This invention relates to a spinning unit and a
spinning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A spinning unit including a yarn supplying device
10 adapted to supply a yarn, and a yarn accumulating roller
adapted to accumulate the yarn supplied from the yarn
supplying device is conventionally known (see e.g.,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-067872 and
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-067891).
15 In such spinning unit, a front panel (front cover) is
arranged on a front surface side than the yarn accumulating
roller, and an opening for exposing the yarn accumulating
roller to the front surface side (machine outer side) is
formed in such front panel.
20 In the spinning unit described above, when a yarn gets
entangled around the yarn accumulating roller, an operator
pulls out the yarn from the yarn accumulating roller to the
machine outer side through the opening of the front cover
to remove the entangled yarn. In this case, the yarn is
25 rubbed against an edge part of the opening of the front cover,
and thus may possibly damage the front cover.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide
30 a spinning unit and a spinning machine capable of preventing
the front cover from being damaged.
2 / 35
A spinning unit comprising: a yarn supplying device
adapted to supply a yarn; a yarn accumulating roller adapted
to accumulate the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying
device; a front cover arranged outward than the yarn
5 accumulating roller and formed with an opening that exposes
the yarn accumulating roller to outside, the front cover
including a main body part and an edge part arranged to
form an edge of the opening, wherein at least a portion of
the edge part has a physical property of at least one of
10 hardness higher than hardness of the main body part, a
fusion point higher than a fusion point of the main body
part, and a surface roughness smaller than a surface
roughness of the main body part.
A spinning machine comprising a plurality of spinning
15 units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a spinning machine
according to a first embodiment;
20 FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a yarn processing
module of a spinning unit according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part
of a front cover according to the first embodiment seen from
a front side;
25 FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the main
part of the front cover according to the first embodiment
seen from a back side;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a portion
of a main body part according to the first embodiment seen
30 from a front side;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a portion
3 / 35
of the main body part according to the first embodiment seen
from a back side;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first edge
member according to the first embodiment;
5 FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second
edge member according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-sectional view
describing an attachment state of the first edge member
according to the first embodiment;
10 FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view
describing an attachment state of the second edge member
according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a main part
of a front cover according to a second embodiment seen from
15 a front side;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a
sandwiching unit according to the second embodiment seen
from a front side;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the
20 sandwiching unit according to the second embodiment seen
from a back side;
FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a main
part of a front cover according to an alternative embodiment
seen from a front side;
25 FIG. 13B is a perspective view illustrating the main
part of a front cover according to another alternative
embodiment seen from a front side;
FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
periphery of an opening of a front cover according to
30 another further alternative embodiment.
4 / 35
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention will be
hereinafter described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are
5 denoted on the same or corresponding portions throughout
the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.
[First Embodiment]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spinning machine 1
includes a plurality of spinning units 2, a yarn joining
10 cart 3, a doffing cart (not illustrated), a first end frame
4, and a second end frame 5. The plurality of the spinning
units 2 are arranged in a row. Each of the spinning units
2 is adapted to produce a yarn Y and to wind the yarn Y around
a package P. The yarn joining cart 3 is adapted to perform
15 a yarn joining operation in a spinning unit 2 after the yarn
Y is cut, or is broken for some reason in such a spinning
unit 2. The doffing cart is adapted to doff the package
P and to supply a new bobbin B to a spinning unit 2 after
the package P is fully-wound in a spinning unit 2.
20 In the following description, a side in which the yarn
Y is produced is referred to as “upstream” and a side in
which the yarn Y is wound is referred to as “downstream”
in a path (i.e., yarn path) on which the yarn Y travels.
A side in which a pneumatic spinning device 7 is arranged
25 with respect to a frame 14, to be described later, (side
in which the yarn path is located with respect to the yarn
joining cart 3, side in which an operator’s passage is
arranged) is referred to as “front side” or “front surface
side”, and the opposite side (side in which a sliver case
30 (not illustrated) is disposed) is referred to as “back side”.
An upper side in a vertical direction is simply referred
5 / 35
to as “upper side”, and a lower side in the vertical
direction is simply referred to as “lower side”.
The first end frame 4 accommodates, for example, a
collecting device adapted to collect a fiber waste, a yarn
5 waste, and the like generated in the spinning units 2. The
second end frame 5 accommodates an air supplying section
adapted to adjust air pressure of compressed air (air) to
be supplied to the spinning machine 1 and to supply the air
to each section of the spinning machine 1, a drive motor
10 adapted to supply power to each section of the spinning
units 2, and the like. The second end frame 5 is provided
with a machine control device 51, a display screen 52, and
an input key 53. The machine control device 51 is adapted
to intensively manage and control each section of the
15 spinning machine 1. The display screen 52 is capable of
displaying information relating to set contents and/or a
status, or the like of the spinning units 2. An operator
can perform an appropriate operation using the input key
53 to carry out a setting operation of the spinning units
20 2.
Each spinning unit 2 includes a draft device (yarn
supplying device) 6, the pneumatic spinning device (yarn
supplying device) 7, a yarn monitoring device 8, a tension
sensor 9, a yarn accumulating device 50, a waxing device
25 12, and a winding device 13 in this order from upstream in
a travelling direction of the yarn Y. These devices are
directly or indirectly supported by the frame 14 such that
the upstream is on an upper side (i.e., downstream is on
a lower side). The yarn monitoring device 8, the tension
30 sensor 9, and the yarn accumulating device 50 are removably
attached to the frame 14 as a yarn processing module 30 (see
6 / 35
FIG. 2) (details are described later). A unit controller
10 is provided for every predetermined number of the
spinning units 2 and is adapted to control operations of
the spinning units 2.
