SPINNING MACHINE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a spinning machine.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, a spinning machine including a yarn supply device, a winding device, and a yarn accumulation device is known. Patent Documents (PTL) 1 and 2 disclose the spinning machine of this type, respectively.
[0003] The spinning machine of PTL 1 has a drafting device and an air spinning device (yarn supply device), a winding device that forms a package, and a yarn accumulation device having a yarn accumulation roller. The yarn accumulation roller is disposed downstream of the spinning device (part of the yarn supply device) in a yarn travel direction, and can temporarily accumulate the spun yarn by rotating while winding the spun yarn around its outer circumferential surface. The spinning machine includes a traveling detection sensor disposed downstream of the yarn accumulation roller in the yarn travel direction. The traveling detection sensor can detect, downstream of the yarn accumulation roller, at least any of whether the spun yarn is traveling on the yarn path and whether the traveling is stopped.
[0004] The spinning machine of PTL 2 has a drafting device and an air spinning device (yarn supply device), a winding device that produces a package, and a yarn accumulation device. A yarn accumulation roller included by the yarn accumulation device can temporarily accumulate yarn delivered from the air spinning device (part of the yarn supply device) by winding the yarn around the roller. The spinning machine includes a first suction device disposed downstream of the yarn accumulation roller in the yarn travel

direction. When the yarn is disconnected between the yarn accumulation device and the winding device in the yarn travel direction (downstream of the yarn accumulation device in the yarn travel direction), the first suction device sucks the downstream end of the disconnected yarn in order to remove the disconnected yarn remaining on the yarn accumulation roller.
PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS
[0005] PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-067891 PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-108629
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0006] In the configuration of PTL 1 and 2 described above, when the yarn is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device in the yarn travel direction, a part of the yarn at the winding device side can be wound onto the package by the winding device. However, according to this configuration, the yarn on the winding device side (the yarn on a package side) may not be properly treated. For example, once the yarn end of the package side yarn is completely wound onto the package, this yarn end could not be properly pulled out of the package.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinning machine capable of appropriately treating the yarn on the package side with a simple configuration when the yarn is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device in the yarn travel direction.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS THEREOF

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, a spinning machine having the following configuration is provided. That is, the spinning machine includes a yam supply device, a winding device, a yam accumulation device, a detection device, a catching device, and a first ejection device. The yam supply device is capable of supplying yarn. The winding device winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supply device to form a package. The yam accumulation device is located in a yarn travel path formed between the yarn supply device and the winding device. The yarn accumulation device has a yam accumulation roller that winds and accumulates the yam supplied from the yam supply device. The detection device detects a yam end of the yam on a package side when the yarn is disconnected upstream of the yam accumulation device in a yarn travel direction. The catching device catches the yam end of the yarn on the package side, at downstream of the yam accumulation device. The first ejection device ejects air toward the catching device. Based on a detection result of the detection device, winding of the yarn on the package side is stopped so that the yam end of the yam on the package side stops at a position where the yarn end of the yam on the package side can be in a state to be caught by the catching device.
[0009] In this specification, a case in which the detection device detects the yarn end of the yarn on the package side includes a case of detecting the part of the yarn where the yarn completely ends and a case of detecting an area of the yam in the vicinity of the part where the yam ends.
[0010] As a result, by detecting the yarn end of the yarn on the package side by the detection device, the rotation of the package can be easily stopped at a position where the yarn end of the yam on the package side can be in the state to be caught by the catching device. Accordingly, when the yam is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device in the yam travel direction, the yam on the package side can be treated with a simple

configuration. By ejecting air from the first ejection device, the yarn end of the yarn on
the package side can be guided toward the catching device. Accordingly, the yam end can
be securely caught by the catching device.
[0011] In the spinning machine described above, the detection device is preferably a
sensor located to detect an outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller.
[0012] This allows the winding of the yam on the package side to be stopped at
appropriate timing.
[0013] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferred that the sensor is a
reflection type sensor.
[0014] This allows the yarn end of the yam on the package side to be easily detected.
[0015] In the spinning machine described above, it may be configured as follows. That
is, the detection device is a sensor located to detect a downstream area of the yam
accumulation roller in the yarn travel direction. The spinning machine includes a
restriction means. The restriction means restricts, at timing prior to the sensor detecting
the yam end of the yarn on the package side, a yarn path of the yam unwound from the yarn
accumulation roller. The yam path is included in the yarn travel path.
[0016] In this case, the yarn end can be detected by the sensor while the yarn travel path
of the yarn on the package side is stabilized. Therefore, the yarn end of the yarn on the
package side can be reliably detected.
[0017] In the spinning machine described above, the detection device can be configured
as a line sensor.
[0018] In this case, the yarn end of the yarn on the package side can be reliably detected.
[0019] In the spinning machine described above, the catching device preferably includes
an air sucker that generates a suction flow when compressed air is supplied to the air sucker.
[0020] This allows the yam to be strongly sucked in the catching device by the air flow

generated by the ej ection of air. Accordingly, when the package is rotated in the backward
rotation direction for unwinding the yam from the package, it is possible to prevent the
occurrence of reverse winding in which the yarn on the package side is wound onto the
package in a direction opposite to the intended direction.
[0021] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferred that the first ejection
device is located on the opposite side of the catching device across a part of the yarn travel
path.
[0022] This ensures that the yarn end is caught by the catching device.
[0023] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferred to have the following
configuration. That is, the catching device includes a tubular pipe with a catching opening
formed at the distal end of the pipe. The catching opening is fixedly provided. The pipe
is connected to a suction source.
[0024] This allows for a simple configuration of the catching device.
[0025] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferred to have the following
configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a guide member and a yam detection
sensor. The guide member is located downstream of the yam accumulation roller. The
guide member guides the yarn to be wound onto the package. The yam detection sensor
is located downstream of the guide member. The yarn detection sensor detects the yarn to
be wound onto the package.
[0026] This allows the yarn to be reliably detected at downstream of the guide member.
[0027] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferable to have the following
configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a yarn joining device. The yarn
joining device performs a yarn joining process to join the yam on a yarn supply device side
and the yam on the package side, when the yarn is disconnected upstream of the yarn
accumulation device in the yarn travel direction.

[0028] As a result, even when the yarn is disconnected upstream of the yarn
accumulation device in the yarn travel direction, the yarn joining process can be performed
to resume the winding of the package.
[0029] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferred that the catching device
is located between the yarn accumulation device and the yam joining device in the yarn
travel direction and is located closer to the yarn accumulation device than to the winding
device in the yarn travel direction.
[0030] This allows the yarn on the package side to be easily caught by the catching
device located closer to the yam accumulation device when the yam is disconnected
upstream of the yarn accumulation device in the yam travel direction. Also, since the yam
on the package side is caught by the catching device between the yarn accumulation device
and the yarn joining device, the caught yam on the package side can be smoothly joined
by the yarn joining device.
[0031] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferable to have the following
configuration. That is, this spinning machine includes a second ejection device. The
second ejection device ejects air to guide the yam end of the yarn on the package side
toward the catching device when the yam is disconnected downstream of the yarn
accumulation device in the yam travel direction.
[0032] This allows the yarn on the package side to be pulled out of the package and
caught by the catching device, even if the yarn end of the yarn on the package side is located
downstream of the catching device.
[0033] In the spinning machine described above, it is preferable to have the following
configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a yam monitoring device capable of
detecting a yarn defect included in the yarn supplied from the yarn supply device. When
the yam monitoring device detects the yarn defect, the yam is disconnected upstream of the

yarn accumulation device in the yam travel direction. After the yam on the package side is caught by the catching device, the winding device rotates the package in a direction opposite to a winding direction of the package so that the yarn of a length which is required for removing the yarn defect from the caught yarn is removed by the catching device. [0034] This ensures that the yarn defect detected by the yam monitoring device is removed by the catching device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a side view of a spinning unit provided in a spinning machine according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the spinning unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between a yarn accumulation roller and a suction device in a yam accumulation device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a rotation state of a package and the yarn accumulation roller.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a detection device and a catching device.
EMBODFMENT FOR CARRYFNG OUT THE INVENTION
[0036] A spinning machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following description, "upstream" and "downstream" refer to upstream and downstream, respectively, in the traveling direction (yarn travel direction) of the yarn (specifically, a sliver 3, a fiber bundle 5, and spun yam 7).
[0037] The spinning machine includes at least one spinning unit 1 and a machine control device. The machine control device is not shown in the drawings. The machine control

