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DESCRIPTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FINE SPINNING WINDER AND FINE SPINNING WINDER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a management system applied to a fine spinning
winder.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally known is a fine spinning winder including a spinning frame for spinning a yam and winding the yam on a bobbin, an automatic winder for unwinding the spun yam from the bobbin to form a package having a predetermined length, and a bobbin transport mechanism for automatically transporting the bobbin by a tray from a fine spinning unit of the spinning frame to a rewinding unit of the automatic winder. In this type of fine spinning winder, a textile machine management system is sometimes applied, whereby recording means for recording information is attached to the tray and bobbin information is managed based on the information recorded on the recording means. By using such a management system, in a case where, for example, a yam of lower quality than a set level is detected, a fine spinning unit having wound the yam on the bobbin can be promptly identified based on the information recorded on the recording means. A fine spinning winder using such a fine spinning winder management system is disclosed in, for example. Patent Documents I and 2.
PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

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[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-176081
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-41329 (1987)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0004] In the above-described fine spinning winder, there is sometimes a desire to know how fluff is occurring in a spun yam on a unit basis of the bobbin, in order to use it as a reference for recognizing an operating situation of the fine spinning unit. It is therefore conceivable to use a fluff" detection function of a clearer that is provided in the rewinding unit of the automatic winder.
[0005] Here, fluffing (the amount of fluff) in the spun yam that is unwound from the bobbin has a certain variation tendency relative to the length of the unwound yam, such as being small immediately after the start of the unwinding but gradually increasing as the amount of remaining yam approaches zero. However, in a case of detecting the fluff by the clearer, the above-mentioned variation cannot be considered. Therefore, the amount of occurrence of fluff cannot be properly analyzed on a unit basis of the bobbin. [0006] Therefore, a conventional fine spinning winder adopts a method in which one of the bobbins wound with the yams by the fine spinning units of the spinning frame is picked up as a sample, and the yam is unwound up to a certain length that is predefined, and then the amount of fluff is measured by an analyzer that is provided independently of the fine spinning winder. As a result, data conceming the amount of fluff in the yam capable of being compared with another bobbin can be obtained. Therefore, a tendency of each bobbin can be grasped, such as a tendency that a certain bobbin has a larger amount of fluff" than other bobbins. However, the spinning frame often includes a large

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number of fine spinning units, and it is quite troublesome to pick up a sample and analyze the sample by the analyzer for all of the fine spinning units. On the other hand, if an interval at which the sample is picked up for a quality inspection is increased, detection of a failure of the fine spinning unit may be delayed depending on a timing of picking up the sample, which undesirably causes decrease in production efficiency. [0007] The present invention is made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a management system for a fine spinning winder, which enables a tendency of occurrence of fluff in a yam spun by a fine spinning unit to be automatically analyzed on a unit basis of a bobbin.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS THEREOF [0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and next, means for solving the problem and effects thereof will be described. [0009] In a first aspect of the present invention, in a management system for managing a fine spinning winder including a spinning fi^me, an automatic winder, and a bobbin transport mechanism, the following configuration is provided. The spinning frame includes a plurality of fine spinning units for winding spun yams on bobbins. The automatic winder includes a rewinding unit for unwinding the yam from the bobbin to form a package. The bobbin transport mechanism transports, to the rewinding unit, a transporter on which the bobbin wound with the yam by the spinning frame is set. The transporter has a data recording section configured to record information for identifying the fine spinning unit that has wound the yam on the bobbin set on this transporter. The rewinding unit includes a fluff detection part, a yam length calculation section, and a data reading part. The fluff detection part detects the amount of fluff in the yam. The yam length calculation section calculates the length of the unwound yam indicating the length

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of the yam unwound from the bobbin. The data reading part reads the information from the data recording section corresponding to the bobbin on which a rewinding operation is performed. The automatic winder includes a quality inspection section for recording the amount of fluff together with the length of the unwound yam obtained when the fluff detection part detected this amount of fluff, and performing a quality inspection, on a unit basis of the bobbin, on the yam spun by the fine spinning unit.
[0010] Accordingly, the fine spinning unit having performed the spinning can be identified based on the information in the data recording section. Therefore, the quality of the yam produced by the fine spinning unit can be examined on a unit basis of the bobbin. Additionally, the quality inspection can be automatically performed concurrently with the rewinding operation in a production line. This provides laborsaving for the quality inspection operation. Moreover, since the amount of fluff is recorded in association with the yam length, a tendency of occurrence of fluff that indicates a portion of the yam where a large amount of fluff occurs can be accurately recognized, which enables the fluff to be detected and handled efficiently. [0011] In the management system, it is preferable that the fine spinning unit is configured as a ring spinning unit having a traveler.
[0012] Accordingly, since the tendency of occurrence of fluff can be accurately recognized on a unit basis of the bobbin, increase in the amount of fluff throughout the yam, which is caused by degradation of the traveler due to abrasion, can also be detected easily.
[0013] It is preferable that the management system is configured as follows. That is, the fine spinning winder includes notification means configured to identify the fine spinning unit requiring maintenance, and to make notification. The management system monitors, on a unit basis of the bobbin, a tendency of occurrence of fluff in the yam

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produced by the same fine spinning unit, and if the tendency of occurrence of fluff exhibits a change that satisfies a determination condition as compared with a previous tendency of occurrence of fluff, the notification means makes notification. [0014] Accordingly, since a change in the tendency of occurrence of fluff is monitored on a unit basis of the bobbin, a change in the amount of fluff caused by a failure of the fine spinning unit while a system is running can be detected on a unit basis of the bobbin, and an operator can be notified of the fine spinning unit requiring maintenance. This allows the operator to promptly handle the failure of the fine spinning unit, thus effectively suppressing deterioration in quality of the yam rewound into the package. Moreover, a component part is replaced at a timing when the component part actually reaches the end of its lifetime and causes a failure. Therefore, the replacement of only the minimum number of component parts is required, and thus costs can be reduced efficiently.
[0015] It is preferable that the management system for the fine spinning winder is configured as follows. That is, if the rewinding operation is interrupted halfway, the management system records unwound yam length information indicating the length of the unwound yam obtained at a time when the intermption occurs. Additionally, when performing the rewinding operation again using the bobbin on which the rewinding operation has been intermpted halfway, the management system refers to the unwound yam length information corresponding to this bobbin, and records the amount of fluff in association with the length of the unwound yam including consideration for this unwound yam length information.
[0016] Accordingly, even when the bobbin on which the rewinding operation has been intermpted is transported again to the rewinding unit, the amount of fluff is recorded based on the length of the unwound yam including consideration for the length of the

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already unwound yam. Therefore, a portion where the fluflf is detected can be accurately
identified.
[0017] In the management system, it is preferable that the rewinding unit includes a fluff
suppression device that is controlled based on a tendency of occurrence of fluff on a unit
basis of the bobbin.
[0018] Accordingly, fluff is suppressed in accordance with the tendency of occurrence
thereof, and therefore the quality of the yam rewound into the package can be kept more
uniform.
[0019] In a second aspect of the present invention, a fine spinning winder to which the
management system is applied is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG 1 is a schematic plan view showing a tray transport path provided in a fine spinning winder according to one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the top side thereof
FIG 2 contains a schematic fi-ont elevational view and a block diagram showing a fine spinning winder.
FIG 3 is a perspective view showing extemal appearances of a bobbin and a tray.
FIG 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a fine spinning unit.
FIG 5 is a side view showing a configuration of a rewinding unit.
FIG 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining trend data used for a quality inspection.
FIG 7 is a side view showing a configuration of a rewinding unit according to a modification.

