1. Field of the Invention
5 The present invention relates to a pneumatic
spinning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pneumatic spinning machine that supplies an
10 additive to a spinning device is conventionally known.
For example, when performing spinning using a raw
material containing polyester or the like, an additive
is used for a purpose such as preventing an oily agent
attached to the raw material from adhering to and
15 depositing on the inside of the spinning device. JP
2018-076607 A (Patent Document 1) discloses this type
of pneumatic spinning machine.
The pneumatic spinning machine of Patent Document
1 includes an additive supply device. This additive
20 supply device has a branch pipe and an additive supply
pipe connected to a first air pipe, and an additive
storage tank provided between the branch pipe and the
additive supply pipe. The additive supply device has a
structure that leads air from the first air pipe to the
3
additive storage tank via the branch pipe, and leads an
additive from the additive storage tank to the first
air pipe via the additive supply pipe for supply to a
pneumatic spinning device via the first air pipe.
5 In the structure of the above-described Patent
Document 1, however, the branch pipe and the additive
supply pipe of the additive supply device are both
connected to the first air pipe, so that part of the
additive led from the additive supply pipe to the first
10 air pipe may enter the branch pipe via the first air
pipe. When part of the additive enters the branch pipe,
air to be supplied to each spinning unit is influenced
by the entered additive, and the quality of a yarn
produced in each spinning unit may be deteriorated. In
15 addition, when part of the additive enters the branch
pipe, it is also assumed to lead to a reduced lifetime,
damage, and the like of components in the pneumatic
spinning machine. In this case, spinning by each
spinning unit can no longer be continued. Therefore,
20 in order to prevent an influence to be exerted by
entrance of the additive into the branch pipe, a
special structure needs to be adopted, such as
employing a special member that is less likely to be
deteriorated by the additive for a sealing material and
4
the like to be used for the branch pipe and the like,
installing a member such as a mist separator for
removing the additive from the branch pipe, or the like.
This results in an increase in cost.
5
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide
a pneumatic spinning machine capable of easily
producing a yarn of high quality.
10 A pneumatic spinning machine comprising: a
plurality of spinning units that produce and wind
yarns; an inlet section connected to an air supply
source for supplying air to each of the plurality of
spinning units; a first air flowing passage connected
15 to the inlet section; a second air flowing passage
connected to the first air flowing passage; a third air
flowing passage connected to the second air flowing
passage, and through which air from the second air
flowing passage flows to each of the plurality of
20 spinning units; a regulator provided between the first
air flowing passage and the second air flowing passage;
a filter provided between the inlet section and the
regulator; and an additive supply section capable of
supplying an additive to each of the plurality of
5
spinning units via the second air flowing passage and
the third air flowing passage, wherein the additive
supply section includes a storage tank that
stores the additive, a flow-in passage that connects
5 the first air flowing passage and the storage tank, and
a discharge passage that connects the storage tank and
the second air flowing passage, and the flow-in passage
is connected to a portion of the first air flowing
passage, the portion being located between the filter
10 and the regulator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall
structure of a pneumatic spinning machine according to
15 an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a spinning unit and
a yarn joining cart;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a
compressed air supply section and an additive supply
20 section; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed
structure of a pressure regulating section of the
additive supply section.
6
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Next, a description will be made on a pneumatic
spinning machine 1 according to an embodiment of the
present invention with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
5 As shown in FIG. 1, the pneumatic spinning
machine 1 includes a blower box 3, a prime mover 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 in line in a predetermined
10 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 illustrated), a central
control device 13, a display section 15, and an
15 operating section 17 are arranged in the prime mover
box 5. The driving source provided in the prime mover
box 5 includes a motor utilized in common by the
plurality of spinning units 7.
The central control device 13 exerts centralized
20 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 of the spinning units 7 via a signal
line not illustrated, as shown in FIG. 2. Although
7
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 section 19.
5 The display section 15 can display information
concerning details of settings made for the spinning
units 7 and/or the state of each of the spinning units
7, and the like. When an operator operates the
operating section 17, a supplying amount of an additive
10 which will be described later and the like can be set.
Each of the spinning units 7 mainly includes a
draft device 21, a pneumatic spinning device 23, a yarn
storage device 25, and a winding device 27 arranged
sequentially from upstream to downstream. Herein,
15 “upstream” and “downstream” refer to upstream and
downstream in the traveling direction of a sliver 32, a
fiber bundle 34, and a spun yarn 30 when winding the
spun yarn (yarn) 30.
The draft device 21 is provided in proximity to
20 the upper end of a frame 36 included in the pneumatic
spinning machine 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the draft
device 21 includes four draft roller pairs. The four
draft roller pairs include a back roller pair 41, a
third roller pair 43, a middle roller pair 45, and a
8
front roller pair 47 arranged sequentially from
upstream to downstream. In the middle roller pair 45,
an apron belt 49 is provided for each roller.
The draft device 21 transports the sliver 32
5 supplied from a sliver case not illustrated by
sandwiching the sliver 32 between the rollers of each
of the draft roller pairs to stretch (draft) the sliver
32 until a predetermined fiber amount (or a thickness)
is obtained and to produce the fiber bundle 34. The
10 fiber bundle 34 produced in the draft device 21 is
supplied to the pneumatic spinning device 23.
The pneumatic spinning device 23 twists, by means
of a whirling airflow, the fiber bundle 34 drafted in
the draft device 21 to produce the spun yarn 30.
15 Describing in detail, the pneumatic spinning device 23
has a fiber guiding member, a spinning chamber, a
spinning nozzle (a whirling airflow producing nozzle),
and a hollow guide shaft body, neither shown. The
fiber guiding member guides the fiber bundle 34
20 supplied from the draft device 21 into the spinning
chamber. The spinning nozzle is arranged around a path
along which the fiber bundle 34 travels. When
compressed air is ejected from the spinning nozzle into
the spinning chamber, a whirling airflow is produced in
9
the spinning chamber. With this whirling airflow, each
fiber end of a plurality of fibers constituting the
fiber bundle 34 is reversed and whirled. The hollow
guide shaft body guides the produced spun yarn 30 from
5 the spinning chamber to the outside of the pneumatic
spinning device 23.
The spun yarn 30 produced in the pneumatic
spinning device 23 is supplied to the yarn storage
device 25. The yarn storage device 25 includes a yarn
10 storage roller 53 and a motor 55 as shown in FIG. 2.
The yarn storage roller 53 is rotationally driven
by the motor 55. The yarn storage roller 53
temporarily stores the spun yarn 30 by having the spun
yarn 30 wound on its outer peripheral surface. By
15 rotating at a predetermined rotation speed with the
spun yarn 30 wound on the outer peripheral surface, the
yarn storage roller 53 pulls out the spun yarn 30 from
the pneumatic spinning device 23 at a predetermined
speed, and transports the spun yarn 30 to the
20 downstream side.
In this manner, the yarn storage device 25 can
temporarily store the spun yarn 30 on the outer
peripheral surface of the yarn storage roller 53, and
thus functions as a kind of buffer for the spun yarn 30.
10
This can solve a trouble (such as slackening of the
spun yarn 30, for example) that occurs when the
spinning speed in the pneumatic spinning device 23 and
the winding speed (the traveling speed of the spun yarn
5 30 to be wound into a package 73 which will be
described later) do not correspond for some reason.
