title
TEXTILE MACHINE AND TEXTILE MACHINE SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a textile machine and a textile
5 machine system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Textile machines, also referred to as textile machinery, provided
with a fiber processing unit performing some process to fibers are
known. An automatic winder provided with a winder unit, and a
10 spinning machine provided with a spinning unit both correspond to
some examples of such a textile machine. For such a textile machine,
there is a demand for a capability for determining whether there is any
failure in the fiber processing unit during its operation, based on various
types of information output from the fiber processing unit.
15 [0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HS-169641, for
example, discloses a function diagnostic apparatus in which a pressure
sensor, a static pressure sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a rotation sensor,
and a displacement sensor are attached to respective parts to be
monitored, and signals output from the respective sensors are input to a
20 personal computer, for example, and the personal computer receiving
the inputs of the signals is caused to analyze and to diagnose the
conditions of such parts.
SUMMARY
[0004] An object of one embodiment of the present disclosure is,
25 therefore, to provide a textile machine and a textile machine system
capable of acquiring desired types of information from a desired part as
1
required.
This object is achieved by a textile machine and a textile
machine system as defined in the independent claims.
[0005] With the conventional apparatus mentioned above, the parts to
5 be monitored need to be determined in advance, and sensors suitable for
objectives need to be provided on the respective parts. Therefore, the
apparatus is only capable of acquiring intended information from the
predetermined parts, and is incapable of acquiring any information with
different objectives, even when such parts are predetermined, for
10 example.
[0006] A textile machine according to one aspect of the present
disclosure includes: a plurality of fiber processing units that are
arranged side by side; a shared device that is commonly provided on the
fiber processing units; a condition acquiring device capable of acquiring
15 information related to at least one of a condition of the fiber processing
units and a condition of the shared device; and attachment bases that are
provided on a plurality of parts of at least one of the fiber processing
units and the shared device, and to which the condition acquiring device
is attached, wherein the condition acquiring device includes: a plurality
20 of information acquiring units each of which acquires a different type of
information related to the condition; a casing that houses the
information acquiring units; and an attaching portion that is provided on
the casing, and that is capable of being attached to the corresponding
attachment base in a removable manner.
25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG 1 is a schematic of an automatic winder according to one
2
embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating a general configmation of the
winder unit illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a condition acquiring device
5 according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the automatic winder illustrated in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5A is a plan view of the condition acquiring device seen
from one side of the condition acquiring device;
10 FIG. 5B is a front view of attachment bases seen from the front
side;
FIG. 6 is a general vrew of an automatic winder system
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an automatic winder or an
15 automatic winder system according to a modification;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a condition acquiring device
according to the modification; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating a general structme of a winder
unit according to the modification.
20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
explained with reference to some drawings. In explaining the
drawings, the same elements will be assigned with the same reference
numerals, and redundant explanations thereof will be omitted.
25 [0008] First Embodiment
An overall configuration of an automatic winder (textile
3
machine or textile machinery) 1 provided with a plurality of winder
units (fiber processing units) 10 will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2. Hereinafter, the terms "upstream" and "downstream"
represent the upstream and the downstream in the rurming direction of
5 yam being wound, respectively.
[0009] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic winder 1 includes,
as its main components, a plurality of winder units 10 that are arranged
in one direction, an automatic doffing device (shared device) 8, a
machine managing unit 9, a condition acquiring device 70, a machine
10 frame 1A, and attachment bases 90 (90A, 90B, and 90C). A winder
unit 10 is a device that traverses and winds the yam Y unwound from a
yam feed bobbin B around a winding bobbin WB (see FIG. 2), to
manufacture a package P.
[0010] The automatic doffing device 8 runs to the position of a winder
15 unit 10 when the package P at the winder unit 10 becomes fully wound,
causes the winder unit 10 to eject the fully wound package P, and
supplies an empty winding bobbin WB to the winder unit 10.
[00 11] The machine managing unit 9 includes, as its main components,
a setting managing unit 9A and a display unit 9B. The setting
20 managing unit 9A manages the settings of the winder units 10 by
allowing an operator to enter predetermined setting values, and to select
an appropriate control method, for example. The display unit 9B is
enabled to display the condition of the wound yam Y, the specifics of a
trouble having occurred, and the like in each of the winder units 10.
25 The display unit 9B may be provided as a touch panel, and the setting
managing unit 9A may be included in the display unit 9B.
4
[0012] A structure of the winder unit 10 will now be explained
specifically. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the winder units 10
includes, as its main components, a unit main body 60, a bobbin support
(yam feeding unit) 11, a yam unwinding assisting device 15, a yam
5 tension applying device 21, a tension sensor 25, a yam joining device
31, a lower yam capturing unit 33, an upper yam capturing unit 37, a
yam monitoring device 41, a winding unit 51, and a unit controller 65.
[0013] The unit main body 60 supports the devices included in the
winder unit 10, that is, the yam unwinding assisting device 15, the yarn
10 tension applying device 21, the tension sensor 25, the yam joining
device 31, the lower yam capturing unit 33, the upper yam capturing
unit 3 7, the yam monitoring device 41, and the winding unit 51. The
unit controller 65, the details of which will be described later, is
internalized in the unit main body 60.
15 [0014] The unit main body 60 is provided with a setting input unit 61
and a display unit 63. The setting input unit 61 performs settings to
the winder unit 10 by allowing the operator to enter some setting values
and to select an appropriate control method. The display unit 63
displays the condition of the wound yam Y, the specifics of a trouble
20 having occurred, and the like in the winder unit 10. The display unit
63 may be provided as a touch panel, and the setting input unit 61 may
be included in the display unit 63.
[0015] The bobbin support 11 holds the yarn feed bobbin B having
been carried by a bobbin conveying system, not illustrated, at a
25 predetermined position.
[0016] The yarn unwinding assisting device 15 assists unwinding ofthe
5
yam Y from the yam feed bobbin B by bringing a restricting member 16
hanging over the core ofthe yam feed bobbin B down in a synchronized
manner as unwinding of the yam Y from the yam feed bobbin B. The
restricting member 16 is then brought into contact with the balloon of
5 the yam Y formed on top of the yam feed bobbin B, being formed by
the rotation and the centrifugal force of the yam Y unwound from the
yam feed bobbin B, and controls the balloon of the yam Y to an
appropriate size. Provided near the restricting member 16 is a sensor
not illustrated for detecting the chase portion of the yam feed bobbin B.
10 When this sensor detects a descent of the chase portion, the yam
unwinding assisting device 15 causes the restricting member 16 to
descend as well using an air cylinder (not illustrated), for example, in a
manner following the descent ofthe chase portion.
[0017] The yam tension applying device 21 applies a predetermined
15 tension to the running yam Y A gate tension device that positions a
movable comb with respect to a stationary comb may be used as the
yam tension applying device 21, for example. The movable comb may
be rotated using a rotary solenoid in such a manner that the movable
comb becomes engaged with and released from the stationary comb. It
20 is also possible to use a disk tension device as the yam tension applying
device 21, for example, instead of the gate tension device.
[0018] The tension sensor 25 is disposed between the yam tension
applying device 21 and the yam joining device 31, and is placed on the
top surface of a guide plate 23. The tension sensor 25 measures the
25 tension of the running yam Y, and transmits a tension measurement
signal to the unit controller 65.
6
[0019] The yarn joining device 31 joins the lower yarn extending from
the yarn feed bobbin B and the upper yam extending from the package
P, when the yam is cut off in response to a detection of a defect in the
yarn by the yarn monitoring device 41, as well as when yarn unwound
5 from the yam feed bobbin B is out. As the yam joining device 31 for
joining the upper yam and the lower yarn, a device (splicer) using a
fluid such as compressed air is used. The yarn joining device 31 may
also be a knotter that mechanically makes a knot.
[0020] The lower yam capturing unit 33 is provided below the yam
10 joining device 31, and captures the end of the lower yarn and guides the
end to the yam joining device 31. The lower yam capturing unit 33
has a lower yarn pipe arm 34, and a lower yam suction port 34A
provided on one end ofthe lower yarn pipe arm 34.