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EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0021] Next, an embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic
plan view showing a fine spinning winder 1 according to one embodiment of the present
invention, as seen from the top side thereof FIG. 2 contains a schematic front
elevational view and a block diagram showing the fine spinning winder 1.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the fine spinning winder 1 has a tray transport path 90 for
transporting a tray (transporter) 50 on which a bobbin 23 is set. A spinning frame 2, a
winder 3, and an automatic bobbin feed system (bobbin transport mechanism) 6 are
arranged in the tray transport path 90. The tray transport path 90 connects the spinning
frame 2 and the winder 3 to each other, and is configured as a loop, so that the bobbin 23
(tray 50) circulates through the tray transport path 90. Although FIG 1 shows only one
bobbin 23 and one tray 50, actually a plurality of trays 50 are transported along the tray
transport path 90.
[0023] In the following description, regarding a flow of the tray 50 through the tray
transport path 90, an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to a direction of
transport of the tray 50 may be simply referred to as "upstream side" and "downstream
side", respectively.
[0024] Firstly, configurations of the tray 50 and the bobbin 23 transported in the tray
transport path 90 will be briefly described with reference to FIG 3. FIG 3 is a
perspective view showing external appearances of the tray 50 and the bobbin 23 used in
the fme spinning winder 1 of this embodiment.
[0025] As shown in the left part of FIG 3, the tray 50 includes a base portion 50a having
a substantially circular disc shape, and a bobbin insertion portion 50b having a rod-like
shape and protruding from the base portion 50a in a vertical direction. The tray 50
moves along the tray transport path 90 while a side of the tray 50 at which the insertion

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portion 50b protrudes faces upward.
[0026] As shown in the middle part of FIG 3, the bobbin 23 is shaped into a long and
thin cylinder, and allows the insertion portion 50b to be inserted therein. Thereby, the
bobbin 23 is set on the tray 50 with a longitudinal direction of the bobbin 23 extending in
the vertical direction, and can be transported along the tray transport path 90.
[0027] In the following description, a bobbin (bobbin shown in the right part of FIG 3)
on which a yam is wound will be sometimes referred to as "actual bobbin". A bobbin in
a state where no yam is wound thereon (in a state shown in the middle part of FIG 3) will
be sometimes referred to as "empty bobbin" or "bobbin that is empty" for the purpose of
especially emphasizing such a state.
[0028] In the fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment, a management system (textile
machine management system) is applied which manages information of the bobbin 23 set
on the tray 50 by using a technique of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification: individual
identification based on a radio wave). More specifically, in each tray 50, an RF tag (data
recording section) 60 in which appropriate information can be written is arranged within
the base portion 50a. By writing information conceming the bobbin 23 into the RF tag
60 (of each tray 50), a status of the bobbin 23 is managed.
[0029] Next, each configuration of the fine spinning winder 1 will be described along
the tray transport path 90. The tray transport path 90 includes an actual bobbin
introduction path 91, an actual bobbin transport path 92, a returned bobbin transport path
93, a bobbin waiting loop 94, a bobbin supply path 95, an empty bobbin transport path 96,
an empty bobbin retum path 97, a defective bobbin waiting path 98, and a replaced
bobbin retum path 99.
[0030] The actual bobbin introduction path 91 connects the spinning fi-ame 2 and the
automatic bobbin feed system 6 to each other, and transports the tray 50 having the

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bobbin 23 placed thereon from the spinning frame 2 to the automatic bobbin feed system 6. Hereinafter, the spinning frame 2 will be described.
[0031] As shown in FIG 2, the spinning frame 2 includes a large number of fine spinning units 32 arranged in parallel with one another, and a controller 19 configured to collectively control the large number of fine spinning units 32. The spinning frame 2 also includes a doffing device (not shown) for doffing the bobbin 23 (actual bobbin) on which the yam has been wound by the fine spinning unit 32.
[0032] Next, a detailed description will be given to the fine spinning unit 32 with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG 4, the fine spinning unit 32 of this embodiment is for spinning a sliver or a rove having been generated in a prior step by imparting twist thereto. More specifically, the spinning frame 2 is configured as a ring spinning frame, and the fine spinnii^ unit 32 is configured as a ring spinning unit including a drafting mechanism 101 and a twist imparting mechanism 102.
[0033] The drafting mechanism 101 has a plurality of drafting rollers, and the drafting rollers include top rollers 103 and bottom rollers 104. The top rollers 103 have three drafting rollers, namely, a back roller 103a, a middle roller 103b having an apron belt 105 mounted thereon, and a front roller 103c. On the other hand, the bottom rollers 104 have three drafting rollers, namely, a back bottom roller 104a, a middle bottom roller 104b having an apron belt 105 mounted thereon, and a front bottom roller 104c. As shown in FIG 4, the top roller 103 and the bottom roller 104 are arranged so as to be opposed to each other across a path of travel of the sliver or the rove, and are configured to nip the sliver or the rove with predetermined pressure. An output shaft of a driving source (not shown) is connected to each of the bottom rollers 104, so that the bottom rollers 104 can be driven at different speeds. By the driving of the bottom rollers 104, the sliver or the rove is, while being drawn, fed to the twist imparting mechanism 102.

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[0034] The twist imparting mechanism 102 includes a spindle shaft 111, a ring rail 112, a ring 113, and a traveler 114. The spindle shaft 111 is for rotating the bobbin 23 that is set on the spindle shaft 111. The ring rail 112 is connected to a driver (not shown), and movable in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin 23. The ring 113 is fixed to the ring rail 112, and has a flange portion for the traveler 114 to be mounted thereon. The traveler 114 is supported on the flange portion of the ring 113, and movable in a circumferential direction of the ring 113.
[0035] To perform the fine spinning in the fine spinning unit 32 configured as described above, firstly, the yam (sliver or rove having been drawn) fed from the drafting mechanism 101 is inserted into a gap between the traveler 114 and the ring 113, and an end portion of the yam is fixed to the empty bobbin 23 by an appropriate method. In this state, the spindle shaft 111 rotates the bobbin 23, and thereby the yam being wound on the bobbin 23 drags the traveler 114, so that the traveler 114 moves in the circumferential direction. As a result, the rotation of the traveler 114 is delayed behind the rotation of the bobbin 23, and twist is imparted to the yam due to a difference in the number of rotations thus caused. The twisted yam is sequentially wound on the bobbin 23. When a preset length of the yam is wound on the bobbin 23, the rotation of the spindle shaft 111 is stopped, to terminate the winding.
[0036] The spinning frame 2 of this embodiment is of so-called simultaneous doffing type. In the spinning fi-ame 2 of this type, a large number of bobbins 23 transported from the automatic bobbin feed system 6 through the empty bobbin retum path 97 which will be described later are stocked while being arranged in a line, and when a predetermined timing comes, the large number of bobbins 23 are simultaneously set on the spindle shafts 111 of the fine spinning units 32, and yams are simultaneously wound thereon. When the winding of the yams is completed, the doffing device simultaneously

