Description:BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spinning machine.

2. Description of the Related Art
A spinning machine in which, before starting the winding of the yarn, yarn joining is performed to join a disconnected yarn is known in the art. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-052638 discloses a spinning frame that is a spinning machine of such type.
The spinning frame disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-052638 includes a plurality of spinning units and a yarn joining carrier. Each spinning unit includes a spinning device that produces a spun yarn, and a winding device that forms a package by winding the spun yarn. When the yarn is disconnected in any of the spinning units, the yarn joining carrier travels to that spinning unit.
The yarn joining carrier includes a suction pipe, a suction mouth, and a yarn joining device. The suction pipe catches a yarn end of the yarn on one side (yarn on the spinning device side) of the disconnected yarn and guides that end to the yarn joining device. The suction mouth catches a yarn end of the yarn on the other side (yarn on the package side of the winding device) of the disconnected yarn and guides that end to the yarn joining device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining by using the guided yarn ends.
The spinning frame disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-052638 includes a yarn
guide as a movable member. The yarn guide can regulate the yarn such that the yarn is not traversed by a traverse guide.
In a configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-052638, the spinning frame could use only the suction mouth to catch the yarn end of the yarn on the package side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinning machine that is capable of catching a yarn on a package side by means other than a suction mouth, and perform yarn joining smoothly.
According to the first aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, "first invention"), a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn accumulating device, a yarn joining device, a fixed catching device, a movable catching device, and a yarn acting member. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn accumulating device is arranged on a yarn passage formed between the spinning device and the winding device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of the yarn on the spinning device side and the yarn on the package side, when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The fixed catching device is arranged with respect to the yarn passage and catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The movable catching device catches the yarn on the spinning device side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, moves and guides the caught yarn on the spinning device side to the yarn joining device. The yarn acting member moves between a first position and a second position to change the yarn passage. The yarn accumulating device includes a yarn accumulating roller and a yarn hooking member. The yarn accumulating roller winds and accumulates the yarn on an outer circumference thereof. The yarn hooking member is capable of rotating while the yarn has been hooked thereon. The yarn passage set when the yarn acting member is positioned at the second position is away from the fixed catching device than in the case of the yarn passage set when the yarn acting member is positioned at the first position. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining when the yarn acting member is positioned at the second position.
According to the second aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, "second invention"), a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn joining device, a fixed catching device, a sucking and catching device, and a cutter. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of the yarn on the spinning device side and the yarn on the package side, when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The fixed catching device is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device and the winding device, and catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The sucking and catching device sucks the yarn on the package side at a downstream side of the fixed catching device in a yarn running direction but at an upstream side of the yarn joining device in the yarn running direction. The cutter cuts the yarn at the downstream side of the fixed catching device in the yarn running direction but at the upstream side of the sucking and catching device in the yarn running direction.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn joining device, a first catching device, a second catching device, and an interlacing preventing member. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of a first yarn that is the yarn on the package side and a second yarn that is the yarn on the spinning device side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The first catching device is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device and the winding device, and catches the first yarn when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The second catching device catches the second yarn when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The interlacing preventing member prevents interlacing of the first yarn and the second yarn by changing the yarn passage to a yarn passage that is different from that before the yarn is disconnected, or by cutting at least one of the first yarn or the second yarn, when yarn joining operation of the first yarn and the second yarn is being performed by the yarn joining device.
The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an overall configuration of a spinning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a spinning unit of the spinning machine.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a spun yarn is disconnected in the spinning unit.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing, in a process of a fixed catching and yarn joining, a state in which the spun yarn on a package side is caught by a sucking device and is fetchable by a yarn joining device of a yarn joining carrier.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the spinning device starts a yarn discharge spinning from a state shown in FIG. 4, and the spun yarn from the spinning device is guided to the yarn joining device by a suction pipe.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which a yarn removal lever is in a yarn removal position after moving to a normal spinning from the yarn discharge spinning, and the spun yarn that is on a yarn accumulating roller at the time of the yarn discharge spinning is unwound.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the yarn removal lever is in a yarn guiding position, and yarn joining is performed in the yarn joining device.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing, in a process of a movable catching and yarn joining, a state in which the spun yarn on the package side is caught by a suction mouth, the spun yarn on a spinning device side is caught by the suction pipe, and each spun yarn is guided to the yarn joining device to perform yarn joining.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a spinning unit and a yarn joining carrier of a spinning machine according to a first modification.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing, in a configuration of the first modification, a state in which the spun yarn on the package side is caught by the sucking device to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining after the spun yarn is disconnected, and the yarn joining device and a cutter are moved near a yarn passage.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the cutter cuts the spun yarn in the state shown in FIG. 10, and a new yarn end is caught by a second sucking device.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing, in the state shown in FIG. 11, a state in which the spun yarn from the spinning device is guided by the suction pipe to the yarn joining device, and yarn joining is performed in the yarn joining device.
FIG. 13 is a side view showing a spinning unit and a yarn joining carrier of a spinning machine according to a second modification.
FIG. 14 is a side view showing, in a configuration of the second modification, a state in which the spun yarn on the package side is caught by the sucking device to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining and a cutter is moved near the yarn passage.
FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state in which the cutter cuts the spun yarn from the state shown in FIG. 14, and a new yarn end is caught by the suction mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A spinning machine 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following explanation, "upstream side" and "downstream side" refer to an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to a running direction of a spun yarn 5, a sliver 4a, or a fiber bundle 4b (yarn running direction) of the spun yarn (yarn) 5 at the time of yarn winding, respectively. Moreover, "front" and "rear" refer to a front side and a back side when an operator looks toward a spinning machine 1 while standing in front of the spinning machine 1 (front side and back side shown in FIG. 1).
As shown in FIG. 1, the spinning machine 1 includes a blower box 111, a control box 112, a plurality of spinning units 2, and a yarn joining carrier (work carrier) 80. The spinning units 2 are arranged side-by-side in a predetermined direction. Each of the spinning units 2 (spinning machine 1) performs spinning by using a later-explained spinning device 22 and the like. In the present embodiment, the spinning machine 1 is configured as an air spinning machine.
A blower 113 that functions as a suction source, and other not shown devices are provided inside the blower box 111.
A central control device 115, a display panel 116, and an operation panel 117 are provided in the control box 112.
The central control device 115 centrally manages and controls various parts and components of the spinning machine 1. The central control device 115 is connected to a unit controller 15, which is included in each of the spinning units 2 as shown in FIG. 2, via a not-shown signal wire. In the present embodiment, each of the spinning units 2 includes the unit controller 15; however, a predetermined number of the spinning units 2 (for example, two or four) can share one unit controller 15.
The display panel 116 can display information about settings of the spinning unit 2 and / or information relating to a state of each of the spinning units 2, and the like. An operator operates the operation panel 117 to perform settings of the spinning machine 1 and / or to select information displayed on the display panel 116. The display panel 116 and the operation panel 117 can be configured by a touchscreen display section.
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the spinning units 2 includes a drafting device 21, the spinning device 22, a yarn accumulating device 23, a sucking device (fixed catching device, a first catching device) 24, and a winding device 25. These devices are arranged sequentially from an upstream side to a downstream side in a running direction of the spun yarn 5 and the like. The spinning device 22 constitutes a yarn supplying device in the spinning unit 2.
The yarn joining carrier 80 is arranged movably with respect to each of the spinning units 2. One yarn joining carrier 80 is provided for each of the spinning units 2. In FIG. 1, one yarn joining carrier 80 is shown; however, the spinning machine 1 can include a plurality of the yarn joining carriers 80. As explained later, the yarn joining carrier 80 includes a yarn joining device 82, a suction pipe (movable catching device, a second catching device) 83, and a suction mouth 84.
The drafting device 21 is provided above the spinning unit 2 (spinning machine 1). The drafting device 21 includes a plurality of drafting roller pairs. Each drafting roller pair is constituted by two drafting rollers.
Specifically, the drafting device 21 includes four drafting roller pairs. The four drafting roller pairs, namely, a back roller pair 41, a third roller pair 42, a middle roller pair 43, and a front roller pair 44 are arranged sequentially from the upstream side to the downstream side. An apron belt 45 is provided around each drafting roller of the middle roller pair 43.
Each of the four roller pairs includes a driving roller and a driven roller that are arranged opposing each other. A not-shown driving source such as motor is provided for each driving roller in the four drafting rollers. Each driving roller is rotatably driven around an axis thereof by the driving source. The driven roller in each drafting roller pair is provided rotatably around an axis thereof via a not-shown shaft and the like.
The drafting device 21 conveys the sliver 4a that is supplied from a sliver supplying section 20 by pinching the same between the drafting rollers of the drafting roller pairs (between the driving rollers and the driven rollers). Accordingly, the fiber bundle 4b is produced by stretching (drafting) the sliver 4a until a predetermined fiber amount (or thickness) is obtained. The fiber bundle 4b produced by the drafting device 21 is supplied to the spinning device 22.
The sliver supplying section 20 is arranged on the upstream side of the drafting device 21. A sliver can that is a container in which the sliver 4a is stored is arranged in the sliver supplying section 20.
The spinning device 22 is configured as an air spinning device in the present embodiment. The spinning device 22 causes a swirling air current to act on the fiber bundle 4b (traversed sliver 4a) produced in the drafting device 21 and twists the same to produce the spun yarn 5. The spinning device 22 is arranged on the downstream side of the drafting device 21.
In the spinning unit 2 (spinning machine 1), the spinning device 22 that constitutes the yarn supplying device supplies the spun yarn 5. The spun yarn 5 produced in the yarn supplying device runs from the yarn supplying device toward the winding device 25, and is then wound by the winding device 25. A yarn passage on which the spun yarn 5 runs is formed between the yarn supplying device and the winding device 25.
The yarn accumulating device 23 draws the spun yarn 5 produced in the spinning device 22 and temporarily accumulates the same. The yarn accumulating device 23 is arranged in the yarn passage formed between the yarn supplying device and the winding device 25. Specifically, the yarn accumulating device 23 is arranged on the downstream side of the spinning device 22.
The yarn accumulating device 23 includes a yarn accumulating roller 51, an electric motor 52, a yarn hooking member 53, a guide 54, the yarn removal lever (yarn acting member, interlacing preventing member) 55, and an accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56.
The yarn accumulating roller 51 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 52. The spun yarn 5 is temporarily accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51 by winding the same around an outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller 51. The yarn accumulating roller 51 can draw the spun yarn 5 from the spinning device 22 at a predetermined speed by rotating at a predetermined rotational speed while the spun yarn 5 is wound on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The yarn hooking member 53 can hook the spun yarn 5. The yarn hooking member 53 guides the spun yarn 5 to the outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller 51 by integrally rotating with the yarn accumulating roller 51 while the spun yarn 5 has been hooked.
The yarn removal lever 55 is arranged near the yarn accumulating roller 51. The yarn removal lever 55 can perform a yarn removal operation in which the spun yarn 5 is removed from the yarn hooking member 53. As shown in FIG. 1, the yarn removal lever 55 is an L-shaped member, and an end portion thereof is rotatably supported.
The yarn removal lever 55 is provided movably between a waiting position (first position) P1 and a yarn removal position (third position) P3. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the waiting position P1. The yarn removal lever 55 passes through a space on the downstream side of the yarn accumulating roller 51 when moving from the waiting position P1 to the yarn removal position P3. At this time, if the spun yarn 5 is hooked to the yarn hooking member 53, the yarn removal lever 55 acts on the hooked spun yarn 5 and removes the spun yarn 5 from the yarn hooking member 53. A state in which the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn removal position P3 is shown in FIG. 6.
