SPINNING MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spinning machine, and in particular, to a spinning machine with a step.
2. Description of the Related Art
A spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units. Each spinning unit includes a spinning section adapted to apply twists to a fiber bundle to produce a spun yarn, and a winding section adapted to wind the spun yarn produced by the spinning section to produce a package. As the spinning machine of the above configuration, there is conventionally known a spinning machine with a step used by an operator as a stepstool when performing a maintenance operation on the spinning unit (see e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-298548) . The conventional step is arranged at a side of a package receiving section for receiving a package that is located away from the spinning unit. Such a side has a perpendicular surface, and the step has a horizontal surface of a length enabling tiptoe of a shoe of the operator to be placed from the perpendicular surface.
In the conventional spinning machine, when the operator places a foot on the step, the tiptoe touches the side surface of the package receiving section. Thus, the operator may not sufficiently approach the spinning unit. In particular, in the case of the spinning machine that handles large packages, a length of the package receiving section becomes long in a radial direction of the package to be placed. As a result, even if the operator stands on the step, the operator has difficulty in approaching the spinning unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable an operator
to approach a spinning unit in a spinning machine with a step.
A spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units arranged along a first direction, each of the spinning units including a winding section adapted to wind a package, a package receiving section arranged along the first direction and next to the winding section of the spinning unit, a step arranged along the first direction so that the package receiving section is located between the step and the spinning units, and located at a position lower than the package receiving section, the step including a step surface adapted to enable a foot of an operator to be placed, and a tiptoe accommodating section including space adapted to accommodate tiptoe of the foot of the operator standing on the step surface, and being formed to enter below the package receiving section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an overall configuration
of a spinning machine according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spinning machine; and FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the spinning machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a fine spinning machine (spinning machine) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Herein, "upstream" and "downstream" respectively refer to upstream and downstream in a travelling direction of a yarn at the time of spinning.
A fine spinning machine 1 as a spinning machine illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of spinning units 2 arranged in a line. The fine spinning machine 1 also includes a yarn joining cart (service unit) 3, a doffing cart 4, a blower box 80, a motor box 5, a unit frame 6, and a bar-like member 16. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fine spinning machine 1 further includes a first suction
duct 17, a second suction duct 18, and a third suction duct 19.
The plurality of spinning units 2 are arranged on the unit frame 6 in line in a first direction, which is a left and right direction (longitudinal direction of fine spinning machine 1) in FIG. 1. Each spinning unit 2 forms a package 45 around which a spun yarn 10 of a predetermined length is wound. For example, eight spinning units 2 can be attached to one unit frame 6. The number of spinning units 2 that can be attached to one unit frame 6 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, one fine spinning machine 1 includes one or a plurality of unit frames 6.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, each spinning unit 2 includes a draft section 7, a spinning section 9, a yarn slack eliminating section 12, and a winding section 13 as the main components arranged in this order from the upstream to the downstream. The draft section 7 is arranged in proximity to an upper end of the unit frame 6 of the fine spinning machine 1. The draft section 7 drafts a sliver 15 to obtain a fiber bundle 8. The spinning section 9 spins the spun yarn 10 by pneumatic spinning which uses whirling airflow to apply twists to the fiber bundle 8 fed from the draft section 7. After the spun yarn 10 fed from the spinning section 9 passes through a yarn clearer 52, the spun yarn 10 is fed to the yarn slack eliminating section 12, and is wound by the winding section 13 arranged below, thereby forming the package 45 . A yarn path LP (FIG. 2) is thus formed in a vertical direction of the spinning unit 2 from the spinning section 9 to the winding section 13 of each spinning unit 2. The yarn clearer 52 detects thickness abnormality of the passing spun yarn 10 and/or presence or absence of foreign materials contained in the spun yarn 10.
The yarn slack eliminating section 12 has a function of applying a predetermined tension to the spun yarn 10 and retrieving the spun yarn 10 from the spinning section 9, and a function of accumulating the spun yarn 10 fed from the spinning section 9 at the time of yarn joining by the yarn joining cart 3 and eliminating slackening of the spun yarn 10. The yarn slack eliminating section
12 also has a buffer function of preventing a fluctuation of tension at the winding section 13 side from being transmitted to the spinning section 9 side.
