SUCTION TYPE YARN END PULL-OUT DEVICE AND BOBBIN PREPARING
SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention mainly relates to a suction
type yarn end pull-out device adapted to suck and pull out
a yarn end of a yarn supplying bobbin.
10 2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a yarn end lead-out
device adapted to detach a yarn end from a yarn layer and
lead out the yarn end from a surface of a yarn supplying
bobbin spun by a spinning machine, and carry out a process
15 of winding the led-out yarn end around a top portion of the
yarn supplying bobbin and inserting the yarn end to a top
hole of the yarn supplying bobbin (hole on a side from which
a yarn is unwound in a tubular bobbin tube) or a process
of inserting the led-out yarn end into the top hole of the
20 yarn supplying bobbin. Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2-38274 discloses this type of yarn end
lead-out device.
The yarn end lead-out device of Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 2-38274 has a configuration
25 including a bobbin identifying means adapted to identify
a fully wound bobbin and a half wound bobbin, and a beater
device adapted to beat out the yarn end from a surface
portion of the yarn layer of the half wound bobbin when the
half wound bobbin is identified by the bobbin identifying
30 means. According to such a configuration, Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-38274 can improve a
3
lead-out success rate of the half wound bobbin which is
continuously or rarely supplied.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-6671
discloses a yarn end processing device serving as the yarn
end lead-out device. The yarn end processing 5 device is
configured to include a bobbin rotating mechanism, a yarn
catching section adapted to engage and catch a yarn, and
a rotation control section adapted to control the bobbin
rotating mechanism, and a drive source of the rotating
10 mechanism is a stepping motor.
According to such a configuration, Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-6671 can improve the
bobbin rotating mechanism to improve the success rate of
the yarn end process.
15 In the configuration of Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2-38274, the beater device continuously
hits a chase portion of the half wound bobbin by a contact
piece formed by a brush made of rubber or bristle material
to beat out the yarn end. The yarn end that is detached
20 by being beaten out by the contact piece is sucked by a
suction pipe. The suction pipe is configured to be longer
than a length of a spinning bobbin, and a slit for sucking
the yarn end is formed over substantially the entire length.
However, when a sliver breakage, which is a raw cotton
25 breakage, occurs in a ring spinning machine, the
configuration of the yarn end is such that the thickness
of the yarn gradually becomes thinner and is cut, and thus
the yarn end may closely attach to the chase portion of the
bobbin. In this case, it is difficult to strip the yarn
30 end from the chase portion, and thus even if the chase
portion is continuously beaten and applied with stimulation
4
by the beater device, the suction flow to be acted on the
chase portion is weak and it is hard to say that the yarn
end can be reliably sucked in the slit having a wide opening
area formed in the suction pipe over a length greater than
the entire length of the spinning 5 bobbin.
Furthermore, in the configuration of Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-6671, the yarn is
hooked to catch the yarn end by a spatula-shaped engagement
portion of a searcher. Therefore, when the sliver breakage,
10 described above, occurs in the yarn and the yarn end is
closely attached to the chase portion of the bobbin, it
becomes difficult to hook the yarn. In the configuration
of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-6671,
the yarn end becomes difficult to catch in such a case,
15 similarly to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2-38274.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the
20 above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide
a suction type yarn end pull-out device capable of reliably
pulling out even a yarn end closely attached to a chase
portion of a bobbin.
The problems to be solved by the present invention
25 are as described above, and now, means for solving such
problems and effects thereof will be described.
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
a suction type yarn end pull-out device having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the suction type yarn
30 end pull-out device is adapted to suck and pull out a yarn
end of a yarn supplying bobbin. The suction type yarn end
5
pull-out device includes a sucking and catching device, a
yarn end catching assisting device, a suction port height
adjusting mechanism, and a chase portion detecting sensor.
The sucking and catching device is adapted to suck a chase
portion of the yarn supplying bobbin from a suction 5 port
and catch a yarn end. The yarn end catching assisting
device is adapted to apply stimulation to the chase portion
(i.e., act on a surface of the chase portion, specifically,
rub or hit the surface of the chase portion, for example)
10 to assist catching of the yarn end by the sucking and
catching device. The suction port height adjusting
mechanism can change a height of the suction port. The
chase portion detecting sensor is adapted to detect the
chase portion of the yarn supplying bobbin. The suction
15 port height adjusting mechanism is adapted to adjust the
height of the suction port according to a detection result
of the chase portion detecting sensor. The yarn supplying
bobbin is also referred to as a spinning bobbin, or simply
a bobbin, or a cop.
20 According to a second aspect of the present invention,
a bobbin preparing system having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the bobbin preparing
system is adapted to supply a yarn supplying bobbin to a
yarn winding device for winding a yarn. The bobbin
25 preparing system includes the suction type yarn end
pull-out device and a yarn end preparing device. The yarn
end preparing device is adapted to cause the yarn end wound
around the top portion of the yarn supplying bobbin to be
in a state capable of being blown away by the yarn winding
30 device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
6
a bobbin preparing system having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the bobbin preparing
system is adapted to automatically supply a yarn supplying
bobbin to a yarn winding device for winding a yarn. The
bobbin preparing system includes a suction type yarn 5 n end
pull-out device and a yarn end preparing device. The
suction type yarn end pull-out device is adapted to suck
and pull out a yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin. The
yarn end preparing device is adapted to further suck the
10 yarn end pulled out by the suction type yarn end pull-out
device to cause the yarn end to be in a state capable of
being blown away by the yarn winding device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
15 FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automatic winder
system including a suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an overall
configuration of an automatic winder;
20 FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a configuration
of a yarn supplying bobbin;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a
configuration of the suction type yarn end pull-out device;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state
25 in which a distal end side wound section is formed in the
suction type yarn end pull-out device;
FIG. 6 is a simple perspective view illustrating a
configuration of a hooking type yarn end pull-out device;
and
30 FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a state in which
a yarn end is prepared with a yarn end preparing device.
7
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will be
described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is
a schematic plan view of an automatic winder 5 system 100
including a suction type yarn end pull-out device 8
according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a front view illustrating an overall configuration of
an automatic winder 1. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating
10 a configuration of a yarn supplying bobbin.
The automatic winder system 100 illustrated in FIG.
1 includes an automatic winder (yarn winding device) 1, a
bobbin preparing system 2, and a bobbin supplying device
3.
15 The automatic winder 1 includes a plurality of
automatic winder units (winding units) 1a arranged side by
side. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a supplying passage 4
adapted to automatically transport a yarn supplying bobbin
12 to the respective automatic winder units 1a is formed
20 in the automatic winder 1. Furthermore, a collecting
passage 5 adapted to transport a bobbin 13 discharged from
the respective automatic winder units 1a is formed in the
automatic winder 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates only a small number of yarn
25 supplying bobbins 12 and bobbins 13, but actually, a great
number of yarn supplying bobbins 12 are transported in the
supplying passage 4 and a great number of bobbins 13 are
transported in the collecting passage 5.
The automatic winder unit 1a unwinds a spun yarn 10,
30 as illustrated in FIG. 2, from the yarn supplying bobbin
12 supplied from the supplying passage 4, and winds the spun
8
yarn around a winding bobbin 14 to form a package 15. The
automatic winder unit 1a then discharges the bobbin 13, from
which the spun yarn 10 is unwound, to the collecting passage
5.