device manages one or more spinning units 1. The spinning unit 1 sends the fiber bundle 5 towards downstream in the yam travel direction by a drafting device 11, spins the fiber bundle 5 sent from the drafting device 11 by a spinning device 13 to produce the spun yarn 7, and winds the spun yarn 7 by a winding device 21 to form a package 9. In FIG. 5, a cylindrical-shaped package 9 is illustrated. The spinning machine may be configured so that the spun yarn 7 is wound onto a conical-shaped package 9.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, one spinning unit 1 is equipped with the drafting device 11, the spinning device 13, a yam monitoring device 15, a yarn accumulation device 17, a yam joining device 19, and the winding device 21. The drafting device 11, the spinning device 13, the yarn monitoring device 15, the yarn accumulation device 17, the yarn joining device 19, and the winding device 21 are arranged in order from the upstream to the downstream in the yarn travel direction.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the aforementioned devices and the like included in the spinning unit 1 are controlled by a unit controller (control device) 25 provided in the spinning unit 1. At least one of the plurality of devices provided in the spinning unit 1 may be controlled by the machine control device. One unit controller may be provided for each predetermined number of the spinning units 1.
[0040] The drafting device 11 generates the fiber bundle 5 by stretching (drafting) the sliver 3 supplied from a can (not shown in drawings) or the like. The drafting device 11 nips the sliver 3 between a plurality of drafting rollers and a plurality of opposing rollers facing the plurality of drafting rollers, while rotating the drafting rollers in the drafting direction to convey the sliver 3 downstream. As a result, the sliver 3 is stretched until it reaches a predetermined fiber quantity (or thickness), and the fiber bundle 5 is generated. [0041] The drafting device 11 includes a back roller 31, a third roller 33, a middle roller 35, and a front roller 37 as a plurality of drafting rollers. These rollers 31,33,35, and 37

are arranged in order from the upstream to the downstream. The middle rollers 35 have rubber apron belts 39 which are wound around them. Each of the drafting rollers is rotatably driven at a predetermined rotation speed.
[0042] The spinning device 13 is provided downstream of the front roller 37 of the drafting device 11. The spinning device 13 applies twists to the fiber bundle 5 supplied from the drafting device 11 to produce the spun yarn (yarn) 7. In the present embodiment, an air type spinning device that uses a swirling air flow to provide twists to the fiber bundle 5 is adopted as the spinning device 13.
[0043] In the spinning unit 1 (spinning machine), the drafting device 11 and the spinning device 13 configure a yarn supply device 23 capable of supplying the spun yarn 7. The spun yarn 7 generated by the yarn supply device 23 travels from the yarn supply device 23 to the winding device 21. A yarn path (yarn travel path) along which the spun yarn 7 travels is formed between the yarn supply device 23 and the winding device 21. [0044] The yarn monitoring device 15 is provided downstream of the spinning device 13. The yarn monitoring device 15 monitors the presence or absence and quality (thickness and/or presence or absence of foreign matter, etc.) of the spun yarn 7. In the yarn monitoring device 15, the yarn is monitored in a non-contact manner by a transmission type optical sensor. When the yarn monitoring device 15 detects a yarn defect (e.g., a point where the thickness of the spun yarn 7 is abnormal) in the spun yarn 7, the yarn monitoring device 15 sends a yarn defect detection signal to the unit controller 25. [0045] When the unit controller 25 receives the yarn defect detection signal, the unit controller 25 cuts the spun yarn 7 by stopping spinning by the spinning device 13. When the unit controller 25 stops spinning in the spinning device 13, the unit controller 25 stops the drafting operation by the drafting device 11. Further, the unit controller 25 stops a winding operation by the winding device 21 and a pull-out operation by the yarn

accumulation device 17 at the same time as the cutting of the spun yarn 7 or at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the spun yarn 7 is cut.
[0046] The yarn monitoring device 15 is not limited to a transmission type optical sensor, but may, for example, use a capacitive sensor to monitor the presence or absence and quality of the spun yarn 7. Instead of a configuration in which the spun yarn 7 is cut by stopping the spinning, a configuration in which the spun yarn 7 is cut by a cutting device provided in the vicinity of the yarn monitoring device 15 may be adopted.
[0047] The yarn accumulation device 17 is provided downstream of the yam monitoring device 15 (i.e., downstream of the spinning device 13). The yam accumulation device 17 is disposed in a yam path (yarn travel path) formed between the yam supply device 23 and the winding device 21. The yam accumulation device 17 includes a yam accumulation roller 41, a yarn accumulation motor 43, a flyer (yarn engaging member) 45, a yarn detection sensor 47, a suction device (yam acting part) 49, and a yarn release lever (yam release member) 51.
[0048] The yam accumulation roller 41 is capable of winding and accumulating the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23. The spun yarn 7 is accumulated in a state in which it is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The yam accumulation roller 41 is rotated in a forward rotation direction or a backward rotation direction by the yam accumulation motor 43. In the present embodiment, since a pair of delivery rollers that are known are not provided between the spinning device 13 and the yam accumulation device 17, the yarn accumulation device 17 performs a pull-out operation to pull out the spun yarn 7 from the spinning device 13. [0049] The yarn accumulation motor 43 is configured as an electric motor capable of rotating forward and backward. The yarn accumulation motor 43 rotates in the forward rotation direction to rotate the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction.

The yarn accumulation motor 43 rotates in the backward rotation direction to rotate the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction. During a normal spinning performance in the spinning unit 1, the yarn accumulation motor 43 rotates the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction so that the pull-out operation is performed.
[0050] The flyer 45 is attached to a downstream end (distal end part) of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The flyer 45 is capable of contacting the spun yarn 7 pulled out from the yarn accumulation roller 41. The flyer 45 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the yarn accumulation roller 41. A permanent magnet is attached to either the flyer 45 or the yarn accumulation roller 41, and a magnetic hysteresis material is attached to the other. These magnetic means generate a torque that resists rotation of the flyer 45 relative to the yarn accumulation roller 41. Accordingly, with the spun yarn 7 being engaged with the flyer 45, only when a force that overcomes the above torque is applied to the flyer 45 (i.e., when more than a predetermined tension is applied to the spun yarn 7), the flyer 45 rotates relative to the yarn accumulation roller 41 and the spun yarn 7 wound on the yarn accumulation roller 41 can be unwound. On the other hand, if the flyer 45 is not subjected to a force that overcomes this torque, the yarn accumulation roller 41 and the flyer 45 rotate together and the spun yarn 7 is accumulated by the yarn accumulation roller 41.
[0051 ] In this manner, the yarn accumulation device 17 operates to unwind the spun yarn 7 when the tension of the downstream spun yarn 7 increases, and to stop unwinding the spun yarn 7 when the tension of the downstream spun yarn 7 decreases (the spun yarn 7 is about to slacken). As a result, the yarn accumulation device 17 can eliminate the slackening of the spun yarn 7 and provide an appropriate tension to the spun yarn 7. In addition, the flyer 45 operates to absorb the fluctuation of the tension applied to the spun

yarn 7 between the yam accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21 as described above. Therefore, the fluctuation of the tension can be prevented from affecting the spun yarn 7 between the spinning device 13 and the yarn accumulation device 17. [0052] The yarn accumulation device 17 may not be equipped with these magnetic means, and may be equipped with, for example, electromagnets instead of a permanent magnet. The yarn accumulation device 17 may not be equipped with magnetic means and may be provided with a motor that rotationally drives the flyer 45.
[0053] The yam detection sensor 47 is a sensor for detecting a yam accumulation amount on the yarn accumulation roller 41. The yam detection sensor 47 is provided to detect the spun yam 7 at a predetermined position of the yarn accumulation roller 41, and by detecting the presence or absence of the spun yam 7 at the predetermined position, whether the yam accumulation amount is more than the predetermined amount can be detected. The yarn detection sensor 47 can be, for example, an optical reflection type sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, or a transmission type sensor. When the spun yam 7 is being wound onto the package 9, the unit controller 25 controls the rotation speed of a winding drum 63 of the winding device 21 according to the detection result of the yarn detection sensor 47 to adjust the yam accumulation amount of the yam accumulation roller 41 to be an amount (value) within a predetermined range.
[0054] The suction device 49 is disposed at a side of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the yam accumulation roller 41. The suction device 49 is provided with a hollow pipe 73. The suction device 49 is connected to a suction source (not shown in drawings) as a negative pressure source and is capable of generating a suction air flow in the pipe 73. The suction device 49 generates a suction air flow in the vicinity of the yarn accumulation roller 41 when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yam travel direction (between the yarn

