PNEUMATIC SPINNING MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
5 The present invention relates to a pneumatic
spinning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a spinning machine
10 (a pneumatic spinning machine) that forms a whirling
airflow with compressed air and generates a yarn by this
whirling airflow. JP 2018-076607 A discloses this type
of spinning machine.
The spinning machine of JP 2018-076607 A includes:
15 a spinning unit having an air spinning device; and an
air pipe. The air pipe guides compressed air fed from
an air compressing and feeding device through an air
feed pipe, to the air spinning device.
In a spinning machine as in JP 2018-076607 A, mist
20 in air is usually removed before the air is supplied to
the air spinning device. Specifically, an air
purification filter such as a mist separator is provided
for the air feed pipe. However, regarding feeding of
the compressed air, there is a problem of large pressure
3
loss in the air purification filter. It is considered
that this point can be improved by increasing a size of
the air purification filter, but there is a limit for
increasing the size of the air purification filter.
5
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide
a pneumatic spinning machine capable of reducing
pressure loss caused by an air purification filter,
10 without increasing a size of the air purification filter
alone.
A pneumatic spinning machine of the present
invention includes a plurality of spinning units, a first
pipe, a second pipe, a plurality of third pipes, and a
15 plurality of compressed air purification filters. The
plurality of spinning units generate a yarn with a
whirling airflow. In the first pipe, compressed air
supplied from one end side flows from another end side
toward the plurality of spinning units. The second pipe
20 is connected to a compressed air supply source that is
for supply of compressed air to the plurality of spinning
units, and compressed air is supplied from one end side
by the compressed air supply source. The plurality of
third pipes are branched from another end side of the
4
second pipe, and then connected to one end side of the
first pipe. The plurality of compressed air
purification filters are individually provided in the
plurality of third pipes.
5 This makes it possible to reduce pressure loss
caused by the air purification filter without increasing
the size of the air purification filter alone, when
compressed air is supplied to the plurality of spinning
units. It is also possible to slow progress of
10 performance reduction (clogging) of each of the
plurality of air purification filters, and to prolong a
replacement cycle of each air purification filter.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, each capacity
of the plurality of compressed air purification filters
15 is desirably equal to or less than twice a total supply
flow rate of the compressed air supplied from the
compressed air supply source.
This allows each air purification filter to be
suitably used.
20 In the pneumatic spinning machine, the each
capacity of the plurality of compressed air purification
filters is desirably 1000 L/min or more and 20000 L/min
or less.
This allows each air purification filter to
5
function satisfactorily.
The pneumatic spinning machine desirably includes
a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor.
The first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first
5 pipe. The second pressure sensor detects a pressure in
the second pipe.
This enables estimation of a deposition amount of
a removed substance on the air purification filter, based
on respective detected values of the first pressure
10 sensor and the second pressure sensor. Therefore, it is
possible to manage the overall performance (a degree of
clogging) of the air purification filter at the current
time.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, it is desirable
15 that each of the plurality of compressed air purification
filters is a mist separator.
This allows mist in the air to be efficiently
removed.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, the plurality
20 of compressed air purification filters desirably include
a first compressed air purification filter and a second
compressed air purification filter arranged adjacent to
each other. The first compressed air purification
filter and the second compressed air purification filter
6
are arranged along a virtual horizontal plane. The first
compressed air purification filter is arranged in a
middle of a straight portion parallel to the virtual
horizontal plane, in each of the third pipes. The first
5 compressed air purification filter is arranged so as to
overlap with the second compressed air purification
filter when viewed along the straight portion.
This makes it possible to save space in installing
a plurality of compressed air purification filters.
10 The pneumatic spinning machine desirably includes
a driving source and a storage section. The driving
source drives a drive member of the spinning unit. The
storage section stores the driving source. The
plurality of compressed air purification filters are
15 stored in the storage section
This makes it possible to efficiently arrange a
plurality of compressed air purification filters.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, it is desirable
that the plurality of compressed air purification
20 filters are members of the same type.
This can standardize maintenance work, and
accordingly improve workability.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, the number of
the spinning units is desirably 48 or more.
7
This allows compressed air to be satisfactorily
supplied to many spinning units via a compressed air
purification filter.
In the pneumatic spinning machine, the number of
5 the plurality of compressed air purification filters is
desirably 2 or more and 4 or less.