The winding section 13 winds the package 45. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the winding section 13 includes a cradle arm 71 supported in a freely oscillating manner about a supporting shaft 70, and a winding drum 72. The cradle arm 71 rotatably supports a bobbin 48 to wind the spun yarn 10. The winding drum 72 is arranged at a front side of the unit frame 6, and rotatably drives the bobbin 48 or the package 45 at a predetermined winding speed by making contact with an outer peripheral surface thereof.
The yarn joining cart 3 can travel along the first direction on a first travel rail 81 arranged on the unit frame 6. After disconnection of a yarn, the yarn joining cart 3 travels to a position of the spinning unit 2 in which yarn joining is necessary and joins an upper yarn from the spinning section 9 and a lower yarn from the winding section 13. Only one yarn joining cart 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1, but a plurality of yarn joining carts 3 are arranged in the entire fine spinning machine 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each yarn joining cart 3 includes a cart section 41, a yarn joining device 43 provided in the cart section 41, a suction pipe 44, a suction mouth 4 6, and a suction air supply pipe 47 (FIG. 2).
The cart section 41 has two travelling wheels 41e arranged with an interval therebetween in the travelling direction at both ends in the first direction. A pair of guide rollers 41f are respectively arranged on an upper portion and a lower portion of the cart section 41. The upper guide rollers 41f are guided by a guide rail 41g. The suction pipe 44 swings around a horizontal axis to catch an upper yarn end at the spinning section 9 and guides the upper yarn end to the yarn joining device 43. The suction mouth 4 6 swings around the horizontal axis to catch a lower yarn end at the winding section 13 and guides the lower yarn end to the yarn joining device 43. The yarn joining device 43 joins the upper yarn
end and the lower yarn end.
A sub-suction duct 17b, to be described later, is branched from the first suction duct 17 . A shutter is arranged at a position on the sub-suction duct 17b corresponding to each spinning unit 2. The suction air supply pipe 47 opens and closes the shutter. The suction air is thus supplied from the sub-suction duct 17b to the yarn joining device 43, the suction pipe 44, and the suction mouth 46.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the doffing cart 4 is arranged capable of travelling along the first direction at a front side of the spinning unit 2. The doffing cart 4 is a cart for transporting the package 45 from the spinning unit 2 to a package receiving section 21, to be described later. After the package 45 is fully wound at the spinning unit 2, the doffing cart 4 travels to the relevant spinning unit 2 on the second travel rail 82 and stops thereat. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the doffing cart 4 includes a cart casing 85. The cart casing 85 accommodates a suction pipe 88, an empty bobbin supplying member 8 9, and a cradle operating arm 90.
The cart casing 85 has two travelling wheels 85a arranged at both ends in the first direction. The travelling wheels 85a are arranged on a lower surface of the cart casing 85 and at the side located away from the spinning unit 2. Therefore, the doffing cart 4 is guided on the second travel rail 82 at the side located away from the spinning unit 2. A height of the cart casing 85 is lower than a height of the spinning unit 2. Specifically, the height of the cart casing 85 is slightly lower than a position of the yarn slack eliminating section 12 of the spinning unit 2.
The cart casing 85 is formed to cover from above a package receiving section 21 arranged on the unit frame 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the doffing cart 4 is arranged at an outermost side of the fine spinning machine 1. The cart casing 85 has a passage recess section 85b recessed to a C-shaped cross-section through which the bar-like member 16 can pass. The
passage recess section 85b is formed on the surface facing the spinning unit 2, and has a size enabling a supporting member 96 supporting the bar-like member 16 to also pass through in addition to the bar-like member 16. As illustrated in an enlarged manner in portion A of FIG. 2, the passage recess section 85b is provided with a fall preventing guide roller 85c guided by the bar-like member 16.
The suction pipe 8 8 is provided capable of stretching and oscillating in the cart casing 85. The suction pipe 88 moves to the spinning section 9 and sucks and catches the upper yarn end of the spun yarn 10 fed from the spinning section 9. The suction pipe 88 oscillates to guide the caught spun yarn 10 to the bobbin 48 set in the winding section 13. A range GL of a guiding movement of the suction pipe 8 8 is a range illustrated with a chain double dashed line in FIG. 2. The empty bobbin supplying member 89 is provided in the cart casing 85 in a freely swinging manner to supply the empty bobbin 48 to the winding section 13. The cradle operating arm 90 is attached in a freely oscillating manner to the cart casing 85, and operates the cradle arm 71 of the winding section 13 to remove the package 45.