[0021] The lower yam pipe arm 34 is supported rotatably about an axis
15 A1 by the unit main body 60. An appropriate negative pressure source
is connected to each lower yarn pipe arm 34. The lower yam pipe arm
34 suctions and captures the end of the lower yarn by generating a
suction flow in the lower yam suction port 34A.
[0022] The upper yam capturing unit 37 for capturing the end of the
20 upper yam and guiding the yam joining device 31 is provided above the
yam joining device 31. The upper yam capturing unit 37 is provided
with an upper yam pipe arm 38, and an upper yarn suction port 39
provided on one end of the upper yarn pipe arm 38. The upper yarn
pipe arm 38 is supported rotatably about an axis A2 by the unit main
25 body 60. An appropriate negative pressure source is connected to each
upper yam pipe arm 38. The upper yam pipe arm 38 suctions and
7
captures the end of the upper yam by generating a suction flow in the
upper yam suction port 39.
[0023] The yam monitoring device 41 includes a head 43 on which a
sensor not illustrated for detecting the thickness of the yam Y is
5 provided, and an analyzer 45 that processes a yam thickness signal
output from this sensor. The yam monitoring device 41 detects a
defect such as a slub in the yarn, by monitoring the yam thickness signal
output from the sensor. A cutting device 4 7 for cutting off the yam Y
immediately upon detection of a yam defect by the yam monitoring
10 device 41 is provided near the head 43.
[0024] When the cutting device 47 cuts off the yam Y, the upper yam
suction port 39 on the upper yam capturing unit 37 is rotated
downwardly, with the upper yam that is the yam end on the package P
suctioned thereto, so that the end of the upper yam is passed to the yam
15 joining device 31. The lower yarn suction port 34A on the lower yam
capturing unit 33 is rotated upwardly, with the lower yam that is the
yam end on the yam feed bobbin B suctioned thereto, so that the end of
the lower yarn is passed to the yarn joining device 31. In this manner,
the upper yam is joined with the lower yarn in the yam joining device
20 31.
[0025] The winding unit 51 includes a traverse drum 55 on which a
drum groove 55 A is provided, and a cradle 52 that supports the winding
bobbin WB rotatably and removably. The cradle 52 brings the surface
of the yam Y wound around the winding bobbin WB (in other words,
25 the surface of the package P) into contact with the surface of the
traverse drum 55 at an appropriate pressure. The winding unit 51
8
causes the yam Y to traverse at a predetermine width, and winds the
yam Y around the winding bobbin WB, by driving the traverse drum 55
in rotation with the driving force of a traverse drum driving motor 59,
and causing the winding bobbin WB to be driven in rotation.
5 [0026] The unit controller 65 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a central
processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only
memory (ROM), an input/output (I/0) port, and a communication port,
for example. A computer program for controlling the components of
the winder unit 10 is recorded in the ROM. The components of the
1 0 winder unit 1 0 and the machine managing unit 9 are connected to the
I/0 port and the communication port, and are enabled to exchange
information such as control information. For example, the unit
controller 65 feedback-controls the yam tension applying device 21 in
such a manner that an optimal tension not breaking the yam is applied
15 to the yam, based on the tension value input from the tension sensor 25.
[0027] The condition acquiring device 70 to be attached to any one of
the attachment bases 90 (90A, 90B) on the winder unit 10, and the
attachment base 90 (90C) on the machine frame 1A will now be
explained. The condition acquiring device 70 acquires information
20 (such as sound, vibration, and temperature) related to the condition of
the winder unit 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the condition
acquiring device 70 includes a casing 71, attaching portions 73, and a
sound acquiring unit 77, a vibration acquiring unit 78, and a temperature
acquiring unit 79 that are information acquiring units that acquire
25 different types of information emitted from the operating automatic
winder 1, a setting unit (first setting unit) 81, a battery (power source)
9
87, a storage unit 89, and an output unit 83.
[0028] The casing 71 is made of resin or metal, and houses the sound
acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, the temperature
acquiring unit 79, the battery 87, the storage unit 89, and the output unit
5 83. The resin may be either non-conductive resin or conductive resin.
The setting unit 81 is disposed on one surface 7la of the casing 71.
The casing 71 has a rectangular shape (oblong shape) in a view from the
one surface 7la, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5A, for example, and it is
preferable for the casing 71 to have one side with a length equal to or
10 more than 10 millimeters and equal to or less than 80 millimeters, and a
thickness equal to or greater than 5 millimeters and equal to or less than
20 millimeters. The casing 71 has a prism-like shape that is
rectangular in the view from the one surface 71a, for example, and it is
more preferable for a first side to have a length equal to or greater than
15 20 millimeters and equal to or less than 36 millimeters, a second side to
have a length equal to or greater than 40 millimeters and equal to or less
than 60 millimeters, and a third side (thickness) to have a length equal
to or greater than 5 millimeters and equal to or less than 15 millimeters.
[0029] The casing 71 may also be circular in the view from the one
20 surface 71a, as illustrated in FIG. 8, for example. The casing 71 may
also be a container having a space for housing all of the sound acquiring
unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, the temperature acquiring unit
79, the output unit 83, the battery 87, and the storage unit 89. The
casing 71 may also be a casing that is the integration of a plurality of
25 casings each of which has a space for housing the sound acquiring unit
77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, the temperature acquiring unit 79,
10
the output unit 83, the battery 87, and the storage unit 89, respectively.
The casing 71 may also be a casing that is the integration of a casing for
housing one of the component (such as the sound acquiring unit 77 or
the battery 87), and another casing for housing a plurality of
5 components (such as the vibration acquiring unit 78 and the temperature
acquiring unit 79).
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. SA, the attaching portions 73 are provided
on the other surface 71 b of the casing 71. The attaching portions 73
are provided as holes 73a into which protrusions 91 provided on the
10 attachment base 90 (see FIG. 5B) can be inserted, for example. In the
first embodiment, four holes 73a are provided. The number of the
holes 73a is, however, not limited to four.
[0031] The sound acquiring unit 77 acquires sound (information). The
sound acquiring unit 77 is a microphone, for example. The setting unit
15 81 switches the sound acquiring unit 77 to operate or not to operate. In
other words, the sound acquiring unit 77 is capable of acquiring sound
only when the setting unit 81 switches the sound acquiring unit 77 to
operate. The sound data acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77 is
sent to the storage unit 89.
20 [0032] The vibration acquiring unit 78 acquires vibration (information).
The vibration acquiring unit 78 is an acceleration sensor, for example.
The setting unit 81 switches the vibration acquiring unit 78 to operate or
not to operate. In other words, the vibration acquiring unit 78 is
capable of acquiring vibration only when the setting unit 81 switches
25 the vibration acquiring unit 78 to operate. The vibration data acquired
by the vibration acquiring unit 78 is sent to the storage unit 89.
11
[0033] The temperature acqumng unit 79 acqmres temperature
(information). The temperature acquiring unit 79 is a temperature
sensor, for example. The setting unit 81 switches the temperature
acquiring unit 79 to operate or not to operate. In other words, the
5 temperature acquiring unit 79 is capable of acquiring temperature only
when the setting unit 81 switches the temperature acquiring unit 79 to
operate. The temperature data acquired by the temperature acquiring
unit 79 is sent to the storage unit 89.
[0034] The battery 87 supplies power to the sound acquiring unit 77,
10 the vibration acquiring unit 78, the temperature acquiring unit 79, the
setting unit 81, and the output unit 83.
[0035] The storage unit 89 stores therein the sound, the vibration, and
the temperature acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively.
15 Specifically, the storage unit 89 stores therein the pieces of data
transmitted from the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring
unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively. In other
words, the storage unit 89 stores (records) the sound data transmitted
from the sound acquiring unit 77, stores the vibration data transmitted
20 from the vibration acquiring unit 78, and stores the temperature data
transmitted from the temperature acquiring unit 79. When the storage
capacity of the storage unit 89 has reached its upper limit, it is
preferable for the pieces of data in the storage unit 89 to be
automatically overwritten sequentially from the oldest one.