supply device 23 and the yarn accumulation device 17). As a result, the suction device 49 can suck and catch the part of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side that is upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41.
[0055] The yarn release lever 51 is disposed in the vicinity of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The yarn release lever 51 can perform a yarn release operation to remove (release) the spun yarn 7 (yarn travel path) from the flyer 45. The yarn release lever 51 is movable so that it can be moved between a standby position and a yarn release position. In FIG. 1, the state in which the yarn release lever 51 is in the standby position is shown, and the direction of movement of the yarn release lever 51 when it moves from the standby position to the yarn release position is indicated by an arrow. In the process of moving the yarn release lever 51 from the standby position to the yarn release position, the yarn release lever 51 passes through a space downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41. At this time, if the spun yarn 7 is engaged with the flyer 45, the yarn release lever 51 acts on the spun yarn 7, and this spun yarn 7 is removed from the flyer 45.
[0056] In the present embodiment, the yarn release lever 51 is configured as a single spinning-unit drive type. That is, the yarn release lever 51 is provided in each spinning unit 1, and a single drive unit (such as a motor or an air cylinder) is provided for each yarn release lever 51. Therefore, the yarn release lever 51 can operate independently of the yarn release levers 51 of other spinning units 1.
[0057] At a position located downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41, a guide (guide member) 55 is provided to guide the spun yarn 7 to be wound onto the package 9. The guide 55 can restrict the path of the spun yarn 7 at a position downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The guide 55 is, for example, a U-shaped part or partially cut-out round-shaped part formed on a plate-like member fixedly provided for the spinning unit 1. [0058] The yarn joining device 19 is provided downstream of the guide 55 (i.e.,

downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17). When the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yarn supply device 23 and the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction, the yarn joining device 19 performs a yarn joining process to join the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23 and the spun yarn 7 from the package 9. In this embodiment, the yarn joining device 19 is a splicer device that twists the yarn ends together by a swirling air flow generated by air. For example, a mechanical knotter or the like can be adopted as the yarn joining device 19 instead of the splicer device.
[0059] A guide device 57 is provided in the spinning unit 1. The guide device 57 guides the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23 to the yarn joining device 19 when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17. The guide device 57 is rotatably supported at one end in the longitudinal direction thereof, and can be rotated in the vertical direction. The guide device 57 is provided with a hollow member and is connected to a suction source (not shown in drawings). The guide device 57 can generate a suction air flow at a suction opening 59 formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction thereof. The guide device 57 can be rotated downwardly to catch, with the suction opening 59, the yarn end of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23. After the guide device 57 catches the yarn end of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23, it can be rotated upwardly to guide this yarn end to the yarn joining device 19. [0060] The guide device 57 guides the yarn end of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23 to the yarn joining device 19. The spun yarn 7 from the package 9 is disposed in a guided state with respect to the yarn joining device 19 by being caught by a catching device 83, as described below. In this state, the yarn joining device 19 is driven to perform the yarn joining process so that the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23 and the spun yarn 7 from the package 9 are connected. As a result, even when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17, the spinning unit 1 can resume

the stopped spinning, perform the yarn joining process, and wind the spun yarn 7 from the yarn supply device 23 onto the package 9 again.
[0061] The winding device 21 is provided downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 (downstream of the yarn joining device 19 in this embodiment). The winding device 21 winds the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23 to form the package 9. In this embodiment, in the height direction of the spinning unit 1, the winding device 21 is located at a higher position than an upstream end of the drafting device 11. Thus, the spinning unit 1 has a layout in which the yarn path is provided to go from the bottom to the top. The winding device 21 includes a cradle arm 61 and the winding drum 63. [0062] The cradle arm 61 can rotatably support a winding tube 67 for winding the spun yarn 7. The cradle arm 61 is rotatable with its base part as a rotation center. As a result, the winding device 21 can appropriately continue winding the spun yarn 7 even if the diameter of the package 9 increases as the spun yarn 7 is wound onto the winding tube 67. [0063] The winding drum 63 rotates in contact with the outer circumference surface of the winding tube 67 or the package 9 with the winding drum drive motor (not shown in drawings) being controlled by the unit controller 25. The outer circumferential surface of the winding drum 63 is formed with a traverse groove which is not shown in the drawings. The traverse groove allows the spun yarn 7 to be traversed within a predetermined width. As a result, the winding device 21 can wind the spun yarn 7 onto the winding tube 67 while traversing the yarn to form the package 9.
[0064] In this embodiment, the winding device 21 is configured as a single spinning-unit drive type. That is, the winding device 21 in each spinning unit 1 is configured to have a single drive unit (winding drum drive motor) which rotates the winding drum 63 and thus rotates the package 9. The winding device 21 can change the rotational operation of the package 9 independently of the winding device 21 of the other spinning unit 1.

[0065] Instead of the winding device 21 having a winding drum 63 with the traverse groove, the winding device 21 may have a known configuration with a winding drum without the traverse groove and a traverse guide that is provided independently of the winding drum and reciprocates.
[0066] Next, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the processing of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side, which is performed when the spun yam 7 is disconnected between the yarn supply device 23 and the yam accumulation device 17, will be described.
[0067] When spinning by the spinning unit 1 is normally performed, the package 9 in the winding device 21 and the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the yam accumulation device 17 rotate in a predetermined direction, respectively. In the following description, the predetermined direction in which the package 9 rotates at this time may be referred to as forward rotation direction, and the predetermined direction in which the yarn accumulation roller 41 rotates may be referred to as forward rotation direction.
[0068] In the spinning unit 1, when the spun yarn 7 is supplied from the yam supply device 23 and the package 9 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the spun yarn 7 may be cut according to the monitoring results of the yam monitoring device 15 as described above. In this case, the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yam supply device 23 and the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yam travel direction. In the present embodiment, the spun yarn 7 is cut by stopping the feeding operation of the yarn supply device 23. Then, the pull-out operation of the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding operation of the winding device 21 are stopped immediately or after a predetermined time.
[0069] At the time when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, a yam end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is located between the yarn supply device 23 and the yarn accumulation device 17, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the

yarn end 7t is caught in advance by the suction device 49 of the yarn accumulation device 17 (see the reference numeral 7c in FIG. 3), and in this state, the winding operation by the winding device 21 is performed at a slower speed than that before the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, so that the spun yarn 7 remaining on the yarn accumulation roller 41 is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 to the winding device 21 side. The operation of the suction device 49 in this case will be described later. [0070] The unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 progresses, and eventually the unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 is completed. When the spun yarn 7 is completely unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41, the end of the spun yarn 7 leaves the yarn accumulation roller 41 and is caught by the catching device 83 immediately thereafter. The change in the yarn path accompanying the catching of the spun yarn 7 by the catching device 83 is detected by a detection device 81. Details of the catching device 83 and the detection device 81 will be described later.
[0071] When the detection device 81 no longer detects the spun yarn 7, the unit controller 25 stops the rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction by the winding device 21. As a result, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be positioned downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 and upstream of the winding device 21.
[0072] As a result, when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yarn supply device 23 and the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be appropriately treated with a simple configuration. In this embodiment, a yarn defect contained in the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be removed from the spun yarn 7 by the catching device 83. The position at which the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is caught by the catching device 83 is not