5 The draft device 6 is adapted to draft a sliver (fiber
bundle) S. The pneumatic spinning device 7 is adapted to
produce the yarn Y by twisting a fiber bundle F, which has
been drafted by the draft device 6, with whirling airflow.
The yarn accumulating device 50 is adapted to eliminate a
10 slack of the yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning device
7 and the winding device 13. The waxing device 12 is adapted
to apply wax to the yarn Y between the yarn accumulating
device 50 and the winding device 13. The winding device
13 is adapted to wind the yarn Y around a bobbin B to form
15 a package P.
The yarn monitoring device 8 is adapted to monitor
information on the travelling yarn Y between the pneumatic
spinning device 7 and the yarn storage device 11, and to
detect presence or absence of a yarn defect based on the
20 information acquired by the monitoring. When detecting
the yarn defect, the yarn monitoring device 8 transmits a
yarn defect detection signal to the unit controller 10. The
tension sensor 9 is adapted to measure tension of the
travelling yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning device 7
25 and the yarn accumulating device 50, and to transmit a
tension measurement signal to the unit controller 10. When
the unit controller 10 determines a presence of an
abnormality based on a detection result of the yarn
monitoring device 8 and/or the tension sensor 9, the yarn
30 Y is cut in the spinning unit 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the yarn processing module
7 / 35
30 includes the yarn accumulating device 50 and a front
cover 60. The yarn accumulating device 50 includes a yarn
accumulating roller 54, and a yarn hooking member 55. The
yarn accumulating roller 54 has a cylindrical shape around
5 which the yarn Y is wound. The shape of the yarn
accumulating roller 54 is not limited to the illustrated
shape, and may have a multiple-stage tapered shape. The
yarn accumulating roller 54 winds and accumulates the yarn
Y supplied from the pneumatic spinning device 7 around an
10 outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller
54. The yarn accumulating roller 54 is fixed to a drive
shaft of an electric motor (drive motor) so as to be rotated
by the electric motor. The yarn hooking member 55 is a
member adapted to hook the yarn Y and wind the yarn Y around
15 the yarn accumulating roller 54. The yarn hooking member
55 is supported in a relatively rotatable manner about a
shaft of the yarn accumulating roller 54 at a downstream
of the yarn accumulating roller 54.
The front cover 60 is a panel arranged on a front side
20 (machine outer side) than the yarn accumulating roller 54.
An opening 61 for exposing the yarn accumulating roller 54
to a front side is formed in the front cover 60. In other
words, when seen from the front side, the opening 61 is
formed in a region that overlaps with a portion or the entire
25 portion of the yarn accumulating roller 54. The opening
61 has an arch shape opened toward the lower side when seen
from the front side. The opening 61 is configured in the
following manner.
A lateral width (width in a machine left and right
30 direction of the horizontal direction) of a lower side
portion and a lateral width of an upper side portion in the
8 / 35
opening 61 are constant. The lateral width of the lower
side portion of the opening 61 is wider than the lateral
width of the upper side portion of the opening 61. At an
intermediate portion between the upper side portion and the
5 lower side portion in the opening 61, the lateral width
smoothly becomes smaller toward the upper side.
One-side-edge-part located on one side in the horizontal
direction (hereinafter simply referred to also as
“one-side-edge-part”) of the edge part of the opening 61
10 is configured by a first edge member 63, to be described
later. An opposite-side-edge-part located on the opposite
side in the horizontal direction (hereinafter simply
referred to also as “opposite-side-edge-part”) of the edge
part of the opening 61 is configured by a second edge member
15 64, to be described later. From the lower side toward the
upper side, the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part extend straight, and then extend
while inclining toward the inner side of the opening 61,
and then again extend straight.
20 The edge part of the opening 61 is a portion that forms
the edge of the opening 61. The edge part of the opening
61 is a portion that can be brought into contact with the
yarn Y when the yarn Y of the yarn accumulating roller 54
is pulled out toward the front side through the opening 61.
25 The edge part of the opening 61 is a portion that at least
includes a corner portion constituting the edge on the front
side in the opening 61. The corner portion is not only a
corner portion which apex part has a sharp corner or an
obtuse corner, but also includes a corner portion which apex
30 part has a round corner.
The front cover 60 is removably attached to a unit
9 / 35
frame 40, which is a chassis (sheet metal panel) configuring
a portion of the frame 14 (see FIG. 1), with a screw, and
the like. An interface 59 including a display section 57
and an operation section 58 is arranged on the front cover
5 60. The display section 57 displays an operation state of
the spinning unit 2. The operation section 58 is an
operation button, and the like operated by an operator to
give an operation instruction to the spinning unit 2.
The yarn processing module 30 further includes a
10 guiding member 37, the yarn monitoring device 8, and the
tension sensor 9 arranged in order from the upstream. The
guiding member 37 is a member adapted to guide the yarn Y
to a predetermined position in the yarn monitoring device
8 from the front side. The guiding member 37, the yarn
15 monitoring device 8, and the tension sensor 9 are arranged
so that the yarn path is located on the front side of the
front cover 60.
The front cover 60 includes a main body part 62, the
first edge member 63, and the second edge member 64. As
20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6, the main body part 62 is the
main part of the front cover 60. The main body part 62 is
formed from, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS) resin or acrylonitrile ethylene-propylene-diene
styrene (AES) resin.
