UNTWISTING PIPE MEMBER AND YARN JOINING DEVICE EQUIPPED
WITH THE SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. 5 . Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an untwisting pipe
member and a yarn joining device equipped with the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
10 There is known a yarn winding machine such as a winder
unit and the like including a yarn joining device adapted
to join a yarn end of a yarn from upstream and a yarn end
of a yarn from downstream. When the yarn end of the yarn
from the upstream and the yarn end of the yarn from the
15 downstream are joined, both yarn ends are respectively
sucked into an untwisting pipe member and a pressure airflow
is blown against the yarn ends in the untwisting pipe member
to defibrate fibers forming the yarn ends.
The yarn joining device including such an untwisting
20 pipe member is disclosed in, for example, JP S62-2202 Y and
JP 2009-190853 A. In the yarn joining device of JP S62-2202
Y, a flexible pipe 62 is connected to a rear end on a side
opposite to an end that sucks the yarn end in the untwisting
pipe member 61, so that the sucked yarn waste and the like
25 are sent out toward the back side of a machine. Similarly
in the yarn joining device of JP 2009-190853 A, an airflow
guidance tube 89 is attached to a rear end of the untwisting
pipe member 82, so that the airflow by the compressed air
injected into the untwisting pipe member is guided to a
30 waste collecting machine 80 arranged on the back side of
the machine.
2 / 33
In the yarn joining device described in JP S62-2202
Y and the yarn joining device described in JP 2009-190853
A, the untwisting pipe member 61, 82 also has the tube 62,
89 attached to the rear end. The tube is arranged to form
a path for collecting the untwisting yarn waste, and 5 the
yarn end is not untwisted in the tube. The untwisting pipe
member 62, 89 attached with the tube is attached to a main
body section of the yarn joining device via a cassette
(block 50 in JP S62-2202 Y) and the like. In this case,
10 high accuracy is required on the shape of the untwisting
pipe member to ensure sealability of an insertion section
adapted to insert the untwisting pipe member and the
untwisting pipe member into the cassette. As the length
of the untwisting pipe member in an axial direction
15 (longitudinal direction) is longer, the shape accuracy
becomes difficult to maintain, and in particular, yields
become low in the untwisting pipe formed of ceramics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
20 It is an object of the present invention to provide
an untwisting pipe member capable of enhancing the yield
and a yarn joining device equipped with the same.
An untwisting pipe member of the present invention
is an untwisting pipe member arranged in a yarn joining
25 device adapted to join a pair of yarn ends, wherein an
untwisting air flow path, through which untwisting air for
untwisting the yarn ends flows, is formed by inner
peripheral surfaces of a plurality of tubular members
connected in an axial direction.
30
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
3 / 33
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a winder unit including
a yarn joining device according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the yarn joining device of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the yarn joining device 5 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
IV-IV of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an untwisting pipe
10 member according to one embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional
view when the untwisting pipe member of FIG. 5 is cut in
half; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first cassette into
15 which the untwisting pipe member of FIG. 5 is inserted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment will be hereinafter described with
reference to the drawings. The same components are denoted
20 with the same reference numerals in the description of the
drawings, and the redundant description will be omitted.
The dimensional ratio of the drawing does not necessarily
match that in the description.
First, with reference to FIG. 1, an overall
25 configuration of a winder unit 1 including a yarn joining
device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
“Upstream” and “downstream” respectively refer to upstream
and downstream in a travelling direction of a yarn at the
time of yarn winding.
30 As illustrated in FIG. 1, the winder unit 1 winds a
yarn Y unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin B into a package
4 / 33
P. The yarn supplying bobbin B is formed in a preceding
process by a spinning machine, and is transported from the
spinning machine, for example, in a state of being set on
a tray. An automatic winder, which is a fiber machine, is
constituted by arranging a plurality of winder units 1 5 side
by side.
The winder unit 1 has a bobbin supporting section 2,
a yarn unwinding assisting device 3, a pre-clearer 4, a
tension applying device 5, a tension sensor 6, a lower yarn
10 catching device 7, the yarn joining device 10, a cutter 9,
a yarn monitoring device 11, an upper yarn catching device
12, and a winding device 13 arranged in the mentioned order
from upstream (lower side) along a travelling path of the
yarn Y. Each of the above configurations is attached to
15 a unit main body 8.
