200 as a core. More specifically (however, not
7 / 35
illustrated), the pneumatic spinning device 7 includes a
spinning chamber, a fiber guiding section, a whirling
airflow generating nozzle and a hollow guide shaft body.
The fiber guiding section is adapted to guide the core yarn
C supplied from the upstream core yarn supplying device 5 200
and the fiber bundle F supplied from the upstream draft
device 6 into the spinning chamber. The whirling airflow
generating nozzle is arranged at a periphery of a travelling
path of the core yarn C and the fiber bundle F, and is adapted
10 to generate a whirling airflow in the spinning chamber.
With the whirling airflow, each fiber end of a plurality
of fibers that form the fiber bundle F is reversed and
whirled. The hollow guide shaft body is adapted to guide
the spun yarn Y from the spinning chamber to an outside of
15 the pneumatic spinning device 7.
The yarn monitoring device 8 is adapted to monitor
information on the travelling spun yarn Y between the
pneumatic spinning device 7 and the yarn storage device 11,
and to detect presence or absence of a yarn defect based
20 on the information acquired by the monitoring. When
detecting the yarn defect, the yarn monitoring device 8
transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit
controller 10. The yarn monitoring device 8 detects a
thickness abnormality of the spun yarn Y and/or a foreign
25 substance included in the spun yarn Y, for example, as the
yarn defect. The yarn monitoring device 8 also detects yarn
breakage (the presence or absence of the spun yarn Y). The
tension sensor 9 is adapted to measure tension of the
travelling spun yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning
30 device 7 and the yarn storage device 11, and to transmit
a tension measurement signal to the unit controller 10.
8 / 35
When the unit controller 10 determines presence of an
abnormality based on a detection result of the yarn
monitoring device 8 and/or the tension sensor 9, the spun
yarn Y is cut in the spinning unit 2. Specifically, by
stopping air supply to the pneumatic spinning device 7 5 to
interrupt the production of the spun yarn Y, the spun yarn
Y is cut. Alternatively, the spun yarn Y may be cut with
a cutter separately provided.
The waxing device 12 is adapted to apply wax to the
10 spun yarn Y between the yarn storage device 11 and the
winding device 13.
The yarn storage device 11 is adapted to eliminate
slack of the spun yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning
device 7 and the winding device 13. The yarn storage device
15 11 has a function of stably pulling out the spun yarn Y from
the pneumatic spinning device 7, a function of preventing
the spun yarn Y from slackening by accumulating the spun
yarn Y fed from the pneumatic spinning device 7 at the time
of the yarn joining operation or the like by the yarn joining
20 cart 3, and a function of preventing variation in the
tension of the spun yarn Y at downstream of the yarn storage
device 11 from being propagated to the pneumatic spinning
device 7.
The winding device 13 is adapted to wind the spun yarn
25 Y around a bobbin B to form the package P. The winding
device 13 includes a cradle arm 21, a winding drum 22, and
a traverse guide 23. The cradle arm 21 is adapted to
rotatably support the bobbin B. The cradle arm 21 is
swingably supported by a supporting shaft 24 and is adapted
30 to bring a surface of the bobbin B or a surface of the package
P into contact with a surface of the winding drum 22 under
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appropriate pressure. A drive motor (not illustrated)
provided in the second end frame 5 is adapted to
simultaneously drive the winding drums 22 each provided in
the plurality of the spinning units 2. Accordingly, in each
spinning unit 2, the bobbin B or the package P is 5 rotated
in a winding direction. The traverse guide 23 of each
spinning unit 2 is provided on a shaft 25 shared by the
plurality of spinning units 2. By the drive motor in the
second end frame 5 driving the shaft 25 to reciprocate in
10 a direction of a rotational axis of the winding drum 22,
the traverse guide 23 traverses the spun yarn Y in a
predetermined width with respect to the rotating bobbin B
or package P.
After the spun yarn Y is cut, or is broken for some
15 reason in a spinning unit 2, the yarn joining cart 3 travels
to such a spinning unit 2 to perform the yarn joining
operation. The yarn joining cart 3 includes a yarn joining
device 26, a suction pipe 27, and a suction mouth 28. The
suction pipe 27 is swingably supported by a supporting shaft
20 31, and is adapted to catch the spun yarn Y from the pneumatic
spinning device 7 and to guide the caught spun yarn Y to
the yarn joining device 26. The suction mouth 28 is
swingably supported by a supporting shaft 32, and is adapted
to catch the spun yarn Y from the winding device 13 and to
25 guide the caught spun yarn Y to the yarn joining device 26.
The yarn joining device 26 is adapted to join the guided
spun yarns Y together. The yarn joining device 26 is a
splicer using the compressed air, a piecer using a seed yarn,
a knotter adapted to join the spun yarns Y together in a
30 mechanical manner, or the like.