25 [0036] The setting unit 81 switches each of the sound acquiring unit 77,
the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 to
12
operate or not to operate. The setting unit 81 includes switches, for
example, for switching the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 to operate and
not to operate, respectively, and a circuit for controlling the operations
5 of the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiting unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79.
[0037] The output unit 83 outputs the sound, the vibration, and the
temperature acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively, to
10 the external of the condition acquiring device 70. In the first
embodiment, the output unit 83 is an interface such as a local area
network (LAN) port or a universal serial bus (USB) that outputs the
sound data, the vibration data, and the temperature data stored in the
storage unit 89 to a terminal device. The output unit 83 may be an
15 antenna when used is a wireless LAN, or a transceiver when used is a
near field communication such as infrared communication.
[0038] The attachment base 90 with which the condition acqmnng
device 70 is attached in the winder unit 10 will now be explained. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the automatic winder 1 according to the first
20 embodiment includes the attachment bases 90A provided on the cradle
52, the attachment base 90B provided on the unit main body 60 near the
yam joining device 31, and the attachment base 90C provided on the
machine frame 1A above the winder unit 10.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 5B, each of the attachment bases 90 (90A,
25 90B, 90C) has a plate 93, a marking 95, and protrusions 91. The plate
93 is a plate-shaped member, and is a main body of the attachment base
13
90. The marking 95 is marking provided in a manner sunounding the
plate 93. The marking 95 is provided in a manner sunounding the
condition acquiring device 70 with the condition acquiring device 70
attached to the attachment bases 90. The marking 95 can be formed by
5 incision or coloring, or as a seal. The marking 95 is enabled to
indicate the operator with the direction in which the condition acquiring
device 70 is attached (e.g., the vertical directions). The protrusions 91
are members protruding from the plate 93. Each of the protrusions 91
has a shape enabled to engage with the corresponding attaching portion
1 0 73 having a recessed shape and provided on the other surface 71 b of the
condition acquiring device 70. The protrusions 91, too, are enabled to
indicate the direction in which the condition acquiring device 70 is
attached to the operator, in the same manner as the marking 95. When
the protrusions 91 can sufficiently serve as the marking, the marking 95
15 may be omitted.
[0040] A way m which the information (sound, vibration, or
temperature) is acquired using the condition acquiring device 70 will
now be explained. The operator attaches the condition acquiring
device 70 near the device from which the operator wants to acquire
20 information. When the operator wants to monitor the presence of any
abnormality in the cradle 52, the presence of any abnormality in the
yam joining device 31, and the temperature near the automatic winder
1, for example, the operator attaches the condition acquiring device 70
to each of the attachment bases 90A provided near the cradle 52, the
25 attachment base 90B near the yam joining device 31, and the attachment
base 90C on the machine fi·ame lA, respectively.
14
[0041] Before or after attaching the condition acquiring device 70 to
each of these portions, the operator switches each of the sound acquiring
unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring
unit 79 to operate or not to operate. The operator switches each of the
5 sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79 to operate or not to operate by operating
the switches that are a part of the setting unit 81.
[0042] The operator attaches the condition acquiring device 70 in which
only the vibration acquiring unit 78 is caused to operate to the
10 attachment base 90A provided near the cradle 52. In this manner, the
condition acquiring device 70 is caused to store therein the vibration
data generated as the traverse drum driving motor 59 drives the traverse
drum 55. The operator also attaches another condition acquiring
device 70 in which only the sound acquiring unit 77 is caused to operate
15 to the attachment base 90B near the yarn joining device 31. In this
manner, the condition acquiring device 70 is caused to store therein the
sound generated as the yarn joining device 31 operates. The operator
also attaches another condition acquiring device 70 in which only the
temperature acquiring unit 79 is caused to operate to the attachment
20 base 90C on the machine frame 1A. In this manner, the condition
acquiring device 70 is caused to store therein the temperature data
acquired near the automatic winder 1 (around the automatic winder 1).
In other words, these condition acquiring devices 70 can store therein
the environment in which the automatic winder 1 is deployed.
25 [0043] The operator connects a terminal device 7 (see FIG 4) to the
output unit 83 of each of the condition acquiring devices 70 at given
15
timing or on a regular basis. In this manner, the data stored in the
storage unit 89 in each of the condition acquiring device 70 can be
transferred (output) to the terminal device 7. Examples of the terminal
device 7 include a laptop personal computer, a smartphone, and a tablet.
5 [0044] The terminal device 7 determines whether there IS any
abnormality in the cradle 52, the yam joining device 31, and the
automatic winder 1, using the data transferred from the condition
acquiring device 70. Specifically, the terminal device 7 diagnoses
whether there is any abnormality in the cradle 52 based on the vibration
10 data generated as the traverse drum driving motor 59 drives the traverse
drum 55, and displays the result of the diagnosis on a display unit, for
example. The operator can determine whether there is any
abnormality in the cradle 52 by examining the diagnosis result displayed
on the display unit or the like of the terminal device 7. The terminal
15 device 7 also diagnoses whether there is any abnormality in the yam
joining device 31 based on the sound generated as the yam joining
device 31 operates, and displays the diagnosis result on the display unit,
for example. The operator can determine whether there is any
abnormality in the yam joining device 31 by examining the diagnosis
20 result displayed on the display unit or the like in the terminal device 7.
[0045] The terminal device 7 also determines, for example, whether
machine operation temperature (installation environmental requirement)
is satisfied based on the temperature near the automatic winder 1, that
is, the temperature around the automatic winder 1, and displays at least
25 one of the determination result and the detection result on the display
unit, for example. The operator can manage the installation
16
environmental requirement by exammmg at least one of the
determination result and the detection result displayed on the display
unit or the like of the terminal device 7.
[0046] The operational advantages achieved by the automatic winder 1
5 according to the first embodiment will now be explained. In the
automatic winder 1 according to the first embodiment, because the
condition acquiring device 70 is enabled to acquire a plurality of types
of information (sound, vibration, and temperature) that are different
from one another, desired types of information can be acquired merely
10 by attaching the condition acquiring device 70 to a desired part from
which the information is to be acquired. Furthermore, in the automatic
winder 1 according to the first embodiment, the attachment bases 90
(90A, 90B) are provided on the winder unit 10, and the attachment base
90 (90C) is provided on the machine frame 1A. The attaching portions
15 73 are provided on the condition acquiring device 70. Therefore, the
condition acquiring device 70 can be easily attached to and removed
from the winder unit 10. As a result, desired types of information can
be acquired from a desired part as required, without identifYing the parts
to be monitored or identifYing the types of information to be acquired in
20 the winder unit 10 in advance. The acquired information may then be
used in abnormality diagnosis, predictive maintenance, maintenance
support (maintenance timing announcement), and the like.
[0047] The automatic winder 1 according to the first embodiment
includes an interface serving as a part of the setting unit 81 and
25 receiving an instruction as to whether each of the sound acquiring unit
77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit
17
79 is to be operated, and a circuit that controls the operations of the
sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79. With this configuration, the operator
can switch the operations of the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
5 acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 in such a
manner that only those from which the operator wants to acquire
information are operated. In this manner, power can be saved, and the
capacity of the storage unit 89 can be relatively reduced.
[0048] Because the automatic winder 1 according to the first
10 embodiment does not require any power supply from another apparatus,
the automatic winder 1 may be attached to a desired part more easily.
Furthermore, because the automatic winder 1 according to the first
embodiment is provided with the storage unit 89, the automatic winder
1 does not require the terminal device 7 for performing analysis and the
15 like of the information acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the
vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 to be
always connected, and the terminal device 7 can be connected and
caused to analyze the information stored in the storage unit 89, as
required. In this manner, the conditions of the winder unit l 0 can be
20 recognized more flexibly.
[0049] In the automatic winder 1 according to the first embodiment,
because the vibration generated by the cradle 52 can be acquired, the
terminal device 7 can diagnose whether there is any abnormality in the
cradle 52 based on at least one of the acquired vibration and a change in
25 the vibration. In the automatic winder 1 according to the first
embodiment, because the sound generated by the yarn joining device 31
18
can be acquired, the terminal device 7 can diagnose whether there is any
abnormality of the yam joining device 31 based on at least one of the
acquired sound and a change in the sound.