Moreover, the yarn removal lever 55 is capable of moving to a yarn guiding position (second position) P2 that is provided between the waiting position P1 and the yarn removal position P3. The yarn removal lever 55 presses the spun yarn 5 and changes the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 in the process of moving from the waiting position P1 to the yarn guiding position P2. In other words, the yarn removal lever 55 changes the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 set between the yarn accumulating roller 51 and the suction pipe 83 or the yarn joining device 82. A state in which the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2 is shown in FIG. 7. In such a state, the spun yarn 5 runs while being guided to the rotating yarn hooking member 53.
In the present embodiment, the yarn removal lever 55 is provided in each of the spinning units 2, and an independent driving section (a motor or an air cylinder and the like) is provided for each of the yarn removal levers 55. Accordingly, the yarn removal lever 55 can be operated independently of the yarn removal levers 55 provided in other spinning units 2.
The guide 54 is arranged on the downstream side of the yarn accumulating roller 51. The guide 54 regulates a course of the spun yarn 5 swayed by the rotating yarn hooking member 53. Accordingly, the guide 54 stabilizes a yarn passage, among the yarn passages on which the spun yarn 5 can run, on the downstream side of the guide 54 (winding device 25 side) of the yarn passage and guides the spun yarn 5 to this passage. A not-shown slit-type groove is formed on the guide 54. The groove of the guide 54 is open on the front side such that the spun yarn 5 can be inserted into the groove of the guide 54.
The accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 is capable of detecting a yarn amount that has been accumulated (accumulated yarn amount) on the yarn accumulating roller 51. The accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 is arranged opposing an appropriate position of the outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller 51. The accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 detects whether the spun yarn 5 is present at this position. The accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 transmits a detection signal representing the detection result to the unit controller 15. The unit controller 15 decides whether the accumulated yarn amount is more than or equal to a predetermined amount, based on the detection signal.
Because the spun yarn 5 can be temporarily accumulated on the outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller 51, the yarn accumulating device 23 functions as a type of a buffer for the spun yarn 5. Accordingly, a defect in which a spinning speed in the spinning device 22 and a winding speed (running speed at which the spun yarn 5 is wound onto a later-explained package 7) do not match for some reason (for example, slacking and the like in the spun yarn 5) does not occur.
A yarn monitoring device 47 is provided between the spinning device 22 and the yarn accumulating device 23. The yarn monitoring device 47 detects the state of the spun yarn 5 on the upstream side (yarn supplying device side) of the yarn accumulating device 23. The spun yarn 5 produced in the spinning device 22 passes through the yarn monitoring device 47 before being accumulated in the yarn accumulating device 23.
In the yarn monitoring device 47, quality of the running spun yarn 5 is detected by an optical sensor. Thus, a yarn defect of the spun yarn 5 can be detected in the yarn monitoring device 47. Such a yarn defect, for example, can be an abnormal thickness of the spun yarn 5, a foreign matter that is stuck to the spun yarn 5, a combination thereof, and the like. Upon detecting the yarn defect in the spun yarn 5, the yarn monitoring device 47 transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit controller 15. The yarn monitoring device 47 can monitor the quality of the spun yarn 5 by using a capacitive-type sensor instead of the optical sensor. Instead of or in addition to detecting the yarn defects, the yarn monitoring device 47 can be configured to detect an abnormality in the tension of the spun yarn 5.
It is preferable to eliminate the yarn defects and abnormal portions in the yarn to maintain the yarn quality. The unit controller 15 determines whether to cut the spun yarn 5 based on the detection result of the yarn monitoring device 47. Cutting of the spun yarn 5 is realized by the unit controller 15 performing a control to stop the spinning in the spinning device 22. However, cutting of the spun yarn 5 can be realized by stopping the drafting (for example, rotation of the back roller pair 41) in the drafting device 21. When the spinning in the spinning device 22 is stopped, or when the supply of the fiber bundle 4b to the spinning device 22 from the drafting device 21 is stopped, spinning in the spinning device 22 is practically interrupted. The spinning unit 2 can include a cutter, and the unit controller 15 can perform the cutting of the spun yarn 5 by using the cutter. Even if the spun yarn 5 is cut by the cutter, the unit controller 15 performs a control to practically interrupt the spinning in the spinning device 22.
When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the sucking device 24 sucks the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. The sucking device 24 is provided between the yarn accumulating device 23 and the winding device 25. In the present embodiment, the sucking device 24 is provided fixedly; however, the same can be provided somewhat moveably. For example, the sucking device 24 can be provided movably so as to slightly move toward and away with respect to the yarn passage. In other words, the sucking device 24 does not move to the extent to which the suction mouth 84 moves. When the later-explained yarn joining carrier 80 performs an operation with respect to the spinning unit 2, the sucking device 24 is positioned on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82 that is included in the yarn joining carrier 80. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the sucking device 24 can catch the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side, that is, on the package 7 side on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82.
The yarn joining device 82 includes a not-shown yarn shifting lever. The spun yarn 5 caught by the sucking device 24 is fetched into the yarn joining device 82 by operating the yarn shifting lever.
The yarn joining carrier 80 includes the suction mouth 84. When the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is not to be caught by the sucking device 24, the spun yarn 5 is caught by the suction mouth 84 instead of the sucking device 24. Configuration of the yarn joining carrier 80 is explained later.
When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the unit controller 15 determines whether to use the sucking device 24, and appropriately controls the sucking device 24 based on the determination. Details are explained later; however, the sucking device 24 and the suction mouth 84 are selectively used to catch the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. Therefore, use of the sucking device 24 refers to non-use of the suction mouth 84, and non-use of the sucking device 24 refers to use of suction mouth 84.
Determination of whether to use the sucking device 24 is performed by, for example, considering a cause due to which the spun yarn 5 is disconnected (spinning interruption factor). Details of the determination will be explained later.
When the unit controller 15 determines to use the sucking device 24, the sucking device 24 is controlled by the unit controller 15 so as to suck and catch the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side on the downstream side of the yarn accumulating device 23 (guide 54). A timing at which application of the suction air current is to be started on the spun yarn 5 by the sucking device 24 is after the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, and is a predetermined timing that occurs before a yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side passes through the sucking device 24.
The sucking device 24 includes a sucking pipe 61. A suction port 62 is formed on a tip end (an end in a longitudinal direction) of the sucking pipe 61. The suction port 62 is open toward a middle portion of the above-explained yarn passage formed in the spinning unit 2. The sucking pipe 61 is connected to a suction source such as the blower 113 via a pipe and the like. Accordingly, the suction air current can be generated at the suction port 62 (inside the sucking pipe 61). Unlike the later-explained suction mouth 84, the sucking pipe 61 is provided fixedly in the spinning unit 2. Accordingly, the position of the suction port 62 is fixed.
In the present embodiment, a shutter 63 is provided in the sucking device 24. A state of the sucking device 24 changes between a sucking state and a sucking stopped state by the shutter 63. The shutter 63 is arranged between the suction port 62 and a portion of the sucking device 24 on the downstream side of the suction port 62 in a direction in which the air flows. The shutter 63 can be configured by, for example, an opening / closing mechanism that includes a plate member. The shutter 63 is openable / closable by a control performed by the unit controller 15. By opening the shutter 63 only when it is necessary, energy consumed by the spinning machine 1 can be saved. However, the shutter 63 can be omitted in the sucking device 24.
A yarn catching detecting sensor 64 is provided in the sucking device 24. In the present embodiment, the yarn catching detecting sensor 64 is arranged on an immediately downstream side of the suction port 62 of the sucking device 24. The yarn catching detecting sensor 64 is capable of detecting whether the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is caught by the sucking device 24. The yarn catching detecting sensor 64 detects whether the spun yarn 5 present on the immediately downstream side of the sucking device 24 and transmits a detection signal to the unit controller 15 representing the detection result. The unit controller 15 can determine whether the spun yarn 5 was successfully caught by the sucking device 24 based on the detection signal received from the yarn catching detecting sensor 64. Note that the yarn catching detecting sensor 64 can be provided inside the sucking pipe 61.
The winding device 25 forms the package 7 by winding the spun yarn 5 that has passed through the yarn accumulating device 23. The winding device 25 is arranged on the downstream side of the yarn accumulating device 23.
The winding device 25 includes a cradle device 71, a package rotating device 72, and a traversing device 73.
The cradle device 71 includes a pair of cradle arms 74. The cradle device 71 can rotatably support a bobbin 7a (consequently, the package 7) provided for winding the spun yarn 5 between the pair of cradle arms 74. The cradle arms 74 can rotate around a supporting shaft 75.
The package rotating device 72 includes a winding drum 76 and a drum driving motor 77. The winding drum 76 can come in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 7a or the package 7. An output shaft of the drum driving motor 77 is linked to the winding drum 76 by an appropriate means. The package 7 is rotated in a winding direction when the winding drum 76 is driven by the drum driving motor 77. The drum driving motor 77 is capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions. Accordingly, the package 7 can be rotated in the winding direction and the reverse direction.
The traversing device 73 includes a yarn guide 78 and a traverse driving motor 79. The yarn guide 78 can hook the spun yarn 5 that is being wound onto the package 7. The yarn guide 78 is able to make reciprocal movement in a winding width direction of the package 7. An output shaft of the traverse driving motor 79 is linked to the yarn guide 78 by an appropriate means. The spun yarn 5 that is wound onto the package 7 can be traversed by reciprocally driving the yarn guide 78 with the traverse driving motor 79 while the spun yarn 5 is held by the yarn guide 78.
The winding device 25 rotates the winding drum 76 of the package rotating device 72 while reciprocally driving the yarn guide 78 of the traversing device 73. Accordingly, the winding device 25 can wind the spun yarn 5 onto the package 7 while traversing the spun yarn 5.
In the present embodiment, an independent drum driving motor 77 is provided in each of the spinning units 2. Moreover, an independent traverse driving motor 79 is provided in each of the spinning units 2. Accordingly, the winding drum 76 and the yarn guide 78 can operate independently from the winding drums 76 and the yarn guides 78 provided in other spinning units 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, a rail 101 is provided in the spinning machine 1. The rail 101 extends along a direction in which the spinning units 2 are arranged. The yarn joining carrier 80 is capable of travelling on the rail 101. Accordingly, the yarn joining carrier 80 can move to any one of the spinning units 2.
The yarn joining carrier 80 travels to a working position of the spinning unit 2 in which the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, and performs yarn joining in that spinning unit 2. The yarn joining carrier 80 performs the yarn joining by coordinating with the sucking device 24 and the like that are included in the spinning unit 2, or by using a device (later-explained suction mouth 84 and the like) provided in the yarn joining carrier 80.
The yarn joining carrier 80 includes a traveling wheel 81, the yarn joining device 82, the suction pipe 83, the suction mouth 84, and a carrier control section 85.
The traveling wheel 81 is rotatably driven by a not-shown driving unit (for example, a motor). The yarn joining carrier 80 can travel to one of the spinning units 2 among the spinning units 2 by driving of the traveling wheel 81.
The suction pipe 83 is a pipe-shaped member. An opening is formed on a tip end 88 of the suction pipe 83. The suction pipe 83 is connected to an appropriate suction source (for example, blower 113). Accordingly, a suction air current can be generated at the tip end 88 of the suction pipe 83. The suction pipe 83 is rotatably supported. By rotating the suction pipe 83, the tip end 88 thereof can be caused to approach or retreat from the spinning device 22. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the suction pipe 83 sucks and catches the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side at a position at which the suction pipe 83 is near the spinning device 22.
The suction mouth 84 is a pipe-shaped member. An opening is formed on a tip end 89 of the suction mouth 84. The suction mouth 84 is connected to a suction source such as the blower 113. Accordingly, a suction air current can be generated at the tip end 89 of the suction mouth 84. The suction mouth 84 is rotatably supported. By rotating the suction mouth 84, the tip end 89 thereof can be caused to move to a position near the winding device 25 (approach position) or retracted from the winding device 25 (retracted position). When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the suction mouth 84 sucks and catches from the tip end 89 the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side (package 7 side) at a position at which the suction mouth 84 is near the winding device 25.
The suction pipe 83 rotates to one side to move the tip end 88 thereof near the spinning device 22, and catches a yarn end of the spun yarn 5 while being near the spinning device 22. Subsequently, the suction pipe 83 rotates to the other side. Accordingly, the tip end 88 of the suction pipe 83 moves in a direction that is away from the spinning device 22.
The suction mouth 84 rotates to one side to move the tip end 89 thereof near the winding device 25, and catches the spun yarn 5 while being near the winding device 25. Subsequently, the suction mouth 84 rotates to the other side. Accordingly, the tip end 89 of the suction mouth 84 moves in a direction that is away from the winding device 25.