When the yarn joining cart 3 performs the yarn joining
10 / 35
operation, the package P is rotated in an unwinding
direction (reversely rotated). At this time, the cradle
arm 21 is moved by an air cylinder (not illustrated) such
that the package P is located away from the winding drum
22, and the package P is reversely rotated by 5 a
reversely-rotating roller (not illustrated) provided in
the yarn joining cart 3.
The core yarn supplying device 200 described above
will be more specifically described. As illustrated in FIG.
10 2, the core yarn supplying device 200 includes a package
supporting section 50, a core yarn supplying unit 51, and
a core yarn guiding section 52.
The package supporting section 50 is adapted to
support the core yarn package CP formed by winding the core
15 yarn C around a core yarn bobbin CB. The package supporting
section 50 supports the core yarn package CP at the upstream
of the core yarn supplying unit 51 in the travelling
direction of the core yarn C. The core yarn supplying unit
51 supplies the core yarn C while applying the tension to
20 the core yarn C unwound from the core yarn package CP and
guided via a guide roller 53. The core yarn guiding section
52 guides the core yarn C supplied from the core yarn
supplying unit 51 to a position between the pair of middle
rollers 18 and the pair of front rollers 19 of the draft
25 device 6.
The core yarn supplying device 200 can supply various
types of core yarns C. The core yarn C that can be supplied
is, for example, a mono-filament yarn and a multi-filament
yarn. The mono-filament yarn is formed by one thin filament
30 single yarn (e.g., single yarn having a thickness smaller
than or equal to 30 denier). The multi-filament yarn is
11 / 35
formed by bundling a plurality of filament single yarns.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the core yarn supplying unit
51 includes a unit base 60, a tension applying section 70,
a slack applying section 80, a core yarn feeding unit 100,
and a core yarn detection device (detecting section) 905 .
In the following description, a side on which the package
supporting section 50 is located in the travelling
direction of the core yarn C is referred to as upstream,
and a side on which the core yarn guiding section 52 is
10 located is referred to as downstream.
The unit base 60 supports the core yarn detection
device 90, the slack applying section 80, the tension
applying section 70, and the core yarn feeding unit 100 in
this order from the upstream in the travelling direction
15 of the core yarn C. A core yarn guide (second guide) 61
adapted to guide the core yarn C is arranged most upstream
of the unit base 60. In the present embodiment, the
travelling direction of the core yarn C that passed the
guide roller 53 is changed by the core yarn guide 61.
20 A core yarn guide 63 is arranged between the tension
applying section 70 and the core yarn feeding unit 100. A
balloon, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is formed when the core
yarn C is unwound from the core yarn package CP. Movement
of the core yarn C thus may vary. However, the core yarn
25 guide 61 arranged at the above-described position regulates
the movement of the core yarn C, and the movement of the
core yarn C is stabilized at the downstream of the core yarn
guide 61. Thus, the yarn path of the core yarn C between
the core yarn guide 61 and the core yarn guide 63 is
30 stabilized to a substantially linear form when the core yarn
C is being supplied, and hence detection accuracy of the
12 / 35
core yarn detection device 90 can be improved.
The tension applying section 70 is adapted to apply
tension to the core yarn C at the downstream of the core
yarn guide 61. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the tension
applying section 70 includes a tension applying 5 mechanism
71 and an operating mechanism 72.
The tension applying mechanism 71 includes a fixed
piece 73 and a movable piece 74. The movable piece 74 is
swingably supported with respect to the fixed piece 73 by
10 a supporting shaft (not illustrated) arranged on the fixed
piece 73. The movable piece 74 is urged in an opening
direction with respect to the fixed piece 73 by a spring
(not illustrated) arranged on the fixed piece 73.
More specifically, in the fixed piece 73, a plurality
15 of shafts 73a are arranged at predetermined intervals along
the travelling direction of the core yarn C. The movable
piece 74 includes a plurality of protrusions 74a projecting
out towards the fixed piece 73. Each protrusion 74a is
alternately located with each shaft 73a along the
20 travelling direction of the core yarn C under a state where
the movable piece 74 is closed with respect to the fixed
piece 73 (state of FIG. 4B). A hole 74b, through which the
core yarn C is inserted, is formed at a distal end portion
of each protrusion 74a.
25 The core yarn C is alternately hooked to each shaft
73a and each hole 74b. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4A,
the core yarn C is bent a plurality of times when the movable
piece 74 is opened with respect to the fixed piece 73. When
the core yarn C is pulled towards the downstream by the draft
30 device 6 and the pneumatic spinning device 7 under this
state (i.e., when the travelling of the core yarn C is
13 / 35
started), tension is applied to the core yarn C at the
downstream of the tension applying section 70 (including
the tension applying section 70). A state of the tension
applying section 70 in this case is referred to as a tension
5 applying state.