[0050) The automatic winder l according to the first embodiment is
5 provided with the output unit 83 outputting the sound, the vibration, and
the temperature acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively, to
the external of to the condition acquiring device 70. The sound, the
vibration, and the temperature acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77,
l 0 the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79
can therefore be output to the external terminal device 7 that is separate
from the condition acquiring device 70. The external terminal device 7
that is separate from the condition acquiring device 70 can then make
analyses such as abnormality diagnosis using the sound, the vibration,
15 and the temperature acquired by condition acquiring device 70.
[0051] In the automatic winder 1 according to the first embodiment, for
example, the attachment bases 90A are provided near components as
articles of consumption (the bearings on a bearing center that is a
package support that supports the package at both ends). In this
20 manner, because the package support can be monitored, consumables in
the package support can be replaced at appropriate timing, for example.
[0052] Second Embodiment
An automatic winder system (textile machine system or textile
machinery system) 5 according to a second embodiment of the present
25 disclosure will now be explained mainly with reference to FIG. 6. This
automatic winder system 5 includes the automatic winder (textile
19
machine or textile machinery) 1 provided in plurality, the machine
managing units 9 that are provided on the respective automatic winders
1, and each of which manages the winder units (fiber processing units)
10, the unit controllers 65 that control the respective winder units, a host
5 managing unit 3 that is deployed at a position away from the automatic
winders 1, and that manages the automatic winders 1, and the terminal
device 7 that is connectable to the machine managing units 9. The
automatic winder 1 and the winder units 10 are the same as those
according to the first embodiment, and therefore, detailed explanations
I 0 thereof are omitted herein.
[0053] The host managing unit 3 is a terminal device connected to the
automatic winders 1. The host managing unit 3 is configured as a
computer system including a CPU, a main storage such as a RAM and a
ROM, an auxiliary storage unit an example of which includes a solid
15 state drive (SSD) that is based on the mini-Serial AT attachment
(mSATA) standard, an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, and
an output unit such as a display screen. A hard disk, a flash memory,
or the like may also be used as the auxiliary storage unit.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the host managing unit 3 and each ofthe
20 machine managing unit 9 are configured to be accessible to each other
over a network. Examples of the network include an Internet circuit, a
dedicated circuit, and a virtual private network (VPN) circuit. The
network may be a wired or a wireless network.
[0055] The terminal device 7 is a small, portable terminal device. The
25 terminal device 7 is a computer system including a CPU, a main storage
such as a RAM and a ROM, an auxiliary storage unit examples of
20
which include a hard disk and a flash memory, an input unit such as a
touch panel screen, and an output unit. The terminal device 7 can
connect to the machine managing unit 9 via a cable, a wireless LAN, a
near field communication, or the like.
5 [0056] The condition acquiring device 70 used in this automatic winder
system 5 is the same as that to be provided on the automatic winder 1
according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. The condition
acquiring device 70 outputs the sound data acquired by the sound
acquiring unit 77, the vibration data acquired by the vibration acquiring
10 unit 78, and the temperature data acquired by the temperature acquiring
unit 79 to at least one of the corresponding unit controller 65, the
corresponding machine managing unit 9, the host managing unit 3, and
the terminal device 7.
[0057] When the sound data, the vibration data, and the temperature
15 data acquired by the condition acquiring devices 70 are output to the
corresponding machine managing unit 9, for example, the machine
managing unit 9 can make analyses such as abnormality diagnosis based
on the received information (the sound data, the vibration data, and the
temperature data). It is also possible for the machine managing unit 9
20 to be only responsible for storing the information (the sound data, the
vibration data, and the temperature data) received from the condition
acquiring device 70, and to enable the host managing unit 3 connecting
via a cable, a wireless LAN, a near field communication, or the like to
perform analyses such as abnormality diagnosis based on the
25 information. In such a configuration, it is possible to determine
whether any of the winder units 1 0 included in the corresponding
21
automatic winder 1 has any abnormality.
[0058] When the sound data, the vibration data, and the temperature
data acquired by the condition acquiring devices 70 are output to the
host managing unit 3, for example, the host managing unit 3 can make
5 analyses such as abnormality diagnosis based on the received
information (the sound data, the vibration data, and the temperature
data). In such a configuration, it is possible to determine whether any
of the automatic winders 1 included in the automatic winder 1, and any
of the winder units 10 included in each of the automatic winders 1 has
10 any abnormality, in a centralized manner.
[0059] The operational advantages achieved by the automatic winder
system 5 according to the second embodiment will now be explained.
In the automatic winder system 5 according to the second embodiment,
because the condition acquiring device 70 is enabled to acquire a
15 plurality of different types of information (the sound, the vibration, and
the temperature), desired types of information can be acquired merely
by attaching the condition acquiring device 70 to any desired part from
which information is to be acquired. Furthermore, in the automatic
winder system 5 according to the second embodiment, the attachment
20 bases 90 (90A, 90B) are provided on the winder unit 10, and the
attachment bases 90 (90C) is provided on the machine frame lA. The
attaching portions 73 are provided on the condition acquiring device 70.
Therefore, the condition acquiring device 70 can be easily attached to
and removed from the winder unit 10. As a result, desired types of
25 information can be acquired from a desired part of the winder unit 10 as
required. The acquired information can then be used in abnonnality
22
diagnosis, predictive maintenance, maintenance support (maintenance
timing announcement), and the like.
[0060] In the automatic winder system 5 according to the second
embodiment, the unit controller 65, the machine managing unit 9, the
5 host managing unit 3, or the terminal device 7 can perform analyses
such as abnormality diagnosis using the sound, the vibration, and the
temperature acquired by condition acquiring device 70. Because the
function of performing the analyses such as abnormality diagnosis can
be executed externally to the condition acquiring device 70, the size of
I 0 the condition acquiring device 70 can be reduced. Furthermore, in the
automatic winder system 5 according to the second embodiment, such a
diagnosis can be made using the integration of the information acquired
by the condition acquiring device 70, and the information retained by
the unit controller 65, the machine managing unit 9, and the host
15 managing unit 3.
[0061] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are explained
above, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0062] First Modification
In the embodiments described above, used is an example in
20 which the condition acquiring device 70 includes the setting unit 81 that
switches each of the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring
unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 to operate or not to
operate. The condition acquiring device 70 may, however, also include
a setting unit (second setting unit) 281 capable of executing at least one
25 of a first function that enables a user to select the infonnation acquiring
units (the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and
23
the temperature acquiring unit 79) for storing the information in the
storage unit 89 and a second function that enables a user to set at least
one of the time and a sampling cycle at which the information is stored
in the storage unit 89, as illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, in
5 replacement of the setting unit 81. The setting unit 281 is a circuit
making at least one of the first function and the second function
executable. The first function enables the user to select the
information acquiring units (the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79) for which the
10 information is to be stored in the storage unit 89, and the second
function enables a user to designate at least one of the time and a
sampling cycle at which the information is stored in the storage unit 89.
[0063] In the automatic winder 1 or the automatic winder system 5
according to the first modification, even in a configuration in which all
15 of the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79 included in the condition acquiring device
70 are configured to keep acquiring information constantly, the
information may be stored selectively in the storage unit 89, or the time
and the sampling cycle at which the information acquired by each of the
20 sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79 is stored in the storage unit 89 can be
designated. Therefore, only the necessary information can be
selectively stored.
[0064] With the setting unit 281, separate information sampling cycle
25 and measurement time can be designated for each type of the
information. For example, possible settings are causing the
24
temperature acquiring unit 79 to make measurements at a longer cycle
for 1 week, and causing the sound acquiring unit 77 to make
measurements at a medium cycle for 10 minutes, and causing the
vibration acquiring unit 78 to make measurement at a shorter cycle for 5
5 minutes.