25 The main body part 62 includes a front wall 62a having
a rectangular shape when seen from the front side, an upper
wall 62b arranged vertically at an upper end part of a back
surface of the front wall 62a, and a lower wall 62c arranged
vertically at a lower end part of the back surface of the
30 front wall 62a. The opening 61, described above, is formed
in the front wall 62a. At a front surface of the front wall
10 / 35
62a, the one side and the opposite side in the horizontal
direction of a peripheral region of the opening 61 are
formed with a first recess 66 and a second recess 67,
respectively. On the back side of the edge part of the
5 opening 61 of the front wall 62a, a vertical wall 62d is
arranged vertically along the edge part.
The first recess 66 is a recess that engages with the
first edge member 63. The second recess 67 is a recess that
engages with the second edge member 64. The first recess
10 66 extends along the edge on one side in the horizontal
direction of the opening 61. The second recess 67 extends
along the edge on the opposite side in the horizontal
direction of the opening 61. In other words, from the lower
side towards the upper side, the first recess 66 and the
15 second recess 67 extend straight, and then extend while
inclining toward the inner side of the opening 61, and then
again extend straight.
A circular through hole 68 to which a boss 72 (to be
described later) of the first edge member 63 is inserted,
20 is formed at a bottom surface of the first recess 66. A
circular through hole 69 to which a boss 75 (to be described
later) of the second edge member 64 is inserted, is formed
at a bottom surface of the second recess 67. A rectangular
opening 70 to which a portion of the first edge member 63
25 is inserted, is formed at the upper end part of the bottom
surface of the first recess 66. A rectangular opening 71
to which a portion of the second edge member 64 is inserted,
is formed at the upper end part of the bottom surface of
the second recess 67.
30 As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the first edge
member 63 is an edge member configuring one-side-edge-part
11 / 35
of the opening 61. The first edge member 63 is fixed to
the main body part 62 while being engaged with the first
recess 66. The first edge member 63 is formed from, for
example, phenol resin or metal. The first edge member 63
5 includes a front plate part (first plate part) 63a, an end
plate part 63b, and a side plate part (second plate part)
63c.
The front plate part 63a extends in accordance with
the shape of the first recess 66. The front plate part 63a
10 is fitted into the first recess 66. The back surface of
the front plate part 63a is brought into contact with the
bottom surface of the first recess 66. The front plate part
63a is arranged on a front side of the main body part 62.
The cylindrical boss 72 is arranged vertically on the back
15 surface of the front plate part 63a. An upper end
projection 73 is arranged at the upper end part of the back
surface of the front plate part 63a. The upper end
projection 73 has a shape that extends toward the upper side
while projecting out toward the back side.
20 The end plate part 63b is arranged vertically at the
lower end part of the back surface of the front plate part
63a. The end plate part 63b is brought into contact with
the lower wall 62c of the main body part 62. On the back
surface of the front plate part 63a, at an edge of a side
25 where the opening 61 is arranged, the side plate part 63c
is arranged vertically along the extending direction of the
front plate part 63a. That is, the side plate part 63c is
arranged vertically on the machine inner side of the front
plate part 63a. The side plate part 63c continues to the
30 side of the front plate part 63a so as to be bent at right
angle with respect to the front plate part 63a. The side
12 / 35
plate part 63c is brought into contact with the vertical
wall 62d of the main body part 62. The side plate part 63c
constitutes an inner wall surface of the opening 61.
The front plate part 63a is fitted into the first
5 recess 66, the end plate part 63b is brought into contact
with the lower wall 62c, and the side plate part 63c is
brought into contact with the vertical wall 62d. The upper
end projection 73 is inserted into the opening 70 of the
first recess 66 so as to enter the back surface of the front
10 wall 62a (see FIG. 4). The boss 72 is inserted into the
through hole 68 of the first recess 66. The first edge
member 63 is removably fixed to the main body part 62 by
tightening a screw N (see FIG. 4) to the boss 72 in such
a state. Such first edge member 63 includes a corner
15 portion constituting the edge on the front side in the
one-side-edge-part of the opening 61.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8, the second edge
member 64 is an edge member that configures the
opposite-side-edge-part of the opening 61. The second
20 edge member 64 is fixed to the main body part 62 while being
engaged with the second recess 67. The second edge member
64 is formed from, for example, phenol resin or metal. The
second edge member 64 includes a front plate part (first
plate part) 64a, an end plate part 64b, and a side plate
25 part (second plate part) 64c.
The front plate part 64a extends in accordance with
the shape of the second recess 67. The front plate part
64a is fitted into the second recess 67. The back surface
of the front plate part 64a is brought into contact with
30 the bottom surface of the second recess 67. The front plate
part 64a is arranged on a front side of the main body part
13 / 35
62. The cylindrical boss 75 is arranged vertically on the
back surface of the front plate part 64a. An upper end piece
77 is arranged at the upper end part of the front plate part
64a via a step 76. The upper end piece 77 is located on
5 the back side than the front plate part 64a, and arranged
to extend toward the upper side. A distal end portion of
the upper end piece 77 includes a bent end portion 78 bent
so as to deflect toward the back side (arranged in a bent
manner to project out toward the back side).