This makes it possible to efficiently apply the
compressed air purification filter to the pneumatic
spinning machine.
10 The pneumatic spinning machine desirably includes
a plurality of opening and closing members. The opening
and closing member changes an open or closed state on an
upstream side from the compressed air purification
filter, in each of the third pipes.
15 As a result, even during maintenance of the
compressed air purification filter by changing an
upstream side of the compressed air purification filter
to the closed state in at least one of the plurality of
third pipes, spinning by the spinning unit can be
20 executed by supplying the compressed air to the spinning
unit while having an upstream side of the compressed air
purification filter being in an open state in the
remaining third pipe. Therefore, operating efficiency
of the spinning unit can be improved.
8
In the pneumatic spinning machine, the spinning
unit desirably includes a pneumatic spinning device.
The pneumatic spinning device has a fiber guiding section,
a nozzle block, and a hollow guide shaft body. The fiber
5 guiding section guides a fiber bundle. The nozzle block
forms a spinning chamber into which the fiber bundle
guided from the fiber guiding section is introduced, and
also forms a nozzle through which the compressed air
injected to generate a whirling airflow in the spinning
10 chamber passes through. The hollow guide shaft body
guides the fiber bundle having passed through the
spinning chamber, to the outside.
As a result, a spun yarn is produced in the
spinning chamber by the fiber bundle being twisted by
15 the whirling airflow generated by the compressed air
having passed through a plurality of compressed air
purification filters, which can improve the quality of
the produced spun yarn.
20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall
configuration of a pneumatic spinning machine according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a spinning unit and a yarn
9
joining cart;
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of the pneumatic spinning device and a
peripheral thereof;
5 FIG. 4 is a view showing a configuration of a
compressed air supplying section;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of mist
separators;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a plurality of mist
10 separators;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an
installation state of a plurality of mist separators;
FIG. 8 is a view showing a partial configuration
of a compressed air supplying section according to a
15 second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a view showing a partial configuration
of a compressed air supplying section according to a
third embodiment of the present invention.
20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Next, a description will be given to a pneumatic
spinning machine 1 according to a first embodiment of
the present invention with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
2.
10
As shown in FIG. 1, the pneumatic spinning machine
1 includes a blower box 3, a motor box 5, a plurality of
spinning units 7, and a yarn joining cart (an operation
cart) 9. The plurality of spinning units 7 are arranged
5 in line in a predetermined direction.
A blower 11 that functions as a negative pressure
source and the like are arranged in the blower box 3.
A driving source (not shown), a central control
device 13, a display section 15, and an operating section
10 17 are arranged in the motor box 5.
The central control device 13 exerts centralized
management and control over each section of the pneumatic
spinning machine 1. The central control device 13 is
connected to a unit control section 19 included in each
15 of the spinning units 7 via a signal line (not shown),
as shown in FIG. 2. Although each of the spinning units
7 includes the unit control section 19 in the present
embodiment, a predetermined number of (for example, two
or four) spinning units 7 may share one unit control
20 section 19.
The display section 15 can display information
relating to set contents made for the spinning units 7
and/or a state of each of the spinning units 7, and the
like. The operator can operate the operating section 17
11
to make settings for the spinning unit 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the spinning units 7
mainly includes a draft device 21, a pneumatic spinning
device 23, a yarn accumulating device 25, and a winding
5 device 27 arranged sequentially from upstream to
downstream. Herein, "upstream" and "downstream" refer
to upstream and downstream in a travelling direction of
a sliver 32, a fiber bundle 34, and a spun yarn 30 when
the spun yarn (yarn) 30 is wound.
10 The draft device 21 is provided in proximity to an
upper end of a frame 36 included in the pneumatic
spinning machine 1. The draft device 21 includes four
pairs of draft rollers. The four pairs of draft rollers
include a pair of back rollers 41, a pair of third
15 rollers 43, a pair of middle rollers 45, and a pair of
front rollers 47 arranged sequentially from upstream to
downstream. In the pair of middle rollers 45, an apron
belt 49 is provided for each roller.
The draft device 21 transports the sliver 32
20 supplied from a sliver case (not shown) by sandwiching
the sliver 32 between the rollers of each of the pair of
draft rollers to stretch (draft) the sliver 32 until a
predetermined fiber amount (or a thickness) is obtained,
to produce the fiber bundle 34. The fiber bundle 34
12
produced in the draft device 21 is supplied to the
pneumatic spinning device 23.