A portion of the core yarn C located upstream of the
tension applying section 70 is in a state before the tension
is applied by the tension applying section 70. The tension
applied to the core yarn C from the guide roller 53 and the
10 core yarn guide 61 is small. Thus, the tension applied to
the core yarn C at the upstream of the tension applying
section 70 is small compared to the tension applied to the
core yarn C at the downstream of the tension applying
section 70 including the tension applying section 70.
15 Therefore, no significant difference is found between a
thickness of the core yarn C wound in the core yarn package
CP and a thickness of the core yarn C located between the
core yarn package CP and an upstream end portion of the
tension applying section 70. In other words, the core yarn
20 C located between the core yarn package CP and the upstream
end portion of the tension applying section 70 has not
become too thin due to the influence of application of
tension by the tension applying section 70. Furthermore,
since the movement of the core yarn C located between the
25 core yarn package CP and the upstream end portion of the
tension applying section 70 is not restricted by the tension
applying section 70, the relevant portion of the core yarn
C may move.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when the movable piece 74
30 is closed with respect to the fixed piece 73, the core yarn
C becomes substantially linear. Thus, the tension applied
14 / 35
to the core yarn C at the downstream of the tension applying
section 70 including the tension applying section 70 is
released (or the tension becomes close to zero). A state
of the tension applying section 70 in this case is referred
to as a tension non-5 applying state.
The operating mechanism 72 acts on the movable piece
74 to open or close the movable piece 74 with respect to
the fixed piece 73. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the
operating mechanism 72 includes an operation member 75 and
10 an air cylinder 76.
The operation member 75 is moved by the air cylinder
76 to make contact with or separate from the movable piece
74. More specifically, the operation member 75 includes
a distal end portion 75a that makes contact with the movable
15 piece 74 from a side opposite to the fixed piece 73. When
air is supplied to the air cylinder 76, the distal end
portion 75a is moved downward (direction in which the
movable piece 74 is closed with respect to the fixed piece
73). When the supply of air to the air cylinder 76 is
20 stopped, the distal end portion 75a is separated from the
movable piece 74 and moved upward (direction in which the
movable piece 74 is opened with respect to the fixed piece
73).
When the distal end portion 75a is moved downward,
25 the movable piece 74 is pushed by the distal end portion
75a and is closed with respect to the fixed piece 73. As
a result, the tension applying section 70 is switched to
the tension non-applying state. When the distal end
portion 75a is moved upward, the movable piece 74 is opened
30 with respect to the fixed piece 73 by an urging force of
the spring. As a result, the tension applying section 70
15 / 35
is switched to the tension applying state.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the slack applying section
80 applies slack to the core yarn C at the downstream of
the tension applying section 70. The slack applying
section 80 includes an arm 81 and an air cylinder 82. T5 he
arm 81 is swingably supported by a supporting shaft 81c
attached to the unit base 60. The slack applying section
80 is swung by the air cylinder 82.
More specifically, a guide hole 83, through which the
10 core yarn C is inserted, is formed at a distal end portion
of the arm 81. When air is supplied to the air cylinder
82, the guide hole 83 is moved to a position away from the
travelling path of the core yarn C (a position of a chain
double dashed line in FIG. 3). When the supply of air to
15 the air cylinder 82 is stopped, the guide hole 83 is moved
to the travelling path of the core yarn C (a position of
a solid line in FIG. 3).
When the guide hole 83 is moved from the travelling
path of the core yarn C (the position of the solid line in
20 FIG. 3) to the position away from the travelling path of
the core yarn C (the position of the chain double dashed
line in FIG. 3), the core yarn C is pulled upward. The core
yarn C is unwound from the core yarn package CP by an amount
in which the core yarn C is pulled up, and hence the slack
25 is applied to the core yarn C. A state of the slack applying
section 80 when the guide hole 83 is located away from the
travelling path of the core yarn C (state where the arm 81
is at the position of the chain double dashed line as in
FIG. 3) is referred to as a slack applying state. A state
30 of the slack applying section 80 when the guide hole 83 is
located on the travelling path of the core yarn C (state
16 / 35
where the arm 81 is at the position of the solid line as
in FIG. 3) is referred to as a slack non-applying state.
The core yarn feeding unit 100 has a function of
feeding the core yarn C to the draft device 6, a function
of clamping the core yarn C, and a function of cutting 5 ng the
core yarn C. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the core yarn feeding
unit 100 includes a core yarn feeding section 101, and a
clamp cutter 102.
The core yarn feeding section 101 feeds the core yarn
10 C to the draft device 6 at the downstream of the tension
applying section 70 and the slack applying section 80. The
core yarn feeding section 101 includes a core yarn feeding
nozzle block 103, a core yarn feeding nozzle 104, and a tube
body 105. The core yarn feeding nozzle 104 and the tube
15 body 105 are arranged inside the core yarn feeding nozzle
block 103, and form the travelling path of the core yarn
C. Air is injected from outside to the travelling path of
the core yarn C through a nozzle 103a. With the injected
air, the core yarn feeding section 101 thereby feeds the
20 core yarn C located in the core yarn feeding nozzle 104 and
the tube body 105 to the draft device 6.