The bobbin supporting section 2 supports the yarn
supplying bobbin B in an upright state, and allows the yarn
Y to be supplied. The yarn unwinding assisting device 3
controls a balloon of the yarn Y unwound from the yarn
20 supplying bobbin B by a cylindrical member that is arranged
above the yarn supplying bobbin B. The tension applying
device 5 is a gate-type tensor that applies a predetermined
tension on the travelling yarn Y by holding the yarn Y in
a zigzag manner with a pair of gates including a fixed gate
25 and a movable gate of comb teeth shape. The tension sensor
6 measures a tension of the yarn Y applied by the tension
applying device 5.
The pre-clearer 4 regulates the passage of a yarn
defect, such as entangled yarn that is larger than a defined
30 value, by a pair of regulating members that is arranged at
a predetermined interval with the travelling path of the
5 / 33
yarn Y therebetween. The yarn monitoring device 11 detects
yarn defects, such as slub, during the winding of the yarn
Y. The cutter 9 cuts the yarn Y when the yarn monitoring
device 11 detects a yarn defect. The yarn joining device
10 joins the yarn end of the yarn Y from the package P 5 and
the yarn end of the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin
B when the yarn Y is cut by the cutter 9 or when a yarn
breakage, etc. occurs.
The lower yarn catching device 7 is attached to the
10 unit main body 8 so as to be swingable with an axial line
 as the center. A suction port 7a is arranged at the
swinging end of the lower yarn catching device 7. The
suction port 7a is swung between an upper part of the yarn
joining device 10 and a lower part of the pre-clearer 4.
15 The suction port 7a waits at the lower part side of the
pre-clearer 4, and when the yarn Y is cut by the cutter 9
or when the yarn breakage, etc. occurs, the lower yarn
catching device 7 sucks the yarn end of the yarn Y from the
yarn supplying bobbin B with the suction port 7a, and
20 thereafter swings the suction port 7a toward the upper part
of the yarn joining device 10 and delivers the yarn Y from
the yarn supplying bobbin B to the yarn joining device 10.
The upper yarn catching device 12 is attached to the
unit main body 8 so as to be swingable with an axial line
25  as the center. A suction port 12a is arranged at the
swinging end of the upper yarn catching device 12. The
suction port 12a is swung between a lower part of the yarn
joining device 10 and the winding device 13. When the yarn
Y is cut by the cutter 9 or when a yarn breakage, etc. occurs,
30 the upper yarn catching device 12 swings the suction port
12a toward the winding device 13, sucks the yarn end of the
6 / 33
yarn Y from the package P with the suction port 12a, and
thereafter swings the suction port 12a toward the lower part
of the yarn joining device 10 to deliver the yarn Y from
the package P to the yarn joining device 10.
The winding device 13 winds the yarn Y unwound 5 from
the yarn supplying bobbin B into the package P to form a
fully-wound package P. The winding device 13 includes a
winding drum 14 with a drum groove 14a formed thereon and
a cradle 15 that rotatably supports the package P. The
10 cradle 15 causes the surface of the package P to be brought
into contact the surface of the winding drum 14 with an
appropriate contacting pressure. The winding drum 14 is
driven and rotated by a motor to rotate the package P. With
this action, the winding device 13 winds the yarn Y into
15 the package P while traversing the yarn Y at a predetermined
width.
The unit main body 8 includes a control section 16,
an input section 17, and a display section 18. The control
section 16 controls each component of the winder unit 1.
20 The input section 17 has, for example, operating buttons,
and the like, and is used by an operator to set various values,
and the like, that are used by the control section 16. The
display section 18 displays the operating status, and the
like, of the winder unit 1. The control section 16
25 transmits to and receives from a higher-order control
section arranged in the automatic winder, various types of
information concerning the winding operation. The
higher-order control section controls the control section
16 of each of the winder units 1 and performs the overall
30 control of the automatic winder.