[0065] The setting unit 281 can cause the acquisition (measurement) of
the information to be started automatically. For example, when the
operator wants to acquire the sound of the splicer, by causing the unit
controller 65 to transmit some information related to the timing of a
1 0 splicer operation (e.g., the timing at which air supply is started) to the
condition acquiring device 70 before the air supply is started, the setting
unit 281 can cause the sound acquiring unit 77 to start measuring the
sound using the reception of the information as a trigger. In other
words, the condition acquiring device 70 is caused to operate in a
15 manner directly associated with the unit controller 65, through the
communication with the unit controller 65. Alternatively, the
condition acquiring device 70 may detect the start of the operation of
the driving unit for ejecting air, based on a detection signal output from
an operation detection sensor that is separately provided, for example,
20 so that the sound acquiring unit 77 can start measuring the sound using
the detection as a trigger. In other words, the condition acquiring
device 70 is caused to operate in a manner indirectly associated with the
unit controller 65, by detecting the operation of the driving unit for
ejecting air.
25 [0066] Second Modification
The condition acquiring device 70 according to the embodiment
25
is explained to include the battery 87 and the storage unit 89, as an
example, but the condition acquiring device 70 may be configured to
receive power supply from the external, without including the internal
battery 87. The condition acquiring device 70 may include an
5 informing unit capable of informing (displaying) information acquired
from the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and
the temperature acquiring unit 79, for example, without including the
storage unit 89. It is also possible for the condition acquiring device
70 to be provided with a CPU, and an analysis program stored in the
10 storage unit 89, for example, and to make diagnoses based on the
information acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, and to notify
the diagnosis result.
[0067] The internal storage unit 89 may be rendered unnecessary in a
15 configuration in which the information acquired from each of the sound
acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature
acquiring unit 79 is output to the external of the condition acquiring
device 70, as in the automatic winder system 5 according to the second
embodiment.
20 [0068] Third Modification
Used in explaining the condition acquiring device 70 included in
the automatic winder 1 or the automatic winder system 5 according to
any of the embodiments and the modifications described above is an
example in which an operator makes an operation on (or via) the setting
25 unit (first setting unit) 81 or the setting unit (second setting unit) 281 to
designate whether to cause each of the sound acquiring unit 77, the
26
vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 to
operate or not to operate, but the present disclosure is not limited to
such an example.
[0069] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the condition acquiring
5 device 70 may include a control unit (attached position identifying unit)
181 for identifying to which attachment bases 90 the attaching portions
73 are attached, instead ofthe setting unit 81 or the setting unit 281, and
the control unit 181 may automatically designate which information
acquiring unit is to be operated, among those provided in plurality (the
10 sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79), based on the attached position identified
by the control unit 181. The control unit 181 is a circuit that
automatically designates an information acquiring unit that is to be
operated, among those provided in plurality (the sound acquiring unit
15 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit
79), based on the identified attached position.
[0070] To use an example of the embodiment described above, for
example, when the attaching portions 73 of the condition acquiring
device 70 are attached to the attachment base 90A provided on the
20 cradle 52, the control unit 181 automatically identifies that the condition
acquiring device 70 is attached to the attachment base 90A provided on
the cradle 52. Based on the recognition that the condition acquiring
device 70 is attached to the attachment base 90A, the control unit 181
establishes a setting for enabling only the vibration acquiring unit 78 to
25 operate, among the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit
78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79.
27
[0071] To the four protrusions 91 provided on each of the attachment
bases 90A, 90B, and 90C, metal pieces are selectively attached. For
example, a metal piece is attached to a predetermined one of the
protrusions 91 on the attachment base 90A. Metal pieces are attached
5 to predetermined two of the protrusions 91 of the attachment base 90B,
and are attached to predetermined three of the protrusions 91 on the
attachment base 90C. The holes 73a forming the attaching portions 73
are then enabled to detect the metal when the protrusions 91 on the
attachment bases 90 are engaged with the respective attaching portions
10 73, and detection information is transmitted to the control unit 181.
The control unit 181 then identifies to which one of the attachment
bases 90A, 90B, and 90C the condition acquiring device 70 (the
attaching portions 73) is attached, using the detection information.
The control unit 181 then establishes a setting as to each of the sound
15 acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature
acquiring unit 79 is to be operated based on the identified attachment
base 90A, 90B, or 90C. The control unit 181 is an electric circuit
including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, for example. Recorded in the
ROM is a computer program for controlling to cause each of the sound
20 acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature
acquiring unit 79 to operate or not to operate.
[0072] The way in which the positions of the attachment bases 90A,
90B, and 90C are identified is not limited to that explained above. For
example, the condition acquiring device 70 may be provided with, for
25 example, a reader of the one dimensional or two dimensional barcode,
or an IC chip disposed in each of the attachment bases 90A, 90B, and
28
90C. The condition acquiring device 70 may also be provided with a
barometric sensor to acquire the height information of the attached
position, so that the positions of the attachment bases 90A, 90B, and
90C are identified based on the height information.
5 [0073] Fourth Modification
Used in explaining the embodiments and the modification
described above is an example in which the winder unit 10 has the
winding unit 51 having what is called a driven-rotation configuration in
which the package Pis driven by the rotation of the traverse drum 55,
10 but the winder unit 10 may also be a winder unit 210 having what is
called a directly rotating configuration in which the motor shaft of a
package driving motor 259 is connected to the winding bobbin WB in a
such manner that the relative rotation of the motor shaft with respect to
the winding bobbin WB is disabled, as illustrated in FIG. 9.
15 [0074] Specifically, the winding unit 251 includes a cradle 252, a
contact roller 253, a traverse device 255, and a guide plate 256, and the
winding unit 251 is supported by the unit main body 60. The cradle
252 supports the winding bobbin WB in a removable manner. The
contact roller 253 is kept in contact with the circumferential surface of
20 the winding bobbin WB or to the circumferential surface of the package
P, and is rotatably provided. The traverse device 255 causes the yam Y
to traverse. An example of the traverse device 255 is an arm traverse
device. The guide plate 256 guides the yam Y on the upstream side to
the traverse portion. A traverse fulcrum 257 made of ceramic is
25 disposed on the upstream side of the guide plate 256. The traverse
device 255 causes the yam Y to traverse in the direction ofthe arrows in
29
FIG 9, using the traverse fulcrum 257 as a fulcrum.
[0075] The cradle 252 is supported rotatably by the unit main body 60
about a rotation axis A3. The cradle 252 absorbs an increase in the
yam layer diameter of the package P, resultant of the yam Y being
5 wound around the winding bobbin WB, by causing the cradle 252 to
rotate.
[0076] The package driving motor 259 provided as a servo motor is
mounted on the cradle 252. The package driving motor 259 winds the
yam Y around the winding bobbin WB by driving the winding bobbin
10 WB in rotation. The motor shaft of the package driving motor 259 is
connected in such a manner that the relative rotation thereof with
respect to the winding bobbin WB is disabled, with the winding bobbin
WB supported on the cradle 252.
[0077] Explained now is the attachment base 90 attached with the
15 condition acquiring device 70 in the winder unit 210 having such a
configuration. As illustrated in FIG 9, the winder unit 210 according
to the second embodiment includes the attachment base 90A provided
on the cradle 252, and the attachment base 90B provided on the unit
main body 60 near the yam joining device 31.
20 [0078] Even in the automatic winder 1 including the winder unit 210
having such a configuration, the vibration generated by the cradle 252
can be acquired, so that the tenninal device 7 or the like can diagnose
whether there is any abnormality in the cradle 252 based on at least one
of the acquired vibration and a change in the vibration. In the same
25 manner, in the automatic winder 1 including the winder unit 210, the
sound generated by the yam joining device 31 can be acquired, so that
30
the terminal device 7 or the like can diagnose whether there is any
abnormality of the yam joining device 31 based on at least one of the
acquired sound and a change in the sound.
[0079] Other Modifications
5 Used in the embodiments and the modifications described above
is an example in which the attachment bases 90A and 90B are provided
on two respective parts of each of the winder units 10, and the
attachment base 90C is provided on a part of the machine frame 1A, but
the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. According to
10 one aspect of the present disclosure, the attachment bases may be
provided on any plurality of parts across the entire automatic winder.