10 The end plate part 64b is arranged vertically at the
lower end part of the back surface of the front plate part
64a. The end plate part 64b is brought into contact with
the lower wall 62c of the main body part 62. On the back
surface of the front plate part 64a, at an edge of a side
15 where the opening 61 is arranged, the side plate part 64c
is arranged vertically along the front plate part 64a. That
is, the side plate part 64c is arranged vertically on the
machine inner side of the front plate part 64a. The side
plate part 64c continues to the side of the front plate part
20 64a so as to be bent at right angle with respect to the front
plate part 64a. The side plate part 64c is brought into
contact with the vertical wall 62d of the main body part
62. The side plate part 64c constitutes an inner wall
surface of the opening 61.
25 The front plate part 64a is fitted into the second
recess 67, the end plate part 64b is brought into contact
with the lower wall 62c, and the side plate part 64c is
brought into contact with the vertical wall 62d. The upper
end piece 77 is inserted into the opening 71 of the second
30 recess 67, and the bent end portion 78 is inserted into the
opening 71 so as to enter the back surface of the front wall
14 / 35
62a (see FIG. 4). The boss 75 is inserted into the through
hole 69 of the second recess 67. The second edge member
64 is removably fixed to the main body part 62 by tightening
a screw N (see FIG. 4) to the boss 75 in such a state. Such
5 second edge member 64 includes a corner portion
constituting the edge on the front side in the
opposite-side-edge-part of the opening 61.
As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, under a state in
which the first edge member 63 and the second edge member
10 64 are fixed to the main body part 62 and the front cover
60 is attached to the unit frame 40, the upper end projection
73 of the first edge member 63 is sandwiched between the
main body part 62 and the unit frame 40, and the bent end
portion 78 of the second edge member 64 is sandwiched
15 between the main body part 62 and the unit frame 40. FIGS.
9A and 9B are cross-sectional views of a cross-section
parallel to an upper-lower direction and a front-back
direction.
The first edge member 63 and the second edge member
20 64 have a hardness higher than a hardness of the main body
part 62, a fusion point higher than a fusion point of the
main body part 62, and a surface roughness smaller than a
surface roughness of the main body part 62. In other words,
the first edge member 63 and the second edge member 64 have
25 a physical property of having a hardness higher than a
hardness of the main body part 62, a physical property of
having fusion point higher than a fusion point of the main
body part 62, and a physical property of having a surface
roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the main body
30 part 62 (such physical properties are also hereinafter
collectively referred to as “each physical property”).
15 / 35
Specifically, for example, when the main body part 62 is
formed from AES, the Rockwell hardness is between R85 and
R105, the fusion point is between 100C and 110C (heatproof
temperature is between 60C and 95C, heat distortion
5 temperature is between 96C and 105C), and a surface
roughness Ra is 4. For example, when the first edge member
63 and the second edge member 64 are formed from phenol resin,
the Rockwell hardness is between M100 and M120, and the
surface roughness Ra is smaller than or equal to 1.6. The
10 phenol resin is a thermosetting resin, which heatproof
temperature is between 150C and 180C, and the heat
distortion temperature is between 150C and 175C.
In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2
described above, when the yarn Y gets entangled around the
15 yarn accumulating roller 54, the operator pulls out the yarn
Y toward the front side through the opening 61 of the front
cover 60 to remove the entangled yarn Y. In this case, the
yarn Y may rub against the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part of the opening 61. In this case
20 as well, however, the following effects are obtained as the
first edge member 63 and the second edge member 64
configuring the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part have each physical property
described above.
25 That is, the hardness of the one-side-edge-part and
the opposite-side-edge-part can be made higher than the
main body part 62, so that the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part are less likely to be damaged.
The fusion point of the one-side-edge-part and the
30 opposite-side-edge-part can be made higher than the main
body part 62, so that the one-side-edge-part and the
16 / 35
opposite-side-edge-part are less likely to be fused by heat
generated accompanying the rubbing of the yarn Y, and the
one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part are
less likely to be damaged. The surface roughness of the
5 one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part can be
made smaller than the main body part 62, so that the
one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part are
less likely to be damaged. As a result, even if the yarn
Y is rubbed against the one-side-edge-part and the
10 opposite-side-edge-part, the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part can be prevented from being
damaged and furthermore, the front cover 60 can be prevented
from being damaged.
In removing the yarn Y entangled around the yarn
15 accumulating roller 54, the yarn Y particularly tends to
be rubbed against the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part in the edge part of the opening 61.
In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2, the
one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part of the
20 edge part of the opening 61 are configured by the first edge
member 63 and the second edge member 64 having each physical
property described above. Thus, the front cover 60 can be
particularly prevented from being damaged.
In removing the yarn Y entangled around the yarn
25 accumulating roller 54, the yarn Y is sometimes
particularly rubbed against the corner portion
constituting the edge on the front side in the edge part
of the opening 61. In the spinning machine 1 and the
spinning unit 2, the first edge member 63 includes the
30 corner portion constituting the edge on the front side in
the one-side-edge-part of the opening 61, and the second
17 / 35
edge member 64 includes the corner portion constituting the
edge on the front side in the opposite-side-edge-part of
the opening 61. Thus, the front cover 60 can be
particularly prevented from being damaged.
5 In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2,
the one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part of
the opening 61 are configured by the first edge member 63
and the second edge member 64, which are different members
from the main body part 62. The first edge member 63 and
10 the second edge member 64 are fixed to the main body part
62. Thus, a configuration in which the one-side-edge-part
and the opposite-side-edge-part have each physical
property described above can be easily realized by using
the first edge member 63 and the second edge member 64, which
15 are different members from the main body part 62. Even if
the one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part are
damaged, the first edge member 63 and the second edge member
64 are merely replaced with a new first edge member 63 and
a new second edge member 64.