The yarn supplying bobbin 12 is obtained 5 tained by winding
the spun yarn 10 produced in a spinning machine 40 in the
previous step around a periphery of a bobbin tube 120, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a through
shaft hole is formed in the bobbin tube 120, and a slight
10 taper is formed in the bobbin tube 120. In the following
description, a smaller-diameter side end of the tapered
bobbin tube 120 may be referred to as a distal end portion
(top portion) 121, and a larger-diameter side end may be
referred to as a base portion 122.
15 The spinning machine 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 is
configured as a ring spinning machine adapted to wind the
spun yarn 10, which is produced by drafting and twisting
a roving, around the bobbin tube 120. The configuration
of the ring spinning machine is well known, and hence the
20 detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The bobbin supplying device 3 is configured to set
the yarn supplying bobbin 12 supplied from the spinning
machine 40 on a transport tray 16 one at a time. As a result,
the transport tray 16 supports the yarn supplying bobbin
25 12 in a substantially upright state.
The supplying passage 4 and the collecting passage
5 are configured by a belt conveyor and the like, and are
configured to be able to transport the transport tray 16.
As described above, the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is
30 transported to the automatic winder unit 1a through the
supplying passage 4 while being mounted on the transport
9
tray 16, and the spun yarn 10 is unwound by the automatic
winder unit 1a. The bobbin 13 after the spun yarn 10 is
unwound is discharged from the automatic winder unit 1a
through the collecting passage 5 while being mounted on the
5 transport tray 16.
A transport passage 6 adapted to transport the
transport tray 16 is formed in the bobbin preparing system
2. The transport passage 6 is configured to connect the
supplying passage 4 and the collecting passage 5 of the
10 automatic winder 1.
Specifically, the transport passage 6 includes a
supply transport passage 6a, a return transport passage 6b,
a skip passage 6c, and a return passage 6d. The supply
transport passage 6a is adapted to supply the yarn supplying
15 bobbin 12 to the automatic winder 1. The return transport
passage 6b is adapted to return the bobbin 13 discharged
from the automatic winder 1 to the spinning machine 40. The
skip passage 6c is configured to be able to transport the
transport tray 16 from the supply transport passage 6a to
20 the return transport passage 6b (without passing the
automatic winder units 1a). The return passage 6d is
configured such that the transport tray 16 can be returned
from the return transport passage 6b to the supply transport
passage 6a.
25 The bobbin preparing system 2 is arranged between the
automatic winder 1 and the bobbin supplying device 3. The
bobbin preparing system 2 includes a bunch unwinding device
7, a suction type yarn end pull-out device 8, a hooking type
yarn end pull-out device 8a, and a yarn end preparing device
30 9. The bobbin preparing system 2 carries out an appropriate
operation on the yarn supplying bobbin 12 so that the yarn
10
can be smoothly unwound in the automatic winder 1, and
supplies the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to the automatic
winder 1.
The bunch unwinding device 7 unwinds a bunch winding
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The bunch winding 5 will
be briefly described below. That is, the spinning machine
40 winds the spun yarn 10 around the bobbin tube 120 to form
the yarn supplying bobbin 12, and two states can be assumed
for the state of the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin
10 12 supplied from the spinning machine 40. The first state
is the state where the spun yarn 10 is merely wound around
the bobbin tube 120 and the yarn end is in a free state.
The other state is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the state where
the bunch winding is formed in which the spun yarn 10 is
15 spirally wound on the surface of the yarn layer of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 from the distal end portion 121 toward
the base portion 122, and then further wound around the base
portion 122 of the bobbin tube 120.
When the yarn supplying bobbin 12 having a free yarn
20 end is supplied to the automatic winder system 100, for
example, the yarn end may appear while the yarn supplying
bobbin 12 is conveyed from the spinning machine 40 to the
bobbin supplying device 3 with a container and the like,
and the spun yarn 10 may get entangled between the yarn
25 supplying bobbins 12. On the other hand, in the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 formed with the bunch winding, the free
yarn end does not exist, and hence the spun yarn 10 can be
prevented from appearing from the yarn supplying bobbin 12
while being transported by the container. In the following
30 description, the spun yarn 10 of a portion spirally wound
on the surface of the yarn layer of the yarn supplying bobbin
11
12 from the distal end portion 121 toward the base portion
122 may be referred to as a back wind yarn 20, and the spun
yarn 10 of a portion wound around the base portion 122 of
the bobbin tube 120 may be referred to as a bottom bunch
22. The bunch unwinding device 7 can unwind (5 remove) the
bottom bunch 22 to obtain a free yarn end. As described
above, the yarn supplying bobbin 12 of a type not formed
with the bunch winding may be supplied to the automatic
winder system 100 depending on the application, and the like.
10 In this case, the bunch unwinding device 7 is not operated,
and the supplied yarn supplying bobbin 12 is directly
transported to the suction type yarn end pull-out device
8, to be described later.
The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8
15 illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted to catch the yarn end by
sucking a chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12,
and pull out the caught yarn end from the yarn supplying
bobbin 12.
The hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a is
20 adapted to catch the yarn end by hooking the yarn end of
the surface layer of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 unwound
by the bunch unwinding device 7, and pull out the caught
yarn end from the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
In other words, the suction type yarn end pull-out
25 device 8 and the hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a
are configured to catch and pull out the yarn end of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 by methods different from each
other. The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 is often
used in a situation where the above-described sliver
30 breakage occurred in the spinning machine 40 and the yarn
end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is closely attached to
12
the chase portion 21. Therefore, in a situation where the
sliver breakage has not occurred in the spinning machine
40, an instruction may be made by a switching switch 102
to be described later to operate, not the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8, but only the hooking type yarn 5 rn end
pull-out device 8a.
The yarn end preparing device 9 processes the yarn
end pulled out by the suction type yarn end pull-out device
8 or the hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a, and
10 prepares the yarn end to be in a state where the yarn end
can be smoothly pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin
12 in the automatic winder 1.
According to such a configuration, the bobbin
preparing system 2 unwinds the bunch winding of the yarn
15 supplying bobbin 12 supplied from the bobbin supplying
device 3, and prepares the yarn end of the yarn supplying
bobbin 12 on the bobbin preparing system 2 side so that the
yarn end can be pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin
12 in the automatic winder 1, and then transports the yarn
20 supplying bobbin 12 to the automatic winder 1. Each
automatic winder unit 1a (FIG. 2) arranged in the automatic
winder 1 pulls out the yarn end prepared by the bobbin
preparing system 2 by blowing away the yarn end with
compressed air toward the upper side from the yarn supplying
25 bobbin 12, carries out a yarn joining operation of joining
the yarn end with the spun yarn 10 from the package 15 by
a yarn joining device 17 adapted to untwist and join the
yarn ends, and then winds the spun yarn 10 around the winding
bobbin 14 to form the package 15. The bobbin 13 which is
30 the yarn supplying bobbin 12 in which the spun yarn 10 is
unwound in the automatic winder unit 1a is returned to the
13
spinning machine 40 through the collecting passage 5 and
the return transport passage 6b.
Meanwhile, the bobbin 13 discharged from the
automatic winder unit 1a may not necessarily be an empty
bobbin 11d (FIG. 1) in which all the spun yarn 10 is unw5 ound.