The first suction duct 17, the second suction duct 18, and the third suction duct 19 are connected to the blower box 80. The blower box 80 includes a blower (not illustrated) for generating suction airflow in the first suction duct 17, the second suction duct 18, and the third suction duct 19.
The unit frame 6 is a frame-shaped member for attaching eight spinning units 2, for example. The unit frame 6 includes a main frame 2 0 for attaching the spinning units 2, the package receiving section 21 arranged at a front side of the main frame 20, a step 22, and a tiptoe accommodating section 23.
The main frame 20 is a member formed by assembling a steel material. As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an inclined supporting section 20a for supporting the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9 of the spinning unit 2 is formed at an upper
portion of the front side of the main frame 20. An inclination angle a of the supporting section 20a is in an angular range of greater than or equal to 50 degrees and smaller than or equal to 70 degrees. The draft section 7 and the spinning section 9 are thus arranged in an upright manner than the conventional fine spinning machine. As a result, a distance from an operator passage to the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9 becomes shorter, and the operator can more easily carry out maintenance operation on the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9.
A travelling space 20c through which the yarn joining cart 3 travels is formed in a recessed manner in a central part at the front side of the main frame 20. A first travel rail 81 for the yarn joining cart 3 is attached along the first direction at a lower portion of the travelling space 20c.
A rear step 20f used as a stepstool of the operator is formed at the lower portion on the rear side of the main frame 20. The rear step 20f is used when the operator operates from the rear side. The rear step 20f is slightly higher than the step 22 at a front side.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the package receiving section 21 is for placing the package 45 fully wound in the winding section 13. The package receiving section 21 is formed in a polygonal concave shape in cross-sectional view for preventing rolling of the package 45, which has a circular truncated cone shape with the head cut off. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the package receiving section 21 is arranged along the first direction over the entire length of the fine spinning machine 1. The package receiving section 21 is arranged at the winding section 13 side. As illustrated in an enlarged manner in portion B of FIG. 2, the package receiving section 21 includes a package transporting section 25 in the form of a belt conveyor. The package transporting section 25 transports the received package 45 to one end side (e.g., blower box 80 side) or the other end side in the first direction.
As illustrated in an enlarged manner in portion B of FIG. 2,
a package protecting section 27 bent to lie along the shape of the package 45 is attached to a side surface 21a at a second side arranged opposite to a first side where the plurality of the spinning units 2 are arranged, among the side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the package receiving section 21. A tip of the package protecting section 27 is rounded so as not to damage the package 45. With the arrangement of such a package protecting section 27, even if the operator stands on the step 22 located close to the package receiving section 21, the package 45 is less likely to be contaminated by the operator. Furthermore, the package 45 is protected when the package 45 is placed on the package receiving section 21 and when the package 45 is transported by the package transporting section 25.
A package guiding section 28 used during a doffing operation of the doffing cart 4 is arranged between the package receiving section 21 and the winding section 13. The package guiding section 28 guides the package 45 to the package receiving section 21. The package guiding section 28 has an inclined surface 28a slanted downwards from the winding section 13 towards the package receiving section 21. An inclination angle of the inclined surface 28a is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and smaller than or equal to 60 degrees, and preferably greater than or equal to 30 degrees and smaller than or equal to 45 degrees.
By arranging the package guiding section 2 8 having such an inclined surface 2 8a between the winding section 13 and the package receiving section 21, the package 45 being wound and the package 45 arranged at the package receiving section 21 do not interfere. Therefore, the winding section 13 can perform the winding operation of the package 45 regardless of a situation of the package 45 placed on the package receiving section 21. Accordingly, spinning efficiency of the fine spinning machine 1 is improved.
If the angle of the inclined surface 28a exceeds 60 degrees, the package 45 placed on the package receiving section 21 would be located below the package 45 wound by the winding section 13.
Thus, the height of the fine spinning machine 1 generally needs to be made high to avoid the interference between the packages. However, if the angle of the inclined surface 28a is smaller than or equal to 60 degrees as in the present embodiment, such a drawback can be avoided, and the height of the fine spinning machine 1 can be made low.