[0080] For example, each of the winder units 10 may have one part
provided with the attachment base, the automatic doffing device 8 may
have one or more parts to be provided with the attachment base, and the
15 machine frame 1A may have no parts provided with the attachment
base, or one or more parts to be provided with the attachment base. As
another example, no attachment bases may be provided on any of the
winder units 10, and each type of shared device (e.g., the automatic
doffing device 8 and a yarn feed bobbin supplying device (not
20 illustrated) may have one or more parts provided with the attachment
bases, and the machine frame 1A may have no part or one or more parts
provided with the attachment bases. As another example, the
attachment bases may be provided on a part (but a plurality) of the
entire winder units 10. As another example, the winder units each
25 having a different number of parts provided with attachment bases with
respect to the others may be mixed within one automatic winder (for
31
example, an automatic winder may include a winder unit having a
plurality of parts provided with the attachment bases, another winder
unit having one part provided with the attachment base, and still another
winder unit having no part provided with the attachment base).
5 [0081] In any of the embodiments and the modifications described
above, the automatic doffing device 8 is used as an example of the
shared device commonly provided on a plurality of fiber processing
units, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. For
example, assuming an automatic winder having a plurality of winder
10 units, the automatic winder may be provided with an automatic yam
feed bobbin supplying device, in replacement of or in addition to the
automatic doffing device.
[0082] Used in explaining the embodiments and the modifications
described above is an example in which the terminal device 7, the
15 machine managing unit 9, the unit controller 65, the host managing unit
3, or the condition acquiring device 70 executes the abnormality
diagnosis and the like based on the sound, the vibration, and the
temperature acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively,
20 but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. For
example, the terminal device 7, the machine managing unit 9, the unit
controller 65, the host managing unit 3, or the condition acquiring
device 70 may display the sound, the vibration, and the temperature
acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78,
25 and the temperature acquiring unit 79 as they are, or display the sound,
the vibration, and the temperature that are partially analyzed, on the
32
display unit, for example. The operator may then make the
abnormality diagnosis of the winder units 1 0 and the like by examining
the information displayed on the display unit.
[0083] Used in explaining the embodiments and the modifications
5 described above is an example in which switching of each of the sound
acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the temperature
acquiring unit 79 to operate or not to operate is established via settings,
or an example in which the sound, the vibration, and the temperature
acquired by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78,
10 and the temperature acquiring unit 79, respectively, are selectively
stored, but the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78,
and the temperature acquiring unit 79 may be all caused to operate, and
all of the sound, the vibration, and the temperature acquired by the
sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
15 temperature acquiring unit 79 may be stored in the storage unit 89.
[0084] Used in explaining the embodiments and the modifications
described above is an example in which the condition acquiring device
70 is provided with the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring
unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79 that acquire sound,
20 vibration, and temperature, respectively, as the information acquiring
units, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. For
example, the condition acquiring device 70 may be a condition
acquiring device 70 including two or more of a microphone capable of
acqumng sound information, an acceleration sensor capable of
25 acqumng vibration information, a barometric sensor capable of
acqumng atmospheric pressure information, a camera capable of
33
acqumng a still image or a movmg 1mage, a geomagnetic sensor
capable of acquiring a current, a temperature sensor capable of
acquiring temperature information, a gyro sensor capable of acquiring
angular speed information, a displacement sensor capable of acquiring
5 displacement information, and a humidity sensor capable of acquiring
humidity information, for example, as the information acquiring units.
[0085] A part of the sound, the vibration, and the temperature acquired
by the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration acquiring unit 78, and the
temperature acquiring unit 79 (e.g., only the temperature) may be
10 transmitted to the machine managing unit 9, the unit controller 65, or
the host managing unit 3 so that the information is analyzed
immediately, for example, and the remaining information (the sound
and the vibration) may be stored in the storage unit 89, so that
abnormality diagnosis, predictive maintenance, or maintenance support
15 (maintenance timing announcement) may be performed at
predetermined timing, for example.
[0086] The attachment base 90 may be provided with one boss having a
screw hole, for example, instead of the protrusions 91, and a screw may
be provided on the attaching portion 73, instead of the holes 73a. By
20 screwing the screw into the boss, the condition acquiring device 70 can
be easily attached to the attachment base 90. Instead of allowing the
attaching portion 73 and the attachment base 90 to be engaged with each
other, an adhesive member such as a double-sided tape or a magnet may
be provided as the attaching portions 73. In such a configuration as
25 well, the condition acquiring device 70 can be easily attached to the
attachment bases 90 via the adhesion of the adhesive member, or a
34
magnetic force of the magnet. In such a case, it is preferable for the
attachment base 90 to be a flat member having some area. In a
configuration in which a magnet is used, the attachment base 90 is a
member that can be fixed with the magnetic force. The attachment
5 base 90 may also serve as marking indicating the operator with the
direction in which the condition acquiring device 70 is attached (e.g.,
vertical directions).
[0087] Used in explaining the embodiments and the modifications
described above is an example in which the terminal device 7
10 determines whether the machine operation temperature (installation
environmental requirement) is satisfied based on the ambient
temperature near the automatic winder 1 acquired by the condition
acquiring device 70 attached to the attachment base 90C. It is however
still possible to detect abnormal heating of the motor based on the
15 temperature acquired by the condition acquiring device 70 attached to
the attachment base provided near the motor, or to detect wearing of a
bush in the cradle based on the temperature acquired by the condition
acquiring device 70 attached to the attachment base provided near the
cradle, for example. The operator can then recognize the condition of
20 the motor or the cradle by examining the detection result displayed on
the display unit or the like of the terminal device 7.
[0088] Used in explaining the embodiments and the modifications
described above is an example of the textile machine including the
condition acquiring device 70 that is attached to the attachment base 90
25 (90A, 90B, 90C), but a configuration without any condition acquiring
device 70 is still possible. Even in such a configuration, desired types
35
of information can be acquired merely by performing a simple operation
of attaching the condition acquiring device 70 to the attachment base
corresponding to the part from which the operator wants to acquire
information. As a result, desired types of information can be acquired
5 from a desired part as required without identifying the part to be
monitored or the type of information to be acquired in advance.
[0089] The condition acquiring device 70 included in the automatic
winder 1 or the automatic winder system 5 according to any of the
embodiments and the modifications described above is explained to use
10 the control unit 181 to automatically designate the information
acquiring units to be operated, among the information acquiring units
provided in plurality (the sound acquiring unit 77, the vibration
acquiring unit 78, and the temperature acquiring unit 79), instead of
using manual settings via the setting unit (first setting unit ) 81 or the
15 setting unit (second setting unit) 281, as an example, but the present
disclosure is not limited to such an example. For example, the
automatic setting via the control unit 181 may be used in addition to the
manual setting via the setting unit 81 or the setting unit 281. In such a
configuration, complications in the settings can be avoided by giving
20 priorities to the manual settings performed via the setting unit 81 or the
setting unit 281, and the automatic settings performed via the control
unit 181.
[0090] Used m explaining the embodiments and the modifications
described above is an example in which the textile machine is the
25 automatic winder 1 provided with a plurality of winder units 10, but the
textile machine may also be a spinning machine provided with a
36
plurality of spinning units, as another example. Such a spinning unit at
least includes a spinning device (yam feeding unit) that supplies yam,
and a winding unit for winding the yam supplied from the spinning
device into a package, as a fiber processing section. An example of
5 the shared device is a yam joining carriage, in this example. The yarn
joining carriage is enabled to run in the direction along which the
spinning units are arranged, and runs to the spinning unit at which the
yam is cut, and joins the yam in the spinning unit. By attaching the
condition acquiring device 70 capable of acquiring temperature
10 information to the spinning machine, the quality of the yam spun
thereby can be managed using the information.
[0091] At least some parts of the embodiments and the modifications
described above may be combined in any way.