In the case that the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the yarn joining device 82 joins the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side caught by the suction pipe 83 and the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side caught by the sucking device 24 or the suction mouth 84. In the present embodiment, the yarn joining device 82 is a splicer device that intertwines the yarn ends by the action of the swirling air current. The yarn joining device 82 is not limited to the splicer device, and, for example, can be a mechanical knotter and the like. Furthermore, instead of referring only to a process in which yarn ends are intertwined, "yarn joining" can include a process in which an excess spun yarn 5 is cut in the yarn joining device 82 or a process in which the spun yarn 5 is caught by the sucking device 24 and / or the suction pipe 83.
In a state in which the yarn joining carrier 80 has traveled and stopped at the spinning unit 2 in which the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, as shown in FIG. 4, the yarn joining device 82 is positioned on the downstream side of the sucking device 24. Moreover, in a state in which the tip end 89 of the suction mouth 84 is retreated from the winding device 25 (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8), the yarn joining device 82 is positioned at the downstream side of the tip end 89 of the suction mouth 84.
The carrier control section 85 configured as a computer known in the art that includes a not-shown CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The carrier control section 85 controls operations of various parts of the yarn joining carrier 80 to control the yarn joining process performed by the yarn joining carrier 80.
The yarn joining carrier 80 is normally in a waiting state at an appropriate position on the rail 101. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected in any of the spinning units 2, the yarn joining carrier 80 moves to the spinning unit 2 in which the spun yarn 5 is disconnected.
An appropriate use of the sucking device 24 and the suction mouth 84 when performing the yarn joining process in the spinning unit 2 will be explained below.
The yarn joining process is performed around the timing at which the spinning device 22 starts the interrupted spinning after the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the yarn supplying device (spinning device 22) and the package 7. In the present embodiment, there are two types of yarn joining processes, which are selected as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 7, in a first operation, the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side is caught by the sucking device 24, and yarn joining is performed by the yarn joining device 82 while the spun yarn 5 is in the fetchable state by the yarn joining device 82. In the following explanation, this operation is referred to as "fixed catching and yarn joining".
As shown in FIG. 8, in a second operation, the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side is caught by the suction mouth 84, the suction mouth 84 guides the spun yarn 5 such that the spun yarn 5 is fetchable by the yarn joining device 82, and yarn joining is performed by the yarn joining device 82. In the following explanation, this operation is referred to as "movable catching and yarn joining".
In any of the two operations, the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side is caught by the suction pipe 83 and then guided by the suction pipe 83 such that the spun yarn 5 can be fetched by the yarn joining device 82.
In case the spinning is interrupted, the unit controller 15 determines whether to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining or perform the movable catching and yarn joining based on various factors.
Unlike the movable catching and yarn joining, a guiding operation performed by the suction mouth 84 is not required in the fixed catching and yarn joining. Accordingly, from the perspective of energy saving, it is preferable to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining.
For example, a case in which the yarn monitoring device 47 detects the yarn defect and the spun yarn 5 is cut to eliminate that yarn defect can be considered. When performing the fixed catching and yarn joining, it is necessary that the rotation of the package 7 is stopped in a state in which the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is caught by the sucking device 24. However, because the package 7 is rotating at a high speed when the yarn monitoring device 47 detects the yarn defect, even when a control in which rotation of the package 7 is stopped is started immediately, winding of the spun yarn 5 of a certain length onto the package 7 cannot be avoided till the rotation of the package 7 is actually stopped.
When the amount of the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51 is more than or equal to a predetermined amount, even when the spun yarn 5 is pulled from the yarn accumulating roller 51 between the time elapsed from a timing at which the control in which rotation of the package 7 is stopped is started immediately and till the package 7 is actually stopped, a state is such that the spun yarn 5 can be caught by the sucking device 24. In other words, the state in which the spun yarn 5 can be caught by the sucking device 24 is a state in which at least some mount of the spun yarn 5 is accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51. In such a case, the unit controller 15 determines to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining.
When the amount of the spun yarn 5 accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51 is less than the predetermined amount, the spun yarn 5 cannot be caught by the sucking device 24 in time, and a yarn end passes through the sucking device 24 because of the rotation that continues till the package 7 actually stops. In such a case, the unit controller 15 determines to perform the movable catching and yarn joining. Even when the spun yarn 5 is disconnected on the downstream side of the sucking device 24 because of factors such as abnormal tension that occur while the package 7 is being wound, the unit controller 15 determines to perform the movable catching and yarn joining.
The above explanation is an example of how it is determined whether to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining or the movable catching and yarn joining. Note that such a determination can be performed based on other standards.
Operation of various parts when the spun yarn 5 is disconnected in a state shown in FIG. 2, the spinning is interrupted, and the yarn joining is performed by the yarn joining device 82 is explained below. In the following explanation, the fixed catching and yarn joining is explained by considering a case in which the spun yarn 5 is cut based on the detection result of the yarn monitoring device 47 as an example.
First, the unit controller 15 stops a yarn supply from the yarn supplying device (spinning device 22) based on the yarn defect detection signal input by the yarn monitoring device 47. The spun yarn 5 is cut by stopping the yarn supply from the yarn supplying device. Accordingly, disconnection of the spun yarn 5 occurs, as shown in FIG. 3. The yarn defect detected by the yarn monitoring device 47 is included in the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side.
At an appropriate timing after the yarn defect is detected by the yarn monitoring device 47, the unit controller 15 transmits a yarn joining request signal to the carrier control section 85. Upon receiving the yarn joining request signal, the carrier control section 85 causes the yarn joining carrier 80 to travel up to the spinning unit 2 in which the spun yarn 5 is disconnected and causes thereof to stop.
Immediately after the yarn defect is detected by the yarn monitoring device 47, the unit controller 15 determines whether to use the sucking device 24 or the suction mouth 84 to perform the yarn joining. In the present example, the unit controller 15 determines to perform the fixed catching and yarn joining. In other words, the unit controller 15 determines to use the sucking device 24.
When performing the fixed catching and yarn joining, the unit controller 15 performs a deceleration control on the rotation of the package 7. Accordingly, because a speed at which a portion near the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side subsequently passes through the sucking device 24 slows down, it is easier for the sucking device 24 to catch the spun yarn 5. The deceleration control on the rotation of the package 7 can be immediately started after the yarn defect is detected or after the spinning is interrupted, or can be started when the accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 detects that the accumulated amount of the spun yarn 5 is less than or equal to the predetermined amount. After the yarn defect is detected, or after the spinning is interrupted, the rotation of the package 7 is once stopped completely, and then the winding can be resumed at a low speed.
When the winding of the winding device 25 progresses from a state shown in FIG. 3, the spun yarn 5 remained on the yarn accumulating roller 51 of the yarn accumulating device 23 is pulled. As a result, the accumulated amount of the spun yarn 5 on the yarn accumulating roller 51 is keeps on reducing. At this step, the yarn removal lever 55 remains stationary at the waiting position P1 as shown in FIG. 3. The unit controller 15 monitors the detection signal from the accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56.
The unit controller 15 opens the shutter 63 that is in the closed state and starts the sucking process by the sucking device 24 slightly before the spun yarn 5 comes off the yarn accumulating device 23. This timing, for example, can be a timing at which the winding is continued only for a predetermined time period after the accumulated yarn amount detecting sensor 56 detects that the accumulated amount of the spun yarn 5 is less than or equal to the predetermined amount.
Subsequently, in a process in which the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is wound onto the package 7, the unit controller 15 stops the winding by the winding device 25 when the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 is positioned in an area in which the sucking device 24 can catch the yarn end. The timing at which the winding by the winding device 25 is stopped, for example, can substantially be the same timing when the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 remaining on the yarn accumulating roller 51 comes off the yarn accumulating roller 51 and escapes the guide 54.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the spun yarn 5 can be sucked and caught by the suction port 62 of the sucking device 24. A state in which the yarn joining carrier 80 reaches the spinning unit 2 according to the yarn joining request signal explained above is shown in FIG. 4.
Along with the deceleration of the rotation of the package 7 in the winding device 25, a traverse width of the traversing device 73 can be reduced below its usual value. For example, it is preferable that the traverse width is half or less than half of the traverse width (maximum traverse width) before the disconnection of the spun yarn 5 occurred. Shortening of the traverse width continues till the rotation of the package 7 in the winding direction stops. At this step, in addition to reducing the traverse width, the traverse speed of the traversing device 73 can be decelerated.
When the control via which the rotational speed of the package 7 is decelerated as explained above is performed, the tension applied onto the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side becomes unstable. Accordingly, a position in which the spun yarn 5 is guided onto the outer peripheral surface of the package 7 by the yarn guide 78 can easily become unstable. Considering this scenario, shortening of the traverse width as explained above is desirable to avoid winding of the spun yarn 5 at a position that is outside a winding width of the package 7 (hereinafter, "end face drop").
The unit controller 15 determines whether the sucking device 24 has successfully caught the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 based on the detection result obtained in the yarn catching detecting sensor 64. A case in which it is determined that the sucking device 24 has failed to catch the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 will be explained later.
When it is determined that the sucking device 24 has successfully caught the yarn end of the spun yarn 5, the unit controller 15 rotates the package 7 in the reverse direction as necessary, and stops the rotation again. When the yarn defect included in the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is long, the spun yarn 5 must be unwound from the package 7 and sucked by the sucking device 24 to eliminate the yarn defect. Subsequently, the unit controller 15 judges whether the yarn joining carrier 80 has reached the spinning unit 2, and when judged not reached, waits till the yarn joining carrier 80 reaches the spinning unit 2.
In a state in which the yarn joining carrier 80 is stopped at the working position in front of the spinning unit 2, the suction port 62 of the sucking device 24 is positioned on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82. Accordingly, when the yarn joining carrier 80 reaches the spinning unit 2, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side that is being held by the sucking device 24 is positioned opposing the yarn joining device 82 of the yarn joining carrier 80 as shown in FIG. 4.
After the yarn joining carrier 80 is stopped, the carrier control section 85 controls the yarn joining carrier 80 and moves the suction pipe 83 to a position at which the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side can be caught as indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 5. Almost at the same time, the unit controller 15 resumes the supply of the spun yarn 5 from the yarn supplying device.
After the spinning is resumed, the spun yarn 5 supplied from the spinning device 22 is pulled by the action of the air suction current of the suction pipe 83. Because the tension applied to the spun yarn 5 to pull the same from the spinning device 22 is weak and unstable, the quality of the spun yarn 5 produced by the spinning device 22 immediately after the spinning is resumed is low. In the following explanation, the spinning that is performed after the spinning is resumed is referred to as yarn discharge spinning. With an aim of preventing clogging of the spinning device 22 and the like, the spinning conditions in the spinning unit 2 (for example, a draft ratio in which the drafting device 21 stretches the fiber bundle 4b) can be different for the yarn discharge spinning than that for the normal spinning.
The carrier control section 85 guides the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side that is caught by the suction pipe 83 till the yarn joining device 82 positioned below as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5.
At this step, the yarn removal lever 55 is maintained at the waiting position P1. Accordingly, the spun yarn 5 pulled from the spinning device 22 is hooked onto the yarn hooking member 53, and the spun yarn 5 gets wound on the yarn accumulating roller 51 by the rotating yarn hooking member 53 as shown in FIG. 5.
After a predetermined time period has elapsed from the start of winding of the spun yarn 5 onto the yarn accumulating roller 51, and the spun yarn 5 of a length more than or equal to a required minimum accumulated amount has accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51, the spun yarn 5 is pulled from the spinning device 22 at a stable tension and speed. Accordingly, a stable spinning is performed in the spinning device 22. Consequently, the spinning unit 2 moves from the yarn discharge spinning to the normal spinning.
Even when the spinning unit 2 shifts to the normal spinning, a low-quality spun yarn 5 that is produced during the yarn discharge spinning performed before thereof remains on the yarn accumulating roller 51. Accordingly, the unit controller 15 performs a control to move the yarn removal lever 55 to the yarn removal position P3 as shown in FIG. 6 before moving to the normal spinning. As a result, the spun yarn 5 wound around the yarn accumulating roller 51 that should be removed is unwound from the yarn accumulating roller 51, sucked into the suction pipe 83, and then discarded. At this time, between the time when the spun yarn 5 is hooked onto the yarn hooking member 53 and the time when the spun yarn 5 comes off from the yarn hooking member 53, the yarn accumulating roller 51 retains the accumulated yarn amount accumulated thereon. In other words, by unwinding the spun yarn 5 that should be removed from the yarn accumulating roller 51, the spun yarn 5 accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51 becomes the spun yarn 5 that is spun by performing the normal spinning. At this step, the spun yarn 5 that should be removed includes at least the spun yarn 5 produced by performing the yarn discharge spinning.