A yarn monitoring device 59 is provided between
the pneumatic spinning device 23 and the yarn storage
device 25. The spun yarn 30 produced in the pneumatic
10 spinning device 23 passes through the yarn monitoring
device 59 before being stored in the yarn storage
device 25.
The yarn monitoring device 59 monitors the
quality (such as the thickness) of the traveling spun
15 yarn 30 with a transmissive optical sensor, and detects
a yarn defect (such as a portion of the spun yarn 30
having an abnormal thickness and/or a foreign
substance) included in the spun yarn 30. When a yarn
defect of the spun yarn 30 is detected, the yarn
20 monitoring device 59 sends a yarn defect detection
signal to the unit control section 19. The yarn
monitoring device 59 is not limited to the transmissive
optical sensor, but may monitor the quality of the spun
yarn 30 using a reflective optical sensor or a
11
capacitive sensor, for example.
Upon receipt of the yarn defect detection signal
from the yarn monitoring device 59, the unit control
section 19 stops driving of the pneumatic spinning
5 device 23 and/or the draft device 21 to cut the spun
yarn 30. That is, the pneumatic spinning device 23 has
a function as a cutting section that cuts the spun yarn
30 when the yarn monitoring device 59 detects a yarn
defect. Note that the spun yarn 30 may be cut using a
10 cutter.
The winding device 27 includes a cradle arm 61, a
winding drum 63, and a traverse guide 65. The cradle
arm 61 is supported around a support shaft 67 in a
swingable manner, and can rotatably support a bobbin 71
15 (that is, the package 73) around which the spun yarn 30
is to be wound. The winding drum 63 rotates while
making contact with the outer peripheral surface of the
bobbin 71 or the package 73 to rotationally drive the
package 73 in the winding direction. The winding
20 device 27 drives the winding drum 63 by means of an
electric motor not illustrated while reciprocating the
traverse guide 65 by means of driving means not
illustrated. Accordingly, the winding device 27 winds
the spun yarn 30 into the package 73 while traversing
12
the spun yarn 30.
As shown in FIG. 1, a rail 81 is arranged on the
frame 36 of the pneumatic spinning machine 1 in the
direction in which the plurality of spinning units 7
5 are arranged. The yarn joining cart 9 is capable of
traveling on the rail 81. Accordingly, the yarn
joining cart 9 can move relative to the plurality of
spinning units 7. The yarn joining cart 9 travels to a
spinning unit 7 in which yarn breakage or yarn
10 disconnection has occurred, and performs a yarn joining
operation for the spinning unit 7.
The yarn joining cart 9 includes traveling wheels
83, a yarn joining device 85, a yarn catching section
(a suction pipe 87 and a suction mouth 89), and a cart
15 control section 91, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like.
The suction pipe 87 can produce a sucking airflow
at its leading end to suck in and catch the spun yarn
30 fed from the pneumatic spinning device 23. The
suction mouth 89 can produce a sucking airflow at its
20 leading end to suck in and catch the spun yarn 30 from
the package 73 supported by the winding device 27. The
suction pipe 87 and the suction mouth 89 swing with the
caught spun yarn 30 to guide the spun yarn 30 to a
position where the spun yarn 30 can be introduced into
13
the yarn joining device 85.
The yarn joining device 85 joins the spun yarn 30
from the pneumatic spinning device 23 guided by the
suction pipe 87 and the spun yarn 30 from the package
5 73 guided by the suction mouth 89. In the present
embodiment, the yarn joining device 85 is a splicer
device that twists yarn ends with each other by means
of a whirling airflow. The yarn joining device 85 is
not limited to the above-described splicer device, but
10 a mechanical knotter or the like can be employed, for
example. The yarn joining cart 9 may connect the spun
yarns 30 by piecing without being provided with the
yarn joining device 85. That is, the yarn joining cart
9 may pull out the spun yarn 30 from the package 73 and
15 feed the spun yarn 30 back to the pneumatic spinning
device 23, and then start the drafting operation by the
draft device 21 and the spinning operation by the
pneumatic spinning device 23 to bring the spun yarn 30
into a continuing state again.
20 The cart control section 91 (see FIG. 2) is a
publicly-known computer having a central processing
unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access
memory (RAM), and the like, neither illustrated. The
cart control section 91 controls the yarn joining
14
operation performed by the yarn joining cart 9 by
controlling the operation of each section included in
the yarn joining cart 9.
Next, a description will be made on a structure
5 for supplying compressed air (air) and an additive to
each of the spinning units 7 in the pneumatic spinning
machine 1 with reference to FIG. 3.
The pneumatic spinning machine 1 further includes
a compressed air supply section 100 and an additive
10 supply section 102. The compressed air supply section
100 includes an inlet pipe (an inlet section) 104, a
connection pipe (a first air flowing passage) 106, a
first spinning pipe (a second air flowing passage) 111,
a second spinning pipe 112, a first unit pipe (a third
15 air flowing passage) 115, and a second unit pipe 116.
The inlet pipe 104 is connected to an air
compressing and feeding device (an air supply source)
118. The air compressing and feeding device 118 is a
publicly-known compressor. Compressed air discharged
20 from the air compressing and feeding device 118 flows
through the inlet pipe 104 to flow in the connection
pipe 106.
The air compressing and feeding device 118 is
provided at a predetermined place (such as a factory)
15
in which the pneumatic spinning machine 1 is installed.
The air compressing and feeding device 118 is, for
example, an electric compressor that pressurizes and
discharges air by driving an electric motor.
5 The connection pipe 106 is connected to the inlet
pipe 104. The compressed air from the inlet pipe 104
flows through the connection pipe 106, and this
compressed air flows into the first spinning pipe 111
and the second spinning pipe 112.
10 The first spinning pipe 111 is connected to the
connection pipe 106. In the present embodiment, the
first spinning pipe 111 is connected to the connection
pipe 106 via a branch pipe 110 and the like which will
be described later. Compressed air from the connection
15 pipe 106 flows through the first spinning pipe 111.
The first spinning pipe 111 extends in the direction in
which the respective spinning units 7 are arranged.
The second spinning pipe 112 is connected to the
connection pipe 106. In the present embodiment, the
20 second spinning pipe 112 is connected to the connection
pipe 106 via the branch pipe 110 and the like.
Compressed air from the connection pipe 106 flows
through the second spinning pipe 112. The second
spinning pipe 112 extends in the same direction as the
16
first spinning pipe 111.
The first unit pipe 115 is connected to the first
spinning pipe 111. Compressed air flows from the first
spinning pipe 111 into the first unit pipe 115 of each
5 of the spinning units 7. This compressed air may
contain an additive as will be described later. The
first unit pipes 115 are provided by the same number as
the number of the spinning units 7, and are each
provided for each of the spinning units 7. One end of
10 the first unit pipe 115 associated with the
corresponding spinning unit 7 is connected to the first
spinning pipe 111, and the other end is connected to
the relevant spinning unit 7.
The second unit pipe 116 is connected to the
15 second spinning pipe 112. Compressed air flows from
the second spinning pipe 112 into the second unit pipe
116 of each of the spinning units 7. The second unit
pipes 116 are provided by the same number as the number
of the spinning units 7, and are each provided for each
20 of the spinning units 7. One end of the second unit
pipe 116 associated with the corresponding spinning
unit 7 is connected to the second spinning pipe 112,
and the other end is connected to the relevant spinning
unit 7.