In other words, the bobbin 13 discharged from the automatic
winder unit 1a includes a half wound bobbin 11b around which
a yarn of an amount windable by the automatic winder unit
1a is wound and a minimal remaining yarn bobbin 11c around
10 which a yarn of an unwindably small amount is wound for some
reason.
Now, a process related to the bobbin 13 discharged
from the automatic winder 1 will be briefly described.
A remaining yarn detecting device 45 and a switching
15 device 46 are provided along the transporting direction of
the bobbin 13 in the return transport passage 6b adapted
to return the bobbin 13 to the spinning machine 40. The
remaining yarn detecting device 45 detects the position of
a remaining yarn brush (not illustrated) swung along an
20 outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 13, and determines
whether or not the spun yarn 10 is wound around the bobbin
tube 120 based on the detected position of the remaining
yarn brush. In other words, the remaining yarn detecting
device 45 attempts to swing the remaining yarn brush from
25 the distal end portion 121 to the base portion 122 along
the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 13, and
determines that the spun yarn 10 is not wound around the
bobbin 13 when the remaining yarn brush is not hooked to
the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 13. On the other
30 hand, when the remaining yarn brush is hooked to the outer
peripheral surface of the bobbin 13, the remaining yarn
14
detecting device 45 determines that the spun yarn 10 is
wound around the bobbin 13.
The switching device 46 switches to feed the bobbin
13 to the supply transport passage 6a or to return the bobbin
13 to the spinning machine 40 based on the 5 determination
of the remaining yarn detecting device 45. As a result,
the empty bobbin 11d is returned to the spinning machine
40, and the bobbin with the remaining yarn (the half wound
bobbin 11b and the minimal remaining yarn bobbin 11c) is
10 returned to the supply transport passage 6a through the
return passage 6d.
A yarn amount detecting device 47, a second remaining
yarn detecting device 48, and a remaining yarn processing
device 49 are arranged side by side along the transporting
15 direction of the bobbin 13 in the return passage 6d. The
yarn amount detecting device 47 brings an arm (not
illustrated) into contact with the bobbin 13 being
transported, and detects the position of the arm to detect
the yarn amount wound around the bobbin 13. The second
20 remaining yarn detecting device 48 is configured in the same
manner as the remaining yarn detecting device 45, and is
adapted to detect whether or not the yarn is remaining on
the bobbin 13.
When detecting the bobbin 13 (the minimal remaining
25 yarn bobbin 11c) which is determined that the remaining
amount is smaller than or equal to a predetermined amount
by the yarn amount detecting device 47, the remaining yarn
processing device 49 clamps the base portion 122 of the
bobbin tube 120 with a clamper (not illustrated) and moves
30 the clamper in this state to the distal end portion 121 along
the longitudinal direction of the bobbin tube 120, to
15
extract the yarn wound around the minimal remaining yarn
bobbin 11c toward the upper side from the distal end portion
121 of the bobbin tube 120. The extracted remaining yarn
is sucked by the suction device (not illustrated) and
discarded. The minimal remaining yarn bobbin 11c b5 ecomes
an empty bobbin 11d after the remaining yarn is removed,
and thereafter, the empty bobbin 11d is extracted and
collected from the transport tray 16 by an empty bobbin
collecting device (not illustrated).
10 Thus, when the yarn of an amount greater than or equal
to the predetermined amount is wound around the bobbin 13
collected from the automatic winder 1, the bobbin 13 is
transported to the bobbin preparing system 2 so as to be
again wound by the automatic winder 1.
15 Next, a specific description will be made on the
bobbin preparing system 2 of the present embodiment.
As described above, the bobbin preparing system 2
includes the bunch unwinding device 7, the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8, the hooking type yarn end pull-out
20 device 8a, and the yarn end preparing device 9.
First, the bunch unwinding device 7 will be described.
The bunch unwinding device 7 is adapted to remove the bunch
winding of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 (the fully wound
bobbin 11a) transported from the upstream. The detailed
25 illustration of the configuration of the bunch unwinding
device 7 will be omitted, but the bunch unwinding device
7 includes a bobbin rotating mechanism adapted to rotate
the fully wound bobbin 11a, a suction mechanism adapted to
suck the bottom bunch 22, and a cutting mechanism adapted
30 to cut the yarn.
The bunch unwinding device 7 generates a suction
16
airflow in proximity to the base portion 122 of the bobbin
tube 120 of the fully wound bobbin 11a with the suction
mechanism while rotating the fully wound bobbin 11a in the
unwinding direction of the yarn with the bobbin rotating
mechanism to suck the bottom bunch 22 wound around the 5 base
portion 122. The sucked spun yarn 10 is then cut by the
cutting mechanism. The bottom bunch 22 formed in the fully
wound bobbin 11a is thereby removed.
Next, a description will be made on an operation of
10 the bunch unwinding device 7 configured as above.
As described above, the yarn supplying bobbin 12
transported to the bobbin preparing system 2 includes the
fully wound bobbin 11a wound by the spinning machine 40,
and the half wound bobbin 11b having a remaining yarn of
15 an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined amount
collected from the automatic winder 1, as illustrated in
FIG. 1.
When the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is the fully wound
bobbin 11a, the bottom bunch 22 of the fully wound bobbin
20 11a is removed by the bunch unwinding device 7, as described
above. The fully wound bobbin 11a, in which the bottom
bunch 22 is removed by the bunch unwinding device 7, is
transported to the suction type yarn end pull-out device
8. With regard to the half wound bobbin 11b, the process
25 in the bunch unwinding device 7 is skipped, and the half
wound bobbin 11b is transported to the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8 as is.
Next, a description will be made on the suction type
yarn end pull-out device 8. The suction type yarn end
30 pull-out device 8 is configured to catch the yarn end of
the yarn supplying bobbin 12 and wind the yarn end around
17
the distal end portion 121 of the bobbin tube 120.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the suction type yarn end
pull-out device 8 includes a bobbin rotating mechanism 51,
a sucking and catching device 52, a surface stimulating
device (yarn end catching assisting device) 53, and 5 a
winding mechanism 54.
The bobbin rotating mechanism 51 includes a rotation
drive member 61. The rotation drive member 61 is driven
by an electric motor (e.g., stepping motor or the like) (not
10 illustrated) that can rotate forwardly and reversely. The
bobbin rotating mechanism 51 can rotate the yarn supplying
bobbin 12 together with the transport tray 16 in the
unwinding direction which is the direction of unwinding the
spun yarn 10, or the winding direction which is the
15 direction of winding the spun yarn 10, by forwardly and
reversely rotating the rotation drive member 61 while being
brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of
the transport tray 16.
The sucking and catching device 52 includes a suction
20 nozzle member (advancing and retracting member) 62 and a
nozzle supporting member 64.