Herein, “feeding the core yarn C” refers to an
operation in which the core yarn feeding section 101 feeds
the core yarn C (a yarn end of the core yarn C) to the draft
25 device 6 when the supply of the core yarn C is started
(resumed). “Supplying the core yarn C” refers to an
operation in which the core yarn supplying device 200
continuously supplies the core yarn C to the draft device
6 while applying tension to the core yarn C after the supply
30 of the core yarn C is started (resumed) (i.e., operation
during spinning).
17 / 35
The clamp cutter 102 has a function of clamping the
core yarn C and a function of cutting the core yarn C. The
clamp cutter 102 includes a clamping section 106, a cutter
section 107, and an air cylinder 108.
The clamping section 106 clamps the core yarn C (5 the
yarn end of the core yarn C) at the downstream of the core
yarn feeding section 101. The clamping section 106
includes a clamp pin 106a, and a clamp block 106b.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the clamp block
10 106b is relatively moved with respect to the clamp pin 106a
by the air cylinder 108. More specifically, when the supply
of air to the air cylinder 108 is stopped, the clamp block
106b is moved away towards a side opposite to the clamp pin
106a with a travelling region of the core yarn C
15 therebetween (the state of FIG. 6A). When air is supplied
to the air cylinder 108, the clamp block 106b is moved to
cross the travelling region of the core yarn C to be located
closer to the clamp pin 106a (the state of FIG. 6B). The
clamping section 106 thereby clamps the core yarn C. The
20 state of the clamping section 106 in this case (the state
of FIG. 6B) is referred to as a clamping state. The state
of the clamping section 106 when the clamp block 106b is
spaced apart from the clamp pin 106a (the state of FIG. 6A)
is referred to as a non-clamping state.
25 The cutter section 107 cuts the core yarn C at the
downstream of the clamping section 106. The cutter section
107 is operated in conjunction with the clamping section
106 by the air cylinder 108. The cutter section 107 cuts
the core yarn C when the clamping section 106 is switched
30 from the non-clamping state to the clamping state.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the core yarn detection
18 / 35
device 90 detects the status of the core yarn C at the
upstream of the tension applying section 70 (more
specifically, upstream of the supporting shaft 81c). For
example, the core yarn detection device 90 detects the
presence or absence of the core yarn C as the status 5 of the
core yarn C. The core yarn detection device 90 thus is able
to detect yarn breakage of the core yarn C and/or running
out of the core yarn C of the core yarn package CP. A core
yarn guide (first guide) 62 adapted to guide the core yarn
10 C is arranged upstream of the core yarn detection device
90.
The core yarn detection device 90 is an optical sensor
including a light emitting section 91 and a light receiving
section 92. The light emitting section 91 emits light on
15 the core yarn C passing through the core yarn detection
device 90. The light emitting section 91 is, for example,
configured by a light emitting diode. The light emission
of the light emitting section 91 is controlled by the unit
controller 10. A yarn passage is formed between the light
20 emitting section 91 and the light receiving section 92. The
core yarn detection device 90 contactlessly detects the
status of the core yarn C travelling through the yarn
passage.
The light receiving section 92 receives light from
25 the light emitting section 91 transmitted through (shielded
by) the core yarn C (so-called transmissive light receiving
section). The light receiving section 92 is, for example,
a photodiode, and converts an intensity of the received
light to an electrical signal and outputs such an electrical
30 signal to the unit controller 10. The light receiving
section 92 may receive light from the light emitting section
19 / 35
91 reflected by the core yarn C (so-called reflective light
receiving section).
The core yarn detection device 90 includes a casing
having a substantially U-shaped groove with one end (upper
end) opened. The yarn passage of the core yarn C is 5 s set
to pass the groove. The groove is arranged between the
light emitting section 91 and the light receiving section
92. The core yarn guide 62 is arranged upstream of the core
yarn detection device 90. Of the end portions of the core
10 yarn guide 62, an opened portion is not formed at least at
the end portion located at the same side as the opened one
end of the core yarn detection device 90. In the present
embodiment, the core yarn guide 62 is a plate-like member
with a hole. Thus, even when the movement of the core yarn
15 C is not stable, the core yarn C can be prevented from being
displaced from the groove and not returning to the groove,
and the core yarn detection device 90 can reliably detect
the core yarn C. In FIG. 3, the core yarn guide 62 is
arranged upstream of the core yarn detection device 90, but
20 the core yarn guide 62 may be arranged downstream of the
core yarn detection device 90.