Next, a description will be made on a structure of
7 / 33
the yarn joining device 10. In the following description,
for the sake of convenience, the package P side is referred
to as the upper side, the yarn supplying bobbin B side is
referred to as the lower side, the travelling path side of
the yarn Y with respect to the yarn joining device 10 5 is
referred to as the front side, and the opposite side thereof
is referred to as the back side. The yarn Y on the package
P side is referred to as an upper yarn YA and the yarn Y
on the yarn supplying bobbin B side is referred to as a lower
10 yarn YB.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the yarn joining device 10
includes a first untwisting pipe member (untwisting pipe
member) 40A and a second untwisting pipe member (untwisting
pipe member) 40B, a yarn joining section 50, a pair of yarn
15 pulling levers 81, and a pair of twist preventing levers
82. The pair of yarn pulling levers 81 swings while
sandwiching the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the
second untwisting pipe member 40B therebetween. The pair
of twist preventing levers 82 swings while sandwiching the
20 yarn joining section 50. The yarn joining device 10 is
attached to the unit main body 8 via a main body frame 20
that supports each of the above components.
A first guide plate 21 is arranged on the upper side
of the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
25 untwisting pipe member 40B. A second guide plate 22 is
arranged on the lower side of the first untwisting pipe
member 40A and the second untwisting pipe member 40B. The
first guide plate 21 and the second guide plate 22 are
arranged facing each other in a vertical direction with the
30 yarn joining section 50 sandwiched therebetween. A guide
groove 21a and a guide groove 21b are formed in the first
8 / 33
guide plate 21. A guide groove 22a and a guide groove 22b
are formed in the second guide plate 22. The guide groove
21a of the first guide plate 21 face the guide groove 22a
of the second guide plate 22 in the vertical direction. The
guide groove 21b of the first guide plate 21 face 5 the guide
groove 22b of the second guide plate 22 in the vertical
direction.
The upper yarn YA that is guided by the upper yarn
catching device 12 and pulled by the yarn pulling levers
10 81 is guided into the guide grooves 21a and the guide groove
22a that face each other in the vertical direction. The
lower yarn YB that is guided by the lower yarn catching
device 7 and pulled by the yarn pulling levers 81 is guided
into the guide groove 21b and the guide groove 22b that face
15 each other in the vertical direction.
An upper yarn holding section 60A is arranged on the
upper side of the first guide plate 21 and a lower yarn
cutting section 70A is arranged on the lower side of the
first guide plate 21. A lower yarn holding section 60B is
20 arranged on the lower side of the second guide plate 22 and
an upper yarn cutting section 70B is arranged on the upper
side of the second guide plate 22. The upper yarn holding
section 60A holds the upper yarn YA guided into the guide
groove 21a. The upper yarn cutting section 70B cuts the
25 upper yarn YA guided into the guide groove 22a while the
upper yarn YA is held by the upper yarn holding section 60A.
The lower yarn holding section 60B holds the lower yarn YB
guided into the guide groove 22b. The lower yarn cutting
section 70A cuts the lower yarn YB guided into the guide
30 groove 21b while the lower yarn YB is held by the lower yarn
holding section 60B.
9 / 33
The first untwisting pipe member 40A takes in and
untwists the yarn end of the upper yarn YA that is cut by
the upper yarn cutting section 70B while the upper yarn YA
is held by the upper yarn holding section 60A. The second
untwisting pipe member 40B takes in and untwists the 5 e yarn
end of the lower yarn YB that is cut by the lower yarn cutting
section 70A while the lower yarn YB is held by the lower
yarn holding section 60B.
The yarn joining section 50 joins the yarn end of the
10 upper yarn YA and the yarn end of the lower yarn YB by
twisting together the yarn end of the upper yarn YA
untwisted by the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the
yarn end of the lower yarn YB untwisted by the second
untwisting pipe member 40B. When the yarn ends are twisted
15 together by the yarn joining section 50, the upper yarn YA
is held by the upper yarn holding section 60A and the lower
yarn YB is held by the lower yarn holding section 60B. Then,
the yarn end of the upper yarn YA is pulled out from the
first untwisting pipe member 40A, and the yarn end of the
20 lower yarn YB is pulled out from the second untwisting pipe
member 40B by the yarn pulling levers 81, and a distal end
portion of the yarn end of the upper yarn YA and a distal
end portion of the yarn end of the lower yarn YB are arranged
in proximity to the yarn joining section 50 by the twist
25 preventing levers 82.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, a driving motor 23 is
attached to the main body frame 20 as a driving source of
the pair of yarn pulling levers 81 and the pair of twist
preventing levers 82. The driving motor 23 is, for example,
30 a stepping motor. An arm 25 is fixed to a drive shaft 24
of the driving motor 23. The rear end of a coupling member
10 / 33
26 is rotatably coupled to the arm 25. The base ends of
the yarn pulling levers 81 are rotatably coupled to the
front end portion of the coupling member 26. The yarn
pulling levers 81 are rotatably supported by a support shaft
27 fixed to the main body frame 205 .