After all the spun yarn 5 that should be removed is unwound from the yarn accumulating roller 51, the unit controller 15 controls the yarn removal lever 55 to move the same to the yarn guiding position P2 indicated by the solid line in FIG 7. As a result, the spun yarn 5 is again hooked onto the yarn hooking member 53, and the amount of the spun yarn 5 accumulated on the yarn accumulating roller 51 keeps on increasing.
In this state, the carrier control section 85 operates the yarn joining device 82 to join the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side sucked by the sucking device 24 and the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. While the spun yarn 5 is continuously supplied from the yarn supplying device during the yarn joining, the spun yarn 5 is accumulated by the yarn accumulating device 23.
During the yarn joining, the excess spun yarn 5 is cut in the yarn joining device 82. With such a cutting of the excess spun yarn 5, a portion that includes the yarn defect detected by the yarn monitoring device 47 is separated from the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side.
The cut excess spun yarn 5 runs toward the sucking device 24 or the suction pipe 83, and is then sucked and discarded. In this step, because the yarn removal lever 55 is in the yarn guiding position P2, the yarn passage of a portion of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side that is on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82 is changed so as to be frontwards than the yarn passage (dashed line shown in FIG. 7) set when the yarn removal lever 55 is at the waiting position P1. In other words, because the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2, the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 is changed so as to go away from the sucking device 24.
In an ordinary state in which the spun yarn 5 is not disconnected (FIG. 2), the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the waiting position P1. Therefore, when the yarn joining device 82 is operated, the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2 that is different from the position at which the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned before the spun yarn 5 is disconnected. As a result, the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 also changes from that before the spun yarn 5 is disconnected.
Due to the guiding of the spun yarn 5 on such a yarn passage, when the excess spun yarn 5 of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is sucked into the sucking device 24 following the yarn joining, it is less likely that the spun yarn 5 interlace with the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
More detailed explanation will be given below. The yarn passage set before the spun yarn 5 is disconnected is shown in FIG. 2; however, when the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side moves along the yarn passage shown in FIG. 2 following the winding performed by the winding device 25. The suction port 62 of the sucking device 24 is arranged near the yarn passage that is set before the spun yarn 5 is disconnected to easily catch the yarn end. Accordingly, when the excess spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut following the yarn joining performed by the yarn joining device 82, the yarn passage of the excess spun yarn 5 that is sucked by the sucking device 24 shown in FIG. 7 tends to be near the yarn passage shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the excess spun yarn 5 is likely to interlace with the spun yarn 5 spun from the spinning device 22. In case these spun yarns 5 get interlaced, the spun yarn 5 spun from the spinning device 22 gets disconnected. In this respect, in the present embodiment, because the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2 at the time of yarn joining, the spun yarn 5 guided from the spinning device 22 to the yarn joining device 82 can be separated from the sucking device 24. Accordingly, the spun yarn 5 can be prevented from getting interlaced.
When the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2, the spun yarn 5 does not come off the yarn hooking member 53, the same as that when the yarn removal lever is positioned at the waiting position P1. Therefore, accumulation of the spun yarn 5 in the yarn accumulating device 23 can be appropriately continued. Moreover, because the above-explained groove formed on the guide 54 is sufficiently long, the spun yarn 5 does not come off the guide 54 even when the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2.
Almost at the same time as when the yarn joining is completed, driving of the winding device 25 starts and winding of the package 7 by the winding device 25 is resumed. The yarn removal lever 55 is moved to the waiting position P1 immediately after the yarn joining is completed. The shutter 63 is closed at an appropriate timing after the yarn joining is completed. In this manner, the spinning unit 2 returns to the normal state shown in FIG. 2.
Operations performed when the spinning is interrupted and the unit controller 15 determines to perform the movable catching and yarn joining will be explained below.
Upon determining to perform the movable catching and yarn joining when the spun yarn 5 is disconnected, the unit controller 15 causes the package 7 to keep on rotating. As a result, the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is wound onto the package 7. When performing the movable catching and yarn joining, the unit controller 15 controls the shutter 63 of the sucking device 24 so as to maintain the closed state thereof. Alternatively, if the shutter 63 is open, the unit controller 15 controls the shutter 63 so as to close the same. Accordingly, the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is not sucked into the suction port 62 of the sucking device 24. Subsequently, the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side moves near or onto the outer peripheral surface thereof.
At a step before the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is completely wound onto the package 7, it is allowable that the unit controller 15 controls the rotational speed of the package 7 in the winding direction to a speed that is slower than that set before the disconnection occurs. Accordingly, a force at which the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is wound onto the outer peripheral surface of the package 7 can be weakened. Consequently, the yarn end can be easily separated from the spun yarn 5 onto the outer peripheral surface of the package 7. Therefore, subsequently, the yarn end can be easily caught by the suction mouth 84. Note that the rotation of the package 7 can be stopped immediately before the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is completely wound onto the package 7.
In a process in which the package 7 is rotated in the winding direction to wind the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side, the traverse width of the traversing device 73 can be reduced than its usual value. For example, it is preferable that the traverse width is half or less than half of the traverse width before the disconnection of the spun yarn 5 occurs. Shortening of the traverse width continues till the rotation of the package 7 in the winding direction stops. Accordingly, the position of the yarn end of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is less likely to vary in the winding width direction. Therefore, subsequently, the yarn end can be easily caught by the suction mouth 84. However, note that the traversing device 73 can maintain the normal width without shortening the traverse width.
When the control via which rotational speed of the package 7 is decelerated as explained above, tension applied onto the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side becomes unstable. Therefore, because of the same reason explained above, it is preferable to shorten the traverse width to avoid the end face drop.
Subsequently, the unit controller 15 judges whether the yarn joining carrier 80 has reached the spinning unit 2, and upon judging not reached, waits till the yarn joining carrier 80 reaches the spinning unit 2.
When the yarn joining carrier 80 reaches the working position for the spinning unit 2, the suction mouth 84 is caused to approach the winding device 25 as indicated by the two-dashed line in FIG. 8. In such a state, the package rotating device 72 of the winding device 25 rotates in an opposite direction of the winding direction of the package 7. Accordingly, the suction mouth 84 can catch the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. The rotation of the package 7 in the opposite direction is continued till an entire portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side that includes the yarn defect is sucked by the suction mouth 84. Subsequently, the suction mouth 84 retracts from the winding device 25. As a result, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is guided to the yarn joining device 82. The operation of the yarn joining carrier 80 performed hereinafter is the same as that in the fixed catching and yarn joining explained above. A state in which the yarn joining is performed by the yarn joining device 82 is shown in FIG. 9.
The operation of the yarn removal lever 55 in the movable catching and yarn joining is substantially the same as that in the fixed catching and yarn joining explained above. However, during the yarn joining by the yarn joining device 82, the yarn removal lever 55 is stopped at the waiting position P1 as shown in FIG. 8. The yarn removal lever 55 is positioned like this because the excess spun yarn 5 from the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is sucked by the suction mouth 84 instead of the sucking device 24 and is then discarded, thereby making the spun yarn 5 less likely to interlace with the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side during the sucking process.
There could be a situation where the fixed catching and yarn joining was attempted but the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side could not be caught by the sucking device 24 due to some reason. Failure in catching the spun yarn 5 can be detected based on the yarn catching detecting sensor 64. When the sucking device 24 fails to catch the spun yarn 5, the unit controller 15 determines to switch to the movable catching and yarn joining. Before using the suction mouth 84, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is further wound by the winding device 25. Accordingly, the yarn end that was not caught by the sucking device 24 moves near or onto the outer peripheral surface of the package 7. Therefore, the suction mouth 84 can reliably catch the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side.
As explained above, the spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes the spinning device 22, the winding device 25, the yarn accumulating device 23, the yarn joining device 82, the sucking device 24, the suction pipe 83, and the yarn removal lever 55. The spinning device 22 produces the spun yarn 5 by spinning the fiber bundle 4b, and is capable of supplying the spun yarn 5. The winding device 25 forms the package 7 by winding the spun yarn 5 supplied from the spinning device 22. The yarn accumulating device 23 is arranged in the yarn passage formed between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82 performs yarn joining of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side and the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the sucking device 24 is capable of catching the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and is arranged with respect to the yarn passage. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the suction pipe 83 can catch the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side, and moves to guide the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side to the yarn joining device 82. The yarn removal lever 55 is capable of changing the yarn passage by moving between the waiting position P1 and the yarn guiding position P2. The yarn accumulating device 23 includes the yarn accumulating roller 51 and the yarn hooking member 53. The yarn accumulating roller 51 can accumulate the spun yarn 5 on the outer periphery thereof when the spun yarn 5 is wound thereon. The yarn hooking member 53 is rotatable while the spun yarn 5 has been hooked thereon. The yarn passage set when the yarn removal lever 55 is in the yarn guiding position P2 is away from the sucking device 24 than the yarn passage set when the yarn removal lever 55 is in the waiting position P1. The yarn joining device 82 performs yarn joining while the yarn removal lever 55 is in the yarn guiding position P2.
With the above configuration, when the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is to be discarded in the sucking device 24 following the yarn joining performed by the yarn joining device 82 after the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side is changed by the yarn removal lever 55. Therefore, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side can be prevented from getting interlaced with the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn guiding position P2, the spun yarn 5 is in contact with the yarn hooking member 53.
Accordingly, the yarn joining can be performed by the yarn joining device 82 while the spun yarn 5 is being accumulated onto the yarn accumulating roller 51 in a state in which the spun yarn 5 is guided by the yarn hooking member 53. Therefore, occurrence of slacking in the spun yarn 5 and the like following the yarn joining can be reduced.
The spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes multiple spinning units 2. Each of the spinning units 2 includes the spinning device 22, the yarn accumulating device 23, and the winding device 25. The yarn removal lever 55 and a driving section that drives the yarn removal lever 55 are arranged in each of the spinning units 2.
Accordingly, the yarn removal lever 55 can operate independently of the yarn removal levers 55 provided in other spinning units 2.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment, after the spinning device has performed the yarn discharge spinning, the yarn removal lever 55 removes the spun yarn 5 from the yarn hooking member 53 to discard the spun yarn 5 wound onto the yarn accumulating roller 51.
Accordingly, the yarn removal lever 55 performs a function of removing the spun yarn 5 from the yarn hooking member 53 and a function of changing the yarn passage. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment, it is allowable to move the yarn removal lever 55 to the yarn removal position P3 that is different from the waiting position P1 and the yarn guiding position P2. After the spinning device 22 performs the yarn discharge spinning, the yarn removal lever 55 makes contact with the spun yarn 5 at the yarn removal position P3 and removes thereof from the yarn hooking member 53.
Accordingly, the spun yarn 5 can be reliably removed from the yarn hooking member 53 by the yarn removal lever 55.
The spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes the spinning device 22, the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82, the sucking device 24, the suction pipe 83, and the yarn removal lever 55. The spinning device 22 produces the spun yarn 5 by spinning the fiber bundle 4b, and is capable of supplying the spun yarn 5. The winding device 25 forms the package 7 by winding the spun yarn 5 supplied from the spinning device 22. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82 joins a first yarn, which is the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and a second yarn, which is the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the sucking device 24 is capable of catching the first yarn and is arranged with respect to the yarn passage between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the suction pipe 83 can catch the second yarn. In the yarn joining operation of the first yarn and the second yarn by the yarn joining device 82, the yarn removal lever 55 changes the yarn passage such that it differs from that set before the disconnection of the spun yarn 5, and prevents the first yarn and the second yarn from getting interlaced with each other.