A downstream surface of the core yarn guide 62 is
arranged so as to make contact with an upstream end portion
or an upstream end face of a casing of the core yarn detection
25 device 90. In other words, the light emitting section 91
and the light receiving section 92 are arranged in a region
between the inner surface of the casing and the downstream
surface of the plate-like member of the core yarn guide 62.
Thus, for example, the light of the illumination light in
30 the textile factory where the core yarn supplying unit 51
is installed, for example, can be prevented from affecting
20 / 35
the optical sensor. As a result, the detection accuracy
of the core yarn detection device 90 can be further
improved.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the core yarn supplying unit
51 further includes a first air supply tube 54, a s5 econd
air supply tube 55, a relay substrate 56, and a multi-core
cable 57.
The first air supply tube 54 relays an air supply tube
(not illustrated) connected to an air supply source of the
10 first end frame 4, and a plurality of air supply tubes (not
illustrated) respectively connected with air cylinders 76,
82, 108. Thus, the air is supplied from the first end frame
4 to each air cylinder 76, 82, 108 through the first air
supply tube 54.
15 A first electromagnetic valve (not illustrated) is
attached to the first air supply tube 54. The first
electromagnetic valve switches supply and stop of air
supplied from the first end frame 4 to each air cylinder
76, 82, 108. When the first electromagnetic valve is opened,
20 the tension applying section 70 is switched to the tension
non-applying state, the slack applying section 80 is
switched to the tension applying state, and the clamping
section 106 is switched to the clamping state. When the
first electromagnetic valve is closed, the tension applying
25 section 70 is switched to the tension applying state, the
slack applying section 80 is switched to the tension
non-applying state, and the clamping section 106 is
switched to the non-clamping state.
The second air supply tube 55 relays an air supply
30 tube (not illustrated) connected to the air supply source
of the first end frame 4, and an air supply tube (not
21 / 35
illustrated) connected to the core yarn feeding section 101.
Thus, the air is supplied from the first end frame 4 to the
core yarn feeding section 101 through the second air supply
tube 55.
A second electromagnetic valve (not illustrated) 5 rated) is
attached to the second air supply tube 55. The second
electromagnetic valve switches supply and stop of air
supplied from the first end frame 4 to the core yarn feeding
section 101. When the second electromagnetic valve is
10 opened, the air is injected to the travelling path of the
core yarn C in the core yarn feeding section 101, and thus
the core yarn C is fed from the core yarn feeding section
101. When the second electromagnetic valve is closed, the
injection of air to the travelling path of the core yarn
15 C in the core yarn feeding section 101 is stopped, and thus
the feeding operation of the core yarn C by the core yarn
feeding section 101 is also stopped.
The relay substrate 56 is electrically connected to
the core yarn detection device 90, the first
20 electromagnetic valve, and the second electromagnetic
valve.
The multi-core cable 57 electrically relays the relay
substrate 56, and the multi-core cable (not illustrated)
connected to the unit controller 10. The unit controller
25 10 thus can control the core yarn detection device 90, the
first electromagnetic valve, and the second
electromagnetic valve.
The operation of the above-described core yarn
supplying device 200 will now be described. As illustrated
30 FIG. 7, when the core yarn C is being supplied, the core
yarn C travels towards the downstream in the travelling
22 / 35
direction of the core yarn C by being pulled by the draft
device 6 and the pneumatic spinning device 7. The tension
applying section 70 is held in the tension applying state
in this case, and the core yarn C travels towards the draft
device 6 while being applied with tension at the 5 downstream
of the tension applying section 70 (including the tension
applying section 70). The core yarn detection device 90
detects the status of the core yarn C at the upstream of
the tension applying section 70. When the core yarn C is
10 being supplied, the state of the slack applying section 80
is held in the slack non-applying state, and the clamping
section 106 is held in the non-clamping state.
Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when presence of the
yarn defect or absence of the yarn (the core yarn C or the
15 spun yarn Y) is detected by the core yarn detection device
90, the yarn monitoring device 8, and/or the tension sensor
9, a control signal for interrupting the supply of the core
yarn C is transmitted from the unit controller 10 to the
relay substrate 56 and the supply of the core yarn C is
20 interrupted. Specifically, the first electromagnetic
valve is opened, and the clamping section 106 is switched
to the clamping state. The cutter section 107 is operated
in conjunction therewith, and the core yarn C at the
downstream of the clamping section 106 is cut. The state
25 of the tension applying section 70 is switched to the
tension non-applying state, and the state of the slack
applying section 80 is switched to the slack applying state.
The application of tension to the core yarn C is thereby
released, and the slack is applied to the core yarn C. Note
30 that, even when the spinning by the spinning unit 2 is
normally terminated, a control signal for terminating the
23 / 35
supply of the core yarn C is transmitted from the unit
controller 10 to the relay substrate 56, and an operation
similar to the above is carried out.