17
A cart supply pipe 107 is connected to the
connection pipe 106. The cart supply pipe 107 branches
off from the connection pipe 106. In addition, the
cart supply pipe 107 is connectable to the yarn joining
5 cart 9. Accordingly, part of compressed air discharged
from the air compressing and feeding device 118 can be
supplied to the yarn joining cart 9 via the connection
pipe 106 and the cart supply pipe 107. The compressed
air supplied from the cart supply pipe 107 to the yarn
10 joining cart 9 is used for yarn joining in the yarn
joining device 85, for example.
The compressed air supply section 100 further
includes a regulator 119. The regulator 119 is
provided at a position between the connection pipe 106
15 and the first spinning pipe 111 and between the
connection pipe 106 and the second spinning pipe 112.
The regulator 119 can regulate the pressure (the
spinning pressure) of compressed air to be supplied
from the connection pipe 106 to each of the spinning
20 units 7. Compressed air is supplied from the
connection pipe 106 to the spinning units 7 via the
first spinning pipe 111 and the first unit pipe 115 in
some cases, and is supplied from the connection pipe
106 to the spinning units 7 via the second spinning
18
pipe 112 and the second unit pipe 116 in other cases.
In the present embodiment, the regulator 119 is
connected to each of the first spinning pipe 111 and
the second spinning pipe 112 by means of the branch
5 pipe 110. However, the regulator 119 could be arranged
at any place in a compressed air flowing passage
provided between the air compressing and feeding device
118 and the first spinning pipe 111 and a compressed
air flowing passage provided between the air
10 compressing and feeding device 118 and the second
spinning pipe 112.
A mist separator (a filter) 108 is provided
between the regulator 119 and the air compressing and
feeding device 118. The mist separator 108 separates a
15 particulate matter (such as oil mist) from the
compressed air flowing into the regulator 119 which
will be described later via the inlet pipe 104 and the
connection pipe 106. Accordingly, clean air from which
a particulate matter has been removed can be supplied
20 to the regulator 119, so that a failure of the
regulator 119 can be prevented.
In the present embodiment, the mist separator 108
is arranged between the inlet pipe 104 and the
connection pipe 106. However, the place at which the
19
mist separator 108 is arranged is not limited to this,
and the mist separator 108 could be arranged somewhere
in the compressed air flowing passage provided between
the air compressing and feeding device 118 and the
5 regulator 119.
In the direction in which compressed air flows, a
first main valve 121 is provided at an upstream end of
the first spinning pipe 111 (on the side connected to
the branch pipe 110). The first main valve 121 is
10 located on the upstream side than the position where
the first spinning pipe 111 and the first unit pipe 115
are connected. The first main valve 121 is
opened/closed by an operator. However, opening/closing
of the first main valve 121 may be controlled by the
15 central control device 13.
In the direction in which compressed air flows, a
second main valve 122 is provided upstream of the mist
separator 108. The second main valve 122 is
opened/closed by an operator. However, opening/closing
20 of the second main valve 122 may be controlled by the
central control device 13.
The operator opens the second main valve 122
prior to operation of the pneumatic spinning machine 1.
In case of spinning the fiber bundle 34 using
20
compressed air containing an additive in the pneumatic
spinning machine 1, the operator opens the first main
valve 121, and opens a first supply valve 125 and
closes a second supply valve 126 of each of the
5 spinning units 7 by means of the central control device
13. In case of spinning the fiber bundle 34 using only
compressed air in the pneumatic spinning machine 1, the
operator closes the first main valve 121, and closes
the first supply valve 125 and opens the second supply
10 valve 126 of each of the spinning units 7 by means of
the central control device 13.
If the first main valve 121 is not opened when
spinning the fiber bundle 34 using compressed air
containing the additive, the compressed air does not
15 flow into the first spinning pipe 111 and a connection
pipe 161. As a result, a pressure detecting section
163 cannot detect the pressure of compressed air in the
connection pipe 161 (the value of a detection result
becomes 0). Since each of the spinning units 7 cannot
20 spin the fiber bundle 34 when the compressed air is not
flowing in the first spinning pipe 111, the central
control device 13 displays an error on the display
section 15 to prompt the operator to open the first
main valve 121.
21
The first main valve 121 may be provided at a
first branch portion 110a of the branch pipe 110
connected to the first spinning pipe 111, rather than
at the upstream end of the first spinning pipe 111.
5 The second main valve 122 may be provided at an
upstream end of the second spinning pipe 112, or at a
second branch portion 110b of the branch pipe 110
connected to the second spinning pipe 112. In this
case, the second main valve 122 will be opened/closed
10 differently from the above description.
In the first spinning pipe 111, a mist-like
additive is supplied from the additive supply section
102 to a portion between the first main valve 121 and
the first unit pipe 115 that branches off toward the
15 spinning unit 7 located on the most upstream side in
the direction in which compressed air flows.
Accordingly, the mist-like additive is mixed into
compressed air distributed and supplied to each of the
spinning units 7 via the first spinning pipe 111. The
20 additive is not supplied from the additive supply
section 102 to the second spinning pipe 112.
A chemical agent, water, a solution, or the like,
for example, can be used as the additive to be supplied
from the additive supply section 102 to the first
22
spinning pipe 111. The chemical agent contains a
component that prevents an oily agent from depositing
on the pneumatic spinning device 23 in each of the
spinning units 7, for example. In addition to the
5 component that prevents deposition of the oily agent,
the chemical agent may be a chemical agent that can
provide the spun yarn 30 with at least one of
antibacterial, deodorizing, deodorization, wax, and
other functions, for example.
10 The type and supplying amount of the additive are
determined appropriately in consideration of needs and
the like for the spun yarn 30. The operator inputs an
appropriate additive to an additive storage tank 135 in
accordance with a raw material of the sliver 32 to be
15 used in the pneumatic spinning machine 1. The amount
of the additive to be supplied to the spinning units 7
(the first spinning pipe 111) is set by the operator
regulating a pressure regulating section 133 of the
additive supply section 102. When the pressure
20 regulating section 133 includes an electro-pneumatic
regulator, however, the operation of the additive
supply section 102 may be controlled on the basis of
details set for the central control device 13 by the
operator operating the operating section 17
23
appropriately. In this case, the central control
device 13 may automatically set the supplying amount of
the additive in accordance with the raw material of the
sliver 32 to be used.
5 Hereinafter, compressed air containing a mistlike additive to be supplied from the first spinning
pipe 111 to each of the spinning units 7 via the first
unit pipe 115 may be called wet air. In addition,
compressed air to be supplied from the second spinning
10 pipe 112 to each of the spinning units 7 via the second
unit pipe 116 (compressed air not containing the
additive) may be called dry air.
The first unit pipe 115 is provided with the
first supply valve 125. The first supply valve 125 is
15 an on-off valve, for example, and is controlled by the
unit control section 19. The unit control section 19
can control opening/closing of the first supply valve
125 to switch between supply and stop of supply of wet
air to the pneumatic spinning device 23 of each of the
20 spinning units 7.