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doffs all the bobbins 23 (actual bobbins). Then, bobbins 23 that are empty are pulled away from the trays 50 having the empty bobbins 23 placed thereon, which are waiting in appropriate positions. Then, the bobbins 23 (actual bobbins) are inserted into the trays 50. Then, the pulled bobbins 23 that are empty are set on the spindle shafts 111, and the spinning frame 2 winds yams thereon. The bobbins 23 doffed by the spinning frame 2 and placed on the trays 50 are transported through the actual bobbin introduction path 91, and thereby introduced into the automatic bobbin feed system 6.
[0037] The automatic bobbin feed system 6 receives the trays 50 having the bobbins 23 (actual bobbins) placed thereon from the spinning frame 2, and then writes appropriate information into the RT tags 60 of the trays 50. A pick finding device 7 finds pick of the bobbins 23, and then the trays 50 are supplied to the winder 3 side. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given.
[0038] As shown in FIG 1, an RF writer (data writing part) 4 is arranged at the downstream side of the spinning frame 2 in the actual bobbin introduction path 91. The RP writer 4 writes, for example, information identifying the fine spinning unit 32 that has spun the yam on the bobbin 23, into the RF tag 60. When the tray 50 transported in the actual bobbin introduction path 91 passes through a writing position of the RF writer 4, the information identifying the fine spinning unit 32 that has wound the yam on the bobbin 23 placed on this tray 50 is recorded on the RF tag 60 by the RT writer 4. [0039] The fine spinning units 32 are arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the spinning frame 2. The bobbins 23 doffed by the simultaneous doffing are mounted on the trays 50, and then transported in the actual bobbin introduction path 91 in the same order as the order in which the fine spinning units 32 are arranged. Accordingly, by counting the order in which the bobbins 23 are introduced into the actual bobbin introduction path 91, the fine spinning unit 32 that has spun the yam on the bobbin 23 can

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be identified. For example, in the first tray 50 that has passed through a reading position of the RP writer 4 after the simultaneous doffing was performed, a station number No.l of the fine spinning unit 32 arranged most downstream is stored in the RP tag 60. In the next transported tray 50, the station number No. 2 of the fine spinning unit 32 adjacent upstream to the fine spinning unit 32 having the station number No. 1 is stored in the RF tag 60. In the subsequent trays newly transported, in the same manner, the station numbers No. 3, No. 4, ... are sequentially stored in the RF tags 60. As a result, the information (station number) identifying the fine spinning unit 32 that has wound the yam on the bobbin 23 placed on the tray 50 is stored in the RF tag 60 of this tray 50 passing through the writing position of the RF writer 4.
[0040] The RF writer 4 of this embodiment is configured to write doffing information as well as the station number described above. Here, the doffing information means information indicating a timing of performing the doffing, such as time when the simultaneous doffing was performed or how many number of times the doffing was. [0041] The reason why the doffing information (such as clock time when the doffing was performed) as well as the station number is recorded on the RF tag 60 is as follows. That is, in the automatic bobbin feed system 6 and the winder 3 (the downstream side of the spinning frame 2), there may be the trays 50 in which the same station number is stored in the RF tags 60. For example, this occurs in a case where, before a rewinding operation on the bobbin 23 that has been fed to the winder 3 side in the previous doffing is not completed, the next doffing is performed so that a new group of bobbins 23 are introduced into the automatic bobbin feed system 6. In such a case, if the doffing information mentioned above is stored in the RF tag 60, the doffing information is referred to so that the bobbins 23 having the same station number can be distinctively recognized as different bobbins 23. The RF writer 4 of this embodiment can also store,

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in the RP tag 60, not only the above-described information but also a lot number, a number of the spinning frame 2 (a number given to each spinning frame 2 in a case where a plurality of spinning frames 2 are provided), and the like. In the following description, the information (the station number and the doffmg information) identifying the bobbin 23 which is stored in the RP tag 60 may be referred to as bobbin information. [0042] A downstream end portion of the actual bobbin introduction path 91 is connected to an upstream end portion of the actual bobbin transport path 92. The actual bobbin transport path 92 connects the automatic bobbin feed system 6 and the winder 3 to each other. The tray 50 in which predetermined information is written in the RF tag 60 thereof by the RF writer 4 is transported to the winder 3 along the actual bobbin transport path 92.
[0043] The automatic bobbin feed system 6 includes the pick finding device 7. The pick finding device 7 is arranged on the above-described actual bobbin transport path 92 and at the upstream side of the winder 3. The pick finding device 7 finds pick of the bobbin 23 in order to make it easy for the winder 3 to catch the yam of the bobbin 23. A brief description will be given. The pick finding device 7 applies a suction flow to the bobbin 23 placed on the tray 50 transported in the actual bobbin transport path 92, and thereby unwinds the yam from a surface of the bobbin 23. An end of the unwound yam is inserted into the inside of the bobbin 23 having the cylindrical shape. This makes it easy that the end of the yam of the bobbin 23 is caught by the winder 3 arranged at the downstream side of the pick finding device 7.
[0044] The pick finding device 7 does not always succeed in the pick-finding, and may sometimes fail. In this case, the tray 50 having placed thereon the bobbin 23 for which the pick-finding has been failed is sent out to the returned bobbin transport path 93. The returned bobbin transport path 93 diverges from the actual bobbin transport path 92

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immediately downstream of the pick finding device 7, and is curved in a loop so as to be connected to the upstream end portion of the actual bobbin transport path 92. Such a configuration enables the bobbin 23 for which the pick-finding has been failed to be transported along the returned bobbin transport path 93 and thereby returned to the upstream side of the pick finding device 7 again. Thus, even if the pick-finding has been failed, a pick-finding process by the pick finding device 7 is automatically performed again. Therefore, it is not necessary that each time an error in the pick-finding occurs, an operator deals with it.
[0045] Next, the winder 3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the winder 3 includes a plurality of rewinding units 31, RF readers (data reading part) 5 arranged in the respective rewinding units 31, and a machine controller 11 serving as a controller. The winder 3 also includes a clearer control box (CCB) 12 to which a clearer (fluff detection part) 15 of the rewinding unit 31 which will be described later is connected. [0046] As shown in FIG 1, in the winder 3, a plurality of bobbin supply paths 95 diverging from the actual bobbin transport path 92 are provided. The plurality of bobbin supply paths 95 are provided corresponding to the plurality of rewinding units 31 of the winder 3. The plurality of bobbin supply paths 95 allow the bobbins 23 transported in the actual bobbin transport path 92 to be distributed to the rewinding units 31. A specific description will be given as follows.
[0047] Each bobbin supply path 95 has a predetermined length, and is configured such that a plurality of bobbins 23 can be arranged and stocked in the bobbin supply path 95. A guide member (not shown) or the like is arranged at an upstream end portion of each bobbin supply path 95, so that the bobbin 23 transported in the actual bobbin transport path 92 can be introduced into the bobbin supply path 95 by the guide member in the course of nature. If there is not a space in the bobbin supply path 95 for introduction of