[0092] The textile machine according to one aspect of the present
15 disclosure is attachable with a condition acquiring device including: a
plurality of information acquiring units each of which acquires a
different type of information related to a condition of at least one of a
plurality of fiber processing units that are arranged side by side and a
shared device that is commonly provided on the fiber processing units; a
20 casing that houses the information acquiring units; and an attaching
portion that is provided on the casing, wherein the condition acquiring
device is capable of acquiring at least one of a condition of the fiber
processing units and a condition of the shared device, and the textile
machine includes the fiber processing units, the shared device, and an
25 attachment base that is provided on a plurality of parts of at least one of
the fiber processing units and the shared device, and to which the
37
attaching portion provided on the condition acqumng device 1s
attachable in a removable manner.
[0093] The textile machine having the configuration described above
includes an attachment base configured to be attached with the
5 condition acquiring device capable of acquiring a plurality of different
types of information. Therefore, desired types of information can be
acquired merely by a simple operation of attaching the condition
acquiring device to the attachment base corresponding to the part from
which the operator wants to acquire information. As a result, desired
1 0 types of information can be acquired from a desired part as required,
without identifying the part to be monitored or the type of information
to be acquired in advance.
[0094] A condition acquiring device according to another aspect of the
present disclosure is configured to be removably attachable to textile
15 machine that includes: a plurality of fiber processing units that are
arranged side by side; a shared device that is commonly provided on the
fiber processing units; and an attachment base that is provided on a
plurality of parts of at least one of the fiber processing units and the
shared device, and the condition acquiring device includes: a plurality
20 of information acquiring units each of which acquires a different type of
information related to a condition of at least one of the fiber processing
units and the shared device; a casing that houses the information
acquiring units; and an attaching portion that is provided on the casing,
and that is removably attachable to the attachment base.
25 [0095] Because the condition acquiring device having the configuration
described above is enabled to acquire a plurality of different types of
38
information, desired types of information can be acquired merely by
attaching the condition acquiring device to the part from which the
operator wants to acquire information. Furthermore, in the textile
machine having such a configuration, because an attachment base is
5 provided on at least one of the fiber processing units and the shared
device, and the attaching portion is provided on the condition acquiring
device, the condition acquiring unit can be easily attached to and
removed from the fiber processing unit or the shared device. As a
result, desired types of information can be acquired from a desired part
10 as required, without identifYing the portions to be monitored or the type
of information to be acquired in advance.
[0096] A fiber processing unit according to another aspect of the
present disclosure at least includes: a yam feeding unit that supplies
yarn, and a winding unit that winds the yarn supplied form the yam
15 feeding unit into a package, as a fiber processing section; a condition
acquiring device capable of acquiring conditions of the fiber processing
section; and a plurality of attachment bases configured to be attached
with the condition acquiring device, wherein the condition acquiring
device includes: a plurality of information acquiring units each of which
20 acquires a different type of information related to a condition of the
fiber processing unit; a casing that houses the information acquiring
units; and an attaching portion that is provided on the casing, and is
removably attachable to the attachment bases.
[0097] In the fiber processing unit having the configuration described
25 above, because the condition acquiring device is enabled to acquire a
plurality of different types of information, desired types of information
39
can be acquired merely by attaching the condition acquiring device to
the part from which the operator wants to acquire information.
Furthermore, in the fiber processing unit having such a configuration,
the attachment bases are provided on the fiber processing unit, and the
5 attaching portion is provided on the condition acquiring device.
Therefore, the condition acquiring device can be easily attached to and
removed from the fiber processing unit. As a result, desired types of
information can be acquired from a desired part as required.
[0098] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
10 the condition acquiring device is capable of acquiring a plurality of
different types of information. Therefore, desired types of information
can be acquired merely by attaching the condition acquiring device to a
part from which the operator wants to acquire information.
Furthermore, in the textile machine having such a configuration, the
15 attachment bases are provided on at least one of the fiber processing
units and the shared device, and the attaching portion is provided on the
condition acquiring device. Therefore, the condition acquiring device
can be easily attached to and removed from at least one of the fiber
processing units and the shared device. As a result, desired types of
20 information can be acquired as required from a desired part as required.
It is not necessary to identify the parts to be monitored or types of
information to be acquired in advance. Furthermore, the acquired
infonnation can be used for objectives such as anomaly diagnosis,
predictive maintenance, and maintenance support (maintenance timing
25 announcement).
[0099] The phrase "the attachment bases are provided on a plurality of
40
parts of at least one of the fiber processing units and the shared device"
herein means that the attachment bases are only needed to be provided
in plurality across the entire textile machine. For example, only the
total number of the attachment bases provided on the fiber processing
5 units may be plural, or only the total number of the attachment bases
provided on the shared device may be plural. It is also possible for the
total numbers of the attachment bases provided on the fiber processing
unit and to the shared device to be plural.
[0 1 00] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a plurality
10 of attachment bases may be provided on one or more of the fiber
processing units.
[0101] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may acquire information related to a
condition of an ambient environment around the fiber processing units
15 or the shared device.
[0102] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the textile
machine may further include a machine frame that supports at least one
of the fiber processing units and the shared device, and the machine
frame may be provided with an attachment base.
20 [0103] In the textile machine described above, the attachment bases are
also provided on the machine frame, and therefore the scope within
which the condition acquiring device can be attached is increased, and
the scope from which information is acquired can be increased.
[0104] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, only an
25 information acquiring unit or information acquiring units set to be
operated ofthe information acquiring units may acquire information.
41
[0 1 05] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
it is possible to prepare only one type of condition acquiring devices
(common components), and to cause only the information acquiring
unit( s) that acquire desired types of information to operate, depending
5 on an attached position indicating which one of the attachment bases
has the attaching portion attached, or depending on an objective. In
this mauner, power can be saved, the amount of communication for
output information can be reduced, and the capacity of the storage unit,
if there is any, can be relatively reduced.
10 [0 1 06] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may further include a first setting unit
configured to receive an instruction as to whether one or more of the
information acquiring units is to be operated from the operator, and the
first setting unit may designate which of the information acquiring units
15 is to be operated based on the instruction received from the operator.
[0107] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
the condition acquiring device includes the first setting unit serving as
an interface for receiving an instruction as to whether each of the
information acquiring units is to be operated from the operator.
20 Therefore, through an operation made by the operator, only the
information acquiring unit or units that acquire desired types of
information can be caused to operate, depending on the attached
position or the objective. In this manner, power can be saved, the
amount of communication of the output information can be reduced,
25 and the capacity of the storage unit, if there is any, can be relatively
reduced.
42
[0108] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may further include an attached position
identifYing unit that identifies an attached position indicating which one
of the attachment bases has the attaching portion attached, and the
5 attached position identifYing unit may designate which information
acquiring unit is to be operated of the information acquiring units based
on the attached position.
[0109] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
the condition acquiring device automatically designates the information
10 acquiring units to be operated, and those not to be operated, depending
on where the condition acquiring device is attached. Therefore, the
operator can avoid a trouble of designating the information acquiring
units that the operator wants to operate (those to be operated) manually
and individually.
15 [011 0] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may further include a power source, and a
storage unit in which the acquired information is stored.
[0 111] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
the condition acquiring device does not require power supply from
20 another apparatus. Therefore, the condition acquiring device can be
attached to any desired part more easily. Furthermore, because the
storage unit is provided, it is not necessary to output the information
acquired by the information acquiring units on-line to another apparatus
(e.g., personal computer). In such a configuration, another device can
25 be connected to the condition acquiring device, and be caused to
perform analysis or the like on the acquired information at any timing.
43
In this manner, the operator can recognize the conditions of the fiber
processing units more flexibly.
[0112] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may further include a second setting unit
5 having at least one of a first function and a second function. The first
function may be a function enabling selection of the information
acquiring units for which information is to be stored in the storage unit,
and the second function may be a function enabling designation of at
least one of time and a sampling cycle at which the information is stored
1 0 in the storage unit.
[0 113] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
even when a plurality of information acquiring units are configured to
acquire information, the information therefrom can be selectively stored
in the storage unit, or the time for storing the information acquired by
15 the information acquiring units in the storage unit or the sampling cycle
can be set. In this manner, only the necessary information can be
stored in the storage unit. Furthermore, information can be stored in a
manner suitable for the circumstance, e.g., storing long-term
information by reducing the amount of information stored per unit time,
20 or using a short-term storage time to increase the amount of information
stored per unit time.
