SPINNING MACHINE AND SPINNING METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
5 One aspect of the present invention relates to a
spinning machine and a spinning method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A spinning machine described in JP 2018-53373 A
includes: a plurality of spinning units; a carriage that
10 travels along an arrangement direction of the plurality
of spinning units; and a control unit to control an
operation of the carriage. The carriage has: a yarn
joining device that joins a first yarn from a spinning
device and a second yarn drawn out from a package of a
15 winding device; a first capturing device that captures
the first yarn and guides to the yarn joining device;
and a second capturing device that captures the second
yarn and guides to the yarn joining device.
Each of the plurality of spinning units may have
20 a different operation status due to a spinning condition
of the yarn, an operation environment (an arranged
position, and the like), individual differences of the
units, and the like. Therefore, when a yarn joining
operation is uniformly executed under the same control
3
for all the spinning units, while one of the spinning
units succeeds in yarn joining, another one of the
spinning units may fail in yarn joining. Failure of
yarn joining may cause extension of a work time, waste
5 of the yarn, and work by an operator. Therefore, failure
of yarn joining deteriorates work efficiency.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide
10 a spinning machine and a spinning method capable of
improving work efficiency.
A spinning machine comprises: a plurality of
spinning units, each having a spinning device adapted to
twist a fiber bundle to produce a yarn, and a winding
15 device adapted to wind the yarn produced by the spinning
device to form a package; an automatic machine that is
provided to be movable to a working position for each of
the plurality of spinning units, and adapted to execute
at least part of a yarn joining operation to bring the
20 yarn into a continuous state when the yarn is in a
divided state between the spinning device and the winding
device; and a control section adapted to control an
operation of the automatic machine, wherein when an event
requiring the yarn joining operation occurs and the event
4
is of a same type, the control section causes the
automatic machine to execute at least part of the yarn
joining operation in a first mode in one of the spinning
units among the plurality of spinning units, and causes
5 the automatic machine to execute at least part of the
yarn joining operation in a second mode different from
the first mode, in another one of the spinning units
different from the one of the spinning units.
A spinning method executed in a spinning machine
10 including: a plurality of spinning units, each having a
spinning device adapted to twist a fiber bundle to
produce a yarn, and a winding device adapted to wind the
yarn produced by the spinning device to form a package;
and an automatic machine that is provided to be movable
15 to a working position for each of the plurality of
spinning units, and adapted to execute at least part of
a yarn joining operation to bring the yarn into a
continuous state when the yarn is in a divided state
between the spinning device and the winding device, the
20 spinning method comprising: causing the automatic
machine to execute at least part of the yarn joining
operation in a first mode in one of the spinning units
among the plurality of spinning units, and causing the
automatic machine to execute at least part of the yarn
5
joining operation in a second mode in which a work time
length and/or a work content is different from that of
the first mode, in another one of the spinning units
different from the one of the spinning units.
5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a spinning machine
according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the spinning machine
10 illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
of a yarn joining cart;
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are timing charts illustrating
an operation of the yarn joining cart;
15 FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an operation of
the yarn joining cart;
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an operation of
the yarn joining cart;
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an operation of
20 the yarn joining cart; and
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an operation of
the yarn joining cart.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
6
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals
are denoted on the same or equivalent components in the
5 description of the drawings, and the redundant
description will be omitted.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spinning machine 1
includes a plurality of spinning units 2, a yarn joining
cart (an automatic machine) 3, a doffing cart (not
10 illustrated), a first end frame 4, and a second end frame
5. The plurality of spinning units 2 are arranged in one
direction. Each of the spinning units 2 is adapted to
produce a yarn Y and to wind the yarn Y around a package
P. The doffing cart is adapted to doff the package P
15 and to supply a new bobbin B to the spinning unit 2 when
the package P is fully-wound in the spinning unit 2.