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the bobbin 23 (if a maximum number of bobbins 23 are stocked), introduction of the new bobbin 23 into the bobbin supply path 95 is blocked by the bobbins existing in this bobbin supply path 95. At this time, the bobbin 23 blocked from being introduced into the bobbin supply path 95 is transported to the downstream side in the actual bobbin transport path 92, and introduced into another bobbin supply path 95 having a space. In this manner, the bobbins 23 fed from the spinning frame 2 can be distributed to the rewinding units 31.
[0048] On the other hand, if there is no bobbin supply path 95 having a space that allows the bobbin 23 to be introduced therein, the bobbin 23 is introduced into the bobbin waiting loop 94, and transported in the bobbin waiting loop 94. The bobbin waiting loop 94 diverges from a most downstream portion of the actual bobbin transport path 92, and is connected to a portion of the actual bobbin transport path 92 located at the upstream side of a position where the most upstream bobbin supply path 95 is diverged from the actual bobbin transport path 92. Accordingly, the bobbin 23 keeps circulating through a loop path made up of the bobbin waiting loop 94 and the actual bobbin transport path 92, until a space that allows a bobbin to be stocked therein is made in any bobbin supply path 95. [0049] Next, a configuration of the rewinding unit 31 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG 5, the rewinding unit 31 is for rewinding the yam from the actual bobbin onto a rewinding bobbin 22 to thereby form a package 30. The rewinding unit 31 includes a rewinding drum (traverse drum) 24 for traversing the yam and for driving the rewinding bobbin 22. In the rewinding unit 31 of this embodiment, in a path of travel of the yam between the rewinding drum 24 and the bobbin 23 set in an appropriate position for an unwinding operation to be performed thereon, a tension applying device 13, a yam piecing device 14, and a clearer (yam quality measuring instmment) 15 are arranged in the mentioned order from the bobbin 23 side.

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[0050] The tension applying device 13 applies a predetermined tension to the traveling yam. As the tension applying device 13, a gate type one is adopted in which a movable comb is arranged relative to a fixed comb. The movable comb is rotatable by a rotary solenoid such that the combs can be brought into an engaged state or a disengaged state. The tension of the yam to be rewound is controlled by the tension applying device 13, and thereby the quality of the package 30 can be improved.
[0051] For example, at a time of yam cutting that is performed by the clearer 15 upon detection of a yam defect, or at a time of yam breakage during unwinding of the yam from the bobbin 23, the yam piecing device 14 pieces a lower yam of the bobbin 23 to an upper yam of the package 30. Examples of the yam piecing device 14 include a mechanical one, and one using a fluid such as a compressed air. A lower yam guide pipe 25 for guiding the lower yam of the bobbin 23 by sucking and catching the lower yam and an upper yam guide pipe 26 for guiding the upper yam of the package 30 by sucking and catching the upper yam are provided at the lower and upper sides of the yam piecing device 14, respectively.
[0052] The clearer 15 is for detecting a defect and the amount of fluff in the yam by detecting a diameter of the yam using an appropriate sensor. The clearer 15 can also function as a sensor for simply detecting presence or absence of the yam. Cutting means is provided near the clearer 15, so that if the clearer 15 detects a defect in the yam, the defect can be removed.
[0053] The yam unwound from the bobbin 23 is rewound on the rewinding bobbin 22 that is arranged at the downstream side of the yam piecing device 14. The rewinding bobbin 22 is driven by rotational driving of the rewinding drum 24 that is opposed to the rewinding bobbin 22. A rotation sensor (not shown) is mounted to the rewinding drum 24. Each time the rewinding drum 24 is rotated through a predetermined angle, the

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rotation sensor outputs a rotation pulse signal to a unit control section (yam length
calculation section) 10. The rewinding unit 31 of this embodiment measures the number
of pulses per a time period, thereby calculating a speed of rotation of the rewinding drum
24.
[0054] In the above-described configuration, the bobbin 23 transported in the bobbin
supply path 95 is set in an appropriate position (rewinding position) in the rewinding unit
31, and then the rewinding drum 24 is driven, so that the yam unwound from the bobbin
23 is rewound on the rewinding bobbin 22, to form the package 30 having a
predetermined length.
[0055] An RP reader 5 is arranged in the bobbin supply path 95 so as to read the RF tag
60 of the tray 50 on which the bobbin 23 whose yam is rewound by the rewinding unit 31
is placed. Information read by the RF reader 5 is transmitted to the machine controller
11.
[0056] As shown in FIG 2, the machine controller 11 includes a display (notification
means) 16 serving as display means, and input keys 17 serving as operation means. The
display 16 is for displaying a status of each rewinding unit 31. The input keys 17 allow
the operator to set rewinding conditions and the like.
[0057] As described above, the bobbin information (the station number and the doffmg
information) read by the RF reader is inputted into the machine controller 11. Therefore,
which of the fine spinning units 32 has wound the yam on the bobbin 23 whose yam is
currently rewound by the rewinding unit 31 can be identified.
[0058] The CCB 12 performs a determination process for determining, for example,
whether or not a yam defect is occurring, based on information transmitted from the
clearer 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the CCB 12 has a display 18 serving as display means,
so that various information, such as information conceming a yam defect and information

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generated based on a yam defect, can be displayed on the display 18. The CCB 12 is electrically connected to the machine controller 11, and communicates various information with the machine controller 11.
[0059] As shown in FIG 5, the bobbin supply path 95 is laid under the rewinding unit 31. The bobbin 23 supplied. to the rewinding unit 31 is transported to the above-mentioned rewinding position by this bobbin supply path 95. During the rewinding of the yam, the bobbin 23 is stopped in the rewinding position, and therefore the transport of the tray 50 by the bobbin supply path 95 is temporarily stopped. [0060] As described above, the bobbin supply path 95 is configured such that a plurality of bobbins 23 can be stocked therein. As shown in FIG 5, the stocked bobbins 23 are arranged in a line on the bobbin supply path 95. The most downstream one of the bobbins 23 in the bobbin supply path 95 is an object of yam rewinding performed by the rewinding unit 31. In FIG 5, the position of the rightmost one of the plurality of bobbins is the above-mentioned rewinding position.
[0061] The unwinding of the yam from the bobbin 23 is performed with the bobbin 23 being placed on the tray 50, as shown in FIG 5. If the yam of the bobbin 23 mns out and the bobbin 23 becomes empty, the bobbin supply path 95 transports the tray 50. Thereby, the bobbin 23 that is empty is fed to the downstream side while being placed on the tray 50, and discharged into the empty bobbin transport path 96 (which will be described later).
[0062] Along with the bobbin 23 that is empty and placed in the rewinding position being fed to the downstream side, each bobbin 23 stocked in the bobbin supply path 95 is also fed to the downstream side. As a result, a new bobbin 23 is set in the rewinding position, and the yam is unwound from the new bobbin 23. Thus, the rewinding can be restarted. By discharging the empty bobbin 23 from the bobbin supply path 95, a new