20 The spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 include
the unit frame 40, to which the front cover 60 is attached.
Each of the first edge member 63 and the second edge member
64 is sandwiched between the main body part 62 and the unit
frame 40. According to such configuration, the first edge
25 member 63 and the second edge member 64 can be reliably
fixed.
In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2,
the first edge member 63 includes the front plate part 63a
and the side plate part 63c, and the second edge member 64
30 includes the front plate part 64a and the side plate part
64c. According to such configuration, a fly waste can be
18 / 35
prevented from entering between the main body part 62 and
the first edge member 63 by the side plate part 63c, and
the fly waste can be prevented from entering between the
main body part 62 and the second edge member 64 by the side
5 plate part 64c, while preventing the front cover 60 from
being damaged with the front plate parts 63a and 64a.
In the present embodiment, when seen from the lower
side, the yarn Y is wound in a clockwise direction on the
outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller
10 54. At one side in the horizontal direction, the upstream
of the yarn Y wound around the yarn accumulating roller 54
is located on the front side and the downstream of the yarn
Y is located on the back side. At the opposite side in the
horizontal direction, the upstream of the yarn Y wound
15 around the yarn accumulating roller 54 is located on the
back side, and the downstream of the yarn Y is located on
the front side. In the present embodiment, the first edge
member 63 may only include the front plate part 63a, and
the second edge member 64 may only include the front plate
20 part 64a. In this case as well, the first edge member 63
and the second edge member 64 each include the corner
portion constituting the edge on the front side in the
opening 61, and the one-side-edge-part and the
opposite-side-edge-part of the opening 61 have each
25 physical property described above.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a description will be made on a second
embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment,
aspects different from the first embodiment will be
30 described.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, a front cover 60B of the
19 / 35
present embodiment does not include the first edge member
63 and the second edge member 64 (see FIG. 3). The front
cover 60B of the present embodiment includes an edge member
80 made from an aluminum thin-plate, and a sandwiching unit
5 82 adapted to sandwich the edge member 80. In the main body
part 62 of the present embodiment, the first recess 66 and
the second recess 67 (see FIG. 5) are not formed at the front
surface of the front wall 62a.
The edge member 80 configures the entire periphery
10 of the edge part of the opening 61. At the front surface
of the front wall 62a, the edge member 80 is arranged to
overlap the peripheral region of the opening 61. The edge
member 80 extends in an arch shape along the opening 61 when
seen from the front side. The edge member 80 include a one
15 side part, an opposite side part, and an upper end part.
The one side part extends straight from the one end part
of the edge member 80 toward the upper side, and then extends
while inclining toward the inner side of the opening 61.
The opposite side part extends straight from the other end
20 part of the edge member 80 toward the upper side, and then
extends while inclining toward the inner side of the opening
61. The upper end part is continuous to the upper ends of
the one side part and the opposite side part and extends
to the left and right. The edge member 80 is fixed to the
25 front surface of the front wall 62a by, for example,
adhesion using a double-sided tape. The edge member 80 may
be fixed to the front wall 62a by other adhering method such
as an adhesive, a one-sided tape, or the like. The edge
member 80 includes a corner portion constituting the edge
30 on the front side of the opening 61. The edge member 80
has hardness higher than hardness of the main body part 62,
20 / 35
a fusion point higher than a fusion point of the main body
part 62, and a surface roughness smaller than a surface
roughness of the main body part 62.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sandwiching
5 unit 82 includes a sandwiching plate (sandwiching member)
84 adapted to hold down the end part of the edge member 80
to the main body part 62 and sandwich the same, and a fixing
block 86 adapted to fix the sandwiching plate 84 to the main
body part 62. A pair of sandwiching plates 84 is arranged.
10 One sandwiching plate 84 holds down one end part of the edge
member 80 toward the main body part 62 from the front side.
The other sandwiching plate 84 holds down the other end part
of the edge member 80 toward the main body part 62 from the
front side. Each sandwiching plate 84 includes a
15 contacting part 84a that is brought into contact with the
edge member 80, and a coupling part 84c in which through
holes 84b are arranged side by side and which is coupled
to the fixing block 86. A pair of fixing blocks 86 is
arranged in accordance with the sandwiching plates 84. A
20 groove 86a to be fitted to the lower wall 62c of the main
body part 62 is formed on the front surface of the fixing
block 86. A screw hole 86b penetrating in the front-back
direction is formed in the fixing block 86.
The contacting part 84a of one sandwiching plate 84
25 is brought into contact with one end part of the edge member
80, and the contacting part 84a of the other sandwiching
plate 84 is brought into contact with the other end part
of the edge member 80. The lower wall 62c of the main body
part 62 is fitted into the groove 86a of each fixing block
30 86. With respect to the through hole 84b of each
sandwiching plate 84, the screw hole 86b of the fixing block
21 / 35
86 associated with such a sandwiching plate 84 is arranged
to be continuous. In this state, the sandwiching plate 84
and the fixing block 86 are tightened with respect to each
other from the front and back by inserting a screw N1 from
5 the front side into the through hole 84b and screw-fitting
the screw N1 into the screw hole 86b. As a result, one
sandwiching plate 84 and the main body part 62 sandwich one
end part of the edge member 80, and the other sandwiching
plate 84 and the main body part 62 sandwich the other end
10 part of the edge member 80.