The first end frame 4 accommodates, for example, a
collecting device adapted to collect, with a suction
airflow, fiber waste, yarn waste, and the like generated
20 in the spinning units 2. The first end frame 4 is
arranged at one end portion in an arrangement direction
of the plurality of spinning units 2. The second end
frame 5 accommodates an air pressure adjusting section
adapted to adjust an air pressure of compressed air (air)
7
supplied from an air compressing and feeding device (not
illustrated) arranged in a textile factory where the
spinning machine 1 is installed, and to supply the air
to each section of the spinning machine 1. Further, the
5 second end frame 5 accommodates a drive motor adapted to
supply power to each section of the spinning unit 2, and
the like.
The second end frame 5 is provided with a machine
control device 15, a display screen 16, and an input key
10 17. The machine control device 15 is adapted to
intensively manage and control each section of the
spinning machine 1. The machine control device 15 has:
an input/output interface adapted to receive input of
signals from outside and to output signals to outside;
15 a storage section such as a read only memory (ROM) that
stores a program and information or the like for
processing and a random access memory (RAM) that
temporarily stores data; a central processing unit
(CPU); a communication circuit; and the like. On the
20 basis of a signal outputted by the CPU, the machine
control device 15 stores input data in the RAM, loads a
program stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executes the
program loaded in the RAM, to execute various processes.
The display screen 16 is capable of displaying,
8
for example, information relating to set contents and/or
a state of the spinning units 2. An operator can perform
a setting operation of the spinning units 2 by performing
an appropriate operation with the input key 17. When
5 the display screen 16 includes a touch panel display,
the display screen 16 and the input key 17 are integrally
configured.
Each spinning unit 2 includes a draft device 6, a
pneumatic spinning device 7, a yarn monitoring device 8,
10 a tension sensor 9, a yarn accumulating device 11, a
waxing device 12, and a winding device 13 in this order
from upstream in a travelling direction of the yarn Y.
A unit controller 10 is provided for every predetermined
number of the spinning units 2 and is adapted to control
15 operations of the spinning units 2. Note that the unit
controller 10 may be provided for each spinning unit 2.
The draft device 6 is adapted to draft a sliver (a
fiber bundle) S. The draft device 6 includes a pair of
back rollers, a pair of third rollers, a pair of middle
20 rollers, and a pair of front rollers in this order from
upstream in a travelling direction of the sliver S. Each
pair of rollers includes a bottom roller and a top roller.
The bottom roller is rotationally driven by a drive motor
(not illustrated) provided in the second end frame 5 or
9
by a motor (not illustrated) that may be provided in
each spinning unit 2.
The pneumatic spinning device 7 is adapted to
produce the yarn Y by twisting a fiber bundle F, which
5 has been drafted by the draft device 6, with a whirling
airflow. More specifically (however, not illustrated),
the pneumatic spinning device 7 includes a spinning
chamber, a fiber guiding section, a whirling airflow
generating nozzle, and a hollow guide shaft body. The
10 fiber guiding section is adapted to guide, into the
spinning chamber, the fiber bundle F supplied from the
upstream draft device 6. The whirling airflow generating
nozzle is arranged around a path where the fiber bundle
F travels. A whirling airflow is generated in the
15 spinning chamber by the air being injected from the
whirling airflow generating nozzle. This whirling
airflow reverses and whirls each fiber end of a plurality
of fibers that form the fiber bundle F. The hollow guide
shaft body is adapted to guide the yarn Y from the
20 spinning chamber to an outside of the pneumatic spinning
device 7.
The yarn accumulating device 11 is adapted to
accumulate the yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning
device 7 and the winding device 13. The yarn
10
accumulating device 11 has a function of drawing out the
yarn Y from the pneumatic spinning device 7.
The waxing device 12 is adapted to apply wax to
the yarn Y between the yarn accumulating device 11 and
5 the winding device 13.
The winding device 13 is adapted to wind the yarn
Y around the bobbin B to form the package P. The winding
device 13 includes a cradle arm 21, a winding drum 22,
and a traverse guide 23. The cradle arm 21 is adapted
10 to rotatably support the bobbin B. The cradle arm 21 is
supported to be swingable about a supporting shaft 24.