[0114] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
attachment bases may be provided with marking. In the textile
machine having the configuration described above, the operator can
25 either easily check the position of the attachment base, or recognize the
direction in which the condition acquiring device is to be attached (e.g.,
44
vertical directions). Therefore, a variation in the attached positions,
that is, a variation in the information to be acquired can be reduced.
[0115] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, each of
the attachment bases may be configured to engage with the attaching
5 portion. In the textile machine having the configuration described
above, the condition acquiring device can be easily attached to the
corresponding attachment base.
[0116] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
information acquiring units may acquire at least one of a sound, a
10 vibration, an atmospheric pressure, a still image, a moving image, a
current, an angular speed, a displacement, a temperature, and a
humidity.
[0117] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one or
more of the attachment bases may be provided near a component as an
15 article of consumption or near a device that requires adjustment. In the
textile machine having the configuration described above, because the
condition of the component as an article of consumption can be
monitored, the part can be replaced at appropriate timing, for example.
Furthermore, because the condition of the device that requires
20 adjustments can be monitored, the device can be adjusted at appropriate
timing.
[0118] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one or
more of the attachment bases may be provided near a cradle that
supports a package, and one of the information acquiring units may be a
25 vibration acquiring unit that acquires the vibration of the cradle.
[0119] The vibration generated by the cradle varies depending on the
45
condition of the cradle. In the textile machine having the configuration
described above, because the vibration generated by the cradle can be
acquired, it is possible to diagnose whether there is any abnormality in
the cradle based on at least one of the acquired vibration and a change in
5 the vibration.
[0120] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one or
more of the attachment bases may be provided near a yarn joining
device that joins ends of yam, and one of the information acquiring
units may be a sound acquiring unit that acquires the sound generated
10 by the yam joining device.
[0121] The sound generated by the yam joining device vanes
depending on the condition of the yam joining device. In the textile
machine having the configuration described above, because the sound
generated by the yarn joining device can be acquired, it is possible to
15 diagnose whether there is any abnormality in the yam joining device
based on at least one of the acquired sound and a change in the sound.
[0122] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
condition acquiring device may further include an output unit that
outputs the information acquired by the infonnation acquiring units to
20 an external part ofthe condition acquiring device.
[0123] In the textile machine having the configuration described above,
the information acquired by the condition acquiring device can be
checked on a device that is external to the condition acquiring device.
Furthermore, in the textile machine having the configuration described
25 above, analyses such as abnormality diagnosis using the information
acquired by the condition acquiring device can be carried out on a
46
device that is external to the condition acquiring device.
[0124] A textile machine system according to another aspect of the
present disclosure includes: the above-described textile machine that is
provided in plurality; a unit controller that is provided on each of the
5 fiber processing units; a machine managing unit that is provided on each
unit of the textile machine, and manages the fiber processing units
provided on the corresponding unit of textile machine; a host managing
unit that is deployed at a location away from the textile machine, and
manages at least one unit of the textile machine; and a terminal device
10 that is capable of communicating with at least one of the unit controller,
the machine managing unit, the host managing unit, and the condition
acquiring device, wherein the condition acquiring device outputs the
information to at least one of the unit controller, the machine managing
unit, the host managing unit, and the terminal device.
15 [0125] In the textile machine system described above, the operator can
check the information acquired by the condition acquiring device on any
one of the unit controller, the machine managing unit, the host
managing unit, and the terminal device. Furthermore, in the textile
machine system described above, analyses such as abnormality
20 diagnosis using the information acquired by the condition acquiring
device can be carried out on any one of the unit controller, the machine
managing unit, the host managing unit, and the terminal device.

We claim
1. A textile machine (1) comprising:
a plurality of fiber processing units (10) that are arranged side
5 by side;
a shared device (8) that is commonly provided for the plurality
of fiber processing units (1 0);
a condition acquiring device (70) configured to acqmre
information related to at least one of a condition of a fiber processing
10 unit (10) and a condition ofthe shared device (8); and
15
a plurality of attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) provided on a
plurality of parts of at least one of the fiber processing units (1 0) and the
shared device (8), wherein the condition acquiring device (70) 1s
attached to one of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C), wherein
the condition acquiring device (70) includes:
a plurality of information acquiring units (77, 78, 79)
each of which is configured to acquire a different type of information
related to the condition;
a casing (71) that houses the information acquiring units
20 (77, 78, 79); and
25
an attaching portion (73) provided on the casing (71) and
configured to be attached to the an attachment base (90A, 90B, 90C) in
a removable manner.
2. The textile machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality
of attachment bases (90A, 90B) is provided on one or more of the fiber
48
processing units (10).
3. The textile machine (1) according to claim l or 2, wherein the
condition acquiring device (70) is configured to acquire information
5 related to a condition of an ambient environment around the fiber
processing units (1 0) or the shared device (8).
4. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
further comprising a machine frame (1A) that supports at least one of
10 the fiber processing units (10) and the shared device (8), wherein an
attachment base (90C) is provided on the machine frame (1A).
5. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the plurality of information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) are
15 configured to be set to be operated so that only an information acquiring
unit or information acquiring units set to be operated acquires
information.
6. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
20 wherein the condition acquiring device (70) further includes a first
setting unit (81) configured to receive from an operator an instruction as
to whether one or more of the information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) is
to be operated , wherein
the first setting unit (81) is configured to designate which of the
25 information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) is to be operated based on the
instruction received from the operator.
49
7. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the condition acquiring device (70) further includes an attached
position identifYing unit (181) configured to identity a position at which
5 one of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) an attaching portion (73)
of a condition acquiring device (70) is attached, wherein
10
15
the attached position identifYing unit (181) is configured to
designate which of the information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) is to be
operated based on the attached position.
8. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the condition acquiring device (70) further includes a power
source (87), and a storage unit (89) configured to store the acquired
information.
9. The textile machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein
the condition acquiring device (70) further includes a second
setting unit (281) having at least one of a first function and a second
function,
20 the first function is a function enabling a selection of the
information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) for which information is to be
stored in the storage unit (89), and
the second function is a function enabling a designation of at
least one of time and a sampling cycle at which the information is stored
25 in the storage unit (89).
50
10. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
wherein the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) are provided with a
marking (95).
5 11. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
wherein each of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) is configured to
engage with the attaching portion (73).
12. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
10 wherein the information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) are configured to
acquire at least one of a sound, a vibration, an atmospheric pressure, a
still image, a moving image, a current, an angular speed, a
displacement, a temperature, and a humidity.
15
20
25
13. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
wherein one or more of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) is
provided near a component comprising an article of consumption or
near a device that requires adjustment.
14. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
wherein one or more of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) is
provided near a cradle (52) that supports a package (P), and
one of the information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) is a vibration
acquiring unit (78) configured to acquire the vibration of the cradle (52).
15. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
51
wherein one or more of the attachment bases (90A, 90B, 90C) 1s
provided near a yam joining device (31) that joins ends of yam, and
one of the information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) is a sound
acquiring unit (77) configured to acquire the sound generated by the
5 yam joining device (31 ).
16. The textile machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
wherein the condition acquiring device (70) further includes an output
unit (83) configured to output the information acquired by the
10 information acquiring units (77, 78, 79) to an external part of the
condition acquiring device (70).
17. A textile machinery system ( 5) comprising:
a plurality of the textile machines (1) according to any one of
15 claims 1 to 16;
a unit controller (65) provided for each of the fiber processing
units (10);
a machine managing unit (9) provided for each of the textile
machines (1), and configured to manage the fiber processing units (10)
20 provided in the corresponding textile machine (1);
a host managing unit (3) deployed at a location away from the
textile machines (1), and configured to manage at least one the textile
machines (1); and
a terminal device (7) configured to communicate with at least
25 one of the unit controller (65), the machine managing unit (9), the host
managing unit (3), and the condition acquiring device (70), wherein
52
5
the condition acquiring device (70) is configured to output the
information to at least one of the unit controller (65), the machine
managing unit (9), the host managing unit (3), and the terminal device
(7).