The second unit pipe 116 is provided with the
second supply valve 126. The second supply valve 126
is an on-off valve, for example, and is controlled by
the unit control section 19. The unit control section
24
19 can control opening/closing of the second supply
valve 126 to switch between supply and stop of supply
of dry air to the pneumatic spinning device 23 of each
of the spinning units 7.
5 By operating the operating section 17 by the
operator, compressed air to be supplied to the
pneumatic spinning device 23 of each of the spinning
units 7 may be switched to either wet air or dry air.
Next, a detailed description will be made on the
10 additive supply section 102 with reference to FIG. 3.
At least one additive supply section 102 is
provided for the pneumatic spinning machine 1. One
additive supply section 102 may be provided for each of
a predetermined number of spinning units 7. The
15 additive supply section 102 includes a flow-in pipe (a
flow-in passage) 131, the pressure regulating section
133, the additive storage tank (a storage tank) 135,
and a discharge pipe (a discharge passage) 137, as
shown in FIG. 3.
20 The compressed air flows into the additive
storage tank 135 via the connection pipe 106 and the
flow-in pipe 131. The flow-in pipe 131 is connected to
the connection pipe 106 and the additive storage tank
135. One end of the flow-in pipe 131 is connected to a
25
region of the connection pipe 106 between the inlet
pipe 104 and the regulator 119. The other end of the
flow-in pipe 131 is connected to a mist producing
nozzle 143 in the additive storage tank 135.
5 The pressure regulating section 133 can regulate
the pressure of compressed air that flows into the
additive storage tank 135 by way of the flow-in pipe
131. The pressure regulating section 133 is provided
for the flow-in pipe 131. The pressure regulating
10 section 133 regulates the pressure of compressed air to
change the pressure of compressed air (a nozzle
pressure) ejected from the mist producing nozzle 143 of
the additive storage tank 135. In addition, the
pressure regulating section 133 controls the pressure
15 in the additive storage tank 135 so as to be higher
than the pressure in the first spinning pipe 111. The
pressure regulating section 133 can be a pressure
reducing valve, for example, which will be described
later in detail. The pressure regulating section 133
20 is regulated by the operator. However, the operation
of the pressure regulating section 133 may be
controlled by the central control device 13.
The additive storage tank 135 is a pressure
vessel that can store a liquid additive. The additive
26
storage tank 135 is provided between the flow-in pipe
131 and the discharge pipe 137. The additive storage
tank 135 includes a stored amount detecting section 141
that detects the stored amount of the additive. In
5 addition, the additive storage tank 135 includes the
mist producing nozzle 143. The mist producing nozzle
143 is connected to the flow-in pipe 131.
The mist producing nozzle 143 is arranged in the
liquid additive stored in the additive storage tank 135.
10 When compressed air is ejected from the mist producing
nozzle 143, the compressed air is bubbled into the
liquid additive, and a mist-like additive (which
hereinafter may be called an additive mist) is produced.
With this bubbling, a space above the liquid surface of
15 the additive in the additive storage tank 135 is filled
with the additive mist. Since the pressure in the
additive storage tank 135 is higher than the pressure
in the first spinning pipe 111, the additive mist is
discharged into the first spinning pipe 111 via the
20 discharge pipe 137. As a result, the additive is
sprayed into the first spinning pipe 111.
When the pressure in a region in the flow-in pipe
131 between the pressure regulating section 133 and the
additive storage tank 135 (therefore, the pressure in
27
the additive storage tank 135) is regulated
appropriately by the pressure regulating section 133
with respect to the pressure in the first spinning pipe
111, a differential pressure between the additive
5 storage tank 135 and the first spinning pipe 111 is
produced.
The additive flows from the additive storage tank
135 to the first spinning pipe 111 via the discharge
pipe 137. The discharge pipe 137 is connected to the
10 additive storage tank 135 and the first spinning pipe
111. One end of the discharge pipe 137 is inserted in
the space above the liquid surface of the additive in
the additive storage tank 135. The other end of the
discharge pipe 137 is connected to a region in the
15 first spinning pipe 111 between the first main valve
121 and the spinning unit 7 located on the most
upstream side in the direction in which compressed air
flows. That is, the location at which the discharge
pipe 137 is connected to the first spinning pipe 111 is
20 located upstream of the location at which the first
unit pipe 115 located on the most upstream side in the
direction in which compressed air flows in the first
spinning pipe 111 is connected to the first spinning
pipe 111. Accordingly, the additive mist can be
28
distributed and supplied to all the first unit pipes
115 from the first spinning pipe 111.
In this structure, part of compressed air flowing
through the flow-in pipe 131 flows into the additive
5 storage tank 135. At this time, the pressure
regulating section 133 regulates the pressure of the
compressed air flown into the flow-in pipe 131 such
that an appropriate differential pressure is produced
between the additive storage tank 135 side and the
10 first spinning pipe 111 side. The compressed air is
ejected from the mist producing nozzle 143 in the
additive storage tank 135. As a result, the additive
mist is produced in the additive storage tank 135. The
additive mist is led from the additive storage tank 135
15 to the first spinning pipe 111 via the discharge pipe
137. Accordingly, the additive mist is supplied from
the additive supply section 102 to the first spinning
pipe 111 by being sprayed. As a result, wet air is
produced in the first spinning pipe 111. The amount of
20 the additive mist added to the compressed air flowing
through the first spinning pipe 111 varies in
accordance with the magnitude of the differential
pressure between the additive storage tank 135 and the
first spinning pipe 111.
29
The wet air in the first spinning pipe 111 flows
through the first unit pipe 115, and is supplied from
the spinning nozzle of the pneumatic spinning device 23
to the fiber bundle 34 before being twisted or the
5 fiber bundle 34 in the course of being twisted to be
the spun yarn 30. However, the wet air may be supplied
to the fiber bundle 34 at a location other than the
spinning nozzle as long as the location is between the
outlet of the draft device 21 and the outlet of the
10 pneumatic spinning device 23. The outlet of the draft
device 21 means a most-downstream region in the draft
device 21, which is close to a nip point of the front
roller pair 47 in the present embodiment. The outlet
of the pneumatic spinning device 23 means a most15 downstream region in the pneumatic spinning device 23.
For example, the wet air may be supplied to the fiber
bundle 34 between the outlet of the draft device 21 and
the inlet of the pneumatic spinning device 23, or if a
nozzle is provided in the fiber guiding member and/or a
20 hollow guide shaft body of the pneumatic spinning
device 23, the wet air may be supplied from this nozzle
to the fiber bundle 34. When the wet air is not
supplied to the spinning nozzle, compressed air at the
spinning pressure is supplied to the spinning nozzle
30
using another path.
Next, a more detailed description will be made on
the additive supply section 102 with reference to FIG.
4.
5 In the additive supply section 102, the pressure
regulating section 133 has a pressure reducing valve
151. The pressure reducing valve 151 can reduce the
pressure of the compressed air flown from the
connection pipe 106 into the flow-in pipe 131. The
10 pressure reducing valve 151 is provided midway on the
flow-in pipe 131.
In the additive supply section 102, the pressure
regulating section 133 further has a pressure raising
valve 153. The pressure raising valve 153 raises the
15 pressure of the compressed air flown from the
connection pipe 106 into the flow-in pipe 131 before
being reduced by the pressure reducing valve 151. The
pressure raising valve 153 is provided between a
location in the flow-in pipe 131 connected to the
20 connection pipe 106 and the pressure reducing valve 151.