As described above, in the spinning machine and the
spinning unit of the present embodiment, the edge member
80 configuring the edge part of the opening 61 has each
physical property described above (i.e., hardness higher
15 than hardness of main body part 62, fusion point higher than
fusion point of main body part 62, and surface roughness
smaller than surface roughness of main body part 62). Thus,
even if the yarn Y is rubbed against the edge part of the
opening 61, the front cover 60B can be prevented from being
20 damaged.
The edge member 80 extends in an arch shape along the
opening 61 when seen from the front side, and is fixed to
the front side of the main body part 62 by adhesion. In
this case, a configuration in which the edge part of the
25 opening 61 has each physical property described above can
be easily realized using, for example, the front cover of
the existing spinning unit.
The sandwiching plate 84 sandwiches one end part of
the edge member 80 together with the main body part 62. The
30 sandwiching plate 84 sandwiches the other end part of the
edge member 80 together with the main body part 62. Thus,
22 / 35
the one end part and the other end part of the edge member
80 can be prevented from separating (lifting up) with
respect to the main body part 62. In the present embodiment,
the sandwiching plate 84 for sandwiching one end part of
5 the edge member 80 and the sandwiching plate 84 for
sandwiching the other end part of the edge member 80 have
been provided, but only at least one of the two sandwiching
plate 84 may be provided.
A test was conducted for verifying which portion in
10 the edge part of the opening 61 is easily damaged in removing
the yarn Y entangled around the yarn accumulating roller
54. Specifically, after performing the removing operation
of the yarn Y entangled around the yarn accumulating roller
54 for a predetermined number of times, the status of the
15 edge part of the opening 61 was observed, and the proportion
of the damage existing at each portion of the edge part of
the opening 61 was obtained. The proportion of the damage
was obtained with the damage over the entire periphery of
the edge part of the opening 61 as a reference. Each portion
20 of the edge part of the opening 61 in the verification test
is a total of seven portions, a lower side portion of the
one-side-edge-part, an upper side portion of the
one-side-edge-part, an intermediate portion between the
upper side portion and the lower side portion of the
25 one-side-edge-part, a lower side portion of the
opposite-side-edge-part, an upper side portion of the
opposite-side-edge-part, an intermediate portion between
the upper side portion and the lower side portion of the
opposite-side-edge-part, and an upper edge part connecting
30 to the upper side of the one-side-edge-part and the upper
side of the opposite-side-edge-part and extending to the
23 / 35
left and right. According to the result of the verification
test, the order of the portion that is easily rubbed by the
yarn Y and easily damaged is, “lower side portion of
opposite-side-edge-part”, “intermediate portion of
5 opposite-side-edge-part”, “upper side portion of
opposite-side-edge-part”, “lower side portion of
one-side-edge-part”, “upper side portion of
one-side-edge-part”, “intermediate portion of
one-side-edge-part”, and “upper edge part”.
10 One or more embodiments of the present invention have
been described above, but the present invention is not
limited to the above embodiments.
In the first embodiment described above, the first
edge member 63 and the second edge member 64 configuring
15 the one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part of
the opening 61 are arranged, and the first edge member 63
and the second edge member 64 have each physical property
described above. In the second embodiment described above,
the edge member 80 configuring the entire periphery of the
20 edge part of the opening 61 is arranged, and the edge member
80 has each physical property described above. However,
the present invention is not limited to such configuration.
For example, in the first embodiment, only at least one of
the first edge member 63 and the second edge member 64 may
25 be arranged. The first edge member 63 and the second edge
member 64 merely need to have at least one of the physical
properties described above. The edge member 80 merely
needs to have at least one of the physical properties
described above. In other words, at least a portion of the
30 edge part of the opening 61 merely needs to have at least
one of the physical properties of hardness higher than the
24 / 35
hardness of the main body part 62, a fusion point higher
than the fusion point of the main body part 62, and a surface
roughness smaller than the surface roughness of the main
body part 62.
5 In the first embodiment described above, the first
edge member 63 and the second edge member 64 each are fixed
to the main body part 62 with the screw N, but the
configuration of fixing the edge member to the main body
part 62 is not particularly limited, and the edge member
10 may be fixed to the main body part 62 by various publicly
known configurations. For example, as illustrated in FIG.
13A, an edge member 90 made from a sheet metal pressed
article having a claw portion 91 may be used, and the edge
member 90 may be fixed to the main body part 62 by bending
15 the claw portion 91 and engaging the claw portion 91 to the
main body part 62.
In the first embodiment described above, the
one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part of the
opening 61 are configured by the first edge member 63 and
20 the second edge member 64 (see FIG. 3), which are different
members from the main body part 62. In the second
embodiment described above, the edge part of the opening
61 is configured by the edge member 80 (see FIG. 10), which
is a different member from the main body part 62. However,
25 the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.
The edge part having at least one of the physical properties
described above in the opening 61 may be integrally
configured with the main body part 62. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 13B, a portion 95 having at least one
30 of the physical properties described above may be provided
in at least a portion of the edge part of the opening 61
25 / 35
in the main body part 62 through a two-color molding.
The above-described embodiment, for example, may be
configured as below, in which case as well, the front cover
60B can also be prevented from being damaged by providing
5 at least one of the physical properties to the edge part
of the opening 61. That is, a plated layer may be provided
on the edge part of the opening 61 in the main body part
62. The edge part of the opening 61 of the main body part
62 may be coated with diamond like carbon (DLC).