Accordingly, when the excess portion of the first yarn is to be discarded to the sucking device 24 following the yarn joining by the yarn joining device 82 after the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the excess portion can be prevented from getting interlaced with the second yarn. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
The spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes multiple spinning units 2. Each of the spinning units 2 includes the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25. Each of the spinning units 2 includes the traversing device 73 that traverses the spun yarn 5 wound in the winding device 25. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25 in the spinning unit 2, the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side is wound on the package 7 in a state in which the traverse width at which the traversing device 73 is traversing the spun yarn 5 is reduced than that of the spun yarn 5 before it is disconnected.
Accordingly, occurrence of the end face drop in the package 7 can be prevented. Therefore, the quality of the package 7 can be improved.
A first modification will be explained below. Furthermore, in the explanation of the present modification and the subsequent modifications, structural elements having the same or similar configuration as those explained in the embodiment explained above are indicated by the same reference numerals and explanation thereof may be omitted.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the first modification, mainly a configuration of a yarn joining carrier 80x differs from that explained in the embodiments explained above. As shown in FIG. 9, in the yarn joining carrier 80x according to the present modification, an elongated rail 91 is arranged in the longitudinal direction. A support bracket 92, which is a movable member, is supported on the rail 91. The support bracket 92 is slidable along the rail 91 in the longitudinal direction.
A driving cylinder (actuator) 93 is linked to the support bracket 92. The driving cylinder 93 moves the support bracket 92 in the longitudinal direction. The driving cylinder 93 can, for example, be a pneumatic cylinder. The support bracket 92 can be moved by using an actuator (for example, a motor) that has a different configuration than that of the driving cylinder 93.
In addition to the yarn joining device 82, a guide 94, a cutter (interlacing preventing member) 95, and a second sucking device (sucking and catching device) 96 are arranged on the support bracket 92.
The guide 94 is configured as a plate member. A not-shown groove (concave part) that opens frontwards is formed on the guide 94.
The cutter 95 is arranged near the guide 94. Similar to the guide 94, the cutter 95 is arranged on the downstream side of the sucking device 24 but on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82. The cutter 95 is capable of cutting the spun yarn 5 that has entered into the groove of the guide 94. The configuration of the cutter 95 can be arbitrary. For example, a cutter in which a movable blade is driven by an appropriate driving section (for example, solenoid) can be employed as the cutter 95.
The second sucking device 96 is arranged on the downstream side of the guide 94 (in other words, the cutter 95) but on the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82. Similar to the sucking device 24 explained above, a suction port 97 that opens in the front direction is formed on the second sucking device 96. The second sucking device 96 is connected to an appropriate suction source. Therefore, a suction air current can be generated at the suction port 97.
Because the yarn joining device 82, the guide 94, the cutter 95, and the second sucking device 96 are mounted on the support bracket 92, the same can be moved in the longitudinal direction along with the support bracket 92.
In the present modification, when the yarn joining carrier 80x travels along the rail 101, the support bracket 92 is retracted in the backward direction with respect to the yarn passage as shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, interference by the members such as the guide 94 of the yarn joining carrier 80x with the yarn passage in any of the spinning units 2 can be prevented.
When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected in the spinning unit 2 and the fixed catching and yarn joining is performed, similar to the embodiments explained above, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is caught by the sucking device 24. When the yarn joining carrier 80x reaches the spinning unit 2 that is in such a state, the carrier control section 85 controls the driving cylinder 93 to cause the support bracket 92 to move forward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the yarn joining device 82 that is moving forward approaches the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. Moreover, a portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side that is positioned between the yarn joining device 82 and the sucking device 24 is inserted into the groove of the guide 94 that is moved forward.
The carrier control section 85 drives the cutter 95 in a state shown in FIG. 10 and cuts the spun yarn 5. As a result, the spun yarn 5 that is near the sucking device 24 from a position at which the spun yarn 5 is cut is inserted into the sucking device 24 and discarded. Moreover, the spun yarn 5 that is near the second sucking device 96 is sucked into the suction port 97 of the second sucking device 96 and caught. Such a state is shown in FIG. 11.
Subsequently, the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side is caught by the suction pipe 83, and the spun yarn 5 is guided by the suction pipe 83 such that the spun yarn 5 is fetchable by the yarn joining device 82. Such a state is shown in FIG. 12. The spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side enters the groove of the guide 94; however, the spun yarn 5 is not cut because the operation of the cutter 95 is stopped.
The yarn removal lever 55 moves to the yarn removal position P3, in the same manner as explained in the above embodiments. As a result, the spun yarn 5 produced by the yarn discharge spinning explained above is sucked by the suction pipe 83 and then discarded. When all the spun yarn 5 produced during the yarn discharge spinning is unwound from the yarn accumulating roller 51, the yarn removal lever 55 moves to the waiting position P1.
The unit controller 15 operates the yarn joining device 82. As a result, the spun yarn 5 on the winding device 25 side that is sucked by the second sucking device 96 and the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side are joined. The spun yarn 5 is continuously supplied from the yarn supplying device during the yarn joining, and that spun yarn 5 is accumulated by the yarn accumulating device 23.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12, the yarn joining device 82 performs yarn joining. In the yarn joining, the excess spun yarn 5 is cut in the yarn joining device 82, and is sucked and discarded by the second sucking device 96 or the suction pipe 83. In the present modification, because the excess spun yarn 5 among the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95 beforehand, a significant portion thereof is sucked by the sucking device 24 and discarded before the yarn joining operation. Therefore, because the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is short in length, it is less likely to interlace with the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
In the present modification, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95 before the yarn joining is performed. Therefore, unlike the embodiments explained above, in the present modification, even in the case of the fixed catching and yarn joining, the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the waiting position P1 at the time of yarn joining as shown in FIG. 12.
As explained above, the spinning machine 1 includes the spinning device 22, the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82, the sucking device 24, the second sucking device 96, and the cutter 95. The spinning device 22 produces the spun yarn 5 by spinning the fiber bundle 4b, and supplies the spun yarn 5 to the next device. The winding device 25 forms the package 7 by winding the spun yarn 5 supplied from the spinning device 22. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82 performs yarn joining of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side and the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the sucking device 24 is capable of catching the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and is arranged with respect to the yarn passage between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25. The second sucking device 96 is capable of sucking the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side at the downstream side of the sucking device 24 in the yarn running direction and at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82 in the yarn running direction. The cutter 95 is capable of cutting the spun yarn 5 at the downstream side of the sucking device 24 in the yarn running direction and at the upstream side of the second sucking device 96 in the yarn running direction.
Accordingly, after the spun yarn 5 is cut between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25 and before the yarn joining device 82 performs yarn joining, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95 between the yarn joining device 82 and the sucking device 24. Following the cutting of the spun yarn 5, a part of the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is sucked by the sucking device 24 and discarded. The remaining portion is caught by the second sucking device 96. Accordingly, following the yarn joining, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side can be prevented from getting interlaced with the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present modification, when the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the second sucking device 96 is capable of catching the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and is arranged with respect to the yarn passage.
Accordingly, with a simple configuration, a new yarn end that is formed when the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95 can be caught.
The spinning machine 1 according to the present modification includes the guide 94 that includes a groove which opens toward the front side of the spinning machine 1. The suction port 97 of the second sucking device 96 is open toward the front side of the spinning machine 1. The cutter 95 cuts the spun yarn 5 that has entered into the groove of the guide 94.
Accordingly, a configuration in which maintenance work can be easily performed from the front side of the spinning machine 1 can be realized.
The spinning machine 1 according the present modification includes, in the spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the driving cylinder 93 that moves the yarn joining device 82 in a direction so as to be near or away from the yarn passage.
Accordingly, by moving the yarn joining device 82 near the yarn passage, a state in which the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side is fetchable by the yarn joining device 82 can be easily realized.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present modification, the cutter 95 is movable near or away from the yarn passage.
By moving the cutter 95 near the yarn passage, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side can be appropriately cut. On the other side, by moving the cutter 95 away from the yarn passage, interference with the yarn passage can be prevented.
In the spinning machine 1 according to the present modification, the suction port 62 through which the spun yarn 5 is sucked in the sucking device 24 and the suction port 97 of the second sucking device 96 are open in the same direction.
Accordingly, a simplification of the configuration can be realized.
The spinning machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes the spinning device 22, the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82, the sucking device 24, the suction mouth 84, and the cutter 95. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the yarn joining device 82 joins a first yarn, which is the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side and a second yarn, which is the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. In the yarn joining operation of the first yarn and the second yarn by the yarn joining device 82, the cutter 95 cuts the first yarn, thereby preventing the interlacing of the first yarn and the second yarn.
Accordingly, after the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, when the excess portion of the first yarn is discarded following the yarn joining performed by the yarn joining device 82, interlacing thereof with the second yarn can be prevented. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved.
A second modification will be explained below. In the explanation of the present modification, structural elements having the same or similar configuration as those explained in the embodiment explained above are indicated by the same reference numerals and explanation thereof may be omitted.
In a spinning machine according to the second modification, mainly a configuration of a yarn joining carrier 80y differs from that of the first modification explained above. As shown in FIG. 13, in the yarn joining carrier 80y according to the present modification, only the guide 94 and the cutter 95 can be moved in the longitudinal direction by the driving cylinder 93. Moreover, in the yarn joining carrier 80y according to the present modification, a tip end 89x of a suction mouth (sucking and catching device) 84x is arranged at a position near the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 even when the suction mouth 84x is positioned at the retracted position. In the yarn joining carrier 80y according to the present modification, the second sucking device 96 explained in the first modification is omitted.
In the present modification, when the yarn joining carrier 80y travels along the rail 101, the guide 94 and the cutter 95 is retracted in the backward direction with respect to the yarn passage as shown in FIG. 13. Therefore, interference by the guide 94 of the yarn joining carrier 80y with the yarn passage in any of the spinning units 2 can be prevented.
When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected in the spinning unit 2 and the fixed catching and yarn joining is performed, similar to the embodiments explained above, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is caught by the sucking device 24. When the yarn joining carrier 80y reaches the spinning unit 2 that is in such a state, the carrier control section 85 controls the driving cylinder 93 to cause the guide 94 and the cutter 95 to move forward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, a portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side positioned between the yarn joining device 82 and the sucking device 24 is inserted into the groove of the guide 94 that is moved forward.
The carrier control section 85 drives the cutter 95 in a state shown in FIG. 14 and cuts the spun yarn 5. As a result, the spun yarn 5 near the sucking device 24 from a position at which the spun yarn 5 is cut is inserted in the sucking device 24 and discarded. Therefore, the spun yarn 5 near the suction mouth 84x at the retracted position is sucked into a suction port at the tip end 89x of the suction mouth 84x and caught. Such a state is shown in FIG. 15. Subsequent operations are substantially the same as that explained in the first modification and are omitted.
Even in the present modification, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is being discarded following the yarn joining by the yarn joining device 82, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 is less likely to interlace with the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. As a result, quality of the package 7 can be improved. Moreover, because the second sucking device 96 according to the first modification is omitted, a simple and compact configuration can be realized.
As explained above, the spinning machine according to the present modification includes the suction mouth 84x that is capable of fetching, the spun yarn 5 at the downstream side of the sucking device 24 in the yarn running direction and at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 82 in the yarn running direction. When the spun yarn 5 is disconnected between the spinning device 22 and the winding device 25, the suction mouth 84x can catch the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side, and moves to guide the caught spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side to the yarn joining device 82.