The nozzle supporting member 64 is attached to an
actuator (e.g., cylinder) (not illustrated), and can be
linearly moved in a direction of moving close to and a
25 direction of moving away from the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The suction nozzle member 62 is attached to the distal
end portion of the nozzle supporting member 64. A recess
having a circular truncated cone shape along the shape of
the chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is
30 formed at the portion where the suction nozzle member 62
faces the yarn supplying bobbin 12. A suction port 63
18
having an elongate slit form is formed substantially
vertically in the recess. A negative pressure supplying
device 101 is connected to the suction port 63 via a piping
31 and the like. The negative pressure supplying device
101 can be configured, for example, as a blower. A 5 length
of the suction port 63 (dimension along the axial direction
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12) is smaller than a length
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 (axial dimension of a
portion where the yarn is wound in the yarn supplying bobbin
10 12). The length of the suction port 63 is formed so as to
be smaller than or equal to half the length of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12, more preferably to be smaller than or
equal to 1/3 of the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 12,
and for example, to be the same as the dimension of the chase
15 portion 21 (axial dimension of the yarn supplying bobbin
12). In other words, the length of the suction port 63
merely needs to be a length in which the suction force can
be efficiently acted on at least the chase portion 21
through the suction port 63.
20 With the above-described configuration, the sucking
and catching device 52 moves the suction nozzle member 62
close to the yarn supplying bobbin 12 via the nozzle
supporting member 64, and sucks the yarn layer of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 to catch the yarn end. When the yarn
25 supplying bobbin 12 is supplied to the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8 from the upstream and when the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 is discharged from the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8, the suction nozzle member 62 is
retracted so as not to inhibit the transportation of the
30 yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The surface stimulating device 53 includes a cylinder
19
71, an input arm 72, a rotation shaft 73, a coupling member
74, and a friction plate (stimulating member, yarn end
catching assisting member) 75. The surface stimulating
device 53 brings the friction plate 75 into contact with
the outer peripheral surface of the chase portion 21 of 5 the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 to apply stimulation to the chase
portion 21.
The cylinder 71 is an actuator for driving the
friction plate 75, and for example, can be advanced and
10 retracted by the supply of compressed air.
The input arm 72 is coupled to the cylinder 71, and
is fixed to the upper end of the rotation shaft 73.
The rotation shaft 73 is vertically arranged and is
rotatably supported. The rotation shaft 73 can integrally
15 rotate with the input arm 72.
The coupling member 74 is a member for attaching the
friction plate 75 to the rotation shaft 73, and is fixed
to a lower part of the rotation shaft 73.
The friction plate 75 is a nonwoven fabric made of
20 synthetic fibers, and is formed so that the surface to be
brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of
the yarn layer of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 has a
predetermined roughness. Thus, as compared to the
brush-like member, for example, an appropriate stimulation
25 can be applied to the yarn layer without the yarn ends
getting entangled, whereby the sucking and catching device
52 can reliably suck and catch the yarn end from the chase
portion 21, to which the stimulation is applied by the
friction plate 75. In place of the friction plate 75, other
30 members in which the surface to be brought into contact with
the yarn supplying bobbin 12 has a predetermined roughness
20
may be used.
According to the above configuration, the surface
stimulating device 53 operates the cylinder 71 to rotate
the rotation shaft 73 via the input arm 72, and brings the
friction plate 75 into contact with the yarn 5 supplying
bobbin 12 (the chase portion 21) or separates the friction
plate 75 from the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The sucking and catching device 52 and the surface
stimulating device 53 are attached to a common frame 103
10 supported to be raised and lowered. As illustrated in FIG.
4, the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 further
includes a raising and lowering mechanism (suction port
height adjusting mechanism) 55 including an appropriate
actuator (e.g., cylinder) capable of adjusting the height
15 of the frame 103. The height of the suction port 63 and
the friction plate 75 thus can be changed, whereby suction
and stimulation can be applied to portions of different
heights of the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
Furthermore, the frame 103 is provided with a chase
20 portion detecting sensor 30 including a light sensor, for
example, so that the chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying
bobbin 12 can be detected. According to such a
configuration, the suction type yarn end pull-out device
8 controls the raising and lowering mechanism 55 based on
25 the detection result of the chase portion detecting sensor
30, and makes the adjustment so that the frame 103 is at
an appropriate height with respect to the chase portion 21.
Thus, the chase portion 21 can be accurately sucked and
stimulated with respect to the yarn supplying bobbins 12
30 in which the yarn amount variously differs (i.e., the yarn
supplying bobbins 12 in which the heights of the chase
21
portions 21 variously differ).
The winding mechanism 54 includes a holding member
56. The winding mechanism 54 can wind the yarn end pulled
out from the yarn supplying bobbin 12 by the sucking and
catching device 52 around the distal end portion 121 5 1 side
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The holding member 56 is rotatably supported with the
vertical axis as the center. The holding member 56 is
formed in a circular truncated cone shape, and the outer
10 diameter of the lower part of the holding member 56 is
greater than the diameter of the distal end portion 121 of
the bobbin tube 120. A holding mechanism 58 including a
spring, a cylinder, and the like is attached to the holding
member 56, and the holding member 56 is configured to be
15 able to hold down the distal end portion 121 of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 from the upper side. The holding member
56 can regulate the yarn end so that the yarn end is not
detached from the distal end portion 121 when the yarn end
is wound around the distal end portion 121 of the yarn
20 supplying bobbin 12.
Next, a description will be made on a specific
operation of the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8
configured as above.
The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 detects,
25 with the yarn amount detecting device (not illustrated),
the yarn amount of the yarn wound around the yarn supplying
bobbin 12 being transported, and assumes only the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 (the fully wound bobbin 11a and the half
wound bobbin 11b) in which the yarn amount is greater than
30 or equal to a predetermined amount as the target of the yarn
end pull-out operation. Therefore, the yarn end pull-out
22
operation by the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8
is not performed on the minimal remaining yarn bobbin 11c
and the empty bobbin 11d, and such bobbins are transported
downstream as is.
When the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to be performed 5 with
the yarn end pull-out operation is transported, the suction
type yarn end pull-out device 8 first operates the holding
mechanism 58, and brings the holding member 56 into contact
with the upper end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to hold
10 down the upper end from the upper side.
Next, the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8
lowers the frame 103 with the raising and lowering mechanism
55 until the chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin
12 is detected with the chase portion detecting sensor 30,
15 and stops the frame 103 at the point where the chase portion
21 is detected. The height thus can be adjusted so that
the sucking and catching device 52 and the surface
stimulating device 53 (i.e., the suction port 63 and the
friction plate 75) face the chase portion 21.
20 Thereafter, the suction type yarn end pull-out device
8 drives the bobbin rotating mechanism 51 to rotate the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 in the unwinding direction, and moves
the suction nozzle member 62 of the sucking and catching
device 52 close to the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to suck the
25 chase portion 21 with the suction flow generated at the
suction port 63 by the negative pressure supplying device
101. At substantially the same time, the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8 brings the friction plate 75 of the
surface stimulating device 53 into contact with the chase
30 portion 21 to apply stimulation by friction to the chase
portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12. Since the
23
friction plate 75 is formed of a nonwoven fabric made of
synthetic fibers, as described above, the yarn ends from
the yarn supplying bobbin 12 do not get entangled, and an
appropriate stimulation can be applied to the chase portion
5 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The suction port 63 is formed in an elongate slit form
in the vertical direction, so that a strong suction flow
can be generated with a small energy and energy can be saved.
Furthermore, the suction port 63 of the sucking and catching
10 device 52 and the friction plate 75 of the surface
stimulating device 53 are arranged so as to be at
substantially the same height with respect to each other,
and are configured to be integrally raised and lowered by
the raising and lowering mechanism 55. Thus, a location
15 where the friction plate 75 makes contact with the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 can be sucked by the suction port 63,
whereby the yarn end can be reliably caught.