19
Space allowing the bobbin 23 to be stocked therein is made in the bobbin supply path 95. Thus, the bobbin supply path 95 is replenished with the bobbin 23 transported in the actual bobbin transport path 92.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, a downstream end portion of each of the plurality of bobbin supply paths 95 joins the empty bobbin transport path 96. The empty bobbin transport path 96 connects the winder 3 and the automatic bobbin feed system 6 to each other. The empty bobbin 23 discharged from each rewinding unit 31 is transported through the empty bobbin transport path 96, and thereby returned to the automatic bobbin feed system 6.
[0064] In the automatic bobbin feed system 6, the empty bobbin transport path 96 is connected to a middle of the returned bobbin transport path 93. In the returned bobbin transport path 93, the empty bobbin return path 97 diverges therefrom at a position downstream of a position where the empty bobbin transport path 96 is connected to the returned bobbin transport path 93. The empty bobbin returned to the automatic bobbin feed system 6 through the empty bobbin transport path 96 passes through a part of the returned bobbin transport path 93, and then is introduced into the empty bobbin return path 97 by a path switching mechanism (not shown) which will be described later. The empty bobbin return path 97 connects the automatic bobbin feed system 6 and the spinning frame 2 to each other. In the automatic bobbin feed system 6, the bobbin 23 that is empty is transported in the empty bobbin return path 97, and thereby the bobbin 23 that is empty is returned to the spinning frame 2.
[0065] As described above, due to the loop-shaped tray transport path 90 that connects the spinning frame 2 and the winder 3 to each other, the bobbin 23 can circulate between the spinning frame 2 and the winder 3. [0066] Actually, bobbins transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96 include not

20
only the empty bobbins, but the actual bobbins and defective bobbins are randomly mixed therein. Therefore, a configuration is required that sorts and appropriately processes the empty bobbin, the actual bobbin, and the defective bobbin that are mixed in transport. In the following, this point will be described in detail.
[0067] Firstly, a description will be given to a case where the actual bobbin (bobbin on which the yam remains) is transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96. For example, if yam breakage occurs during rewinding of the yam in the rewinding unit 31, the yam piecing device 14 performs yam piecing. At this time, the rewinding unit 31 causes a suction flow to occur in a distal end portion of the lower yam guide pipe 25, thereby sucking and catching an end of the yam of the bobbin 23, then guiding the end of the yam to the yam piecing device 14. Then, the yam piecing device 14 pieces the yam to the upper yam.
[0068] However, in a case where the end of the yam of the bobbin 23 cannot be sucked and caught by the lower yam guide pipe 25, for example, in a case where the end of the yam is wrapped around the bobbin 23 or in a case where the yam is broken at a position near the bobbin 23, the lower yam guide pipe 25 cannot catch the end of the yam, and therefore the yam piecing device 14 cannot perform the yam piecing. In such a case, the rewinding unit 31 abandons catching the end of the yam of the bobbin 23, and discharges the bobbin 23 whose yam end could not be caught, to the empty bobbin transport path 96. Simultaneously with this, the stocked bobbin 23 is transported in the bobbin supply path 95 toward the downstream side, and set in the rewinding position. Since this new bobbin 23 has been subjected to the pick-finding in the pick finding device 7, an end of the yam can be easily caught, so that the yam piecing can be performed. In this manner, even if the end of the yam cannot be caught at the time of yam breakage, the bobbin 23 whose yam end could not be caught is discharged, and instead, a new bobbin 23 can be

21
set, thereby enabling the yam piecing and restarting the rewinding. [0069] On the other hand, the bobbin 23 whose yam end could not be caught is transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96. In the empty bobbin transport path 96, as described above, the empty bobbins sent out from the other rewinding units 31 are also transported. Accordingly, the bobbin 23 whose yam end could not be caught is transported together with the empty bobbins in the empty bobbin transport path 96, and then introduced into the retumed bobbin transport path 93.
[0070] As shown in FIG 1, in the retumed bobbin transport path 93, an empty bobbin determination device 8 is provided at a position upstream of the position where the empty bobbin retum path 97 diverges from the retumed bobbin transport path 93. The empty bobbin determination device 8 inspects whether or not the bobbin 23 being transported in the retumed bobbin transport path 93 is an empty bobbin, by using an appropriate sensor. Additionally, a path switching mechanism (not shown) is provided at the position where the empty bobbin retum path 97 diverges from the retumed bobbin transport path 93. The path switching mechanism sends out a bobbin 23 to the empty bobbin retum path 97 side if the empty bobbin determination device 8 determines that the bobbin 23 is an empty bobbin, and keeps a bobbin 23 transported in the retumed bobbin transport path 93 if the empty bobbin determination device 8 determines that the bobbin 23 is not an empty bobbin.
[0071] In the above-described configuration, only the empty bobbin can be retumed to the spinning frame 2. The bobbin 23 (bobbin on which the yam remains) determined to be not an empty bobbin by the empty bobbin determination device 8 is transported in the retumed bobbin transport path 93. Then, a remaining yam amount detection device (not shown) measures the amount of remaining yam. In the bobbin 23 for which it is determined that the amount of remaining yam is extremely small, the extremely small

22
amount of remaining yam is removed by a remaining yam processing device (not shown). The bobbin 23 having a sufficient amount of remaining yam is subjected to the piclc-fmding process in the pick finding device 7. In this manner, even if the end of the yam of the bobbin 23 could not be caught in the rewinding unit 31, the bobbin 23 is subjected to the picic-finding in the pick finding device 7, and thereby the rewinding unit 31 can perform unwinding again.
[0072] Next, a description will be given to a case where a defective bobbin (bobbin from which a defective yam is rewound) is transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96. [0073] In the fine spinning unit 32, if damage, abrasion, or the like, occurs in the apron belt 105 for example, the yam manufactured by the fine spinning unit 32 may have a non-uniform diameter. Additionally, there is a tendency that the amount of fluff in the yam increases as the traveler 114 is abraded away. In a description given below, it is considered that a yam having a non-uniform diameter and a yam having a large amount of fluff is a defective yam of low commercial value, and a bobbin 23 having such a defective yam wound thereon may be referred to as "defective bobbin". It is desired that the rewinding unit 31 automatically detects and removes the defective bobbin, in order to prevent the defective yam to be mixed into the package 30.
[0074] In this embodiment, therefore, the diameter and the fluff of the yam unwound from the bobbin 23 are detected by the clearer 15, as described above. In this embodiment, if the magnitude of variation in the yam diameter or the amount of fluff, which is detected by the clearer 15 of the rewinding unit 31, is beyond a predetermined allowable range, it is determined that the bobbin on which the rewinding unit 31 currently performs rewinding is a defective bobbin.
[0075] If a defective bobbin is detected, the rewinding unit 31 does not unwind the yam any longer, and discharges the defective bobbin as it is (with the yam left thereon) to the

23
«
empty bobbin transport path 96, and then starts unwinding the yam from another bobbin 23 stocked in the bobbin supply path 95. This can prevent the yam having a non-uniform diameter or the yam having a large amount of fluff from being mixed into the package 30.
[0076] Here, if the defective bobbin sent out from the rewinding unit 31 into the empty bobbin transport path 96 was introduced into the returned bobbin transport path 93, the empty bobbin determination device 8 would determine that this defective bobbin is not an empty bobbin (because the yam remains on this defective bobbin), and this defective bobbin would be supplied through the pick finding device 7 to the winder 3 again. Therefore, the automatic bobbin feed system 6 is configured such that when the defective bobbin is transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96, the defective bobbin is not introduced into the retumed bobbin transport path 93 and escaped into the defective bobbin waiting path 98.
[0077] A specific description is as follows. If a defective bobbin is detected in a certain rewinding unit 31, the machine controller 11 stores information indicating the detection of the defective bobbin in the certain rewinding unit 31. As described above, while the yam is rewound from the bobbin 23 in the rewinding unit 31, the information (including the information for identifying the bobbin 23) recorded on the RF tag 60 of the tray 50 having this bobbin 23 mounted thereon is read by the RF reader 5, and the information is inputted to the machine controller 11. If a defective bobbin is detected in the rewinding unit 31, the machine controller 11 stores the information indicating the detection in association with the bobbin information of the bobbin 23 (the defective bobbin described above) on which the rewinding unit 31 currently performs rewinding. As a result, information indicating which bobbin 23 is a defective bobbin is stored in the machine controller 11.