In this manner, the pressure regulating section
133 includes the pressure raising valve 153 and the
pressure reducing valve 151 in the present embodiment.
The pressure raising valve 153 and the pressure
31
reducing valve 151 are arranged in this order from the
connection pipe 106 toward the additive storage tank
135. By the pressure raising valve 153 and the
pressure reducing valve 151 being regulated by the
5 operator, the pressure regulating section 133 can
regulate the pressure of compressed air to be supplied
to the additive storage tank 135 (the nozzle pressure
of the mist producing nozzle 143). However, the
operations of the pressure raising valve 153 and the
10 pressure reducing valve 151 may be controlled by the
central control device 13.
In the present embodiment, the place at which
compressed air is taken in for bubbling of the additive
in the additive storage tank 135 is formed in the
15 connection pipe 106 which is a pipe different from the
first spinning pipe 111 into which the additive mist is
ejected. The regulator 119 is provided between the
connection pipe 106 and the first spinning pipe 111.
In this manner, the place at which the additive mist is
20 ejected and the place at which compressed air is taken
in for the additive mist are separated by the regulator
119. Therefore, the additive ejected into the first
spinning pipe 111 can be prevented from flowing back
into the flow-in pipe 131. As a result, a special
32
component adapted to entrance of the additive is not
necessary in the flow-in pipe 131 or the like.
Describing a specific example, it is not necessary to
arrange a mist separator different from the mist
5 separator indicated by the reference numeral 108
upstream of the pressure regulating section 133 in
order to remove the entered additive. Therefore, the
structure can be simplified.
In the structure of aforementioned Patent
10 Document 1, compressed air for producing an additive
mist is taken in from a pipe that distributes
compressed air at the spinning pressure to each of the
spinning units. Therefore, the spinning pressure is
easily reduced, and it is difficult to stabilize the
15 quality of the spun yarn 30. In the present embodiment,
compressed air for producing an additive mist is taken
in from the connection pipe 106 located upstream of the
regulator 119 for obtaining the spinning pressure.
Therefore, the pressure in the first spinning pipe 111
20 can be stabilized, so that the spun yarn 30 of high
quality can be produced stably in the spinning units 7.
This effect is particularly effective when a large
differential pressure is required in the additive
supply section 102 for supplying a large amount of the
33
additive to the spinning units 7.
In order to produce the spun yarn 30 of high
quality, it is important to appropriately regulate the
amount of the additive to be supplied from the additive
5 supply section 102. For example, if an excessively
large amount of the additive is added to the fiber
bundle 34 in the spinning units 7 when producing the
spun yarn 30 having a high count, a spinning failure or
the like occurs, and yarn breakage may occur frequently.
10 In the present embodiment, the pressure in the additive
storage tank 135 is regulated appropriately in relation
to the first unit pipe 115, so that the additive supply
section 102 can supply an appropriate amount of the
additive in accordance with the situation.
15 The cart supply pipe 107 for supplying compressed
air to the yarn joining cart 9 is branched off from the
connection pipe 106. Since the spun yarn 30 is twisted
in the yarn joining device 85 in the yarn joining cart
9, compressed air at a large pressure to some degree
20 needs to be supplied to the yarn joining cart 9.
Therefore, even when the pressure of compressed air to
be led to the additive storage tank 135 is to be
reduced in order to reduce the supplying amount of the
additive, it is difficult to reduce the pressure on the
34
connection pipe 106 side. Since the pressure
regulating section 133 is provided with the pressure
reducing valve 151 in the present embodiment, the
pressure of the compressed air to be supplied to the
5 additive storage tank 135 can be reduced easily even
when the pressure in the connection pipe 106 is high.
Therefore, a state in which the differential pressure
between the additive storage tank 135 and the first
spinning pipe 111 is small can be achieved easily.
10 There are cases in which the pressure of the
compressed air to be led to the additive storage tank
135 is to be increased in order to increase the
supplying amount of the additive, such as when
producing the spun yarn 30 having a low count.
15 Depending on the situation, there may also be cases in
which compressed air at a pressure higher than the
pressure of the compressed air flowing through the
connection pipe 106 needs to be supplied to the
additive storage tank 135. In the present embodiment,
20 the pressure regulating section 133 is provided with
the pressure raising valve 153. Therefore, a state in
which the differential pressure between the additive
storage tank 135 and the first spinning pipe 111 is
large can be achieved easily.
35
The additive supply section 102 has a non-return
valve 155. The non-return valve 155 prevents a fluid
from flowing from the additive storage tank 135 into
the flow-in pipe 131 (that is, the connection pipe 106
5 side). In the flow-in pipe 131, the non-return valve
155 is provided between the pressure regulating section
133 (the pressure reducing valve 151) and the additive
storage tank 135.
Accordingly, even when the pressure of compressed
10 air to be supplied to the mist producing nozzle 143 is
reduced for some reason, the liquid additive stored in
the additive storage tank 135 can be prevented from
flowing back into the flow-in pipe 131 via the mist
producing nozzle 143. As a result, a failure of the
15 pressure regulating section 133 (for example, the
pressure reducing valve 151) can be prevented.
The additive supply section 102 has a function of
displaying the differential pressure produced between
the inside of the additive storage tank 135 and the
20 inside of the first spinning pipe 111 to the operator
such that an additive mist is produced appropriately.
In order to achieve this function, the additive supply
section 102 includes the connection pipe (a connection
passage) 161, the pressure detecting section 163, and a
36
switching device 165.
The connection pipe 161 connects a predetermined
region 131a in the flow-in pipe 131 and the first
spinning pipe 111. This predetermined region 131a is
5 located between the pressure regulating section 133
(the pressure reducing valve 151) and the non-return
valve 155. One end of the connection pipe 161 is
connected to the predetermined region 131a in the flowin pipe 131. The other end of the connection pipe 161
10 is connected to the first spinning pipe 111.
The pressure detecting section 163 can detect the
pressure in the predetermined region 131a in the flowin pipe 131 and the pressure in the first spinning pipe
111 via the connection pipe 161. The pressure
15 detecting section 163 can detect the pressure in one
end side region of the connection pipe 161 equivalent
to the pressure in the predetermined region 131a in the
flow-in pipe 131, and can detect the pressure in the
other end side region of the connection pipe 161
20 equivalent to the pressure in the first spinning pipe
111. A result of detection obtained by the pressure
detecting section 163 is displayed on a display section
not illustrated but provided for the pressure detecting
section 163. The detection result may be displayed on
37
the display section 15.
The switching device 165 can switch a detection
target of the pressure detecting section 163 between
the pressure in the predetermined region 131a in the
5 flow-in pipe 131 and the pressure in the first spinning
pipe 111. The switching device 165 is provided for the
connection pipe 161. The switching device 165 is a
switching valve, for example. The switching device 165
is switched by the operator. However, the operation of
10 the switching device 165 may be controlled by the
central control device 13.
With such a structure, a detection target of the
pressure detecting section 163 can be switched using
the switching device 165 to acquire the value of the
15 pressure in the predetermined region 131a in the flowin pipe 131 and the value of the pressure in the first
spinning pipe 111. Therefore, the operator can confirm
the differential pressure produced between the additive
storage tank 135 side and the first spinning pipe 111
20 side on the basis of the acquired pressure values.