particularly limited. The position can be any position between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction.
[0073] Next, the suction device 49 will be described in detail. When the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the yarn supply device 23, the drafting operation of the drafting device 11 is immediately stopped. In conjunction with the stopping of the drafting operation, the pull-out operation of the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding operation of the winding device 21 are stopped immediately or after a predetermined time. Accordingly, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is positioned upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41, and the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side stops in a connected state between the package 9 and the yarn accumulation device 17. Then, rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction by the winding device 21 is resumed at a lower speed than before the disconnection, and the spun yarn 7 is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 to the downstream side. In the process of this unwinding operation, the yarn end 7t located upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 is sucked and caught by the suction device 49.
[0074] Specifically, the unit controller 25 generates a suction air flow in the suction device 49 to cause the suction device 49 to suck and catch, with a suction opening 71, the yarn end 7t positioned upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41. As a result, the spun yarn 7 is guided so that the path of the spun yarn 7 slightly upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 does not change until all the spun yarn 7 remaining on the yarn accumulation roller 41 is completely unwound downstream. In other words, the suction device 49 restricts the behavior of the spun yarn 7 so that the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 does not become free and the position of the spun yarn 7 is maintained. [0075] As shown in FIG. 3, the suction device 49 includes the pipe 73. The pipe 73 has the suction opening 71 at one end in the longitudinal direction and is connected to a suction

source 75 at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The suction opening 71 is directed to the yarn accumulation roller 41. A first valve 77 is provided at the intermediate part in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 73. The opening and closing of the first valve 77 are controlled by the unit controller 25. By controlling the first valve 77 to open, the suction air flow in the pipe 73 of the suction device 49 can be generated. By controlling the first valve 77 to close, the suction air flow in the pipe 73 can be stopped. When the suction air flow is generated, a suction force acts on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41, and the spun yarn 7 which is wound around the outer circumferential surface (the spun yarn 7 remaining on the yarn accumulation roller 41) is sucked from the suction opening 71. The suction source 75 is provided, for example, at the end of the spinning machine and is shared by a plurality of the spinning units 1. [0076] The suction opening 71 is arranged to face a yarn introduction part 79 of the yarn accumulation device 17. The yarn introduction part 79 is an area of the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41 that is located immediately before the spun yarn 7 is substantially started to wind.
[0077] The yarn introduction part 79 will now be described in detail. The yarn accumulation roller 41 has an accumulation part 41a formed in a cylindrical shape, on which the spun yarn 7 is wound spirally. In FIG. 3, the accumulation part 41a is illustrated as a cylindrical shape having a constant outer diameter, but it may be configured to have a tapered shape in which the outer diameter decreases in a stepwise or linear manner towards the downstream. As the package 9 rotates in the forward rotation direction and winds the spun yarn 7, the spun yarn 7 on the accumulation part 41a of the yarn accumulation roller 41 travels from upstream to downstream along a spiral path. The axis of the yarn accumulation roller 41 coincides with the spiral axis on which the spun yarn 7 is wound. At the end of the axis of the yarn accumulation roller 41 which corresponds to the upstream

side of the spiral, the yarn accumulation roller 41 has a tapered part 41b. This tapered part
41b corresponds to the yarn introduction part 79.
[0078] Hereinafter, the upstream side in the axial direction of the yarn accumulation
roller 41 means the upstream side of the spiral in the relevant axial direction, and the
downstream side in the axial direction means the downstream side of the spiral in the axial
direction.
[0079] The tapered part 41b is formed in a substantially conical shape having a larger
diameter than the accumulation part 41a. The diameter of the tapered part 41b decreases
as it approaches the accumulation part 41a and becomes equal to the diameter of the
accumulation part 41a at the point where it connects with the accumulation part 41a.
[0080] The yarn introduction part 79 is located upstream in the axial direction (lower
part in FIG. 3) of the yarn accumulation roller 41 compared to the most upstream part 80
where the spun yarn 7 is wound while being aligned in the accumulation part 41a. The
spun yarn 7 from the upstream side in the yarn travel direction is tensioned by the rotation
of the yarn accumulation roller 41, and is guided to the most upstream part 80 while making
contact with and being guided by the yarn introduction part 79 (tapered part 41b) as
necessary.
[0081] By rotating the yarn accumulation roller 41 while guiding the spun yarn 7 to a
certain position, the spun yarn 7 wound ahead of the spun yarn 7 in the accumulation part
41a is pushed by the spun yarn 7 wound after it and moves downstream in the axial direction
little by little. As a result, the spun yarn 7 can be accumulated in the accumulation part
41a in an orderly arrangement.
[0082] Referring to the timing chart in FIG. 4, the rotation control of the yarn
accumulation roller 41 and the package 9 in the case where the spun yarn 7 is disconnected
upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 will be described specifically. Timing tO is

timing at which the spun yarn 7 is disconnected. When the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, the unit controller 25 stops the rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction and the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction at timing tl which is timing when a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing tO. Specifically, the unit controller 25 causes the drive of the winding drum drive motor and the drive of the yarn accumulation motor 43 to be stopped. The yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41 by the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction before it is stopped at the timing tl. At the timing tl, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is located near the most upstream part 80.
[0083] Thereafter, at timing t2, the unit controller 25 starts rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction while keeping the rotation of the package 9 stopped. The rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction is continued until timing t3.
[0084] The rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction causes the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side to be sucked into the suction device 49. As a result, the spun yarn 7 is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 to the upstream side. As described above, the suction opening 71 of the suction device 49 is located so as to face the yarn introduction part 79. Therefore, in the process of rotating the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction, the yarn end 7t located near the most upstream part 80 is easily sucked into the suction opening 71. In FIG. 3, the yarn end 7t in the state of being sucked into the suction device 49 is shown by the reference numeral 7c.
[0085] The unit controller 25 stops the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction at the timing t3, which is a timing at which the yarn

accumulation roller 41 has been rotated by a predetermined amount of rotation in the backward rotation direction.
[0086] The yarn accumulation roller 41 starts rotation in the forward rotation direction at the same timing t3, which is the same timing as the stop of rotation in the backward rotation direction. The rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction is continued until timing t4. The rotation in the forward rotation direction may be started after a predetermined time elapses after the stop of the rotation in the backward rotation direction.
[0087] By the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction from the timing t3 to the timing t4, a part of the spun yarn 7 that had once been sucked into the suction device 49 is pulled out and wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41. The suction opening 71 of the suction device 49 faces the yarn introduction part 79. Therefore, as the yarn accumulation roller 41 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the spun yarn 7 pulled out from the suction device 49 is naturally led from the yarn introduction part 79 to the most upstream part 80. Therefore, the spun yarn 7 can be aligned well in the accumulation part 41a.
[0088] From the timing t3 to the timing t4, the yarn accumulation roller 41 rotates in the forward rotation direction only a little. Specifically, the amount of rotation in the forward rotation direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41 is less than the amount of rotation in the backward rotation direction after the spun yarn 7 is disconnected. Therefore, at this point, the yarn end 7c of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is not completely pulled out from the suction device 49. In other words, at the timing t4, the yarn end 7c remains inside the suction device 49. That is, at this point in time, the yarn end 7c has not exited the suction opening 71. [0089] A part of the spun yarn 7 is pulled out of the suction device 49 as the yarn

accumulation roller 41 rotates in the forward rotation direction, but the suction device 49 acts a suction air flow in a direction that resists this pull. Accordingly, the suction device 49 also functions as a resistance action part that acts a resistance force that resists the spun yarn 7 from traveling in the direction of being wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41. [0090] After the yarn accumulation roller 41 stops rotating in the forward rotation direction at the timing t4, the package 9 starts rotating in the forward rotation direction at timing t5. As a result, the spun yarn 7 is pulled toward the package 9, and the spun yarn 7 is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 to the downstream side. At this time, since the yarn end 7c on the upstream side is being sucked in the suction device 49, the yarn end 7c is prevented from being entangled with the spun yarn 7 to be unwound. Therefore, the unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 can be performed smoothly.
[0091] In the process of rotating the package 9 in the forward rotation direction, the yarn end 7c starts to be pulled out from the suction device 49 almost at the same time as the spun yarn 7 is completely unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41. Eventually, the yarn end 7c of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is released from the suction device 49 and moves to the downstream side of the yarn accumulation device 17.
[0092] The significance of the control of rotating the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction and forward rotation direction as shown in the timing t2 to the timing t4 will be explained below.
[0093] The spun yarn 7 is generated by twisting by the spinning device 13. Accordingly, when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, the part near the yarn end 7t tends to deform in a certain direction under the influence of the torque of the twisting.
[0094] At the timing tl, the yarn end 7t is in a free state near the most upstream part 80 described above, as shown by the reference numeral 7a in FIG. 3. The yarn end 7a in the