At the start of the supply of the core yarn C, the
first electromagnetic valve is closed, the state of 5 the
clamping section 106 is switched to the non-clamping state,
the state of the tension applying section 70 is switched
to the tension applying state, and the state of the slack
applying section 80 is switched to the slack non-applying
10 state. The second electromagnetic valve is opened, and the
core yarn C, to which the slack is applied by the slack
applying section 80, is fed to the draft device 6 by the
core yarn feeding section 101. The supply of the core yarn
C is thereby started.
15 As described above, in the core yarn supplying device
200, the slack is applied to the core yarn C by the slack
applying section 80 before the core yarn C is fed by the
core yarn feeding section 101. The core yarn C thus can
be reliably fed to the draft device 6. In other words, since
20 the slack is applied to the core yarn C, even the core yarn
C such as the mono-filament yarn, which is difficult to be
carried by a flow of air, can be reliably fed to the draft
device 6 by the action of air. The core yarn C fed to the
draft device 6 is supplied to the draft device 6 while being
25 applied with tension by the tension applying section 70.
When high tension is applied to the thin core yarn C such
as the mono-filament yarn, the possibility that the status
of the core yarn C may not be accurately detected increases.
However, in the core yarn supplying device 200, the status
30 of the core yarn C is detected by the core yarn detection
device 90 at a position upstream of a position where the
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tension is applied by the tension applying section 70. Thus,
the status of the core yarn C can be stably detected. The
detection accuracy of the core yarn detection device 90 is
not affected by the setting of the tension applying section
70. Therefore, according to the core yarn supplying 5 device
200, various types of core yarns C can be supplied, and the
status of the core yarn C can be stably detected.
The core yarn supplying device 200 includes the
clamping section 106. Thus, by clamping the core yarn C
10 when interrupting or terminating the supply of the core yarn
C and releasing the clamping of the core yarn C when feeding
the core yarn C, the core yarn C can be more reliably fed
to the feeding destination such as the draft device 6.
The core yarn detection device 90 is an optical sensor
15 including the light emitting section 91 and the light
receiving section 92. Thus, the status of the core yarn
C can be accurately detected with a simple configuration.
The core yarn supplying unit 51 further includes the
unit base 60 adapted to support the tension applying section
20 70, the slack applying section 80, the core yarn feeding
section 101, and the core yarn detection device 90. Thus,
each section can be handled as one unit, whereby the
attachment/detachment with respect to the draft device 6
and the like, for example, can be easily carried out. The
25 attachment/detachment target of the unit base 60 is not
limited to the draft device 6, and for example, may be a
main body frame (not illustrated) to which each device such
as the draft device 6, the pneumatic spinning device 7, the
winding device 13, and the like is attached.
30 The core yarn supplying device 200 includes the
package supporting section 50 adapted to support the core
25 / 35
yarn package CP. The core yarn C thus can be stably supplied
to the feeding destination such as the draft device 6.
According to the spinning unit 2, since the core yarn
supplying device 200 is provided, the spun yarn Y including
5 the core yarn C can be stably produced.
One embodiment of the present invention has been
described above, but the present invention is not limited
to the above-described embodiment.
The core yarn detection device 90 detects the status
10 of the core yarn C at the upstream of the supporting shaft
81c, but the core yarn detection device 90 may detect the
status of the core yarn C at any position as long as the
position is at the upstream of the tension applying section
70. For example, the core yarn detection device 90 may
15 detect the status of the core yarn C between the supporting
shaft 81c and the tension applying section 70.
The core yarn detection device 90 is the optical
sensor, but for example, the core yarn detection device 90
may be a capacitance sensor including a pair of electrodes
20 arranged facing each other with the travelling core yarn
C therebetween.
The tension applying section 70 is a so-called gate
type tensor including the fixed piece 73 and the movable
piece 74, but the tension applying section 70 may be a device
25 having other configuration such as a disc tensor.
In the core yarn supplying unit 51, the unit base 60
collectively supports the tension applying section 70, the
slack applying section 80, the core yarn feeding section
101, and the core yarn detection device 90, but each section
30 may not be collectively supported by the unit base 60. For
example, each section may be directly or indirectly
26 / 35
supported by the main body frame (not illustrated), to which
each device such as the draft device 6 is attached.
Alternatively, the core yarn detection device 90 may be
arranged at the upstream of the core yarn guide 61 or the
upstream of the guide roller 53. In other words, 5 the core
yarn detection device 90 may be arranged at any position
between the core yarn package CP and the tension applying
section 70. Even when the core yarn detection device 90
is arranged on the unit base 60, the core yarn detection
10 device 90 may be arranged at the position downstream of the
position illustrated in FIG. 3 as long as the position is
located upstream of the tension applying section 70.
The slack applying section 80 applies the slack to
the core yarn C at the downstream of the tension applying
15 section 70, but the slack applying section 80 may apply the
slack to the core yarn C at the upstream of the tension
applying section 70 or the core yarn detection device 90.