As described above, the pneumatic spinning
machine 1 of the present embodiment includes the
plurality of spinning units 7, the inlet pipe 104, the
connection pipe 106, the first spinning pipe 111, the
38
first unit pipe 115, the regulator 119, the mist
separator 108, and the additive supply section 102.
The spinning units 7 each produce and wind the spun
yarn 30. The inlet pipe 104 is connected to the air
5 compressing and feeding device 118 for supplying
compressed air to each of the plurality of spinning
units 7. The connection pipe 106 is connected to the
inlet pipe 104. The first spinning pipe 111 is
connected to the connection pipe 106. The first unit
10 pipe 115 is connected to the first spinning pipe 111.
Compressed air from the first spinning pipe 111 flows
into the first unit pipe 115 for each of the plurality
of spinning units 7. The regulator 119 is provided
between the connection pipe 106 and the first spinning
15 pipe 111. The mist separator 108 is provided between
the inlet pipe 104 and the regulator 119. The additive
supply section 102 is capable of supplying an additive
to each of the plurality of spinning units 7 via the
first spinning pipe 111 and the first unit pipe 115.
20 The additive supply section 102 includes the additive
storage tank 135, the flow-in pipe 131, and the
discharge pipe 137. The additive storage tank 135
stores the additive. The flow-in pipe 131 connects the
connection pipe 106 and the additive storage tank 135.
39
The discharge pipe 137 connects the additive storage
tank 135 and the first spinning pipe 111. The flow-in
pipe 131 is connected to a portion of the connection
pipe 106, the portion being located between the mist
5 separator 108 and the regulator 119.
Accordingly, the place at which compressed air is
taken in from the connection pipe 106 to the additive
supply section 102 and the place at which compressed
air in which the additive has been mixed is discharged
10 from the additive supply section 102 to the first
spinning pipe 111 are separated at least using the
regulator 119 as the boundary. Therefore, the additive
flown into the first spinning pipe 111 via the
discharge pipe 137 can be prevented from returning to
15 the flow-in pipe 131 and flowing back into the flow-in
pipe 131. As a result, a special component in
consideration of entrance of the additive in the flowin pipe 131 is not necessary. In addition, the quality
of the spun yarn 30 produced in each of the spinning
20 units 7 can be prevented from being deteriorated, and
the spun yarn 30 of high quality can be produced easily.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the regulator 119 is capable of
regulating the pressure of compressed air to be
40
supplied from the connection pipe 106 to each of the
plurality of spinning units 7 via the first spinning
pipe 111 and the first unit pipe 115.
Accordingly, a spinning pressure of spinning
5 performed by the pneumatic spinning machine 1 can be
regulated by the regulator 119. In addition, the flowin pipe 131 for taking in compressed air into the
additive supply section 102 is connected to the
connection pipe 106 located upstream of the regulator
10 119, rather than to the first unit pipe 115. Therefore,
the spinning pressure is less likely to be reduced, so
that the quality of the spun yarn 30 can be increased.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the additive supply section 102
15 includes the pressure regulating section 133 provided
for the flow-in pipe 131. The pressure regulating
section 133 is capable of regulating the pressure of
compressed air flowing into the additive storage tank
135 through the flow-in pipe 131.
20 Accordingly, by regulating the pressure of
compressed air to be led into the additive storage tank
135, the amount of the additive to be supplied from the
additive supply section 102 can be prevented from being
excessively small or excessively large.
41
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the pressure regulating section 133
includes the pressure reducing valve 151. The pressure
reducing valve 151 reduces the pressure of compressed
5 air flown from the connection pipe 106 into the flow-in
pipe 131.
Accordingly, the pressure of compressed air to be
led into the additive storage tank 135 can be regulated
with a simple structure to change the supplying amount
10 of the additive.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the pressure regulating section 133
includes the pressure raising valve 153. The pressure
raising valve 153 raises the pressure of compressed air
15 flown from the connection pipe 106 into the flow-in
pipe 131 before being reduced by the pressure reducing
valve 151.
Accordingly, the range in which the pressure of
compressed air to be led into the additive storage tank
20 135 can be regulated can be extended to a higher
pressure side. Therefore, the supplying amount of the
additive can be regulated flexibly in accordance with
various situations.
The pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the present
42
embodiment includes the yarn joining cart 9 and the
cart supply pipe 107. The yarn joining cart 9 is
movable relative to the plurality of spinning units 7.
The cart supply pipe 107 is connected to the connection
5 pipe 106. Compressed air from the connection pipe 106
flows into the yarn joining cart 9 via the cart supply
pipe 107. Compressed air supplied to the inlet pipe
104 is supplied to the plurality of spinning units 7
via the flow-in pipe 131, and is supplied to the yarn
10 joining cart 9 via the cart supply pipe 107.
That is, even when the pressure in the connection
pipe 106 cannot be reduced much because of the
necessity to supply compressed air to the yarn joining
cart 9, the structure in which the pressure regulating
15 section 133 includes the pressure reducing valve 151
can easily reduce the supplying amount of the additive.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the additive supply section 102
includes the non-return valve 155 that prevents a fluid
20 from flowing from the additive storage tank 135 into
the connection pipe 106. The non-return valve 155 is
arranged in the flow-in pipe 131 and between the
pressure regulating section 133 and the additive
storage tank 135.
43
Accordingly, the additive can be prevented from
flowing back from the additive storage tank 135 into
the flow-in pipe 131 to enter the pressure regulating
section 133. Therefore, a failure of the pressure
5 regulating section 133 can be prevented.
The pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the present
embodiment includes the connection pipe 161 and the
pressure detecting section 163. The connection pipe
161 is connected to the flow-in pipe 131. The pressure
10 detecting section 163 is capable of detecting the
pressure in the connection pipe 161. The connection
pipe 161 is connected to a portion of the flow-in
passage, the portion being located between the pressure
regulating section 133 and the non-return valve 155.
15 Accordingly, the pressure of compressed air
regulated by the pressure regulating section 133 can be
detected favorably.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the mist separator 108 is capable
20 of separating a particulate matter from the compressed
air flowing into the regulator 119 via the inlet pipe
104 and the connection pipe 106.
Accordingly, compressed air from which a
particulate matter (such as oil mist) has been removed
44
can be flown into the regulator 119. Therefore, a
failure of the regulator 119 can be prevented.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, each of the plurality of spinning
5 units 7 includes the draft device 21 and the pneumatic
spinning device 23. The pneumatic spinning device 23
twists, by means of a whirling airflow, the fiber
bundle 34 drafted in the draft device 21 to produce the
spun yarn 30.
10 Accordingly, the spun yarn 30 of high quality can
be produced at high speed.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1 of the
present embodiment, the additive supplied from the
additive supply section 102 to each of the spinning
15 units 7 is supplied at a location between the outlet of
the draft device 21 and the outlet of the pneumatic
spinning device 23.
Accordingly, the spun yarn 30 can be produced by
causing the additive to work appropriately in the
20 spinning units 7.
Although suitable embodiments of the present
invention have been described above, the abovedescribed components can be changed as will be
described below, for example. The following
45
alternative embodiments and the above-described
embodiment can be combined appropriately.