free state is likely to contact the spun yarn 7 remaining wound around the accumulation part 41a, as shown by the reference numeral 7b, under the influence of the torque described above.
[0095] If the yarn end 7t, which is in the state indicated by the reference numeral 7b, becomes entangled with the spun yarn 7 wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41, it may cause tension fluctuations and/or yarn breakage. Additionally, sloughing, in which the spun yarn 7 on the yarn accumulation roller 41 becomes entangled and clumps together and is released at once, may occur, and a mistake in unwinding the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 may occur.
[0096] One way to prevent the yarn end 7a from becoming entangled with the spun yarn 7 wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41 is to swing the yarn end 7a around by centrifugal force. For this purpose, in the process of pulling out and unwinding the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 towards the downstream, the yarn accumulation roller 41 may be rotated in the forward rotation direction at a certain speed. However, if the yarn accumulation roller 41 is rotated when the spun yarn 7 is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 towards the downstream, an unintended change in the strength of the twists of the spun yarn 7 occurs between the yarn accumulation roller 41 and the winding device 21.
[0097] In this regard, in the present embodiment, the yarn accumulation roller 41 is first rotated in the backward rotation direction to cause the free yarn end 7a to be caught by the suction device 49. As a result, the yarn end 7a is separated from the yarn accumulation roller 41 as shown by the reference numeral 7c. Thereafter, the yarn accumulation roller 41 is rotated slightly in the forward rotation direction while the suction device 49 continues sucking the spun yarn 7. As a result, the loosening of the spun yarn 7 between the suction device 49 and the yarn accumulation roller 41 is eliminated, and the spun yarn 7 is led from

the suction opening 71 to the most upstream part 80 via the yarn introduction part 79. The rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the forward rotation direction performs a winding and tightening action of the spun yam 7 on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41.
[0098] As a result of the above, the spun yarn 7 wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41 is regularly aligned in the accumulation part 41a. Accordingly, by rotating the package 9 in the forward rotation direction with the rotation of the yam accumulation roller 41 stopped, the spun yarn 7 can be unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 one-wind by one-wind in a clean spiral shape and sent downstream. After (or almost at the same time as) the last wind of the spun yam 7 is unwound from the yam accumulation roller 41, the yam end 7c exits the suction opening 71 of the suction device 49. Therefore, an entanglement of the yarn end 7t can be surely prevented.
[0099] Next, control over the operation of the yarn release lever 51 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
[0100] In the present embodiment, when the unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yam accumulation roller 41 is completed, the yarn release lever 51 performs a yarn release operation. This yarn release operation may be referred to as the first yarn release operation. Timing at which the first yam release operation is performed is later than timing at which the yam end 7t of the spun yam 7 leaves the yarn accumulation roller 41. The timing at which the first yarn release operation is performed may be referred to as first timing. [0101] The first yarn release operation will be described specifically. When the unit controller 25 determines that the unwinding of the spun yam 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 has been completed, the unit controller 25 controls the winding device 21 so that the rotation of the package 9 stops. At approximately the same timing as the stopping of the rotation of the package 9, the unit controller 25 controls the yam accumulation device

17 so as to move the yarn release lever 51 from the standby position to the yarn release position.
[0102] Immediately after the spun yarn 7 wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41 has been completely unwound, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side travels towards the downstream through the vicinity of the flyer 45, away from the yarn accumulation roller 41. In this process, the free yarn end 7t or a neighboring part thereof may contact the flyer 45 and become entangled. In the present embodiment, even in this case, the yarn end 7t or the neighboring part thereof can be removed from the flyer 45 by the first yarn release operation which is described above. The moving timing of the yarn release lever 51 is not particularly limited, and can be at any time before the yarn joining is performed by the yarn joining device 19.
[0103] The first yarn release operation needs not necessarily be performed. For example, a sensor to detect that the spun yarn 7 is not entangled with the flyer 45 may be provided, and the first yarn release operation may be performed only when the sensor detects entanglement of the spun yarn 7. Alternatively, the first yarn release operation may be omitted. In this embodiment, the first yarn release operation is performed at the timing when it is assumed that the spun yarn 7 is completely unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41, and it is unknown whether the spun yarn 7 is actually unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41.
[0104] The movement stroke (first movement amount) when the yarn release lever 51 performs the first yarn release operation is different from the movement stroke (second movement amount) when the yarn release lever 51 performs a second yarn release operation described below in other case. In other words, the yarn release position relative to the flyer 45 is different from that of the other case. [0105] The other case is, for example, a case in which the spun yarn 7 from the yarn

supply device 23 is led to the yarn joining device 19 by the guide device 57 in a series of yarn joining operations after the disconnection of the spun yarn 7. At this time, the spun yarn 7 guided by the guide device 57 is engaged with the flyer 45 which is rotating, and winding of the spun yarn 7 onto the yarn accumulation roller 41 starts. After a predetermined amount (length) of the spun yarn 7 has been wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41, the unit controller 25 moves the yarn release lever 51 from the standby position to the yarn release position. This yarn release operation may be referred to hereinafter as second yarn release operation. By this operation, the spun yarn 7 can be removed from the flyer 45, and the spun yarn 7 wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41 at the start of spinning can be suctioned and removed by the guide device 57. Thereafter, by the yarn release lever 51 returning to the standby position again, the spun yarn 7 is engaged with the flyer 45 and wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41. Thereafter, this spun yarn 7 and the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side which has already been prepared by the catching device 83, are joined by the yarn joining device 19. Timing at which the second yarn release operation is performed may be referred to hereinafter as second timing. The second timing is different from the first timing described above. [0106] When the flyer 45 is in contact with the vicinity of the free yarn end 7t, entanglement between the flyer 45 and the spun yarn 7 is more likely to occur than when the flyer 45 is in contact with the intermediate part of the spun yarn 7. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the first movement amount is set to be more than the second movement amount. In other words, the yarn release position in the case of the first yarn release operation is farther away from the flyer 45 than the yarn release position in the case of the second yarn release operation. As a result, even if the yarn end 7t is entangled with the flyer 45, the yarn end 7t can be reliably removed from the flyer 45 by the yarn release lever 51.

[0107] Next, a description will be made on the treatment of the yarn end of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side, which is performed after the unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yarn accumulation roller 41 when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yarn supply device 23 and the yarn accumulation device 17.
[0108] As shown in FIG. 5, the spinning unit 1 includes the detection device 81 capable of detecting the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side. The detection device 81 is capable of detecting the yarn end 7t located between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21 after being unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41. In the present embodiment, the detection device 81 is a sensor disposed downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the yarn travel direction. The detection device 81 is disposed closer to the yarn accumulation device 17 than to the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction.
[0109] The detection device (sensor) 81 is, in the present embodiment, an optical reflection type sensor. The configuration of the detection device 81 is arbitrary. For example, the detection device 81 may be a capacitance type proximity sensor or a transmission type sensor.
[0110] The detection device 81 is disposed downstream of the guide 55. In detail, the detection device 81 is arranged between the guide 55 and the yarn joining device 19 in the yarn travel direction. The detection device 81 is arranged in the vicinity of the guide 55. The guide 55 guides the path of the spun yarn 7 in the vicinity of the detection device 81. [0111] When the spun yarn 7 is wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41 and the spun yarn 7 is tight between the guide 55 and the winding device 21, the spun yarn 7 is located along the path 111 of the spun yarn 7 (part of the yarn travel path) shown by a chain line in FIG. 5. The detection device 81 is arranged to face an appropriate position of the path 111 of the spun yarn 7, and detects whether the spun yarn 7 is present at such a position.