Accordingly, a function of guiding the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side to the yarn joining device 82 by moving from a position near the package 7, and a function of catching a new yarn end formed when the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95 can be realized by the suction mouth 84x, which is a common device. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified.
Exemplary embodiments and modifications of the present invention are explained above. The configurations explained above, however, can be modified as explained below. Modifications can be performed independently, or in any combinations of various modifications.
In the embodiments explained above, the yarn removal lever 55 can be configured so that the position thereof can be changed by a parallel movement, instead of the rotational movement.
The configuration can be modified such that the yarn passage of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side can be changed by a member that is other than the yarn removal lever 55. The yarn passage can be changed by making a yarn acting member contact the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side instead of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side, and separating the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side from the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side.
In the embodiments explained above, the sucking device 24 can be configured movable in the longitudinal direction. In such a configuration, by retracting the sucking device 24 forward in a state in which the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is caught by the sucking device 24, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side can be separated from the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. Even with such a configuration, the spun yarn 5 can be prevented from getting interlaced. In such a configuration, a not-shown actuator that causes the sucking device 24 to move in the longitudinal direction corresponds to an interlacing preventing member. The sucking device 24 can be configured movable in, for example, the traverse direction and a parallel direction, instead of the longitudinal direction.
In the sucking pipe 61 of the sucking device 24, a not-show concave part can be formed below the suction port 62 (near the yarn joining device 82). The concave part, for example, can be a slit-like groove of an appropriate length. In such a configuration, at almost the same time as when the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is sucked by the sucking device 24, the spun yarn 5 enters the slit-like groove. As a result, the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side naturally separates from the passage of the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. In such a configuration, the sucking pipe 61 on which the slit-like groove is formed corresponds to the interlacing preventing member.
The guide 94, the cutter 95, and the second sucking device 96 explained in the first modification can be provided in each of the spinning unit 2, instead of providing them in the yarn joining carrier 80x.
Instead of the cutter 95 according to the second modification, a clamp mechanism that grips and holds the spun yarn 5 can be provided. The clamp mechanism can be configured so as to retract backward with the operation of the driving cylinder 93 while the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is clamped. With such a configuration, the excess portion of the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side can be separated from the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side. In such a configuration, the clamp mechanism and the driving cylinder 93 corresponds to the interlacing preventing member.
In the second modification, before the spun yarn 5 on the package 7 side is cut by the cutter 95, the suction mouth 84x can slightly rotate from the retracted position shown in FIG. 14 and move the tip end 89x thereof near the spun yarn 5.
A direction in which the suction port 62 of the sucking device 24 is open, a direction in which the suction port 97 of the second sucking device 96 is open, and the direction in which the groove of the guide 94 is open can be arbitrary, and can be changed appropriately.
A delivery roller that pinches and sends the spun yarn 5 can be arranged between the spinning device 22 and the yarn accumulating roller 51.
In the embodiments explained above, at the time of performing yarn discharge spinning, the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the waiting position P1, the spun yarn 5 pulled from the spinning device 22 is hooked onto the yarn hooking member 53, and then the yarn removal lever 55 is positioned at the yarn removal position P3; however, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, at the same time as that when the suction pipe 83 is moved to a position from which the spun yarn 5 on the spinning device 22 side can be caught, the yarn removal lever 55 can be positioned at the yarn removal position P3. After a predetermined time period has elapsed after moving from the yarn discharge spinning to the normal spinning, the spun yarn 5 is accumulated onto the yarn accumulating roller 51 by positioning the yarn removal lever 55 to the waiting position P1 or the yarn guiding position P2. Therefore, bad quality spun yarn 5 produced by the yarn discharge spinning is not accumulated onto the yarn accumulating roller 51.
According to the first aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, "first invention"), a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn accumulating device, a yarn joining device, a fixed catching device, a movable catching device, and a yarn acting member. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn accumulating device is arranged on a yarn passage formed between the spinning device and the winding device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of the yarn on the spinning device side and the yarn on the package side, when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The fixed catching device is arranged with respect to the yarn passage and catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The movable catching device catches the yarn on the spinning device side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, moves and guides the caught yarn on the spinning device side to the yarn joining device. The yarn acting member moves between a first position and a second position to change the yarn passage. The yarn accumulating device includes a yarn accumulating roller and a yarn hooking member. The yarn accumulating roller winds and accumulates the yarn on an outer circumference thereof. The yarn hooking member is capable of rotating while the yarn has been hooked thereon. The yarn passage set when the yarn acting member is positioned at the second position is away from the fixed catching device than in the case of the yarn passage set when the yarn acting member is positioned at the first position. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining when the yarn acting member is positioned at the second position.
With the above configuration, when an excess portion of the yarn on the package side is to be discarded in the fixed catching device following the yarn joining performed by the yarn joining device after the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, the yarn passage of the yarn on the spinning device side is changed by the yarn acting member. Therefore, the excess portion of the yarn on the package side can be prevented from getting interlaced with the yarn on the spinning device side. As a result, quality of the package can be improved.
In the spinning machine of the first invention, it is preferable that the yarn joining device performs yarn joining when the yarn hooking member is in contact with the yarn while the yarn acting member is positioned at the second position.
Accordingly, the yarn joining can be performed by the yarn joining device while the yarn is being accumulated onto the yarn accumulating roller in a state in which the yarn is guided by the yarn hooking member. Therefore, occurrence of slacking in the yarn and the like following the yarn joining can be reduced.
It is preferable that the spinning machine of the first invention has the below configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units. Each of the spinning units includes the spinning device, the yarn accumulating device, the winding device, the yarn acting member, and a driving section that drives the yarn acting member.
Accordingly, the yarn acting member can operate independently of the yarn acting members provided in other spinning units.
In the spinning machine of the first invention, it is preferable that the yarn acting member can remove the yarn from the yarn hooking member to discard the yarn wound onto the yarn accumulating roller after a yarn discharge spinning is performed by the spinning device.
Accordingly, the yarn acting member performs a function of removing the yarn from the yarn hooking member and a function of changing the yarn passage. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified.
In the spinning machine of the first invention, it is preferable that the yarn acting member is movable to a third position that is different from the first position and the second position, and the yarn acting member makes contact with the yarn and removes the yarn from the yarn hooking member by moving to the third position after the yarn discharge spinning is performed by the spinning device.
Accordingly, the yarn can be reliably removed from the yarn hooking member by the yarn acting member.
According to the second aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, "second invention"), a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn joining device, a fixed catching device, a sucking and catching device, and a cutter. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of the yarn on the spinning device side and the yarn on the package side, when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The fixed catching device is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device and the winding device, and catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The sucking and catching device sucks the yarn on the package side at a downstream side of the fixed catching device in a yarn running direction but at an upstream side of the yarn joining device in the yarn running direction. The cutter cuts the yarn at the downstream side of the fixed catching device in the yarn running direction but at the upstream side of the sucking and catching device in the yarn running direction.
Accordingly, when excess portions of a first yarn and a second yarn are to be discarded in the sucking and catching device following the yarn joining by the yarn joining device after the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, the excess portions can be prevented from getting interlaced with the yarns on the other side. As a result, quality of the package can be improved.
In the spinning machine of the second invention, it is preferable that the sucking and catching device catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, moves and guides the caught yarn on the package side to the yarn joining device.
Accordingly, a function of guiding the yarn on the package side to the yarn joining device by moving, and a function of catching a new yarn end formed when the yarn on the package side is cut by the cutter can be realized by a common device. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified.
In the spinning machine of the second invention, it is preferable that the sucking and catching device is arranged with respect to the yarn passage, and catches the yarn on the package side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device.
Accordingly, with a simple configuration, a new yarn end that is formed when the yarn on the package side is cut by the cutter can be caught.
It is preferable that the spinning machine of the second invention has the below configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a guide that includes a concave part that opens toward a front side of the spinning machine. A suction port of the sucking and catching device is open toward the front side of the spinning machine. The cutter cuts the yarn that enters the concave part.
Accordingly, a configuration in which maintenance work can be easily performed from the front side of the spinning machine can be realized.
It is preferable that the spinning machine of the second invention includes an actuator that moves the yarn joining device near and away from the yarn passage.
Accordingly, by moving the yarn joining device near the yarn passage, a state in which the yarn on the package side and the yarn on the spinning device side is fetchable by the yarn joining device can be easily realized.
In the spinning machine of the second invention, it is preferable that the cutter is movable near and away from the yarn passage.
By moving the cutter near the yarn passage, the yarn on the package side can be appropriately cut. On the other side, by moving the cutter away from the yarn passage, interference with the yarn passage can be prevented.
In the spinning machine of the second invention, it is preferable that a suction port via which the fixed catching device sucks the yarn, and the suction port via which the sucking and catching device sucks the yarn while the yarn on the package side caught by the sucking and catching device is guided to the yarn joining device are open in the same direction.
Accordingly, a simplification of the configuration can be realized.
It is preferable that the spinning machine of the second invention has the below configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes the plurality of the spinning units. Each of the spinning units includes the spinning device and the winding device. Each of the spinning units includes a traversing device that traverses the yarn that is wound in the winding device. When the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device in the spinning unit, the yarn on the winding device side is wound onto the package while a traverse width at which the traversing device traverses the yarn is narrower than that at which the yarn is traversed before the yarn is disconnected.
Accordingly, it is prevented the yarn from being wound at a position that is outside a winding width of the package. As a result, quality of the package can be improved.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a spinning machine having the below configuration is provided. The spinning machine includes a spinning device, a winding device, a yarn joining device, a first catching device, a second catching device, and an interlacing preventing member. The spinning device produces a yarn by spinning a fiber bundle and supplies the yarn. The winding device forms a package by winding the yarn supplied from the spinning device. The yarn joining device performs yarn joining of a first yarn that is the yarn on the package side and a second yarn that is the yarn on the spinning device side when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The first catching device is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device and the winding device, and catches the first yarn when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The second catching device catches the second yarn when the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device. The interlacing preventing member prevents interlacing of the first yarn and the second yarn by changing the yarn passage to a yarn passage that is different from that before the yarn is disconnected, or by cutting at least one of the first yarn or the second yarn, when yarn joining operation of the first yarn and the second yarn is being performed by the yarn joining device.
Accordingly, after the yarn is disconnected between the spinning device and the winding device, when excess portions of the first yarn and the second yarn are discarded following the yarn joining performed by the yarn joining device, getting interlaced with the yarns on the other side can be prevented. As a result, quality of the package can be improved.
In the above explanation, the meaning of "a plurality of" also includes "a predetermined number of".
Although the invention has been explained with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We claim:

1. A spinning machine (1) comprising:
a spinning device (22) that produces a yarn (5) by spinning a fiber bundle (4b) and supplies the yarn (5);
a winding device (25) that forms a package (7) by winding the yarn (5) supplied from the spinning device (22);
a yarn accumulating device (23) that is arranged on a yarn passage formed between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a yarn joining device (82) that performs yarn joining of the yarn (5) on the spinning device (22) side and the yarn (5) on the package (7) side, when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a fixed catching device (24) that is arranged with respect to the yarn passage and catches the yarn (5) on the package (7) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a movable catching device (83) that catches the yarn (5) on the spinning device (22) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25), moves and guides the caught yarn (5) on the spinning device (22) side to the yarn joining device (82); and
a yarn acting member (55) that moves between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2) to change the yarn passage, wherein
the yarn accumulating device (23) includes
a yarn accumulating roller (51) for winding and accumulate the yarn (5) on an outer circumference thereof; and
a yarn hooking member (53) that is capable of rotating while the yarn (5) has been hooked thereon, and wherein
the yarn passage set when the yarn acting member (55) is positioned at the second position (P2) is away from the fixed catching device (24) than in the case of the yarn passage set when the yarn acting member (55) is positioned at the first position (P1), and
the yarn joining device (82) performs yarn joining when the yarn acting member (55) is positioned at the second position (P2).

2. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the yarn joining device (82) performs yarn joining when the yarn hooking member (53) is in contact with the yarn (5) while the yarn acting member (55) is positioned at the second position (P2).

3. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, comprising:
a plurality of spinning units (2), and each of the spinning units (2) includes the spinning device (22), the yarn accumulating device (23), the winding device (25), the yarn acting member (55), and a driving section that drives the yarn acting member (55).

4. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the yarn acting member (55) removes the yarn (5) from the yarn hooking member (53) to discard the yarn (5) wound onto the yarn accumulating roller (51) after a yarn discharge spinning is performed by the spinning device (22).

5. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the yarn acting member (55) is movable to a third position (P3) that is different from the first position (P1) and the second position (P2), and
the yarn acting member (55) makes contact with the yarn (5) and removes the yarn (5) from the yarn hooking member (53) by moving to the third position (P3) after the yarn discharge spinning is performed by the spinning device (22).

6. A spinning machine (1) comprising:
a spinning device (22) that produces a yarn (5) by spinning a fiber bundle (4b) and supplies the yarn (5);
a winding device (25) that forms a package (7) by winding the yarn (5) supplied from the spinning device (22);
a yarn joining device (82) that performs yarn joining of the yarn (5) on the spinning device (22) side and the yarn (5) on the package (7) side, when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a fixed catching device (24) that is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25), and catches the yarn (5) on the package (7) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a sucking and catching device (84x, 96) that sucks the yarn (5) on the package (7) side at a downstream side of the fixed catching device (24) in a yarn running direction but at an upstream side of the yarn joining device (82) in the yarn running direction; and
a cutter (95) that cuts the yarn (5) at the downstream side of the fixed catching device (24) in the yarn running direction but at the upstream side of the sucking and catching device (84x, 96) in the yarn running direction.

7. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the sucking and catching device (84x) catches the yarn (5) on the package (7) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25), moves and guides the caught yarn (5) on the package (7) side to the yarn joining device (82).

8. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the sucking and catching device (96) is arranged with respect to the yarn passage, and catches the yarn (5) on the package (7) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25).

9. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 6 to 8, comprising a guide (94) that includes a concave part that opens toward a front side of the spinning machine (1), wherein
a suction port (89x, 97) of the sucking and catching device (84x, 96) is open toward the front side of the spinning machine (1), and
the cutter (95) cuts the yarn (5) that enters the concave part.

10. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 6 to 9, comprising an actuator that moves the yarn joining device (82) near and away from the yarn passage.

11. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the cutter (95) is movable near and away from the yarn passage.

12. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 6 to 11, wherein a suction port (62) via which the fixed catching device (24) sucks the yarn (5), and the suction port (89x, 97) via which the sucking and catching device (84x, 96) sucks the yarn (5) while the yarn (5) on the package (7) side caught by the sucking and catching device (84x, 96) is guided to the yarn joining device (82) are open in the same direction.

13. The spinning machine (1) as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 12, comprising a plurality of the spinning units (2), wherein
each of the spinning units (2) includes the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
each of the spinning units (2) includes a traversing device (73) that traverses the yarn (5) that is wound in the winding device (25), and
when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25) in the spinning unit (2), the yarn (5) on the winding device (25) side is wound onto the package (7) while a traverse width at which the traversing device (73) traverses the yarn (5) is narrower than that at which the yarn (5) is traversed before the yarn (5) is disconnected.

14. A spinning machine (1) comprising:
a spinning device (22) that produces a yarn (5) by spinning a fiber bundle (4b) and supplies the yarn (5);
a winding device (25) that forms a package (7) by winding the yarn (5) supplied from the spinning device (22);
a yarn joining device (82) that performs yarn joining of a first yarn that is the yarn (5) on the package (7) side and a second yarn that is the yarn (5) on the spinning device (22) side when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a first catching device (24) that is arranged with respect to a yarn passage between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25), and catches the first yarn when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25);
a second catching device (83) that catches the second yarn when the yarn (5) is disconnected between the spinning device (22) and the winding device (25), and
an interlacing preventing member (55, 61, 95) that prevents interlacing of the first yarn and the second yarn by changing the yarn passage to a yarn passage that is different from that before the yarn (5) is disconnected, or by cutting at least one of the first yarn or the second yarn, when yarn joining operation of the first yarn and the second yarn is being performed by the yarn joining device (82).