Furthermore, the friction plate 75 is arranged so as
to make contact with the chase portion 21 of the yarn
20 supplying bobbin 12 on the upstream side within a rotation
angle of 180 with respect to the suction port 63 in the
rotating direction (the above-described unwinding
direction) of unwinding the spun yarn 10 of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12. In other words, the portion of the
25 chase portion 21 stimulated by the friction plate 75 can
be brought to face the suction port 63 thereafter when the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 is rotated by an angle of 180 or
smaller in the unwinding direction. The surface of the
chase portion 21 thus can be stimulated by the friction
30 plate 75 and immediately sucked by the suction port 63,
whereby probability of catching the yarn end can be further
24
increased.
In the present embodiment, the friction plate 75 is
configured to make contact with the chase portion 21 of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12, and the suction port 63 is
configured to suck the chase portion 21. 5 However, the
target of stimulation of the friction plate 75 and suction
by the suction port 63 may be a portion other than the chase
portion 21.
A yarn detecting sensor 32 is provided on the piping
10 31 connecting the suction port 63 formed in the suction
nozzle member 62 and the negative pressure supplying device
101. The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 can check
whether or not the yarn end is caught by the sucking and
catching device 52 via the yarn detecting sensor 32. When
15 the yarn is detected by the yarn detecting sensor 32, the
suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 cuts the caught yarn
with a cutter (not illustrated). Thereafter, the winding
operation of winding the cut yarn end around the distal end
portion 121 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is carried out
20 by the winding mechanism 54.
In the winding operation, the bobbin rotating
mechanism 51 rotates the yarn supplying bobbin 12 in the
winding direction (direction opposite to the unwinding
direction) together with the transport tray 16 to pull out
25 the yarn end sucked by the suction port 63 and wind the yarn
end around the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The suction nozzle
member 62 is sufficiently raised in advance, as illustrated
in FIG. 5, by the raising and lowering mechanism 55 before
rotating the yarn supplying bobbin 12 in the winding
30 direction, so that the yarn end is wound around the bobbin
tube 120 while being pulled in the upward direction.
25
However, since the distal end portion 121 of the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 is held down from the upper side by the
holding member 56 having a large diameter, the yarn end does
not move to a position above the end face of the distal end
portion 121. As a result, the yarn is wound around 5 the outer
periphery of the distal end portion 121 of the bobbin tube
120 by the rotation of the yarn supplying bobbin 12, thus
forming a distal end side wound portion 23 as illustrated
in FIG. 5.
10 In this manner, the yarn end can be pulled out and
wound around the distal end portion 121 with the suction
type yarn end pull-out device 8. Thereafter, the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 having the distal end side wound portion
23 is transported to the yarn end preparing device 9.
15 Next, a description will be made in detail on the
hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a. The hooking type
yarn end pull-out device 8a is arranged between the suction
type yarn end pull-out device 8 and the yarn end preparing
device 9.
20 As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hooking type yarn end
pull-out device 8a includes a bobbin rotating mechanism 85,
a holding member 86, and a hooking member 87.
Similarly to the bobbin rotating mechanism 51 of the
suction type yarn end pull-out device 8, the bobbin rotating
25 mechanism 85 includes a rotation drive member 89 adapted
to rotate by making contact with the outer peripheral
surface of the transport tray 16.
Similarly to the holding member 56 of the suction type
yarn end pull-out device 8, the holding member 86 is
30 configured to hold down the distal end portion 121 of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 from the upper side.
26
The hooking member 87 is configured to be able to hook
the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The hooking type
yarn end pull-out device 8a includes a moving mechanism 90
capable of vertically moving the hooking member 87 or moving
the hooking member 87 closer to or away from the 5 yarn
supplying bobbin 12.
According to such a configuration, the yarn end can
be pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin 12 by hooking
the yarn (the back wind yarn 20 described above) with the
10 hooking member 87. Thereafter, the yarn supplying bobbin
12 is rotated with the bobbin rotating mechanism 85 while
blowing the yarn end pulled out with the hooking member 87
closer to the proximity of the distal end portion 121 with
a compressed air injection nozzle (not illustrated). Thus,
15 the distal end side wound portion 23 similar to that formed
by the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 can be formed.
The bobbin preparing system 2 is provided with a
switching switch (selecting section) 102 adapted to select
a device to carry out the pull-out operation of the yarn
20 end out of the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 and
the hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a described above
(see FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the switching
switch 102 is arranged at an appropriate position of the
suction type yarn end pull-out device 8, but may be arranged
25 at other locations. When the user operates the switching
switch 102, the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12
may be caught with any one of the suction type yarn end
pull-out device 8 and the hooking type yarn end pull-out
device 8a, or the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12
30 may be caught using both pull-out devices.
When catching the yarn end of the yarn supplying
27
bobbin 12 with both the suction type yarn end pull-out
device 8 and the hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a,
for example, attempt is first made to catch the yarn end
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 with the suction type yarn
end pull-out device 8, and when this attempt fails, the yar5 n
supplying bobbin 12 is transported to the hooking type yarn
end pull-out device 8a to catch the yarn end.
Next, a description will be made in detail on the yarn
end preparing device 9.
10 As illustrated in FIG. 7, the yarn end preparing
device 9 includes a yarn suction tube 91, a cutter 92, a
yarn suction section 93, and a yarn detecting sensor 34.
The yarn suction tube 91 has a vertically expandable
meandering section, and is arranged so as to cover the
15 distal end portion 121 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 from
the upper side by expanding. The yarn suction tube 91 is
connected to the negative pressure supplying device 101 by
a piping 35, and is able to suck the distal end side wound
portion 23. The cutter 92 capable of cutting the spun yarn
20 10 is arranged at the connecting portion of the yarn suction
tube 91 and the piping 35. The yarn detecting sensor 34
is arranged on the piping 35. The yarn detecting sensor
34 detects the spun yarn 10 to detect whether or not the
catching of the spun yarn 10 is successful.
25 The yarn suction section 93 is configured as a
pipe-like member connected to the negative pressure
supplying device 101, and a suction port opened upward is
formed at one end so as to face the lower surface of the
transport tray 16 supporting the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
30 A vertical through-hole is formed in the transport tray 16,
so that the air is sucked from the yarn suction section 93
28
and the suction flow can be generated at the opened portion
at the upper end of the bobbin tube 120.
When the yarn supplying bobbin 12 having the distal
end side wound portion 23 is transported, the yarn end
preparing device 9 expands the meandering section of 5 f the
yarn suction tube 91 to cover the distal end portion 121
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12, generates the suction
airflow in the tube of the yarn suction tube 91, and sucks
the distal end side wound portion 23 of the yarn supplying
10 bobbin 12 to catch the yarn end.
When the yarn detecting sensor 34 detects that the
catching of the yarn end is successful, the yarn end
preparing device 9 contracts the meandering section of the
yarn suction tube 91, and thereafter, operates the cutter
15 92 to cut the spun yarn 10. The suction airflow is then
generated at the shaft hole of the transport tray 16 and
the bobbin tube 120 by the yarn suction section 93 to suck
and catch the yarn end from the opening at the upper end
of the bobbin tube 120. A state in which the yarn end is
20 inserted into the bobbin tube 120 from the upper side is
thereby prepared.