If the angle of the inclined surface 28a is smaller than 30 degrees, the package receiving section 21 is required to be located greatly away from the winding section 13 in order to avoid the interference of the package 45 wound by the winding section 13 and the package 45 placed on the package receiving section 21. As a result, the length of the fine spinning machine 1 in a depth direction becomes long and workability of the operator lowers. However, if the angle of the inclined surface 28a is greater than or equal to 30 degrees as in the present embodiment, the dimension of the fine spinning machine 1 in the depth direction can be reduced and the workability of the operator is improved.
As the diameter of the fully wound package 45 is normally about 310 mm at the maximum, the interference of the packages can be prevented by having a distance between a winding center of the winding section 13 and a center position of the package placed on the package receiving section 21 in a range from 320 mm to 360 mm. By setting the inclined surface 28a in the above angle range, the dimension of the fine spinning machine 1 in the depth direction can be reduced and the height of the fine spinning machine 1 can be lowered.
The step 22 is arranged along the first direction such that the package receiving section 21 is located between the plurality of spinning units 2 and the step 22. In other words, the step 22 is arranged at the side surface 21a (left side surface in FIG. 2) on the second side of the package receiving section 21. The step 22 is arranged at a position lower than the height of the package receiving section 21. The step 22 is used as a stepstool when the operator performs maintenance of the spinning unit 2. The step 22
has a step surface, formed by a flat surface, on which the foot of the operator can be placed. A second travel rail 82, on which the doffing cart 4 travels, is arranged on the step surface. The second travel rail 82 is a plate-shaped member made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel having a minimal thickness. A cableveyor 2 6 for passing wirings and a pneumatic piping hose for supplying power, carrying out communication of various types of signals, and supplying compressed air to the doffing cart 4 is arranged inside the step 22. An outer side of the step 22 located away from the spinning unit 2 is an operator passage. Therefore, the travel rail 82 also functions as a slip preventing section with respect to the shoes of the operator who stands on the step surface.
The travelling wheels 85a of the doffing cart 4 are made of rubber. Therefore, the travelling wheels 85a move while generating a friction force on the second travel rail 82 made of metal. As a result, the doffing cart 4 reliably travels on the second travel rail 82. Static electricity is generated between the travelling wheels 85a and the second travel rail 82. Since the second travel rail 82 of the present embodiment is made of metal such as aluminum and stainless steel having satisfactory conductivity, the second travel rail 82 can also provide a function as an earth member.
Furthermore, since the travelling wheels 85a are made of rubber, the travelling wheels 85a do not damage the second travel rail 82 made of metal. As a result, the second travel rail 82 is not scraped by the travelling wheels 85a, and metal pieces do not mix into the package 45.
As illustrated in an enlarged manner in portion B of FIG. 2, the tiptoe accommodating section 23 has space capable of accommodating a tiptoe portion of a foot of the operator. The tiptoe accommodating section 23 is formed to enter below the package receiving section 21. Specifically, the tiptoe accommodating section 23 is formed to vertically overlap below the package receiving section 21. The space of the tiptoe accommodating section 23 is formed projecting towards the first side at the side
surface 21a of the second side of the package receiving section 21. By providing such a tiptoe accommodating section 23, the operator on the step 22 can further approach the spinning unit 2. Workability thus can be improved when the operator carries out a maintenance operation or the like.
The bar-like member 16 has a function as a handrail and a function as a guiding section of the doffing cart 4. For example, the bar-like member 16 is a pipe member made of stainless steel, and is arranged at a position located away from the spinning unit 2. Thus, when carrying out a maintenance operation or the like on the spinning unit 2, the operator can carry out the maintenance operation with the hand placed on the bar-like member 16 or leaning the body against the bar-like member 16. The operator thus can carry out the maintenance operation in a stable posture even when carrying out the operation while facing the spinning unit 2. As illustrated in portion A of FIG. 2, the guide rollers 85c of the doffing cart 4 make contact with an outer peripheral surface of the bar-like member 16 from both sides in the longitudinal direction (both left and right sides in FIG. 2) of the bar-like member 16. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bar-like member 16 is arranged along the first direction. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bar-like member 16 is arranged at the side located away from the spinning unit 2 than the range GL of the guiding movement of the suction pipe 8 8 of the doffing cart 4. The bar-like member 16 is arranged between the yarn path LP and the step 22. Accordingly, the doffing cart 4 is guided by the second travel rail 82 and the bar-like member 16. Position accuracy of the doffing cart 4 with respect to the spinning unit 2 becomes higher by guiding an upper portion of the doffing cart 4 with the bar-like member 16 and guiding the lower portion of the doffing cart 4 with the second travel rail 82. The doffing cart 4 thus can accurately perform a doffing operation from a doffing position.