24
[0078] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the defective bobbin waiting path 98 diverges from the empty bobbin transport path 96 at a position upstream of the position where the empty bobbin transport path 96 joins the returned bobbin transport path 93. Additionally, in the empty bobbin transport path 96, an RP reader 9 is arranged at a position upstream of the position where the defective bobbin waiting path 98 diverges from the empty bobbin transport path 96. The RF reader 9 reads a storage content of the RP tag 60 of the tray 50 that is transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96, and transmits the storage content to the machine controller 11. Moreover, a path switching mechanism (not shown) is provided at the position where the defective bobbin waiting path 98 diverges from the empty bobbin transport path 96. The path switching mechanism is controllable by the machine controller 11.
[0079] The machine controller 11 checks the information transmitted from the RF reader 9 against the information stored in the machine controller 11 itself (the information indicating which bobbin 23 is a defective bobbin), and thereby determines whether or not the bobbin 23 placed on the tray 50 that is passing through the position of tfie RF reader 9 is a defective bobbin. This path switching mechanism sends out a bobbin 23 to the defective bobbin waiting path 98 side if the machine controller 11 determines that the bobbin 23 is a defective bobbin, and keeps a bobbin 23 transported in the empty bobbin transport path 96 if the machine controller 11 determines that the bobbin 23 is not a defective bobbin.
[0080] The defective bobbin waiting path 98 has a certain length, and a downstream end portion of the defective bobbin waiting path 98 is a closed end. Therefore, a plurality of trays 50 having defective bobbins placed thereon can wait in the defective bobbin waiting path 98. [0081] When the trays 50 having the defective bobbins placed thereon are reserved to a

25
certain extent in the defective bobbin waiting path 98, the operator removes the defective bobbins from the trays 50, and replaces them with empty bobbins. Then, the operator performs an appropriate operation, to thereby drive the defective bobbin waiting path 98 in reverse. As a result, the trays 50 reserved in the defective bobbin waiting path 98, on which the replacing empty bobbins are placed, are introduced into the replaced bobbin return path 99.
[0082] As shown in FIG 1, the replaced bobbin return path 99 diverges from a middle of the defective bobbin waiting path 98, and is connected to the empty bobbin return path 97. The tray 50 on which the defective bobbin has been replaced with the empty bobbin is introduced through the replaced bobbin return path 99 into the empty bobbin return path 97, and then returned to the spinning frame 2.
[0083] As described above, in the fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment, even if the empty bobbin, the actual bobbin, and the defective bobbin are mixed, the bobbin 23 can be appropriately transferred between the spinning frame 2 and the winder 3 without stopping the transport of the tray 50.
[0084] Next, a quality inspection function of a management system applied to the fine spinning winder 1 will be described with reference to FIG 6. FIG 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining trend data that is used for a quality inspection. The upper part of FIG 6 shows graphs of the trend data. The lower part of FIG 6 is a schematic diagram of the bobbin 23, expressing decrease in the amount of remaining yam corresponding to the length of the unwound yam in the trend data. The quality inspection fimction of this embodiment is a function for examining whether or not the quality of the yam wound on the actual bobbin is maintained within a certain quality-assured range. The quality-assured range herein means such a range that the amount of fluff throughout the yam wound on one bobbin is equal to or less than a predetermined value. A likelihood

26
of departing from the quality-assured range means a likelihood that the amount of fluff would be equal to or more than the predetermined value. This predetermined value is set to be a value smaller than the value of the amount of fluff that serves as a reference when the clearer 15 determines the defective bobbin.
[0085] In this embodiment, the quality inspection is performed by chronologically comparing trend data that indicates a tendency of occurrence of an amount of fluff in the yam wound on the actual bobbin. As shown in FIG 6, the trend data is data indicating the relationship between an amount of fluff and the length of the unwound yam obtained when this amount of fluff was detected. Here, the length of the unwound yam is the length of the yam unwound from the actual bobbin (the length of the yam rewound from the actual bobbin into the package 30). The length of the unwound yam is calculated based on the number of rotations of the rewinding dmm. A method for calculating the length of the unwound yam will be described later.
[0086] For each rewinding unit 31, information indicating the length of the unwound yam is transmitted and inputted from the unit control section 10 to the machine controller 11. Additionally, for each rewinding unit 31, information indicating the amount of fluff is inputted from the clearer 15 to the CCB 12 at appropriate intervals. The machine -controller 11 and the CCB 12 exchange the information indicating the length of the unwound yam and the information indicating the amount of fluff, and thus generate the trend data on a unit basis of the bobbin. That is, a process of making correspondence between the information indicating the amount of fluff" and the information indicating the length of the unwound yam obtained when this amount of fluff was detected is sequentially performed from the start to the end of unwinding for the bobbin 23. Thereby, the trend data for one bobbin is generated. The generated trend data is stored in the machine controller 11 in chronological order with respect to each fine spinning unit

27
32 (according to the station number) identified based on the bobbin information in the RF tag 60.
[0087] In the machine controller 11, a determination condition is preliminarily set. Based on this determination condition, whether or not there is a likelihood that the newly stored trend data would depart from the quality-assured range is determined. To be more specific, when newly stored trend data is stored, the machine controller 11 compares the trend data with previous trend data, and if the new trend data exhibits a change that satisfies the determination condition, determines that there is a likelihood of departing from the quality-assured range. The determination condition is appropriately set in accordance with the number of yam and the type of yam. In this embodiment, operator can change the determination condition by operating the input keys 17 of the machine controller 11.
[0088] Here, the traveler 114 provided in the fine spinning unit 32 is a component part requiring periodic replacement, because degradation is caused by abrasion. If the traveler 114 is not replaced at an appropriate timing, as shown in FIG 6, the amount of fluff may increase throughout the yam due to degradation caused by abrasion of the traveler 114 (current trend data as compared with previous trend data). Conventionally, it has been difficult that such a change in which the fluff gradually increases over a long period is detected solely by the clearer 15. However, in the configuration of this embodiment, a tendency of increase of fluff over a long period as described above can be detected, by setting the above-mentioned determination condition so as to detect a change in which the amount of fluff throughout the yam increases in the current trend data as compared with the previous trend data.
[0089] The determination condition may be set in consideration of a portion of the bobbin 23 where the yam is wound based on the length of the unwound yam. For