In rotating the bobbin B (the package P) in a winding
direction, the cradle arm 21 brings a surface of the
bobbin B or a surface of the package P into contact with
15 a surface of the winding drum 22 at an appropriate
pressure. A drive motor (not illustrated) provided in
the second end frame 5 is adapted to simultaneously drive
the winding drums 22 each provided in the plurality of
spinning units 2. Accordingly, in each spinning unit 2,
20 the bobbin B or the package P is rotated in the winding
direction.
The yarn joining cart 3 is provided with a reverse
rotation roller 29b. The reverse rotation roller 29b is
a roller to rotate the package P in an unwinding
11
direction opposite to the winding direction. In
rotating the package P in the unwinding direction, the
cradle arm 21 separates (lifts up) the surface of the
package P from the surface of the winding drum 22, and
5 the yarn joining cart 3 brings the reverse rotation
roller 29b into contact with the surface of the package
P. Accordingly, the package P in contact with the
reverse rotation roller 29b can be rotated in the
unwinding direction by the reverse rotation roller 29b.
10 The traverse guide 23 of each spinning unit 2 is
provided on a shaft shared by the plurality of spinning
units 2. By the drive motor (not illustrated) in the
second end frame 5 driving the shaft to reciprocate in
a rotation axis direction of the winding drum 22, the
15 traverse guide 23 traverses the yarn Y in a predetermined
width with respect to the rotating bobbin B or package
P.
The yarn monitoring device 8 is adapted to monitor
information on the travelling yarn Y between the
20 pneumatic spinning device 7 and the yarn accumulating
device 11, and to detect presence or absence of a yarn
defect based on the information acquired by the
monitoring. Upon detecting the yarn defect, the yarn
monitoring device 8 transmits a yarn defect detection
12
signal to the unit controller 10.
The tension sensor 9 is adapted to measure a
tension of the travelling yarn Y between the pneumatic
spinning device 7 and the yarn accumulating device 11,
5 and to transmit a tension measurement signal to the unit
controller 10.
When the unit controller 10 determines that there
is an abnormality on the basis of a detection result of
the yarn monitoring device 8 and/or the tension sensor
10 9, the unit controller 10 cuts the yarn Y by stopping
the spinning operation in the spinning unit 2. When the
spinning unit 2 includes a cutter, the yarn Y may be cut
by the cutter.
When the yarn Y is cut or is broken for some reason
15 in one of the spinning units 2, the yarn joining cart 3
performs a yarn joining operation in such a spinning
unit 2. For example, a plurality of yarn joining carts
3 are provided in the spinning machine 1. The yarn
joining cart 3 travels along an arrangement direction (a
20 horizontal direction in FIG. 1) of the spinning units 2.
Accordingly, the yarn joining cart 3 can move to a
working position (a position where the yarn joining
operation is performed) for each of the plurality of
spinning units 2.
13
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the yarn joining cart 3
includes a yarn joining device 26, a suction pipe (first
catching device) 27, a suction mouth (second catching
device) 28, a reverse rotation device (driving device)
5 29, a yarn clamp (holding device) 30, and a yarn joining
cart control section (control section) 31.
When the yarn Y is brought into a divided state
between the pneumatic spinning device 7 and the winding
device 13, the yarn joining device 26 executes yarn
10 joining for bringing the yarn Y into a continuous state.
The yarn joining device 26 performs yarn joining of the
yarn Y drawn out from the pneumatic spinning device 7
(hereinafter referred to as a first yarn Y1) and the
yarn Y drawn out from the package P (hereinafter referred
15 to as a second yarn Y2). The yarn joining device 26 is
a splicer using compressed air, a knotter adapted to
join the yarns Y together in a mechanical manner, or the
like. In the present embodiment, the splicer will be
described as an example.