The bar-like member 16 is supported by a plurality of supporting members 96 arranged with an interval between the
supporting members 96 in the first direction. The supporting members 96 fix a lower surface of the bar-like member 16. Therefore, the supporting members 96 are not arranged on an upper surface and front and back surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the bar-like member 16. Accordingly, the guide rollers 85c can be arranged.
The supporting member 96 is arranged for every four spinning units 2, for example. The supporting member 96 is fixed to the front side of the main frame 20. The supporting member 96 is a thick plate-shaped member, and includes a suction passage (not illustrated) connected to the second suction duct 18. A suction cap 96a serving as a suction portion is attached to a distal end of the suction passage in a manner that the suction cap 96a can be swung between an opened position and a closed position. If the suction cap 96a is swung to the opened position, the suction passage is opened and the yarn dusts or the like can be sucked. Accordingly, wastes such as yarn dusts collected by the operator during the maintenance operation or the like can be discarded.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, a stop operation section 29 is arranged along the bar-like member 16 below the bar-like member 16. A through-hole 96b, through which the stop operation section 29 can pass, is formed at a lower portion of a distal end of the supporting member 96. The stop operation section 29 is a rope member of which one end is connected to an emergency stop button 30. The stop operation section 29 is configured such that when the stop operation section 29 is pulled in a direction away from the supporting member 96, an emergency stop operation is carried out on the fine spinning machine 1 similarly as when the emergency stop button 30 is pushed. The operator thus can promptly perform the emergency stop operation of the fine spinning machine 1 at any position at the front of the fine spinning machine 1. Furthermore, since the stop operation section 29 is arranged below the bar-like member 16, the operator is less likely to operate the stop operation section 29 by mistake.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first suction duct 17 collects the yarn waste that generates when the yarn joining cart 3 performs the yarn joining operation and transports the yarn waste to the blower box 80. The second suction duct 18 collects the yarn waste that generates before and after the yarn joining operation and transports the yarn waste to the blower box 80. The third suction duct 19 collects dust and floating fibers that generate during drafting by the draft section 7 as well as dust and yarn waste that generate during spinning by the spinning section 9, and transports the same to the blower box 80.
In the present embodiment, the first suction duct 17 is arranged in the main frame 20 so as to be located below the yarn joining cart 3 in a vertical position of the fine spinning machine
1. The second suction duct 18 is arranged in the main frame 20 so
as to be located above the yarn joining cart 3. The third suction
duct 19 is arranged in the main frame 20 so as to be located behind
the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9.
The second suction duct 18 and the third suction duct 19 are continuously arranged on each main frame 20 of the fine spinning machine 1, respectively. The first suction duct 17 includes a main suction duct 17a which is continuously arranged on the main frame 20, a sub-suction duct 17b, and a coupling duct 17c. The sub-suction duct 17b is arranged with both ends closed on each main frame 20. The coupling duct 17c couples the main suction duct 17a and the sub-suction duct 17b. The main suction duct 17a is arranged below the yarn joining cart 3, and is arranged along the first direction of a plurality of sets of spinning units 2 with a plurality of spinning units 2 as one set. The sub-suction duct 17b is arranged below the second suction duct 18, that is, arranged above the yarn joining cart 3.
In the fine spinning machine 1 configured as described above, when carrying out the maintenance operation on the spinning unit
2, the operator stands on the step 22. When the operator stands on the step 22, the tiptoe of the shoes can be accommodated in the tiptoe accommodating section 23. Since the tiptoe accommodating section 23 is located below the package receiving section 21, the operator can approach the spinning unit 2 as much as possible. Therefore, the operation efficiency of the operator can be improved. Furthermore, the bar-like member 16 is arranged along the first direction facing the front side of the spinning unit 2 . The operator thus can carry out the maintenance operation while placing the hand on the bar-like member 16 or leaning the body against the bar-like member 16. Accordingly, the operation efficiency of the operator can be further improved. Moreover, since the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9 of the spinning unit 2 are arranged in an upright manner, the draft section 7 and the spinning section 9 can be arranged further approaching the operator standing on the step 22. Thus, the operator can more easily carry out the maintenance operation of the spinning unit 2.