Subsequently, the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is
supplied for the winding operation in the automatic winder
1. Thus, in the automatic winder 1, the compressed air is
25 introduced from the hole on the base portion 122 side of
the bobbin tube 120 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 prepared
by the yarn end preparing device 9 to easily blow away the
yarn end in the bobbin tube 120 of the yarn supplying bobbin
12 toward the upper side, catch the yarn end with the yarn
30 catching section (not illustrated) on the upper side, and
join the yarn ends with the yarn joining device 17 to wind
29
the yarn into the package 15. As a result, the winding
operation of the spun yarn 10 by the automatic winder 1 can
be smoothly started.
As described above, the suction type yarn end
pull-out device 8 of the present embodiment includes 5 s the
sucking and catching device 52, the surface stimulating
device 53, the raising and lowering mechanism 55, and the
chase portion detecting sensor 30, and is adapted to suck
and pull out the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
10 The sucking and catching device 52 sucks the chase portion
21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 from the suction port
63, and catches the yarn end. The surface stimulating
device 53 applies stimulation to the chase portion 21, and
assists the catching of the yarn end by the sucking and
15 catching device 52. The raising and lowering mechanism 55
can change the height of the suction port 63. The chase
portion detecting sensor 30 detects the chase portion 21
of the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The raising and lowering
mechanism 55 adjusts the height of the suction port 63
20 according to the detection result of the chase portion
detecting sensor 30.
Thus, even if the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin
12 is closely attached to the surface of the chase portion
21 and is difficult to be stripped from the surface of the
25 chase portion 21, the yarn end at the chase portion 21 can
be caught at high probability by the synergetic effect of
the stimulation on the chase portion 21 and the (intensive)
suction of the chase portion 21. Since the height of the
suction port 63 can be made to accurately coincide with the
30 chase portion 21, the yarn end can be reliably pulled out
from the chase portion 21. The yarn end can be sucked at
30
an appropriate height even with respect to the yarn
supplying bobbins 12 having the chase portions 21 with
different heights, so that the probability of catching the
yarn end from the yarn supplying bobbin 12 can be further
improve5 d.
The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 of the
present embodiment includes the bobbin rotating mechanism
51 adapted to rotate the yarn supplying bobbin 12. While
the bobbin rotating mechanism 51 rotates the yarn supplying
10 bobbin 12, the chase portion 21 is stimulated with the
surface stimulating device 53 and the yarn end is pulled
out with the sucking and catching device 52.
Thus, the entire outer peripheral surface of the
chase portion 21 can be sucked and stimulated by applying
15 stimulation and sucking the chase portion 21 while rotating
the yarn supplying bobbin 12, and hence the yarn end of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 can be more reliably caught.
In the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 of the
present embodiment, the bobbin rotating mechanism 51
20 rotates the yarn supplying bobbin 12 in the unwinding
direction of the spun yarn 10 when pulling out the yarn end
with the sucking and catching device 52 while stimulating
the chase portion 21 with the surface stimulating device
53.
25 The yarn end thus can be easily pulled out from the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 with the sucking and catching
device 52.
The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 of the
present embodiment includes the winding mechanism 54
30 adapted to wind the yarn end caught by the sucking and
catching device 52 around the distal end portion 121 of the
31
yarn supplying bobbin 12. When the winding mechanism 54
winds the yarn end caught by the sucking and catching device
52 around the distal end portion 121 of the yarn supplying
bobbin 12, the bobbin rotating mechanism 51 rotates the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 in the winding direction of the s5 pun
yarn 10.
Thus, the pulled out yarn end can be easily wound
around the distal end portion 121 of the yarn supplying
bobbin 12.
10 Furthermore, in the suction type yarn end pull-out
device 8 of the present embodiment, the surface stimulating
device 53 includes the friction plate 75 adapted to apply
stimulation to the chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying
bobbin 12. The surface of the friction plate 75 to be
15 brought into contact with the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is
configured by a synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric.
Thus, a suitable stimulation can be applied to the
chase portion 21 without the yarn ends getting entangled.
Moreover, in the suction type yarn end pull-out
20 device 8 of the present embodiment, the friction plate 75
of the surface stimulating device 53 is arranged to be able
to make contact with the yarn supplying bobbin 12 on the
upstream side within a rotation angle of 180 with respect
to the sucking and catching device 52 when viewed in the
25 rotating direction of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 of
unwinding the yarn end from the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
Thus, the stimulation can be applied to the yarn end
of the chase portion 21 by the friction plate 75 of the
sucking and catching device 52, and the yarn end of the chase
30 portion 21 can be immediately sucked by the surface
stimulating device 53, and thus the success rate of catching
32
of the yarn end can be further increased.
Furthermore, in the suction type yarn end pull-out
device 8 of the present embodiment, the suction port 63 is
formed in a slit form.
Thus, a strong suction force can be exerted 5 on the
chase portion 21 with a small energy.
The suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 of the
present embodiment further includes the suction nozzle
member 62 capable of advancing and retracting with respect
10 to the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The suction port 63 is
formed in the suction nozzle member 62.
Thus, when pulling out the yarn end, the suction port
63 can be brought close to the yarn supplying bobbin 12
together with the suction nozzle member 62, whereby the yarn
15 end can be more suitably pulled out. On the other hand,
since the suction nozzle member 62 is moved away from the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 except for the suction time, the
movement and the like of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 is
not inhibited.
20 In the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 of the
present embodiment, the sucking and catching device 52
includes the yarn detecting sensor 32 adapted to detect the
spun yarn 10. The success or fail of the suction of the
spun yarn 10 is determined by the detection result of the
25 yarn detecting sensor 32.
The next process can be carried out after confirming
the success of the suction of the spun yarn 10, and hence
the operation can be efficiently carried out as a whole.
The bobbin preparing system 2 of the present
30 embodiment includes the suction type yarn end pull-out
device 8 and the yarn end preparing device 9. The yarn end
33
preparing device 9 causes the yarn end wound around the
distal end portion 121 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to
be in a state capable of being blown away with the automatic
winder 1 for winding the spun yarn 10.
Thus, the yarn end of the yarn supplying 5 plying bobbin 12
prepared by the yarn end preparing device 9 can be reliably
pulled out and wound by blowing away the yarn end on the
automatic winder 1 side.
Furthermore, the bobbin preparing system 2 of the
10 present embodiment includes the hooking type yarn end
pull-out device 8a and the switching switch 102. The
hooking type yarn end pull-out device 8a hooks the spun yarn
10 and pulls out the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin
12. The switching switch 102 selects at least one of the
15 suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 and the hooking type
yarn end pull-out device 8a. The bobbin preparing system
2 carries out the pull-out operation of the yarn end of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12 with at least one yarn end pull-out
device selected by the switching switch 102.
20 Thus, the appropriate yarn end pull-out device can
be selected according to the state of the yarn end of the
yarn supplying bobbin 12, whereby the yarn end can be more
reliably pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
The bobbin preparing system 2 of the present
25 embodiment supplies the yarn supplying bobbin 12 to the
automatic winder 1 for winding the spun yarn 10. The bobbin
preparing system 2 includes the suction type yarn end
pull-out device 8 and the yarn end preparing device 9. The
suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 sucks and pulls out
30 the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin 12. The yarn end
preparing device 9 further sucks the yarn end pulled out
34
by the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 to cause the
yarn end to be in a state capable of being blown away by
the automatic winder 1.