The flowing passage of compressed air can also be
pipes of a different number from that of the above
5 description.
The additive may be supplied at a timing in a
preparation mode after power on of the pneumatic
spinning machine 1 and/or a cleaning mode performed in
at least partial period while spinning by the pneumatic
10 spinning device 23 is interrupted, instead of or in
addition to being supplied during spinning by the
pneumatic spinning device 23.
The additive supply section 102 could supply the
additive to each of the plurality of spinning units 7.
15 The additive supply section 102 may be provided for
each of the spinning units 7, or one additive supply
section 102 may be provided for some (not all) of the
spinning units 7.
A structure may be adopted which switches the air
20 to be supplied to each of the spinning units 7 between
the wet air and the dry air by switching between supply
of the additive to the first spinning pipe 111 and stop
of supply through control of the operation of the
additive supply section 102. In this case, the second
46
spinning pipe 112, the second main valve 122, and the
second unit pipe 116 can be omitted.
A path along which compressed air flows may be
branched off from the connection pipe 106 toward a
5 doffing cart (an operation cart) not illustrated and/or
another cart or the like, instead of or in addition to
the yarn joining cart 9. The doffing cart is a cart
that doffs the fully-wound package 73 from each of the
spinning units 7. The pneumatic spinning machine 1 may
10 include a plurality of yarn joining carts 9.
Each of the spinning units 7 includes an air
cylinder (not illustrated) for causing a contact
pressure for pressing the package 73 against the
winding drum 63 to act on the cradle arm 61. A path
15 along which compressed air flows toward the air
cylinder may be branched off from the connection pipe
106.
Each of the spinning units 7 may further include
an air cylinder (not illustrated) that drives the
20 cradle arm 61 so as to move the package 73 away from
the winding drum 63. A path along which compressed air
flows toward the air cylinder may be branched off from
the connection pipe 106.
Each of the spinning units 7 may include an
47
auxiliary nozzle used auxiliarily when spinning a
particular type of fibers. In this case, a path along
which compressed air flows toward the auxiliary nozzle
may be branched off from the connection pipe 106.
5 The spinning units 7 may include a core yarn
supply device for supplying a core yarn to the fiber
bundle 34 to produce a spun yarn containing the core
yarn. In this case, a path along which compressed air
flows toward the core yarn supply device may be
10 branched off from the connection pipe 106.
The structure may be changed to a structure in
which downstream portions of the first unit pipe 115
and the second unit pipe 116 are joined together and
then connected to the pneumatic spinning device 23. In
15 this case, supply of wet air and dry air may be
switched by providing the joint portion with a
switching valve.
A plurality of (for example, two) additive supply
sections 102 in which different additives are stored
20 may be provided so that two or more types of additives
are supplied to the spinning units 7 at different
positions.
The pressure detecting section 163 can also be a
publicly-known differential pressure sensor.
48
A pressure sensor may be provided for the
predetermined region 131a in the flow-in pipe 131, and
a pressure sensor may be provided for the first
spinning pipe 111. In this case, the connection pipe
5 161, the pressure detecting section 163, and the
switching device 165 are unnecessary.
At least one drain for draining an additive
retained in the first spinning pipe 111 may be provided
at an end of the first spinning pipe 111. The
10 pneumatic spinning machine 1 may include an abnormality
detecting device that detects an abnormality of the
additive supply section 102 and/or a sensor (for
example, a level sensor) that detects a remaining
amount of the additive.
15 The yarn joining cart 9 can also be omitted. In
this case, each of the spinning units 7 may include a
device for performing yarn joining.
The pneumatic spinning machine 1 may be
structured such that the spun yarn 30 travels in the
20 direction from the bottom to the top in the machine.
If the pneumatic spinning machine 1 includes the
spinning units 7 in two rows, at least the first
spinning pipe 111 may be provided for each row.
In the pneumatic spinning machine 1, the spun
49
yarn 30 may be pulled out from the pneumatic spinning
device 23 by means of a nip roller and a delivery
roller instead of the yarn storage roller 53. In this
case, at least one of the yarn storage roller 53, a
5 mechanical compensator, a slack tube through use of a
sucking airflow may be provided downstream of the nip
roller and the delivery roller.
The spinning units 7 may include a tension
detecting device that detects a tension of the spun
10 yarn 30 between the pneumatic spinning device 23 and a
yarn pull-out device such as the yarn storage device 25.
In view of the foregoing teaching, it is apparent
that the present invention may take numerous
modifications and variations. Therefore, it should be
15 understood that the present invention may be carried
out by a method other than those described in the
present specification within the range of the appended
patent claims.
According to an aspect of the present invention,
20 a pneumatic spinning machine of the following structure
is provided. That is, this pneumatic spinning machine
includes a plurality of spinning units, an inlet
section, a first air flowing passage, a second air
flowing passage, a third air flowing passage, a
50
regulator, a filter, and an additive supply section.
The spinning units produce and wind yarns. The inlet
section is connected to an air supply source for
supplying air to each of the plurality of spinning
5 units. The first air flowing passage is connected to
the inlet section. The second air flowing passage is
connected to the first air flowing passage. The third
air flowing passage is connected to the second air
flowing passage, and through the third air flowing
10 passage, air from the second air flowing passage flows
to each of the plurality of spinning units. The
regulator is provided between the first air flowing
passage and the second air flowing passage. The filter
is provided between the inlet section and the regulator.
15 The additive supply section is capable of supplying an
additive to each of the plurality of spinning units via
the second air flowing passage and the third air
flowing passage. The additive supply section includes
a storage tank, a flow-in passage, and a discharge
20 passage. The storage tank stores the additive. The
flow-in passage connects the first air flowing passage
and the storage tank. The discharge passage connects
the storage tank and the second air flowing passage.
The flow-in passage is connected to a portion of the
51
first air flowing passage, the portion being located
between the filter and the regulator.
Accordingly, the place at which compressed air
(air) is taken in from the first air flowing passage
5 into the additive supply section and the place at which
compressed air in which the additive has been mixed is
discharged from the additive supply section to the
second air flowing passage are separated at least using
the regulator as the boundary. Therefore, the additive
10 flown into the second air flowing passage via the
discharge passage can be prevented from flowing back
into the flow-in passage. As a result, the quality of
a yarn to be produced in each of the spinning units can
be prevented from being deteriorated, and a yarn of
15 high quality can be produced easily. Further, since
the filter is provided downstream of the inlet section,
a particulate matter and the like can be removed from
the compressed air flowing into the pneumatic spinning
machine. As a result, components included in the
20 additive supply device can be prevented from being
damaged and reduced in lifetime, and a yarn of high
quality can be produced continuously.
In the pneumatic spinning machine described above,
the regulator is capable of regulating a pressure of
52
air to be supplied from the first air flowing passage
to each of the plurality of spinning units via the
second air flowing passage and the third air flowing
passage.
5 Accordingly, a spinning pressure of spinning
performed by the pneumatic spinning machine can be
regulated by the regulator. In addition, the flow-in
pipe for taking in air into the additive supply section
is connected to the first air flowing passage on the
10 upstream side of the regulator, rather than to the
second air flowing passage. Therefore, the spinning
pressure is less likely to be reduced, so that the
quality of a yarn can be increased.