[0112] Thus, when the spun yarn 7 is in a continuous state between the yarn supply device 23 and the winding device 21, the spun yarn 7 is located along the path 111, and the detection device 81 detects that the spun yarn 7 is present. After the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, if the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is located downstream of the detection device 81, the detection device 81 does not detect the spun yarn 7.
[0113] Even when the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is located upstream of the detection device 81, if the spun yarn 7 is not wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41, the detection device 81 does not detect the spun yarn 7. The reason for this is that the spun yarn 7, which cannot maintain tension, is off the path 111 and is sucked into the catching device 83 described below. Thus, the detection device 81 detecting whether or not there is the spun yarn 7 in the path 111 of the spun yarn 7 is almost the same as detecting whether or not there is the yarn end 7t between the yarn accumulation roller 41 and the winding device 21.
[0114] The detection device 81 should be arranged with respect to a position where the movement of the spun yarn 7 is stable. For example, the detection device 81 may be disposed at any of the positions opposite the yarn accumulation roller 41 and in the area downstream than a center part of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the axial direction, or near the suction device 49 (at a position adjacent to the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the direction intersecting the axial direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41). The yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side that is detected by the detection device 81 does not refer only to a part in the spun yarn 7 where the spun yarn 7 completely ends, but includes this part and an area in the vicinity thereof.
[0115] The spinning unit 1 is provided with the catching device 83 that catches the spun yarn 7 at downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 (yarn accumulation roller 41).

The catching device 83 is located between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the catching device 83 is disposed at a position which is located between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the yarn joining device 19 in the yarn travel direction, and in the vicinity of the detection device 81. The catching device 83 is located closer to the yarn accumulation device 17 than to the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction. [0116] The catching device 83 sucks and catches the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected at upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction. When the catching device 83 sucks and catches the yarn end 7t, it does not have to first suction the part of the spun yarn 7 that completely ends with respect to the yarn end 7t.
[0117] The catching device 83 is provided with a pipe 85. In this embodiment, the catching device 83 is further provided with an air sucker 87 which generates a suction air flow when compressed air is supplied thereto.
[0118] The pipe 85 has a cylindrical shape. The pipe 85 is connected to the suction source 75 as the negative pressure source. Accordingly, the catching device 83 is capable of generating a suction air flow inside the pipe 85. The air sucker 87 is provided at one end of a longitudinal direction of the pipe 85. The air sucker 87 has a catching opening 89 for sucking the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side. The catching opening 89 is arranged to open toward the yarn path (path 111 of the spun yarn 7 in FIG. 5) formed between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21. The relative position of the catching opening 89 to the yarn path is not particularly limited, and can be any position located downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 and in the vicinity of the yarn path. In the present embodiment, the catching opening 89 is fixedly provided in the spinning unit 1. To explain concretely, the spinning machine is provided with a frame (not

shown) for mounting the spinning unit 1 and the like. The pipe 85 is fixed to the frame. Instead of being directly fixed to the frame, the pipe 85 may be indirectly fixed to the frame via another member. This provides a configuration in which the catching opening 89 is fixed.
[0119] Compressed air generated by a compressed air source 91 is supplied to the air sucker 87. The air sucker 87 emits compressed air through an ejection hole (not shown in the drawings), which allows the catching opening 89 to generate an additional suction air flow in addition to the suction air flow by the suction source 75. A second valve 93 is provided in the intermediate part of the compressed air supply path connecting the air sucker 87 to the compressed air source 91. The second valve 93 is an electromagnetic valve for switching whether or not to supply the compressed air to the air sucker 87. The opening and closing of the second valve 93 are controlled by the unit controller 25. By controlling the second valve 93 to open, the suction air flow is generated in the air sucker 87 (the catching device 83), and by controlling the second valve 93 to close, the suction air flow in the air sucker 87 is stopped.
[0120] Thus, in the present embodiment, the catching device 83 includes the air sucker 87. As a result, in the catching device 83, a strong suction air flow is generated in the catching opening 89 by the air flow produced by the air being ejected, and the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be sucked and securely held. The catching device 83 does not necessarily have to be provided with the air sucker 87, as long as it can catch the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side with a sufficiently strong suction force.
[0121] The timing at which the catching device 83 operates the air sucker 87 for catching the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is not particularly limited. For example, the unit controller 25 may operate the air sucker 87 at timing when it is determined

that the amount of the spun yarn 7 remaining on the yarn accumulation roller 41 is less than a predetermined amount. The determination of the amount of the spun yarn 7 remaining on the yarn accumulation roller 41 can be based on the detection result of the yarn detection sensor 47.
[0122] In this embodiment, when the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is wound onto the package 9, the rotation of the package 9 is controlled by the unit controller 25. Specifically, it is as follows. By the rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction, the spun yam 7 (the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side) is unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41 to the downstream side as described above. Immediately after timing when the yam end 7t of the spun yarn 7 leaves the yarn accumulation roller 41 due to the unwinding of the spun yarn 7 from the yam accumulation roller 41, the yarn end 7t of this spun yarn 7 is caught by the catching device 83. As a result, when the detection device 81 no longer detects the spun yam 7, the unit controller 25 stops the rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction. This control allows the rotation of the package 9 in the forward rotation direction to be stopped before the yarn end 7t is completely wound onto the package 9.
[0123] The package 9 is then temporarily rotated in the backward rotation direction. This causes a part of the spun yarn 7 to be unwound from the package 9 and sucked into the catching device 83. The spun yam 7 sucked into the catching device 83 is discarded in the process of yarn joining in the yam joining device 19. How much the package 9 is rotated in the backward rotation direction is adjusted according to the length of the yam defect contained in the spun yarn 7 detected by the yarn monitoring device 15. As a result, when the yarn defect included in the spun yam 7 on the package 9 side is short, the length of the spun yarn 7 sucked and removed by the catching device 83 can be shortened by reducing the amount of the rotation of the package 9 in the backward rotation direction.

This can reduce the amount of the spun yarn 7 to be discarded.
[0124] When the package 9 is temporarily rotated in the backward rotation direction, assuming that the suction force of the catching device 83 is insufficient, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side may not be unwound and may stick to the surface of the package 9 without leaving the surface of the package 9. When the package 9 is rotated in the backward rotation direction in this state, reverse winding occurs in which the spun yarn 7 is wound in a direction opposite to the normal direction. The reverse winding causes the failure of the yarn joining process by the yarn joining device 19 and the quality of the package 9 to decrease. However, in the present embodiment, by operating the air sucker 87 in the catching device 83, the spun yarn 7 can be strongly sucked and pulled into the catching opening 89. As a result, the occurrence of the reverse winding can be prevented. [0125] In the present embodiment, a first ejection device 97 is provided downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The first ejection device 97 is located at a position opposite to the catching device 83 (catching opening 89) so as to sandwich the path 111 of the spun yarn 7. In other words, the first ejection device 97 and the catching device 83 (the catching opening 89) are provided on a straight line. Accordingly, the first ejection device 97 is capable of ejecting air against the catching device 83 (the catching opening 89). The air ejecting from the first ejection device 97 flows in the direction of the arrow 99 in FIG. 5 toward the catching opening 89 of the catching device 83. As a result, a neighboring part of the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is blown towards the catching opening 89, so that the yarn end 7t can be caught more securely by the catching device 83. Timing at which the first ejection device 97 performs the ejecting is not particularly limited. This timing may be, for example, the timing at which the yarn detection sensor 47 no longer detects the spun yarn 7, that is, the timing at which the spun yarn 7 is about to disappear from the yarn accumulation roller 41, or the timing at which

the catching device 83 operates the air sucker 87.
[0126] Compressed air generated by a compressed air source 101 is supplied to the first ejection device 97. The first ejection device 97 ejects this compressed air from the ejection hole toward the yarn path (the catching opening 89 of the catching device 83). A third valve 103 is provided at the intermediate part of the compressed air supply path connecting the first ejection device 97 and the compressed air source 101. The third valve 103 is an electromagnetic valve for switching whether or not to supply compressed air to the first ejection device 97. The opening and closing of the third valve 103 are controlled by the unit controller 25. By controlling the third valve 103 to open, the compressed air is ej ected in the first ejection device 97, and by controlling the third valve 103 to close, the ejection of the compressed air is stopped. The spinning unit 1 may be configured so that compressed air is supplied from a single compressed air source instead of providing the compressed air source 101 and the compressed air source 91 separately. [0127] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a second ejection device 105 is provided downstream of the first ejection device 97. The second ejection device 105 is fixedly provided on the spinning unit 1 or on a working cart (not shown in the drawings). The second ejection device 105 ejects compressed air so as to guide the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side toward the catching device 83 when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction. The second ejection device 105 can be configured in the same manner as the first ejection device 97. As a result, when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction due to a failure of yarn joining in the yarn joining device 19 or for other reasons, by ejecting compressed air from the second ejection device 105 while rotating the package 9 in the backward rotation direction, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be caught