The above embodiment can be realized in the following manner.
The fine spinning machine 1 serving as the spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units 2, the package receiving section 21, the step 22, and the tiptoe accommodating section 23. The plurality of spinning units 2 are arranged along the first direction, and respectively includes the winding section 13 for winding the package 45. The package receiving section 21 is arranged along the fist direction. The package receiving section
21 is arranged at the winding section 13 side of the spinning unit
2. The package receiving section 21 is located between the step
22 and the spinning units 2. The step 22 is arranged along the first direction. The step 22 is arranged at a position lower than the height of the package receiving section 21. The step 22 has a step surface on which the foot of the operator can be placed. The tiptoe accommodating section 23 includes space capable of accommodating the tiptoe of the foot of the operator standing on the step surface. The tiptoe accommodating section 23 is formed to enter below the package receiving section 21. In the fine spinning machine 1, when the operator stands on the step 22 for maintenance or the like, the tiptoe of the shoes can be accommodated in the tiptoe accommodating section 23 formed at the distal end side of the step 22. Since the tiptoe accommodating section 23 is formed below the package receiving section 21, the tiptoe is at the position located closer to the spinning unit 2 than the side surface 21a on the second side of the package receiving section 21. Therefore, when standing on the step 22, the operator can approach the spinning unit 2 by the length of the tiptoe accommodating section 23.
The fine spinning machine 1 further includes a package protecting section 27. The package protecting section 27 is arranged at the side surface 21a side on the second side of the package receiving section 21, that is, on the side where the step 22 is formed below, and is bent to lie along the shape of the package 45. The package protecting section 27 is arranged between the package receiving section 21 and the step 22. Therefore, even if the operator stands on the step 22 located close to the package receiving section 21, the package 45 is less likely to be contaminated by the operator. Furthermore, the package 45 is protected when the package 45 is placed on the package receiving section 21 or when the package 45 is transported by the package receiving section 21.
The fine spinning machine 1 further includes the second travel rail 82 and the doffing cart 4 . The second travel rail 82 is arranged along the first direction on the step 22. The doffing cart 4 is a cart, arranged capable of travelling on the second travel rail 82, for transporting the package 45 from the spinning unit 2 to the package receiving section 21. Accordingly, since the second travel rail 82 is arranged on the step 22, the configuration of the entire fine spinning machine 1 becomes compact even if the doffing cart 4 is provided.
The height of the doffing cart 4 is lower than the height of the spinning unit 2. The operator thus can perform the operation on the spinning unit 2 even where the doffing cart 4 is located.
The package receiving section 21 includes the package
transporting section 25 adapted to transport the package 45 along the first direction. The package 45 placed on the package receiving section 21 thus can be transported in the first direction by the package transporting section 25. Accordingly, productivity of the fine spinning machine 1 is improved.
The fine spinning machine 1 further includes the package guiding section 28 adapted to guide the package 4 5 wound with the spun yarn 10 to the package receiving section 21. The package guiding section 28 has the inclined surface 28a slanted downwards from the winding section 13 towards the package receiving section 21. The package 45 thus rolls from the winding section 13 to the package receiving section 21. Therefore, an impact acting on the package 45 when being placed on the package receiving section 21 can be reduced.
The spinning unit 2 further includes a draft section 7 adapted to draft the sliver 15 into the fiber bundle 8, and the spinning section 9 adapted to spin the fiber bundle 8 fed from the draft section 7 and produce the spun yarn 10. The draft section 7 is arranged in the upper portion of the spinning unit 2. The winding section 13 is arranged in the lower portion of the spinning unit 2 and is adapted to wind the spun yarn 10 produced by the spinning section 9 and form the package 45. The step 22 is arranged at a position lower than the winding section 13 in the height direction of the spinning units 2. In the conventional spinning machine in which the step is arranged at a position located close to the operator passage, if the operator is standing on the operator passage, the operator might touch the package placed on the package receiving section. However, since the tiptoe accommodating section 23 is arranged on the step 22 as described above, even if the operator stands on the operator passage, the operator can approach the spinning unit 2 without touching the package 45 placed on the package receiving section 21.