20 The suction pipe 27 is swingably supported by a
supporting shaft 27a, and is adapted to catch the first
yarn Y1 from the pneumatic spinning device 7 and to guide
the first yarn Y1 to the yarn joining device 26. When
catching the first yarn Y1, the suction pipe 27 suctions
14
the first yarn Y1 fed out from the pneumatic spinning
device 7. The suction pipe 27 is configured to be
movable to a standby position P11, a first yarn catching
position P12 for catching the first yarn Y1 from the
5 pneumatic spinning device 7, and a first yarn guiding
position P13 for guiding the first yarn Y1 to the yarn
joining device 26. The standby position P11 and the
first yarn guiding position P13 may be the same position.
The standby position P11, the first yarn catching
10 position P12, and the first yarn guiding position P13 of
the suction pipe 27 may be detected by a sensor (not
illustrated), may be detected by an encoder, or may be
detected on the basis of a drive amount (a number of
pulses, and the like) of a first driving section 40 (a
15 stepping motor) described later.
The suction pipe 27 moves to the standby position
P11, the first yarn catching position P12, and the first
yarn guiding position P13 through activation of the first
driving section 40 (see FIG. 3). The first driving
20 section 40 is, for example, a stepping motor. An
operation of the first driving section 40 is controlled
by the yarn joining cart control section 31. That is,
movement (swing) of the suction pipe 27 is controlled by
the yarn joining cart control section 31.
15
The suction mouth 28 is swingably supported by a
supporting shaft 28a, and is adapted to catch the second
yarn Y2 from the winding device 13 and to guide the
second yarn Y2 to the yarn joining device 26. The
5 suction mouth 28 is configured to be movable to a standby
position P21, a second yarn catching position P22 for
catching the second yarn Y2 from the winding device 13,
and a second yarn guiding position P23 for guiding the
second yarn Y2 to the yarn joining device 26. The
10 standby position P21 and the second yarn guiding position
P23 may be the same position. The standby position P21,
the second yarn catching position P22, and the second
yarn guiding position P23 of the suction mouth 28 may be
detected by a sensor (not illustrated), may be detected
15 by an encoder, or may be detected on the basis of a drive
amount (a number of pulses, and the like) of a second
driving section 41 (a stepping motor) described later.
The suction mouth 28 moves to the standby position
P21, the second yarn catching position P22, and the
20 second yarn guiding position P23 through activation of
the second driving section 41 (see FIG. 3). The second
driving section 41 is, for example, a stepping motor.
An operation of the second driving section 41 is
controlled by the yarn joining cart control section 31.
16
That is, movement (swing) of the suction mouth 28 is
controlled by the yarn joining cart control section 31.
The suction mouth 28 is provided with a sensor 32.
The sensor 32 is arranged at a position where the second
5 yarn Y2 suctioned by the suction mouth 28 can be detected.
The sensor 32 is, for example, an optical sensor (a light
emitting section, a light receiving section). When the
sensor 32 detects the second yarn Y2 suctioned by the
suction mouth 28, the sensor 32 outputs a detection
10 signal to the yarn joining cart control section 31.
The reverse rotation device 29 reversely rotates
the package P of the winding device 13. The reverse
rotation device 29 has a support arm 29a and the reverse
rotation roller 29b. One end of the support arm 29a is
15 connected to a supporting shaft. Accordingly, the
support arm 29a can be swung about the supporting shaft.
The support arm 29a is moved, by a driving section (not
illustrated) such as a motor, to a retracted position
(see FIG. 2) where the reverse rotation roller 29b is
20 not in contact with the package P, and a contact position
(see FIG. 5) where the reverse rotation roller 29b is in
contact with the package P. The swing of the support
arm 29a is controlled by the yarn joining cart control
section 31.
17
The reverse rotation roller 29b is provided at
another end of the support arm 29a. The reverse rotation
roller 29b is rotated by a third driving section 42 (see
FIG. 3) in a direction opposite to a rotation direction
5 of the winding drum 22 of the winding device 13. The
third driving section 42 is, for example, a stepping
motor. An operation of the third driving section 42 is
controlled by the yarn joining cart control section 31.