28
example, as shown in FIG. 6, the amount of fluff in the yam wound on the bobbin 23 exhibits a relatively high value in the vicinity of the end of the unwinding operation of the bobbin 23. Considering this, the determination condition may be set such that, for example, if the amount of fluff rapidly increases at a timing near the end of the unwinding operation, it is determined that there is a likelihood of departing from the quality-assured range even though an amount of change in the other portions is small. [0090] If the newly generated trend data exhibits a change that satisfies the determination condition, the machine controller 11 displays on the display 16 information (for example, the station number mentioned above) that allows identification of the fine spinning unit 32 requiring maintenance. Alternatively, this display can be made on the display 18 of the CCB 12. The machine controller 11 of this embodiment can cause the trend data stored in the machine controller 11 to be displayed on the display 16 in the form of a graph, for example, with respect to each fine spinning unit 32. This configuration allows the operator to intuitively recognize a change in the tendency of occurraice of fluff by the visual sense.
[0091] Processes of generating and storing the trend data are performed by a quality inspection section provided in the winder 3. Either of the machine controller 11 and the CCB 12 functions as the quality inspection section. A configuration of the quality inspection section can be appropriately changed depending on circumstances. [0092] Next, a method for calculating the length of the unwound yam will be described. As described above, the rotation sensor mounted to the rewinding dmm 24 inputs the rotation pulse signal to the unit control section 10 (see FIG. 5). The unit control section 10 counts the rotation pulse signal, and based on a count value, calculates the length of the unwound yam. This count value is reset at a timing when a new actual bobbin on which the rewinding operation is not yet performed is transported or at a timing when the

29
yam is entirely unwound from the actual bobbin, and the counting is started based on a timing of unwinding the yam from a new actual bobbin. In this embodiment, the length of the yam wound on the bobbin 23 by the fine spinning unit 32 is preliminarily stored as a set yam length, and this information is used for various determination processes. [0093] Next, a description will be given to calculation of the length of the unwound yam in a case where the rewinding operation is intermpted. As described above, the bobbin 23 whose yam could not be sucked and caught by the lower yam guide pipe 25 due to occurrence of yam breakage during the rewinding operation is once discharged from the rewinding position into the empty bobbin transport path 96. At this time, the machine controller 11 stores unwound yam length information indicating the length of the unwound yam obtained at a time when the rewinding operation is stopped, in association with the bobbin information of the bobbin 23 that has performed this unwinding operation.
[0094] The machine controller 11 obtains the bobbin information of the bobbin 23 newly transported to the rewinding unit 31, and then refers to the stored bobbin information to determine whether or not the bobbin 23 is a bobbin on which the rewinding operation has been intermpted. If the bobbin 23 is the bobbin 23 on which the rewinding operation has been interrupted, the unwound yam length information stored in association with this bobbin 23 is referred to. Then, a value obtained based on the unwound yam length information is added to the count value, to calculate the length of the unwound yam. The length of the unwound yam calculated in this manner includes consideration for the length of the already unwound yam, and therefore is substantially coincident with the length of the yam actually unwound from the bobbin 23. Thus, the trend data can be accurately generated. [0095] In the above-described configuration, the spun yam wound on the bobbin 23 in

30
the fine spinning unit 32 is unwound in the rewinding unit 31, and with it, the trend data is generated. The generated trend data is distinguished according to the station number of each fine spinning unit that is identified based on the bobbin information stored in the RF tag 60, and is chronologically stored. If, as a result of the comparison between the newly generated trend data and the previous trend data of the same fine spinning unit 32, the newly generated trend data exhibits a change that satisfies the determination condition, the machine controller 11 determines that there is a likelihood that the quality of the actual bobbin would depart from the quality-assured range. Then, the information identifying the fine spinning unit 32 having produced the actual bobbin that is likely to depart fi-om the quality-assured range is displayed on the display 16 of the machine controller 11, to notify the operator of the necessity of maintenance of this fine spinning unit 32.
[0096] As described above, the fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment includes the spinning fi^me 2, the winder 3, and the automatic bobbin feed system 6. The spinning fi-ame 2 includes the plurality of fine spinning units 32 that wind the spun yams on the bobbins 23. The winder 3 includes the plurality of rewinding units 31 that unwind the yams from the bobbins 23 to form the packages 30. The automatic bobbin feed system 6 transports, to the rewinding unit 31, the tray 50 on which the bobbin 23 wound with the yam by the spinning fi-ame 2 is set. The tray 50 has the RF tag 60 capable of recording thereon the information for identifying the fine spinning unit 32 that has wound the yam on the bobbin 23 set on this tray 50. The rewinding unit 31 includes the clearer 15, the unit control section 10, and the RF reader 5. The clearer 15 detects the amount of fluff" in the yam. The unit control section 10 calculates the unwound yam length that indicates the length of the yam unwound from the bobbin 23. The RF reader 5 reads the information from the RF tag 60 corresponding to the bobbin 23 on which the rewinding

31
operation is being performed. The winder 3 includes the quality inspection section (the machine controller 11 or the CCB 12) for recording the amount of fluff together with the unwound yam length obtained when the clearer 15 detected this amount of fluff, and performing the quality inspection, on a unit basis of the bobbin 23, on the yam spun by the fine spinning unit 32.
[0097] Accordingly, the fine spinning unit 32 having performed the spinning can be identified based on the information in the RP tag 60. Therefore, the quality of the yam produced by the fine spinning unit 32 can be examined on a unit basis of the bobbin 23. Additionally, the quality inspection can be automatically performed concurrently with the rewinding operation in a production line. This provides laborsaving for the quality inspection operation. Moreover, since the amount of fiuff is recorded in association with the yam length, the tendency of occurrence of fluff that indicates a portion of the yam where a large amount of fluff occurs can be accurately recognized, which enables the fluff to be detected and handled efficiently.
[0098] In the fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment, the fine spinning unit 32 is configured as a ring spinning unit having the traveler 114.
[0099] Accordingly, since the tendency of occurrence of fluff can be accurately recognized on a unit basis of the bobbin 23, increase in the amount of fluff throughout the yam, which is caused by degradation of the traveler 114 due to abrasion, can also be detected easily.
[0100] The fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment is configured as follows. That is, the fine spinning winder 1 includes the display 16 of the machine controller 11, and the display 16 is configured to make notification about the fine spinning unit 32 that has been identified as the one requiring maintenance. The management system monitors, on a unit basis of the bobbin 23, the tendency of occurrence of fluff in the yam produced by

32
the same fine spinning unit 32. If the tendency of occurrence of fluff exhibits a change that satisfies the determination condition as compared with the previous tendency of occurrence of fluff, the management system causes the display 16 to display the information identifying the fine spinning unit 32, for the notification to the operator. [0101] Accordingly, since a change in the tendency of occurrence of fluff is monitored on a unit basis of the bobbin 23, a change in the amount of fluff caused by a failure of the fine spinning unit 32 while a system is running can be detected on a unit basis of the bobbin, and the operator can be notified of the fine spinning unit 32 requiring maintenance. This allows the operator to promptly handle the failure of the fine spinning unit 32, thus effectively suppressing deterioration in quality of the yam rewound into the package. Moreover, a component part is replaced at a timing when the component part actually reaches the end of its lifetime and causes a failure. Therefore, the replacement of only the minimum number of component parts is required, and thus costs can be reduced efficiently. Furthermore, by analyzing the tendency of occurrence of fluff (trend data) in each fine spinning unit 32, it is also possible to recognize time for simultaneous replacement of the travelers 114.
[0102] The management system applied to the fine spinning winder 1 of this embodiment is configured as follows. That is, if the rewinding operation is interrupted halfway, the management system records the unwound yam length information indicating the length of the unwound yam obtained at a time when the intermption occurs. When performing the rewinding operation again using the bobbin 23 on which the rewinding operation has been intermpted halfway, the management system refers to the aforementioned unwound yam length information corresponding to the bobbin 23, and records the amount of fluff in association with the length of the unwound yam including consideration for this unwound yam length information.