The fine spinning machine 1 further includes the bar-like member 16 arranged along the first direction with an interval from
a plurality of spinning units 2 at the front side of the spinning units 2. Thus, even if the operator approaches the spinning unit 2 by the length of the tiptoe accommodating section 23, the approach of the operator can be restricted by the bar-like member 16 and the operator can be prevented from approaching the spinning unit 2 too much by mistake.
One embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within a scope not deviating from the gist of the invention. In particular, the plurality of embodiments and alternative embodiments described herein may be arbitrarily combined as needed.
In the embodiment described above, the yarn path is formed from the upper portion to the lower portion of the fine spinning machine 1. The present invention can also be applied to a spinning machine in which the yarn path is formed from the lower portion to the upper portion.
In the embodiment described above, the second guide rail for the doffing cart is arranged on an outer side of the package receiving section. The present invention can also be applied to a spinning machine in which the second guide rail is arranged on an inner side of the package receiving section. In this case, the step is located away from the spinning unit compared to the embodiment described above. Therefore, the operator can further approach the spinning unit by arranging the tiptoe accommodating section.
In the embodiment and the alternative embodiments described above, the spun yarn 10 is pulled out from the spinning section 9 by the yarn slack eliminating section 12, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in place of the yarn slack eliminating section 12, a known delivery roller and a nip roller may be arranged, the spun yarn 10 may be nipped with the two rotating rollers, and the spun yarn 10 may be pulled out from the spinning section 9. In this case as well, the yarn slack eliminating section
12 may be arranged downstream of the delivery roller and the nip roller to eliminate the slackening of the spun yarn 10 that occurs during the winding operation.
In the embodiment and the alternative embodiments described above, the package transporting section in the form of a belt conveyor is arranged on the package receiving section 21, but the package transporting section may not be arranged on the package receiving section 21. In this case, the operator may manually collect the package 45 doffed from the winding section 13.
The present invention can be widely applied to a spinning machine with a step.
A plurality of embodiments will be hereinafter described as means for solving the problems. Such embodiments may be arbitrarily combined as needed. The spinning machine according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of spinning units, a package receiving section, a step, and a tiptoe accommodating section. The plurality of spinning units are arranged along a first direction. Each spinning unit includes a winding section adapted to wind a package. The package receiving section is arranged along the first direction. The package receiving section is arranged next to the yarn winding section side of the spinning unit. The package receiving section is arranged between the plurality of spinning units and the step. The step is arranged along the first direction. The step is located at a position lower than the height of the package receiving section. The step includes a step surface adapted to enable a foot of an operator to be placed. The tiptoe accommodating section includes space adapted to accommodate the tiptoe of the foot of the operator standing on the step surface. The tiptoe accommodating section is formed to enter below the package receiving section. In such a spinning machine, when the operator steps on the step surface of the step for maintenance operation or the like, the tiptoe of the foot of the operator can be accommodated in the tiptoe accommodating section. Since the tiptoe accommodating section is formed to enter
below the package receiving section, when the operator stands on the step, the operator can approach the spinning unit by the length of the tiptoe accommodating section.
The above spinning machine may further include a package protecting section. The package protecting section is arranged at the side of the package receiving section where the step is formed below, and is formed by being bent in the direction away from the package. The package protecting section is arranged between the package receiving section and the step. Therefore, even if the operator stands on the step located close to the package receiving section, the package is less likely to be contaminated by the operator. The package is protected by the package protecting section when the package is placed on the package receiving section or when the package is transported by the package receiving section.
The above spinning machine may further include a travel rail and a doffing cart. The travel rail is arranged on the step along the first direction. The doffing cart is a cart, arranged capable of travelling on the travel rail, for carrying out the package from the spinning unit to the package receiving section. Since the travel rail is arranged on the step, the configuration of the entire spinning machine becomes compact even if the doffing cart is arranged.
The travel rail is an aluminum plate member, and the doffing cart includes a rubber travelling wheel. The doffing cart can thus reliably travel on the travel rail. Although static electricity is generated between the travelling wheel and the travel rail, since the travel rail is made of aluminum and has satisfactory conductivity, the travel rail can also provide the function of an earth member. Furthermore, since the travelling wheel is made of rubber, the travelling wheel does not damage the travel rail. As a result, the travel rail is not scraped by the travelling wheel and metal pieces are not mixed in the package.