10 Modification treatment may be performed on the edge part
of the opening 61 of the main body part 62. The main body
part 62 may be formed with ultraviolet curing resin, light
curing resin, or thermosetting resin, and the edge part of
the opening 61 of the main body part 62 may be subjected
15 to ultraviolet irradiation, light irradiation, or heating.
As illustrated in Fig. 13C, a wire W having at least one
of the physical properties may be fitted along the opening
61 at a position of the corner portion constituting the edge
on the front side of the opening 61 of the main body part
20 62 to form the corner portion with the wire W.
Alternatively, the corner portion may be formed with the
wire W through insert molding. Fig. 13C is a
cross-sectional view of the cross-section parallel to the
horizontal plane.
25 In the above-described embodiment, the edge part of
the opening 61 may include a chamfer portion constituting
the edge on the front side of the opening 61 in place of
the corner portion constituting the edge on the front side
of the opening 61. The chamfer portion includes not only
30 a chamfer portion having a plane (C plane) at the apex part,
but also a chamfer portion having a curved surface (R
26 / 35
surface) at the apex part.
In the spinning unit 2, each device is arranged such
that the yarn Y supplied on the upper side is wound on the
lower side in a machine height direction, but each device
5 may be arranged such that the yarn Y supplied from the lower
side is wound on the upper side. FIG. 1 illustrates that
the spinning machine 1 winds a cheese package P, but the
spinning machine 1 can also wind a conical package P.
In the spinning unit 2, the yarn accumulating device
10 50 has a function of pulling out the yarn Y from the pneumatic
spinning device 7, but the yarn Y may be pulled out from
the pneumatic spinning device 7 with a delivery roller and
a nip roller.
In the travelling direction of the yarn Y, the tension
15 sensor 9 may be arranged upstream of the yarn monitoring
device 8. The unit controller 10 may be provided for every
spinning unit 2. In the spinning unit 2, the waxing device
12, the tension sensor 9 and the yarn monitoring device 8
may be omitted.
20 According to the embodiments and the alternative
embodiments described above, the opening 61 is prevented
from being damaged. Thus, the fly waste and/or fiber waste
caught at the damaged portion are avoided from mixing with
the yarn Y and/or the package P, whereby the quality of the
25 formed package P can be avoided from lowering.
A spinning unit of the present invention includes a
yarn supplying device adapted to supply a yarn; a yarn
accumulating roller adapted to accumulate the yarn supplied
from the yarn supplying device; and a front cover arranged
30 outward than the yarn accumulating roller and formed with
an opening that exposes the yarn accumulating roller to
27 / 35
outside, wherein the front cover includes a main body part
and an edge part arranged to form an edge of the opening,
and at least a portion of the edge part has a physical
property of at least one of hardness higher than hardness
5 of the main body part, a fusion point higher than a fusion
point of the main body part, and a surface roughness smaller
than a surface roughness of the main body part.
In removing the yarn entangled around the yarn
accumulating roller, the following knowledge is found when
10 the yarn is rubbed against the edge part of the opening in
the front cover (hereinafter also simply referred to as
“edge part”). That is, the edge part is less likely to be
damaged by increasing the hardness of the edge part. By
increasing the fusion point of the edge part, the edge part
15 is less likely to be fused by heat generated accompanying
the rubbing of the yarn, and the edge part is less likely
to be damaged. The edge part is less likely to be damaged
by reducing the surface roughness of the edge part. Thus,
in the spinning unit of the present invention, at least a
20 portion of the edge part has at least one of the physical
properties of hardness higher than the hardness of the main
body part, a fusion point higher than the fusion point of
the main body part, and a surface roughness smaller than
the surface roughness of the main body part. Accordingly,
25 even if the yarn is rubbed against the edge part, the front
cover can be prevented from being damaged.
In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
at least a portion of the edge part may include at least
one of a one-side-edge-part located on one side in a
30 horizontal direction, and an opposite-side-edge-part
located on an opposite side in the horizontal direction.
28 / 35
In removing the yarn entangled around the yarn accumulating
roller, the yarn is particularly rubbed against the
one-side-edge-part on the one side or the
opposite-side-edge-part on the opposite side in the
5 horizontal direction in the edge part. The effect of
preventing the front cover from being damaged becomes
significant when the edge part having the physical property
described above includes at least one of the
one-side-edge-part and the opposite-side-edge-part.
10 In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
at least a portion of the edge part may include a corner
portion or a chamfer portion constituting an edge of a
machine outer side of the opening. In removing the yarn
entangled around the yarn accumulating roller, the yarn is
15 sometimes particularly rubbed against the corner portion
or the chamfer portion constituting the edge on the machine
outer side in the edge part. The effect of preventing the
front cover from being damaged becomes significant when the
edge part having the physical property described above
20 includes the corner portion or the chamfer portion.
In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
at least a portion of the edge part may be formed from an
edge member being a different member from the main body part,
and the edge member may be fixed to the main body part. The
25 configuration in which the edge part has the physical
property described above can be easily realized by using
the edge member of a different member from the main body
part. Furthermore, even if at least a portion of the edge
part is damaged, the edge member is merely replaced with
30 a new edge member.
The spinning unit of the present invention may
29 / 35
include a frame to which the front cover is mounted, and
the edge member may be sandwiched between the main body part
and the frame. According to such configuration, the edge
member can be reliably fixed.
5 In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
edge member may extend in an arch shape along the opening
when viewed from a machine outer side, and may be fixed to
a machine outer side of the main body part by adhesion. In
this case, a configuration in which the edge part has the
10 physical property described above can be easily realized
using, for example, the front cover of the existing spinning
unit.