In this case, when the core yarn C is fed by the core yarn
feeding section 101, the tension applying section 70 is held
20 in the tension non-applying state so that the core yarn C,
to which the slack is applied by the slack applying section
80, is appropriately fed to the draft device 6.
The pneumatic spinning device 7 may further include
a needle held by a fiber guiding section and arranged so
25 as to protrude into a spinning chamber to prevent twists
of the fiber bundle F from being propagated to the upstream
of the pneumatic spinning device 7. Alternatively, such
a needle may be omitted, and the pneumatic spinning device
7 may prevent the twists of the fiber bundle F from being
30 propagated to upstream of the pneumatic spinning device 7
by a downstream end portion of the fiber guiding section.
27 / 35
Furthermore, instead of the above-described configuration,
the pneumatic spinning device 7 may include a pair of
air-jet nozzles respectively adapted to twist the fiber
bundle F in directions opposite from each other.
In the spinning unit 2, the yarn storage 5 torage device 11
has a function of pulling out the spun yarn Y from the
pneumatic spinning device 7, but the spun yarn Y may be
pulled out from the pneumatic spinning device 7 with a
delivery roller and a nip roller. In a case of pulling out
10 the spun yarn Y from the pneumatic spinning device 7 with
the delivery roller and the nip roller, a slack tube adapted
to absorb the slack of the spun yarn Y with suction airflow,
a mechanic compensator, or the like may be provided instead
of the yarn storage device 11.
15 In the spinning machine 1, each device is arranged
such that the spun yarn Y supplied at an upper side is wound
at a lower side in a direction of a machine height. However,
each device may be arranged such that the spun yarn Y
supplied at the lower side is wound at the upper side.
20 In the spinning machine 1, at least one of the bottom
rollers in the draft device 6, and the traverse guide 23
are driven by power from the second end frame 5 (that is,
in common with the plurality of spinning units 2). However,
each section (for example, the draft device 6, the pneumatic
25 spinning device 7, the winding device 13, or the like) of
the spinning unit 2 may be driven independently for each
spinning unit 2.
In the travelling direction of the spun yarn Y, the
tension sensor 9 may be arranged upstream of the yarn
30 monitoring device 8. The unit controller 10 may be provided
for every spinning unit 2. In the spinning unit 2, the
28 / 35
waxing device 12, the tension sensor 9, and the yarn
monitoring device 8 may be omitted.
FIG. 1 illustrates that the spinning machine 1 winds
a cheese package P, but the spinning machine 1 can also wind
a conical package P. In a case of the conical package P5 ,
a slack of the spun yarn Y occurs by traversing the spun
yarn Y, but the slack can be absorbed with the yarn storage
device 11.
Although some aspects have been described in the
10 context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also
represent a description of the corresponding method, where
a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature
of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the
context of a method step also represent a description of
15 a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding
apparatus.
Embodiments of the present invention have that advantage
that they are capable of supplying a core yarn of various
types and are capable of stably detecting a status of a core
20 yarn.
A core yarn supplying device of the present invention
includes a tension applying section adapted to apply
tension to a core yarn; a slack applying section adapted
to apply slack to the core yarn; a core yarn feeding section
25 adapted to feed the core yarn at downstream of the tension
applying section and the slack applying section in a
travelling direction of the core yarn; and detecting
section adapted to detect status of the core yarn at
upstream of the tension applying section in the travelling
30 direction.
In embodiments of the above-described core yarn
29 / 35
supplying device, the slack is applied to the core yarn by
the slack applying section when the core yarn is fed by the
core yarn feeding section. Thus, even a thin core yarn such
as a mono-filament yarn can be reliably fed to a feeding
destination such as a draft device. The core yarn 5 fed to
the feeding destination is supplied to the feeding
destination while being applied with tension by the tension
applying section. In this case, when high tension is
applied to the thin core yarn such as the mono-filament yarn,
10 possibility that the status of the core yarn may not be
accurately detected increases. However, in the
above-described core yarn supplying device, the status of
the core yarn is detected by the detecting section at a
position upstream of a position where the tension is applied
15 by the tension applying section. Thus, even the status of
the thin core yarn such as the mono-filament yarn can be
stably detected. Therefore, according to the embodiments
of the core yarn supplying device, various types of core
yarns can be supplied, and the status of the core yarn can
20 be stably detected.
In embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of
the present invention, the detecting section includes a
casing having a groove with one end opened. The core yarn
supplying device further includes a first core yarn guide
25 having a closed portion at least at an end portion located
at a same side as the opened one end of the groove. The
first core yarn guide is arranged with respect to the casing.
Thus, the core yarn can be prevented from being displaced
from the detecting section, and the core yarn can be
30 reliably detected by the detecting section.
Embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of the
30 / 35
present invention further include a second core yarn guide
arranged upstream of the first core yarn guide and adapted
to guide the core yarn. Thus, a yarn path of the core yarn
to be guided to the detecting section is stabilized, and
the core yarn can be reliably detected by the detec5 ting
section.
Embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of the
present invention may further include a clamping section
adapted to clamp the core yarn at downstream of the core
10 yarn feeding section in the travelling direction. Thus,
by clamping the core yarn when the supply of the core yarn
is interrupted or terminated and releasing the clamping of
the core yarn when the core yarn is fed, the core yarn can
be more reliably fed to the feeding destination such as the
15 draft device.
In embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of
the present invention, the detecting section may be an
optical sensor having a light emitting section adapted to
emit light to the core yarn and a light receiving section
20 adapted to receive the light. Thus, the status of the core
yarn can be accurately detected with a simple
configuration.
In embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of
the present invention, the optical sensor is arranged
25 within a region located between an inner surface of the
casing and a downstream surface of a plate-like member of
the first core yarn guide. Thus, light of illumination
light in a textile factory where the core yarn supplying
device is installed, for example, can be prevented from
30 affecting the optical sensor. As a result, the detecting
section can accurately detect the core yarn.
31 / 35
Embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of the
present invention may further include a unit base adapted
to support the tension applying section, the slack applying
section, the core yarn feeding section, and the detecting
section. Thus, each section can be handled as one 5 unit,
and attachment/detachment with respect to the feeding
destination such as the draft device can be easily carried
out.
Embodiments of the core yarn supplying device of the
10 present invention may further include a package supporting
section arranged upstream of the slack applying section and
the detecting section in the travelling direction, and
adapted to support a package around which the core yarn is
wound. The core yarn thus can be stably supplied to the
15 feeding destination such as the draft device.
A spinning machine of the present invention includes
the above-described core yarn supplying device; a draft
device adapted to draft a fiber bundle; a pneumatic spinning
device adapted to form a yarn by applying twists to the fiber
20 bundle with the core yarn as a core; and a winding device
adapted to wind the yarn to form a package.
In embodiments of the above-described spinning
machine, the yarn including the core yarn can be stably
produced since the core yarn supplying device is arranged.

WE CLAIM:
1. A core yarn supplying device comprising:
a tension applying section adapted to apply tension
to a core yarn;
a slack applying section adapted to apply slack 5 to
the core yarn;
a core yarn feeding section adapted to feed the core
yarn at downstream of the tension applying section and the
slack applying section in a travelling direction of the core
10 yarn; and
a detecting section adapted to detect status of the
core yarn at upstream of the tension applying section in
the travelling direction.
15 2. The core yarn supplying device according to claim
1, wherein the detecting section includes a casing having
a groove with one end opened,
the core yarn supplying device further comprising a
first core yarn guide having a closed portion at least at
20 an end portion located at a same side as the opened one end
of the groove, the first core yarn guide being arranged with
respect to the casing.
3. The core yarn supplying device according to claim
25 2, further comprising a second core yarn guide arranged
upstream of the first core yarn guide and adapted to guide
the core yarn.
4. The core yarn supplying device according to any
30 one of claim 1 through claim 3, further comprising a
clamping section adapted to clamp the core yarn at
33 / 35
downstream of the core yarn feeding section in the
travelling direction.
5. The core yarn supplying device according to any
one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the 5 detecting
section is an optical sensor having a light emitting section
adapted to emit light to the core yarn and a light receiving
section adapted to receive the light.
10 6. The core yarn supplying device according to claim
5, wherein the first core yarn guide is a plate-like member
with a hole, and the optical sensor is arranged within a
region located between an inner surface of the casing and
a downstream surface of the plate-like member of the first
15 core yarn guide.
7. The core yarn supplying device according to any
one of claim 1 through claim 6, further comprising a unit
base adapted to support the tension applying section, the
20 slack applying section, the core yarn feeding section, and
the detecting section.
8. The core yarn supplying device according to any
one of claim 1 through claim 7, further comprising a package
25 supporting section arranged upstream of the slack applying
section and the detecting section in the travelling
direction, and adapted to support a package around which
the core yarn is wound.
30 9. A spinning machine comprising:
the core yarn supplying device according to any one
34 / 35
of claim 1 through claim 8;
a draft device adapted to draft a fiber bundle;
a pneumatic spinning device adapted to form a yarn
by applying twists to the fiber bundle with the core yarn
5 as a core; and
a winding device adapted to wind the yarn to form a
package.
10. Method of supplying core yarn, the method
10 comprising:
applying a slack to the core yarn by a slack applying
section, when feeding the core yarn by a core yarn feeding
unit at downstream of the slack applying section in a
travelling direction of the core yarn; and
15 applying a tension to the core yarn by a tension
applying section and detecting a status of the core yarn
at upstream of the tension applying section in the
travelling direction, when the core yarn is being supplied
to a feeding destination.