The height of the doffing cart may be lower than the height of the spinning unit. Accordingly, the operator can carry out the
operation even on the spinning unit where the doffing cart is located.
The package receiving section may include a package transporting section adapted to transport the package along the first direction. Accordingly, the package placed on the package receiving section can be transported in the first direction by the package transporting section. Therefore, the productivity of the spinning machine is improved.
The above spinning machine may further include a package guiding section adapted to guide the package wound with the spun yarn to the package receiving section. The package guiding section includes an inclined surface slanting downwards from the winding section towards the package receiving section. The package thus rolls from the winding section to the package receiving section. Accordingly, the impact that acts on the package when being placed on the package receiving section can be reduced.
The spinning unit may further include a draft section adapted to draft a sliver into a fiber bundle, and a spinning section adapted to spin the fiber bundle fed from the draft section and produce a spun yarn. The draft section is arranged in an upper portion of the spinning unit. The winding section is arranged at a lower portion of the spinning unit and is adapted to wind the spun yarn produced by the spinning section into a package. The step is arranged lower than the winding section in a height direction of the spinning units. In the conventional spinning machine in which the step is located at a position located close to the operator passage, if the operator is standing in the operator passage, the operator is likely to touch the package placed on the package receiving section. However, since the step is arranged lower than the winding section as described above, even if the operator stands on the step, the operator can approach the spinning unit without touching the package placed on the package receiving section.
The above spinning machine may further include a bar-like member arranged along the first direction at a front side of the
plurality of the spinning units with an interval from the spinning units. Accordingly, even if the operator approaches the spinning unit by the length of the tiptoe accommodating section, the approach of the operator is regulated by the bar-like member. Therefore, the operator does not approach too close to the spinning unit by mistake.
According to the present invention, since the tiptoe accommodating section is formed to enter below the package receiving section, when the operator stands on the step, the operator can approach the spinning unit by the length of the tiptoe accommodating section.

WE CLAIM
1. A spinning machine comprising:
a plurality of spinning units arranged along a first direction, each of the spinning units including a winding section adapted to wind a package,
a package receiving section arranged along the first direction and next to the winding section of the spinning unit,
a step arranged along the first direction so that the package receiving section is located between the step and the spinning units, and located at a position lower than the package receiving section, the step including a step surface adapted to enable a foot of an operator to be placed, and
a tiptoe accommodating section including space adapted to accommodate tiptoe of the foot of the operator standing on the step surface, and being formed to enter below the package receiving section.
2. The spinning machine according to claim 1, further
comprising a package protecting section arranged on a side of the
package receiving section where the step is formed below, and formed
by being bent to be along a shape of the package.
3. The spinning machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
further comprising:
a travel rail arranged on the step along the first direction, and
a doffing cart arranged capable of travelling on the rail and adapted to transport the package from the spinning unit to the package receiving section.
4. The spinning machine according to claim 3, wherein the travel rail is an aluminum plate member, and the doffing cart includes a rubber wheel.
5. The spinning machine according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a height of the doffing cart is lower than a height of the spinning units.
6. The spinning machine according to one of claim 1 through claim 5, wherein the package receiving section includes a package transporting section adapted to transport the package along the first direction.
7. The spinning machine according to one of claim 1 through claim 6, further comprising a package guiding section including an inclined surface arranged to incline from the winding section towards the package receiving section, the package guiding section being adapted to guide the package to the package receiving section.
8. The spinning machine according to one of claim 1 through claim 7, wherein the each of the spinning units includes a draft section adapted to draft sliver into fiber bundle, and a spinning section adapted to spin the fiber bundle fed from the draft section and produce a spun yarn,
the draft section is arranged in an upper portion of the spinning unit,
the winding section is arranged in a lower portion of the spinning unit and is adapted to wind the spun yarn produced by the spinning section into a package, and
the step is arranged lower than the winding section in a height direction of the spinning units.
9. The spinning machine according to one of claim 1 through claim 8, further comprising a bar-like member arranged along the first direction at a front side of the plurality of the spinning units with a predetermined interval from the spinning units.
10. A spinning machine, substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings and example.