That is, rotation of the reverse rotation device 29 is
10 controlled by the yarn joining cart control section 31.
The yarn clamp 30 is adapted to hold the second
yarn Y2 caught by the suction mouth 28 between the
winding device 13 and the yarn joining device 26, and to
define a position of the second yarn Y2. The yarn clamp
15 30 is adapted to regulate the position of the second
yarn Y2 in an axial direction of the package P. The
yarn clamp 30 is arranged between the yarn joining device
26 and the package P in the travelling direction of the
yarn Y. The yarn clamp 30 is adapted to sandwich the
20 second yarn Y2. The yarn clamp 30 has a regulation plate
30a and a pair of regulation bars 30b. One end of the
regulation plate 30a is connected to a supporting shaft.
Accordingly, the regulation plate 30a can be swung about
the supporting shaft.

WE CLAIM
1. A spinning machine (1) comprising:
a plurality of spinning units (2), each having a
spinning device (7) adapted to twist a fiber bundle (F)
5 to produce a yarn (Y), and a winding device (13) adapted
to wind the yarn (Y) produced by the spinning device (7)
to form a package (P);
an automatic machine (3) that is provided to be
movable to a working position for each of the plurality
10 of spinning units (2), and adapted to execute at least
part of a yarn joining operation to bring the yarn (Y)
into a continuous state when the yarn (Y) is in a divided
state between the spinning device (7) and the winding
device (13); and
15 a control section (31; 15) adapted to control an
operation of the automatic machine (3),
wherein
when an event requiring the yarn joining operation
occurs and the event is of a same type, the control
20 section (31; 15)
causes the automatic machine (3) to execute at
least part of the yarn joining operation in a first mode
in one of the spinning units (2) among the plurality of
spinning units (2), and
63
causes the automatic machine (3) to execute at
least part of the yarn joining operation in a second
mode different from the first mode, in another one of
the spinning units (2) different from the one of the
5 spinning units (2).
2. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim
1, wherein, between the first mode and the second mode,
a work time length from a start to an end of the yarn
10 joining operation for each of the spinning units (2) is
different, and/or at least part of a work content of the
yarn joining operation executed by the automatic machine
(3) is different.
15 3. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the control section (31; 15)
causes a difference in a work time length and/or
a work content between the yarn joining operation
20 executed in the first mode and the yarn joining operation
executed in the second mode when the yarn (Y) is in a
divided state due to occurrence of yarn breakage, or
causes a difference in a work time length and/or
a work content between the yarn joining operation
64
executed in the first mode and the yarn joining operation
executed in the second mode when the yarn (Y) is in a
divided state due to yarn cut accompanying detection of
a yarn defect.
5
4. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any one
of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the automatic machine (3) has:
a yarn joining device (26) adapted to perform yarn
10 joining of a first yarn (Y1) from the spinning device
(7) and a second yarn (Y2) drawn out from the package
(P) of the winding device (13);
a first catching device (27) adapted to catch the
first yarn (Y1) and guide the first yarn (Y1) to the
15 yarn joining device (26); and
a second catching device (28) adapted to catch the
second yarn (Y2) and guide the second yarn (Y2) to the
yarn joining device (26), wherein
the control section (31; 15)
20 starts an operation of the second catching device
(28) and then starts an operation of the first catching
device (27), in the yarn joining operation, and
causes a difference in a time from a start of an
operation of the second catching device (28) to a start
65
of an operation of the first catching device (27),
between the first mode and the second mode.
5. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim
5 4, wherein
the control section (31; 15)
starts an operation of the first catching device
(27) before the second catching device (28) guides the
second yarn (Y2) to the yarn joining device (26) in the
10 first mode, and
starts an operation of the first catching device
(27) after the second catching device (28) guides the
second yarn (Y2) to the yarn joining device (26) in the
second mode.