The spinning unit of the present invention may
include a sandwiching member fixed to the main body part
15 and arranged to sandwich together with the main body part,
at least one of one end part and another end part of the
edge member extending in the arch shape. According to such
configuration, at least one of the one end part and the other
end part of the edge member can be prevented from separating
20 with respect to the main body part.
In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
edge member may include a first plate part arranged at a
machine outer side of the main body part, and a second plate
part arranged vertically on a machine inner side of the
25 first plate part and to constitute an inner wall surface
of the opening. According to such configuration, fly waste
can be prevented from entering between the main body part
and the edge member while preventing the front cover from
being damaged.
30 In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
at least a portion of the edge part may be formed integrally
30 / 35
with the main body part. According to such configuration,
the number of components can be reduced, and the assembly
can be facilitated.
The spinning unit of the present invention includes
5 a yarn hooking member arranged on a downstream side of the
yarn accumulating roller, and in a height direction, the
at least a portion of the edge part is arranged higher than
the yarn hooking member.
In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
10 edge member is formed from phenol resin or metal.
In the spinning unit of the present invention, at
least one of a plated layer, a diamond-like carbon coating,
and a modification treatment portion is arranged on the at
least a portion of the edge part.
15 In the spinning unit of the present invention, the
main body part is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene resin or acrylonitrile ethylene-propylene-diene
styrene resin.
A spinning machine of the present invention includes
20 a plurality of the spinning units.
As the spinning machine also includes the spinning
unit, at least a portion of the edge part of the opening
in the front cover has at least one of the physical
properties of hardness higher than the hardness of the main
25 body part, a fusion point higher than the fusion point of
the main body part, and a surface roughness smaller than
the surface roughness of the main body part. Thus, even
if the yarn is rubbed against the edge part, the front cover
can be prevented from being damaged.

WE CLAIM
1. A spinning unit (2) comprising:
a yarn supplying device (6, 7) adapted to supply a yarn (Y);
5 a yarn accumulating roller (54) adapted to accumulate
the yarn (Y) supplied from the yarn supplying device (6,
7);
a front cover (60; 60B) arranged outward than the yarn
accumulating roller (54) and formed with an opening (61)
10 that exposes the yarn accumulating roller (54) to outside,
the front cover (60; 60B) including a main body part (62)
and an edge part (63, 64; 80) arranged to form an edge of
the opening (61), wherein at least a portion of the edge
part (63, 64; 80; 90; 95; W) has a physical property of at
15 least one of hardness higher than hardness of the main body
part (62), a fusion point higher than a fusion point of the
main body part (62), and a surface roughness smaller than
a surface roughness of the main body part (62).
20 2. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the at least a portion of the edge part (63, 64;
80; 90; 95) includes at least one of a one-side-edge-part
(63; 80; 90; 95) located on one side in a horizontal
direction, and an opposite-side-edge-part (64; 80; 90; 95)
25 located on an opposite side in the horizontal direction.
3. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in claim 1 or
2, wherein the at least a portion of the edge part (63, 64;
80; 90; 95; W) includes a corner portion or a chamfer portion
30 constituting an edge of a machine outer side of the opening
(61).
32 / 35
4. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 through 3, wherein the at least a portion of the
edge part (63, 64; 80; 90; W) is formed from an edge member
5 (63, 64; 80) being a different member from the main body
part (62), and the edge member (63, 64; 80; 90; W) is fixed
to the main body part (62).
5. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in claim 4,
10 comprising a frame (14) to which the front cover (60) is
mounted,
wherein the edge member (63, 64; 80) is sandwiched
between the main body part (62) and the frame (14).
15 6. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in claim 4 or
5, wherein the edge member (80) extends in an arch shape
along the opening (61) when viewed from a machine outer side,
and is fixed to a machine outer side of the main body part
(62) by adhesion.
20
7. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in claim 6,
comprising a sandwiching member (84) fixed to the main body
part (62) and arranged to sandwich together with the main
body part (62), at least one of one end part and another
25 end part of the edge member (80) extending in the arch shape.
8. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 4 through 7, wherein the edge member (63, 64)
includes:
30 a first plate part (63a, 64a) arranged at a machine
outer side of the main body part (62), and
33 / 35
a second plate part (63c, 64c) arranged vertically
on a machine inner side of the first plate part (63a, 64a)
and to constitute an inner wall surface of the opening (61).
5 9. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 through 3, wherein the at least a portion of the
edge part (63, 64; 80; 95; W) is formed integrally with the
main body part (62).
10 10. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 through 9, comprising a yarn hooking member (55)
arranged on a downstream side of the yarn accumulating
roller (54),
wherein in a height direction, the at least a portion
15 of the edge part (63, 64; 80; 90; 95; W) is arranged higher
than the yarn hooking member (55).
11. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 4 through 10, wherein the edge member (63, 64; 80;
20 90; W) is formed from phenol resin or metal.
12. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
claims 1 through 10, wherein at least one of a plated layer,
a diamond-like carbon coating, and a modification treatment
25 portion is arranged on the at least a portion of the edge
part (63, 64; 80; 95).
13. The spinning unit (2) as claimed in any one of
preceding claims, wherein the main body part (62) is formed
30 from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin or
acrylonitrile ethylene-propylene-diene styrene resin.
34 / 35
14. A spinning machine (1) comprising a plurality
of spinning units (2) as claimed in any one of preceding
claims.