by the catching device 83. As a result, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 is guided to a position where the yarn joining device 19 can join the yarn. Accordingly, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be treated with a simple configuration. Simultaneously or at about the same time as the start of the ejection of compressed air from the second ejection device 105, the package 9 is rotated in the backward rotation direction by the winding device 21. The second ejection device 105 may be omitted.
[0128] As described above, the spinning unit 1 provided in the spinning machine of this embodiment includes the yarn supply device 23, the winding device 21, the yarn accumulation device 17, the detection device 81, the catching device 83, and the first ejection device 97. The yarn supply device 23 can supply the spun yarn 7. The winding device 21 winds the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23 to form the package 9. The yarn accumulation device 17 is located in the yarn path (yarn travel path) formed between the yarn supply device 23 and the winding device 21. The yarn accumulation device 17 includes the yarn accumulation roller 41 that winds and accumulates the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23. The detection device 81 detects the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction. The catching device 83 catches the yarn end of the yarn on the package 9 side, at downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 (yarn accumulation roller 41). The first ejection device 97 ejects air toward the catching device 83. Based on the detection result of the detection device 81, the winding of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side onto the package 9 is stopped so that the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side stops at a position where the yarn end 7t can be in a state to be caught by the catching device 83. [0129] As a result, by detecting the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side by the detection device 81, the rotation of the package 9 can be easily stopped at the position

where the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be in the state to be caught by the catching device 83. Accordingly, when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be treated with a simple configuration. The air ejecting from the first ejection device 97 can guide the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side toward the catching device 83. Therefore, the yarn end 7t can be securely caught by the catching device 83.
[0130] In the spinning machine of this embodiment, the detection device 81 is the sensor located downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the yarn travel direction. [0131] As a result, detection can be made that the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side has reached at a position downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41. [0132] In the spinning machine of this embodiment, the sensor as the detection device 81 is a reflection type sensor.
[0133] As a result, the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be easily detected.
[0134] In the spinning machine of this embodiment, the catching device 83 includes the air sucker 87 that generates the suction flow when compressed air is supplied to the air sucker 87.
[0135] This allows the spun yarn 7 to be strongly sucked in the catching device 83 by the air flow generated by the ejection of air. Accordingly, when the package 9 is rotated in the backward rotation direction for unwinding the spun yarn 7 from the package 9, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the reverse winding in which the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is wound onto the package 9 in a direction opposite to the intended direction. [0136] In the spinning machine of this embodiment, the first ejection device 97 is located on the opposite side of the catching device 83 across the path 111 of the spun yarn 7 which

is part of the yarn travel path.
[0137] This ensures that the yarn end 7t is caught by the catching device 83.
[0138] In the spinning machine of the present embodiment, the catching device 83
includes the tubular pipe 85 with the catching opening 89 formed at the distal end of the
pipe 85. The catching opening 89 is fixedly provided. The pipe 85 is connected to the
suction source.
[0139] This allows for a simple configuration of the catching device 83.
[0140] The spinning machine of this embodiment includes the guide 55. The guide 55
is located downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 and guides the spun yarn 7 to be
wound onto the package 9. The detection device 81 is located downstream of the guide
55. The detection device 81 detects the spun yarn 7 to be wound onto the package 9.
[0141] As a result, since the yarn travel path is stabilized by the guide 55, the spun yarn
7 located downstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 can be reliably detected by the
detection device 81.
[0142] The spinning machine of this embodiment includes the yarn joining device 19.
The yarn joining device 19 performs the yarn joining process to join the spun yarn 7 on the
yarn supply device 23 side and the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side, when the spun yarn
7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction.
[0143] As a result, even when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn
accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction, the yarn joining process can be
performed to resume winding of the package 9.
[0144] In the spinning machine of this embodiment, the catching device 83 is located
between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the yarn joining device 19 in the yarn travel
direction. The catching device 83 is located closer to the yarn accumulation device 17
than to the winding device 21 in the yarn travel direction.

[0145] As a result, when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be easily caught by the catching device 83 located closer to the yarn accumulation device 17. Also, since the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is caught by the catching device 83 between the yarn accumulation device 17 and the yarn joining device 19, the caught spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be smoothly joined by the yarn joining device 19.
[0146] The spinning machine of this embodiment includes the second ejection device 105. The second ejection device 105 ejects air to guide the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side toward the catching device 83 when the spun yarn 7 is disconnected downstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction. The second ejection device 105 is located at the position upstream of the winding device 21 and in the vicinity of the winding device 21, and the ejection hole of the second ejection device 105 is provided to correspond to the catching position by the catching device 83. [0147] As a result, even if the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is located downstream of the catching device 83, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side can be pulled out of the package 9 and caught by the catching device 83. [0148] The spinning machine of this embodiment includes the yarn monitoring device 15 capable of detecting the yarn defect included in the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23. When the yarn monitoring device 15 detects the yarn defect, the spun yarn 7 is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction. After the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is caught by the catching device 83, the winding device 21 rotates the package 9 in the direction opposite to the winding direction of the package 9 so that the spun yarn 7 of a length required for removing the yarn defect from the caught spun yarn 7 is removed by the catching device 83.

[0149] This ensures that the yarn defect detected by the yarn monitoring device 15 is removed by the catching device 83.
[0150] While some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the foregoing configurations may be modified, for example, as follows. The above embodiments and the following modifications can be combined as appropriate. [0151] Instead of the suction device 49, an ejection device (yarn acting part) may be provided to eject air around the yarn accumulation roller 41. This ejection device may be configured, for example, to eject air in a tangential direction to the yarn accumulation roller 41 at the most upstream part 80 described above. The direction of the air ejection may coincide with or differ from the direction of the suction air flow at the suction opening 71 shown in FIG. 3. The part of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side, which is upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41, is blown away along the ejection flow. As a result, the yarn end 7a in a free state can be prevented from contacting against the spun yarn 7 already wound around the accumulation part 41a. In this way, the ej ection device can substantially guide the spun yarn 7, although more gently than the suction device 49. The ejection of air from the ejection device can also provide a resistance force to resist the spun yarn 7 from traveling in the direction of being wound around the yarn accumulation roller 41. [0152] In place of the suction device 49, a suitable clamping device (yarn acting part) configured to be able to clamp the yarn end 7t of the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side may be provided. The spun yarn 7 may be clamped between arms arranged in pairs or between rollers arranged in pairs. The clamping device can restrain the spun yarn 7 from moving by clamping the spun yarn 7. For example, a damper can be provided on the shaft of the roller to provide a resistance force to resist the spun yarn 7 from traveling in the direction of being wound onto the yarn accumulation roller 41. [0153] When a roller pair is provided instead of the suction device 49, the roller pair

may perform a pull-out operation to pull out the spun yarn 7 from the spinning device 13. In this case, the yarn accumulation roller 41 accumulates the spun yarn 7 pulled out by the roller pair.
[0154] Instead of the suction device 49, a brush or comb teeth or the like (yarn acting part) may be provided to engage the spun yarn 7. By engaging the spun yarn 7 onto the brush or the like, the spun yarn 7 can be restrained so that it does not move. [0155] When the spinning unit 1 includes the ejection device, roller pair, or brush or comb teeth described above as the yarn acting part, the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the backward rotation direction for sucking the spun yarn 7 into the suction opening 71 of the suction device 49 may be omitted. In this case, after the spun yarn 7 is disconnected, the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 41 and/or the rotation of the package 9 need not be stopped once in connection with the operation of the yarn acting member.
[0156] The detection device 81 may be a sensor provided at an end located downstream in the yarn travel direction than the center part of the axial direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41 relative to the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41 and arranged to face to this end. The sensor is arranged to face the roller surface located downstream in the yarn travel direction than the center part of the axial direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41. In the case where the spinning unit 1 includes a restriction means for restricting the yarn path of the spun yarn 7 traveling from the yarn accumulation roller 41 through the flyer 45, the yarn path may be restricted by the restriction means before timing at which the sensor is supposed to detect the yarn end 7t. The restriction means may be, for example, a member which is provided near the flyer 45 of the yarn accumulation device 17 and which may stop the rotation of the flyer 45. By the restriction means restricting the yarn path, the yarn end 7t can be stably detected by the sensor.