33
[0103] Accordingly, even when the bobbin 23 on which the rewinding operation has been interrupted is transported again to the rewinding unit 31, the amount of fluff is recorded based on the length of the unwound yam including consideration for the length of the already rewound yam. Therefore, a portion where the fluff is detected can be accurately identified.
[0104] While the fine spinning winder 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configuration of the fine spinning winder 1 can be appropriately modified depending on circumstances, as long as the management system of the present invention is applied thereto. In a possible modification, for example, the rewinding unit 31 of the winder 3 may include a fluff suppression device. Next, a modification in which a rewinding unit 231 includes a fiuff suppression device 201 will be described with reference to FIG 7. FIG 7 is a side view showing a configuration of the rewinding unit 231 according to the modification. Since the modification which will be described below is identical to the above-described embodiment except that a rewinding unit includes a fluff suppression device, the identical parts will not be described.
[0105] As shown in FIG 7, in the rewinding unit 231, the fluff suppression device 201 is provided above the tension applying device 13 (downstream thereof in a yam travel direction). The fluff suppression device 201 of this modification includes swirling flow generation means (not shown in the drawing) for generating a swirling flow. The swirling flow generated by the swirling flow generation means serves to suppress fluff. As shown in FIG 7, the yam unwound fi-om the bobbin 23 goes through the swirling flow, and then is rewound into the package 30.
[0106] The fluff suppression device 201 of this modification is configured to adjust the flow rate of the swirling flow and also to control a timing of generation of the swirling

34
flow. The fluff suppression device 201 is controlled so as to apply the swirling flow in
accordance with the trend data. To be specific, the intensity of the swirling flow
generated by the fluff suppression device 201 varies based on the trend data. A control
is made such that an enhanced fluff suppression effect can be exerted to a portion having
a large amount of fluff. A method for controlling the fluff suppression device 201 may
be appropriately modified depending on circumstances. For example, in consideration
of the fact that the amount of fluff increases immediately before the amount of remaining
yam reaches zero after a progress of the unwinding, the control may be made so as to
operate the fluff suppression device 201 at such a timing.
[0107] As shown above, in the management system according to the modification, the
rewinding unit 231 includes the fluff suppression device 201 that is controlled based on
the tendency of occurrence of fluff on a unit basis of the bobbin 23.
[0108] Accordingly, fluff is suppressed in accordance with the tendency of occurrence
thereof, and therefore the quality of the yam rewound into the package 30 can be kept
more uniform.
[0109] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the
above-described configuration may be modified as follows.
[0110] Although in the embodiment described above, the station number and the doffing
information are stored in the RF tag 60 so that the fine spinning unit is identified, this
configuration may be appropriately modified depending on circumstances. For example,
a unique identification number may be given to the tray 50, so that the bobbin 23 is
identified based on the identification number.
[0111] In a possible configuration, the rewinding unit 31 according to the embodiment
described above may further include an RF writer (data writing part), so that when the
rewinding operation is interrupted, this RF writer stores the unwound yam length

35
information in the RF tag 60. In tliis case, the RF reader 5 reads the RF tag 60 of the tray 50 transported again, and the length of the unwound yam is calculated with reference to the unwound yam length Information stored therein.
[0112] The notification means for notifying the operator of the necessity of maintenance may be appropriately modified. For example, in a possible configuration, a waming light serving as the notification means may be arranged for each fine spinning unit 32, and if the quality inspection function determines that maintenance is necessary, the waming light is operated (tumed on) to thereby give notification to the operator. [0113] Although the modification adopts the fluff suppression device that utilizes the swirling flow, this configuration may be appropriately modified depending on circumstances. For example, adoptable is a fiuflf suppression device having a configuration in which a plurality of friction discs are rotated to thereby impart temporary twist to a spun yam traveling between the discs, so that fluff is drawn into flbers, thus implementing a fluff laying process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0114] 1 fine spinning winder
2 spinning frame
3 winder (automatic winder)
4 RF writer
5 RF reader (data reading part)
6 automatic bobbin feed system (bobbin transport mechanism)
11 machine controller
15 clearer (fluff detection part)
16 display (notification means)

36
23 bobbin
31 rewinding unit
32 fine spinning unit
50 tray (transporter)
60 KF tag (data recording section)

37 CLAIMS
1. A management system for managing a fine spinning winder comprising:
a spinning frame including a plurality of fine spinning units for winding spun yarns on bobbins,
an automatic winder including a rewinding unit for unwinding the yarn from the bobbin to form a package; and
a bobbin transport mechanism for transporting, to the rewinding unit, a transporter on which the bobbin wound with the yarn by the spinning frame is set;
wherein
the transporter has a data recording section configured to record information for identifying the fine spinning unit that has wound the yarn on the bobbin set on said transporter,
the rewinding unit includes:
a fluff detection part for detecting the amount of fluff in the yarn; a yarn length calculation section for calculating the length of the unwound yarn indicating the length of the yarn unwound from the bobbin; and
a data reading part for reading the information from the data recording section corresponding to the bobbin on which a rewinding operation is performed,
the automatic winder includes a quality inspection section for recording the amount of fluff together with the length of the unwound yarn obtained when the fluff detection part detected said amount of fluff, and performing a quality inspection, on a unit basis of the bobbin, on the yarn spun by the fine spinning unit.
2. The management system for managing the fine spinning winder according to

38
claim 1, wherein
the fine spinning unit is configured as a ring spinning unit having a traveler.
3. The management system for managing the fine spinning winder according to
claim 1 or 2, wherein
the fine spinning winder includes notification means configured to identify the fine spinning unit requiring maintenance, and to make notification,
the management system monitors, on a unit basis of the bobbin, a tendency of occurrence of fluff in the yarn produced by the same fine spinning unit, and if the tendency of occurrence of fluff exhibits a change that satisfies a determination condition as compared with a previous tendency of occurrence of fluff, the notification means makes notification.
4. The management system for managing the fine spinning winder according to
claim 1 or 2, wherein
if the rewinding operation is interrupted halfway, the management system records unwound yarn length information indicating the length of the unwound yarn obtained at a time when the interruption occurs,
when performing the rewinding operation again using the bobbin on which the rewinding operation has been interrupted halfway, the management system refers to the unwound yarn length information corresponding to said bobbin, and records the amount of fluff in association with the length of the unwound yarn including consideration for said unwound yarn length information.
5. The management system for managing the fine spinning winder according to

39
claim 1 or 2, wherein
the rewinding unit includes a fluff suppression device that is controlled based on a tendency of occurrence of fluff on a unit basis of the bobbin.
6. A fine spinning winder to which the management system according to claim 1 or
2 is applied.