15
6. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim 4
or 5, comprising a driving device (29) adapted to rotate
the package (P) in an unwinding direction that is a
direction of unwinding the yarn (Y) wound around the
20 package (P), wherein
the control section (31; 15) controls an operation
of the driving device (29) based on an operation of the
second catching device (28).
66
7. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim
6, comprising a holding device (30) adapted to hold the
second yarn (Y2) caught by the second catching device
(28) between the winding device (13) and the yarn joining
5 device (26), the holding device (30) being adapted to
define a position of the second yarn (Y2), wherein
the control section (31; 15) causes the driving
device (29) to rotate the package (P) and then causes
the holding device (30) to hold the second yarn (Y2).
10
8. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any one
of claims 4 to 7, wherein
the first catching device (27) is movable to a
first yarn catching position (P12) for catching the first
15 yarn (Y1) and a first yarn guiding position (P13; P11)
for guiding the first yarn (Y1) to the yarn joining
device (26), and
the second catching device (28) is movable to a
second yarn catching position (P22) for catching the
20 second yarn (Y2) and a second yarn guiding position (P23;
P21) for guiding the second yarn (Y2) to the yarn joining
device (26), and
the control section (31; 15)
determines success or failure of catching the
67
second yarn (Y2) with the second catching device (28)
when the second catching device (28) is located at the
second yarn catching position (P22), and while the second
catching device (28) is moving from the second yarn
5 catching position (P22) to the second yarn guiding
position (P23; P21) or when the second catching device
(28) is at the second yarn guiding position (P23; P21),
and
prevents the first catching device (27) from being
10 active when determining that the second catching device
(28) has failed in catching the second yarn (Y2).
9. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in claim
8, wherein, when determining that the second catching
15 device (28) has failed in catching the second yarn (Y2),
the control section (31; 15) classifies a failure result
into failure of catching the second yarn (Y2) at the
second yarn catching position (P22), and failure of
catching the second yarn (Y2) during movement from the
20 second yarn catching position (P22) to the second yarn
guiding position (P23; P21) or at the second yarn guiding
position (P23; P21), and stores the failure result in a
storage section.
68
10. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any
one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the automatic machine (3)
has a catching device adapted to catch the yarn (Y) of
the package (P) and guide the yarn (Y) to the spinning
5 device (7) when the yarn (Y) is in a divided state, and
the control section (31; 15) causes the catching
device to guide the yarn (Y) of the package (P) to the
spinning device (7), and causes the spinning device (7)
to perform yarn joining.
10
11. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any
one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control section (31;
15) changes the work time length in accordance with a
spinning condition of the yarn (Y).
15
12. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any
one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a collecting device
adapted to collect, with a suction airflow, fiber waste
generated by the yarn joining operation in each of the
20 plurality of spinning units (2), wherein
the control section (31; 15) selects the first mode
or the second mode based on a distance between each of
the spinning units (2) and the collecting device.
69
13. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in any
one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a storage section that
stores a table associating each of the plurality of
spinning units (2) or each of groups including several
5 spinning units (2) with the first mode or the second
mode.
14. A spinning method executed in a spinning
machine (1) including:
10 a plurality of spinning units (2), each having a
spinning device (7) adapted to twist a fiber bundle (F)
to produce a yarn (Y), and a winding device (13) adapted
to wind the yarn (Y) produced by the spinning device (7)
to form a package (P); and
15 an automatic machine (3) that is provided to be
movable to a working position for each of the plurality
of spinning units (2), and adapted to execute at least
part of a yarn joining operation to bring the yarn (Y)
into a continuous state when the yarn (Y) is in a divided
20 state between the spinning device (7) and the winding
device (13), the spinning method comprising:
causing the automatic machine (3) to execute at
least part of the yarn joining operation in a first mode
in one of the spinning units (2) among the plurality of
70
5
spinning units (2), and
causing the automatic machine (3) to execute at
least part of the yarn joining operation in a second
mode in which a work time length and/or a work content
is different from that of the first mode, in another one
of the spinning units (2) different from the one of the
spinning units (2).