[0157] The detection device 81 may be a sensor provided in an area located upstream in the yarn travel direction than the center part of the axial direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41 (e.g., an upstream end in the yarn travel direction in the accumulation part 41a) and arranged to face the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41. [0158] The yam detection sensor 47, which detects the yarn accumulation amount on the yarn accumulation roller 41, may also serve as the detection device 81. As described above, the yarn detection sensor 47 detects whether the yam accumulation amount wound on the yarn accumulation roller 41 is more than a predetermined amount. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, consider a case in which the spun yam 7 is disconnected upstream of the yam accumulation device 17 in the yarn travel direction. When the length of the spun yarn 7 being sucked into the suction device 49, for example, at upstream of the yarn accumulation roller 41 in the yam travel direction is small, detecting the yarn accumulation amount by the yarn detection sensor 47 is substantially the same as detecting the area of the spun yam 7 in the vicinity of the part where the spun yarn 7 ends (indicated by the reference numeral 7c in FIG. 3).
[0159] The detection device 81 may be a line sensor. The line sensor is disposed along the axial direction of the yam accumulation roller 41 at a position adjacent to the yarn accumulation roller 41. The line sensor faces the outer circumferential surface of the accumulation part 41a. The line sensor includes a plurality of detection elements arranged in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the yarn accumulation roller 41. The line sensor is provided to detect a position included in an area downstream in the yarn travel direction than the center part of the axial direction of the yam accumulation roller 41. When all the detection elements no longer detect the spun yam 7, it can be determined that the yam end 7t has passed through the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41.

[0160] A line sensor as the detection device 81 may be provided to detect a position in the accumulation part 41a of the yarn accumulation roller 41 that is included in an area upstream in the yarn travel direction than the center part of the axial direction. In this configuration, the line sensor is capable of detecting the yarn accumulation amount on the yarn accumulation roller 41. Similar to the above-described configuration in which the yarn detection sensor 47 also serves as the detection device 81, detecting the yarn accumulation amount with the line sensor is substantially the same as detecting the area of the spun yarn 7 in the vicinity of the part where the spun yarn 7 ends. [0161] The detection device 81 may be a sensor provided in the vicinity of the suction opening 71 of the suction device 49. When the spun yarn 7 is completely unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 41, the yarn end 7c is pulled out of the suction opening 71. Therefore, by arranging the sensor in the vicinity of the suction opening 71, the yarn end 7t (7c) can be stably detected.
[0162] When the detection device 81 is provided, for example, to face the outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller 41, the sensor at the location of the reference numeral 81 in FIG. 5 may be omitted, but can be used as a yarn detection sensor to detect the spun yarn 7 for another appropriate object without omitting it. [0163] In the above-described embodiment, when the yarn monitoring device 15 detects the yarn defect, the spun yarn 7 is cut by stopping spinning in the spinning device 13. Alternatively, the spun yarn 7 may be cut by a cutter provided upstream of the yarn accumulation device 17.
[0164] In a case where a plurality of the spinning units 1 are provided, instead of a configuration in which the yarn joining device 19 is provided for each spinning unit 1, a configuration in which a yarn joining cart is provided which is capable of traveling among the plurality of the spinning units 1 and stopping at a working position for the spinning unit

1 to perform the yarn joining as needed may be adopted.
[0165] In the above embodiment, the spinning unit 1 includes a layout in which a yarn
path formed between the yarn supply device 23 and the winding device 21 is provided so
as to go from bottom to top. However, the present invention can also be applied to the
spinning unit 1 with a layout in which the yarn path goes from top to bottom.
[0166] In the above embodiment, the spinning machine is an air spinning machine (air
jet spinning machine), but it can also be an open-end spinning machine.
[0167] In the above embodiment, the spun yarn 7 on the package 9 side is joined with
the spun yarn 7 supplied from the yarn supply device 23 by the yarn joining device 19.
However, the disconnected spun yarn 7 may be made continuous state again by a known
piecing method.
[0168] In view of the foregoing teachings, it is apparent that the present invention may
take many variation forms and modification forms. Accordingly, it is to be understood
that the invention may be practiced in a manner other than that described herein within the
scope of the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0169] 1 spinning unit
7 spun yarn (yarn)
9 package
17 yarn accumulation device
19 yarn j oining devi ce
21 winding device
23 yarn supply device
55 guide (guide member)

81 detection device
83 catching device
87 air sucker
97 first ejection device
105 second ejection device

WE CLAIM:
1. A spinning machine comprises:
a yarn supply device (23) capable of supplying yarn (7);
a winding device (21) for winding the yam (7) supplied from the yarn supply device (23) to form a package (9);
a yarn accumulation device (17) disposed in a yarn travel path formed between the yarn supply device (23) and the winding device (21) and having a yarn accumulation roller (41) that winds and accumulates the yarn (7) supplied from the yam supply device (23);
a detection device (81) that detects a yam end (7t) of the yam (7) on a package (9) side when the yam (7) is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device (17) in a yarn travel direction;
a catching device (83) for catching the yarn end (7t) of the yam (7) on the package (9) side, at downstream of the yarn accumulation device (17); and
a first ejection device (97) for ejecting air toward the catching device (83), wherein
based on a detection result of the detection device (81), winding of the yarn (7) on the package (9) side is stopped so that the yarn end (7t) of the yarn (7) on the package (9) side stops at a position where the yam end (7t) of the yarn (7) on the package (9) side can be in a state to be caught by the catching device (83).
2. The spinning machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the detection device (81) is a sensor located to detect an outer circumferential surface of the yarn accumulation roller (41).

3. The spinning machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor is a reflection type sensor.
4. The spinning machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein
the detection device (81) is a sensor located to detect a downstream area of the yarn accumulation roller (41) in the yarn travel direction, and
the spinning machine comprises a restriction means for restricting, at timing prior to the sensor detecting the yarn end (7t) of the yarn (7) on the package (9) side, a yarn path of the yarn (7) unwound from the yarn accumulation roller (41), the yarn path being included in the yarn travel path.
5. The spinning machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detection device (81) is a line sensor.
6. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the catching device (83) comprises an air sucker that generates a suction flow when compressed air is supplied to the air sucker.
7. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the first ejection device (97) is disposed on the opposite side of the catching device (83) across a part of the yarn travel path.
8. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the catching device (83) comprises a tubular pipe (85) with a catching opening

(89) formed at a distal end of the pipe (85),
the catching opening (89) is fixedly provided, and the pipe (85) is connected to a suction source.
9. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising:
a guide member (55) disposed downstream of the yarn accumulation roller (41) and guiding the yarn (7) to be wound onto the package (9); and
a yarn detection sensor (81) disposed downstream of the guide member (55) and detecting the yarn (7) to be wound onto the package (9).
10. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising:
a yarn joining device (19) that performs a yarn joining process to join the yarn (7) on a yarn supply device (23) side and the yarn (7) on the package (9) side when the yarn (7) is disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device (17) in the yarn travel direction.
11. The spinning machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein
the catching device (83) is disposed between the yarn accumulation device (17) and the yarn joining device in the yarn travel direction and is disposed closer to the yarn accumulation device (17) than to the winding device (21) in the yarn travel direction.
12. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising:
a second ejection device (105) that ejects air to guide the yarn end (7t) of the yarn (7) on the package (9) side toward the catching device (83) when the yarn (7) is disconnected downstream of the yarn accumulation device (17) in the yarn travel direction.

13. The spinning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising:
a yarn monitoring device (15) capable of detecting a yarn defect included in the
yarn (7) supplied from the yarn supply device (23), wherein
when the yarn monitoring device (15) detects the yarn defect, the yarn (7) is
disconnected upstream of the yarn accumulation device (17) in the yarn travel direction,
and
after the yarn (7) on the package (9) side is caught by the catching device (83),
the winding device (21) rotates the package (9) in a direction opposite to a winding direction
of the package (9) so that the yarn (7) of a length required to remove the yarn defect from
the caught yarn (7) is removed by the catching device (83).