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
15 machine described above includes the following
configuration. The additive supply section includes a
pressure regulating section provided in the flow-in
passage. The pressure regulating section is capable of
regulating a pressure of air that flows into the
20 storage tank through the flow-in passage.
Accordingly, by regulating the pressure of air to
be led into the storage tank, the amount of the
additive to be supplied from the additive supply
section can be prevented from being excessively small
53
or excessively large.
In the pneumatic spinning machine described above,
it is preferable that the pressure regulating section
includes a pressure reducing valve that reduces a
5 pressure of air flown into the flow-in passage from the
first air flowing passage.
Accordingly, the pressure of air to be led into
the storage tank can be regulated with a simple
structure to change the supplying amount of the
10 additive.
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, the pressure regulating
section includes a pressure raising valve. The
15 pressure raising valve raises the pressure of air flown
into the flow-in passage from the first air flowing
passage before being reduced by the pressure reducing
valve.
Accordingly, the range in which the pressure of
20 air to be led into the storage tank can be regulated
can be extended to a higher pressure side. Therefore,
the supplying amount of the additive can be regulated
flexibly in accordance with various situations.
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
54
machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, this pneumatic spinning
machine includes an operation cart. The operation cart
is movable relative to the plurality of spinning units
5 Air supplied to the inlet section is supplied to the
plurality of spinning units via the flow-in passage,
and is supplied to the operation cart.
That is, even when the pressure in the first air
flowing passage cannot be reduced much because of the
10 necessity to supply compressed air to the operation
cart, the structure in which the pressure regulating
section includes the pressure reducing valve can easily
reduce the supplying amount of the additive.
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
15 machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, the additive supply section
has a non-return valve that prevents a fluid from
flowing from the storage tank into the first air
flowing passage. The non-return valve is arranged in a
20 portion of the flow-in passage, the portion being
located between the pressure regulating section and the
storage tank.
Accordingly, the additive can be prevented from
flowing back from the storage tank into the flow-in
55
passage and entering the pressure regulating section.
Therefore, a failure of the pressure regulating section
can be prevented.
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
5 machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, this pneumatic spinning
machine includes a connection passage and a pressure
detecting section. The connection passage connected to
the flow-in passage. The pressure detecting section
10 capable of detecting a pressure in the connection
passage. The connection passage is connected to a
portion of the flow-in passage, the portion being
located between the pressure regulating section and the
non-return valve.
15 Accordingly, the pressure of air regulated by the
pressure regulating section can be detected favorably.
In the pneumatic spinning machine described above,
it is preferable that the filter is capable of
separating a particulate matter from the air that flows
20 into the regulator via the inlet section and the first
air flowing passage.
Accordingly, air from which a particulate matter
has been removed flows into the regulator. Therefore,
a failure of the regulator can be prevented.
56
It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, each of the plurality of
spinning units includes a draft device and a pneumatic
5 spinning device. The pneumatic spinning device twists,
by means of a whirling airflow, a fiber bundle drafted
in the draft device to produce a yarn.
Accordingly, a yarn of high quality can be
produced at high speed.
10 It is preferable that the pneumatic spinning
machine described above includes the following
configuration. That is, the additive supplied from the
additive supply section to the plurality of spinning
units is supplied at a location between an outlet of
15 the draft device and an outlet of the pneumatic
spinning device.
Accordingly, a yarn can be produced by causing
the additive to work appropriately in the spinning
units.
20
57
WE CLAIM:
1. A pneumatic spinning machine (1) comprising:
a plurality of spinning units (7) that produce
and wind yarns (30);
5 an inlet section (104) connected to an air supply
source (118) for supplying air to each of the plurality
of spinning units (7);
a first air flowing passage (106) connected to
the inlet section (104);
10 a second air flowing passage (111) connected to
the first air flowing passage (106);
a third air flowing passage (115) connected to
the second air flowing passage (111), and through which
air from the second air flowing passage (111) flows to
15 each of the plurality of spinning units (7);
a regulator (119) provided between the first air
flowing passage (106) and the second air flowing
passage (111);
a filter (108) provided between the inlet section
20 (104) and the regulator (119); and
an additive supply section (102) capable of
supplying an additive to each of the plurality of
spinning units (7) via the second air flowing passage
(111) and the third air flowing passage (115), wherein the additive supply section (102) includesa storage tank(135) that stores the additive,a flow-in passage (131) that connects the first air flowing passage(106) and the storage tank(135), 5anda discharge passage (137) that connects the storage tank(135) and the second air flowing passage(111), andtheflow-in passage(131)is connected to a 10portionof the first air flowing passage(106), the portion being locatedbetween the filter (108) and the regulator(119).2.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed 15inclaim 1,wherein the regulator (119) is capable of regulating a pressure of air to be supplied from the first air flowing passage(106) to each of the plurality of spinning units(7)via the second air 20flowing passage(111) and the third air flowing passage(115).3.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed
59inclaim 1 or 2, whereinthe additive supply section (102) includes a pressure regulating section provided in the flow-in passage(131), andthe pressure regulating section (133) is capable 5of regulating a pressure of air that flows into the storage tank(135) through the flow-in passage(131).4.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed inclaim 3,10wherein the pressure regulating section (133) includes a pressure reducingvalve (151) that reduces a pressure of air flown into the flow-in passage (131) from the first air flowing passage(106).155.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed inclaim 4, whereinthe pressure regulating section (133) includes a pressure raising valve(153), andthe pressure raising valve (153) raises the 20pressure of air flown into the flow-in passage(131)from the first air flowing passage(106) before being reduced by the pressure reducing valve(151).
606.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed inclaim 4 or 5, comprising:an operation cart (9) movable relative to the plurality of spinning units(7),wherein air supplied to the inlet section (104) 5is supplied to the plurality of spinning units(7)via the flow-in passage(131), and is supplied to the operation cart(9).7.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed 10inany one of claims 3 to 6, whereinthe additive supply section (102) has a non-return valve (155) that prevents a fluid from flowing from the storage tank(135) into the first air flowing passage(106), and15the non-return valve (155) is arranged in a portion of the flow-in passage(131), the portion being locatedbetween the pressure regulating section (133) and the storage tank(135).208.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed inclaim 7, comprising:a connection passage (161) connected to the flow-in passage(131); and
61a pressure detecting section(163)capable of detecting a pressure in the connection passage(161),wherein the connection passage (161) is connected to a portion of the flow-in passage(131), the portion being located between the pressure regulating section 5(133) and the non-return valve(155).9.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as claimed inany one of claims 1 to 8,wherein the filter (108) is capable of separating 10a particulate matter from theair that flows into the regulator (119) via the inlet section(104)and the first air flowing passage(106).10.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as 15claimed inany one of claims 1 to 9, whereineach of the plurality of spinning units(7)includesa draft device(21), anda pneumatic spinning device (23) that twists,by 20means of a whirling airflow, a fiber bundle (34) drafted in the draft device (21) to produce a yarn(30).11.The pneumatic spinning machine (1) as
62claimed inclaim 10,wherein the additive supplied from the additive supply section (102) to the plurality of spinning units (7) is supplied at a location between an outlet of the draft device (21) and an outlet of the pneumatic 5spinning device(23).