Thus, the spun yarn 10 can be sucked with two devices,
i.e., the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 and 5 nd the
yarn end preparing device 9 to prepare the yarn supplying
bobbin 12, whereby the yarn end can be blown away with the
automatic winder 1 to reliably pull out and wind the yarn
end.
10 In the bobbin preparing system 2 of the present
embodiment, the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 and
the yarn end preparing device 9 are connected to the same
negative pressure supplying device 101.
Thus, the suction type yarn end pull-out device 8 and
15 the yarn end preparing device 9 can be operated with a simple
configuration.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described above, but the above-described
configuration may be modified as below.
20 In the surface stimulating device 53, the friction
plate 75 can be changed to make contact with the chase
portion 21 with an actuator (e.g., electric motor) other
than the cylinder 71.
The raising and lowering mechanism 55 can be changed
25 so as to be configured by the actuator other than the
cylinder, for example, the electric motor. A mechanism
adapted to raise and lower the sucking and catching device
52 and a mechanism adapted to raise and lower the surface
stimulating device 53 may be provided individually.
30 In the above-described embodiment, the bobbin
rotating mechanism 51 rotates the yarn supplying bobbin 12
35
by rotating the transport tray 16. However, the present
invention is not limited thereto, and the bobbin rotating
mechanism 51 may be configured to directly rotate the yarn
supplying bobbin 12.
In the surface stimulating device 53 of the 5 present
embodiment, the friction plate 75 is configured to rub the
surface of the chase portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin
12 in the peripheral direction by rotating the yarn
supplying bobbin 12 while maintaining the state where the
10 friction plate 75 is brought into contact with the outer
peripheral surface of the yarn supplying bobbin 12.
However, the configuration of the surface stimulating
device 53 is not limited thereto. For example, the friction
plate 75 may be configured to rub the surface of the chase
15 portion 21 of the yarn supplying bobbin 12 in a direction
other than the peripheral direction (e.g., axial direction
or diagonal direction, or not one direction but a plurality
of directions of the yarn supplying bobbin 12). For example,
the stimulation may be applied by repeatedly hitting the
20 surface of the chase portion 21 with the friction plate 75
or other hitting members.
In the above-described embodiment, the link type
automatic winder device in which the spinning machine 40
and the automatic winder 1 are coupled by the bobbin
25 preparing system 2 has been described, but the spinning
machine 40 and the automatic winder 1 may be provided as
independent systems. In this case, when the winding of the
spun yarn 10 produced by the spinning machine 40 around the
bobbin tube 120 is completed, the spinning machine 40 forms
30 the bunch winding at the lower end portion of the bobbin
tube 120. The yarn supplying bobbin 12 in which the bunch
36
winding is formed is collected by the operator. The
collected yarn supplying bobbin 12 is transported to the
bobbin preparing system 2 by the container, and supplied
from the container to the bobbin preparing system 2.
According to a first aspect of the present 5 resent invention,
a suction type yarn end pull-out device having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the suction type yarn
end pull-out device is adapted to suck and pull out a yarn
end of a yarn supplying bobbin. The suction type yarn end
10 pull-out device includes a sucking and catching device, a
yarn end catching assisting device, a suction port height
adjusting mechanism, and a chase portion detecting sensor.
The sucking and catching device is adapted to suck a chase
portion of the yarn supplying bobbin from a suction port
15 and catch a yarn end. The yarn end catching assisting
device is adapted to apply stimulation to the chase portion
(i.e., act on a surface of the chase portion, specifically,
rub or hit the surface of the chase portion, for example)
to assist catching of the yarn end by the sucking and
20 catching device. The suction port height adjusting
mechanism can change a height of the suction port. The
chase portion detecting sensor is adapted to detect the
chase portion of the yarn supplying bobbin. The suction
port height adjusting mechanism is adapted to adjust the
25 height of the suction port according to a detection result
of the chase portion detecting sensor. The yarn supplying
bobbin is also referred to as a spinning bobbin, or simply
a bobbin, or a cop.
Thus, even if the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin
30 is closely attached to the surface of the chase portion and
is difficult to be stripped from the surface of the chase
37
portion, the yarn end at the chase portion can be caught
at high probability by a synergetic effect of the
stimulation on the chase portion and the suction of the
chase portion. Since the height of the suction port can
be made to accurately coincide with the chase 5 portion, the
yarn end can be reliably pulled out from the chase portion.
Furthermore, the yarn end can be sucked at an appropriate
height even with respect to the yarn supplying bobbins
having chase portions with different heights, so that the
10 probability of catching the yarn end from the yarn supplying
bobbin can be further improved.
The above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device preferably has the following configuration. That
is, the suction type yarn end pull-out device includes a
15 bobbin rotating mechanism adapted to rotate the yarn
supplying bobbin. While the bobbin rotating mechanism
rotates the yarn supplying bobbin, the yarn end catching
assisting device stimulates the chase portion and the
sucking and catching device pulls out the yarn end.
20 Thus, suction and stimulation can be applied over the
entire outer peripheral surface of the chase portion by
applying stimulation and sucking the chase portion while
rotating the yarn supplying bobbin, whereby the yarn end
of the yarn supplying bobbin can be more reliably caught.
25 In the above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device, when pulling out the yarn end with the sucking and
catching device while stimulating the chase portion with
the yarn end catching assisting device, the bobbin rotating
mechanism preferably rotates the yarn supplying bobbin in
30 an unwinding direction of a yarn.
The yarn end thus can be easily pulled out from the
38
yarn supplying bobbin with the sucking and catching device.
The above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device preferably has the following configuration. That
is, the suction type yarn end pull-out device includes a
winding mechanism adapted to wind the yarn end caught 5 by
the sucking and catching device around a top portion of the
yarn supplying bobbin. When the winding mechanism winds
the yarn end caught by the sucking and catching device
around the top portion of the yarn supplying bobbin, the
10 bobbin rotating mechanism rotates the yarn supplying bobbin
in a winding direction of the yarn.
Thus, the pulled out yarn end can be easily wound
around the top portion of the yarn supplying bobbin.
The above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
15 device preferably has the following configuration. That
is, the yarn end catching assisting device includes a
stimulating member adapted to apply stimulation to the
chase portion of the yarn supplying bobbin. A surface of
the stimulating member to be brought into contact with the
20 yarn supplying bobbin is formed of a synthetic fiber
nonwoven fabric.
Thus, a suitable stimulation can be applied to the
chase portion without the yarn ends getting entangled.
In the above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
25 device, the stimulating member of the yarn end catching
assisting device is preferably arranged to make contact
with the yarn supplying bobbin on an upstream side within
a rotation angle of 180 with respect to the suction port
when viewed in a rotating direction of the yarn supplying
30 bobbin of unwinding the yarn end from the yarn supplying
bobbin.
39
Thus, the stimulation can be applied to the yarn end
of the chase portion by the stimulating member of the yarn
end catching assisting device, and the yarn end of the chase
portion can be immediately sucked by the sucking and
catching device, so that the success rate of catching 5 of
the yarn end can be further increased.
In the above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device, the suction port is preferably formed in a slit
form.
10 Thus, a strong suction force can be exerted on the
chase portion with a small energy.