The pneumatic spinning device 23 produces the spun
yarn 30 by twisting, with a whirling airflow, the fiber
5 bundle 34 drafted in the draft device 21. Specifically,
as shown in FIG. 3, the pneumatic spinning device 23
includes a first holder 51 and a second holder 52. The
first holder 51 has a fiber guiding section 53 and a
nozzle block 54. The second holder 52 has a hollow guide
10 shaft body 55.
The fiber guiding section 53 guides the fiber
bundle 34 drafted by the draft device 21 into the
pneumatic spinning device 23. The fiber guiding section
53 is provided with a fiber introduction port 56 and a
15 guide needle 57. The fiber bundle 34 drafted by the
draft device 21 is introduced from the fiber introduction
port 56 to the fiber guiding section 53, and guided into
a spinning chamber 59 so as to be wound around the guide
needle 57.
20 The nozzle block 54 is formed with a plurality of
nozzles 58. The nozzle block 54 forms the spinning
chamber 59, together with the fiber guiding section 53
and the hollow guide shaft body 55. The pneumatic
spinning device 23 injects compressed air (air) supplied
13
from a unit pipe 114, which will be described later,
from the nozzle 58 into the spinning chamber 59, to cause
a whirling airflow to act on the fiber bundle 34 in the
spinning chamber 59. Note that the guide needle 57 may
5 be omitted, and a downstream end portion of the fiber
guiding section 53 may have a function of the guide
needle 57.

WE CLAIM:
1. A pneumatic spinning machine comprising:
a plurality of spinning units that generate a yarn
with a whirling airflow;
5 a first pipe in which compressed air supplied from
one end side flows from another end side toward the
plurality of spinning units;
a second pipe connected to a compressed air supply
source that is for supply of compressed air to the
10 plurality of spinning units, the second pipe being
supplied with compressed air from one end side by the
compressed air supply source;
a plurality of third pipes branched from another
end side of the second pipe and then connected to one
15 end side of the first pipe; and
a plurality of compressed air purification filters
provided individually in the plurality of third pipes.
2. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
20 claim 1, wherein each capacity of the plurality of
compressed air purification filters is equal to or less
than twice a total supply flow rate of compressed air
supplied from the compressed air supply source.
49
3. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
claim 1 or 2, wherein each capacity of the plurality of
compressed air purification filters is 1000 L/min or
more and 20000 L/min or less.
5
4. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:
a first pressure sensor that detects a pressure in
the first pipe; and
10 a second pressure sensor that detects a pressure
in the second pipe.
5. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the plurality
15 of compressed air purification filters is a mist
separator.
6. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
20 the plurality of compressed air purification
filters include a first compressed air purification
filter and a second compressed air purification filter
arranged adjacent to each other,
the first compressed air purification filter and
50
the second compressed air purification filter are
arranged along a virtual horizontal plane,
the first compressed air purification filter is
arranged in a middle of a straight portion parallel to
5 the virtual horizontal plane, in each of the third pipes,
and
the first compressed air purification filter is
arranged to overlap with the second compressed air
purification filter when viewed along the straight
10 portion.
7. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:
a driving source that drives a drive member of each
15 of the spinning units; and
a storage section that stores the driving source,
wherein
the plurality of compressed air purification
filters are stored in the storage section.
20
8. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the plurality of
compressed air purification filters are members of a
same type.
51
9. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a number of the spinning
units is 48 or more.
5
10. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein a number of the plurality
of compressed air purification filters is 2 or more and
4 or less.
10
11. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising
a plurality of opening and closing members that
change an open or closed state on an upstream side from
15 each of the compressed air purification filter in each
of the third pipes.
12. The pneumatic spinning machine as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein each of the spinning
20 units includes:
a fiber guiding section that guides a fiber bundle;
a nozzle block forming a spinning chamber into
which the fiber bundle guided from the fiber guiding
section is introduced, the nozzle block also forming a
52
nozzle through which compressed air injected for
generating a whirling airflow in the spinning chamber
passes; and
a pneumatic spinning device having a hollow guide
5 shaft body that guides the fiber bundle having passed
through the spinning chamber to outside.