The above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device preferably has the following configuration. That
is, the sucking and catching device includes an advancing
15 and retracting member capable of advancing and retracting
with respect to the yarn supplying bobbin. The suction port
is formed in the advancing and retracting member.
Thus, when pulling out the yarn end, the suction port
can be brought close to the yarn supplying bobbin together
20 with the advancing and retracting member, whereby the yarn
end can be more suitably pulled out. Since the advancing
and retracting member is moved away from the yarn supplying
bobbin except for the suction time, the movement of the yarn
supplying bobbin is not inhibited.
25 The above-described suction type yarn end pull-out
device preferably has the following configuration. That
is, the sucking and catching device includes a yarn
detecting sensor adapted to detect the yarn. Success and
fail of the suction of the yarn is determined by the
30 detection result of the yarn detecting sensor.
Thus, the next process can be carried out after
40
confirming the success of the suction of the yarn, and hence
the operation can be efficiently carried out as a whole.
According to a second aspect of the present invention,
a bobbin preparing system having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the bobbin pre5 paring
system is adapted to supply a yarn supplying bobbin to a
yarn winding device for winding a yarn. The bobbin
preparing system includes the suction type yarn end
pull-out device and a yarn end preparing device. The yarn
10 end preparing device is adapted to cause the yarn end wound
around the top portion of the yarn supplying bobbin to be
in a state capable of being blown away by the yarn winding
device.
Thus, the yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin
15 prepared by the yarn end preparing device can be reliably
pulled out and wound by being blown away on the yarn winding
device side.
The above-described bobbin preparing system
preferably has the following configuration. That is, the
20 bobbin preparing system includes a hooking type yarn end
pull-out device and a selecting section. The hooking type
yarn end pull-out device is adapted to hook the yarn and
pull out the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin. The
selecting section is adapted to select at least one of the
25 suction type yarn end pull-out device and the hooking type
yarn end pull-out device. The bobbin preparing system
carries out a pull-out operation of the yarn end of the yarn
supplying bobbin with at least one yarn end pull-out device
selected by the selecting section.
30 Thus, an appropriate yarn end pull-out device can be
selected according to the state of the yarn end of the yarn
41
supplying bobbin, so that the yarn end can be more reliably
pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin.
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
a bobbin preparing system having the following
configuration is provided. That is, the bobbin pre5 paring
system is adapted to automatically supply a yarn supplying
bobbin to a yarn winding device for winding a yarn. The
bobbin preparing system includes a suction type yarn end
pull-out device and a yarn end preparing device. The
10 suction type yarn end pull-out device is adapted to suck
and pull out a yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin. The
yarn end preparing device is adapted to further suck the
yarn end pulled out by the suction type yarn end pull-out
device to cause the yarn end to be in a state capable of
15 being blown away by the yarn winding device.
Thus, the yarn can be sucked at two locations, i.e.,
the suction type yarn end pull-out device and the yarn end
preparing device to prepare the yarn supplying bobbin,
whereby the yarn end can be reliably pulled out and wound
20 by being blown away by the yarn winding device.
In the above-described bobbin preparing system, the
suction type yarn end pull-out device and the yarn end
preparing device are preferably connected to a same
negative pressure supplying device.
25 Thus, the suction type yarn end pull-out device and
the yarn end preparing device can be operated with a simple
configuration.
42

We claim:
1. A suction type yarn end pull-out device adapted
to suck and pull out a yarn end of a yarn supplying bobbin,
the suction type yarn end pull-out device characterized by
comprising5 :
a sucking and catching device adapted to suck a chase
portion of the yarn supplying bobbin from a suction port
and catch a yarn end;
a yarn end catching assisting device adapted to apply
10 stimulation to the chase portion to assist the catching of
the yarn end by the sucking and catching device;
a chase portion detecting sensor adapted to detect
the chase portion; and
a suction port height adjusting mechanism adapted to
15 adjust a height of the suction port according to a detection
result of the chase portion detecting sensor.
2. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising
20 a bobbin rotating mechanism adapted to rotate the
yarn supplying bobbin,
wherein while the bobbin rotating mechanism rotates
the yarn supplying bobbin, the yarn end catching assisting
device stimulates the chase portion and the sucking and
25 catching device pulls out the yarn end.
3. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to claim 2, characterized in that
when pulling out the yarn end with the sucking and
30 catching device while stimulating the chase portion with
the yarn end catching assisting device, the bobbin rotating
43
mechanism rotates the yarn supplying bobbin in an unwinding
direction of a yarn.
4. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to claim 3, further characterized by 5 comprising
a winding mechanism adapted to wind the yarn end
caught by the sucking and catching device around a top
portion of the yarn supplying bobbin,
wherein when the winding mechanism winds the yarn end
10 caught by the sucking and catching device around the top
portion of the yarn supplying bobbin, the bobbin rotating
mechanism rotates the yarn supplying bobbin in a winding
direction of the yarn.
15 5. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the yarn end catching assisting device includes a
stimulating member adapted to apply stimulation to the
chase portion, and
20 a surface of the stimulating member to be brought into
contact with the chase portion is formed of a synthetic
fiber nonwoven fabric.
6. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
25 according to claim 5, characterized in that
the stimulating member of the yarn end catching
assisting device is arranged to make contact with the chase
portion on an upstream side within a rotation angle of 180
with respect to the suction port when viewed in a rotating
30 direction of the yarn supplying bobbin of unwinding the yarn
end from the yarn supplying bobbin.
44
7. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
the suction port is formed in a slit form.
5
8. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that
the sucking and catching device includes an advancing
and retracting member adapted to advance and retract with
10 respect to the yarn supplying bobbin, and
the suction port is formed in the advancing and
retracting member.
9. The suction type yarn end pull-out device
15 according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that
the sucking and catching device includes a yarn
detecting sensor adapted to detect the yarn, and
success and fail of the suction of the yarn is
determined by the detection result of the yarn detecting
20 sensor.
10. A bobbin preparing system adapted to supply a
yarn supplying bobbin to a yarn winding device for winding
a yarn, the bobbin preparing system characterized by
25 comprising:
the suction type yarn end pull-out device according
to any one of claims 1 to 9; and
a yarn end preparing device adapted to cause the yarn
end wound around the top portion of the yarn supplying
30 bobbin to be in a state capable of being blown away by the
yarn winding device.
45
11. The bobbin preparing system according to claim
10, further characterized by comprising:
a hooking type yarn end pull-out device adapted to
hook the yarn and pull out the yarn from the 5 yarn supplying
bobbin; and
a selecting section adapted to select at least one
of the suction type yarn end pull-out device and the hooking
type yarn end pull-out device,
10 wherein a pull-out operation of the yarn end of the
yarn supplying bobbin is carried out with the at least one
yarn end pull-out device selected by the selecting section.
12. A bobbin preparing system adapted to
15 automatically supply a yarn supplying bobbin to a yarn
winding device for winding a yarn, the bobbin preparing
system characterized by comprising:
a suction type yarn end pull-out device adapted to
suck and pull out a yarn end of the yarn supplying bobbin;
20 and
a yarn end preparing device adapted to further suck
the yarn end pulled out by the suction type yarn end pull-out
device to cause the yarn end to be in a state capable of
being blown away by the yarn winding device.
25 13. The bobbin preparing system according to claim
12, characterized in that
the suction type yarn end pull-out device and the yarn
end preparing device are connected to a same negative
pressure supplying device.