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the twist preventing
levers 82 are rotatably supported by the support shaft 27.
The twist preventing levers 82 are urged toward the first
untwisting pipe member 40A and the second untwisting pipe
10 member 40B by a torsion coil spring 28 that is rotatably
attached to the support shaft 27. With this configuration,
the twist preventing levers 82 are swung toward the first
untwisting pipe member 40A and the second untwisting pipe
member 40B with the yarn pulling levers 81. However, after
15 the tip end of a stopper bolt 29 that is screwed into the
base end of the twist preventing levers 82 is partially
brought into contact with the main body frame 20, only the
yarn pulling levers 81 are caused to swing toward the first
untwisting pipe member 40A and the second untwisting pipe
20 member 40B.
A driving motor 31 is attached to the main body frame
20 as a driving source for a first yarn processing section
100A and a second yarn processing section 100B. The driving
motor 31, for example, is a stepping motor. The first yarn
25 processing section 100A includes the upper yarn holding
section 60A and the lower yarn cutting section 70A described
above, as well as a first transmission mechanism 90A. The
second yarn processing section 100B includes the lower yarn
holding section 60B and the upper yarn cutting section 70B
30 described above, as well as a second transmission mechanism
90B. The first yarn processing section 100A and the second
11 / 33
yarn processing section 100B are arranged on both sides of
the yarn joining section 50. That is, the yarn joining
section 50 is arranged between the first yarn processing
section 100A and the second yarn processing section 100B.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the 5 first transmission
mechanism 90A includes a first arm 91A and a first coupling
member 92A, and transmits the driving force from a first
drive shaft member 32A of the driving motor 31 to the upper
yarn holding section 60A and the lower yarn cutting section
10 70A. The first arm 91A is fixed to the first drive shaft
member 32A. The rear end of the first coupling member 92A
is rotatably coupled to the first arm 91A.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, The lower yarn cutting
section 70A includes a fixed piece 71 and a movable piece
15 72. The fixed piece 71 is fixed to the first guide plate
21. The movable piece 72 is rotatably supported by a
support shaft (not illustrated) 73 fixed to the first guide
plate 21. The front end portion of the first coupling
member 92A is rotatably coupled to an arm (not illustrated)
20 extending from the base end of the movable piece 72. The
upper yarn holding section 60A includes a base member 61
and a sub member 62. The upper yarn YA is held in the upper
yarn holding section 60A by the base member 61 and the sub
member 62.
25 As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second transmission
mechanism 90B includes a second arm 91B and a second
coupling member 92B, and transmits the driving force from
a second drive shaft member 32B of the driving motor 31 to
the lower yarn holding section 60B and the upper yarn
30 cutting section 70B. The second arm 91B is fixed to the
second drive shaft member 32B. The rear end of the second
12 / 33
coupling member 92B is rotatably coupled to the second arm
91B.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, when viewed from the front
side, the structure of the upper yarn cutting section 70B
is point symmetrical to the structure of 5 the lower yarn
cutting section 70A with the yarn joining section 50 as the
center. Similarly, when viewed from the front side, the
structure of the lower yarn holding section 60B is point
symmetrical to the structure of the upper yarn holding
10 section 60A with the yarn joining section 50 as the center.
Next, a description will be made in detail on the
structure of the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the
second untwisting pipe member 40B with reference to FIGS.
4 to 7. The structure of the first untwisting pipe member
15 40A and the second untwisting pipe member 40B are the same,
and hence only the first untwisting pipe member 40A will
be described herein.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first
untwisting pipe member 40A is provided with an untwisting
20 air flow path 46, through which the untwisting air for
untwisting the twists of the yarn ends flows, by inner
peripheral surfaces 41a, 43a of a plurality of tubular
members (first untwisting pipe 41 and second untwisting
pipe 43) connected in the axial direction.
25 The first untwisting pipe member 40A includes two
members, i.e., the first untwisting pipe 41 made of ceramics
and the second untwisting pipe 43 made of resin. An example
of resin referred to herein includes polyacetal resin (POM),
polyurethane, nylon, and the like. The entire length in
30 the axial direction of the first untwisting pipe member 40A
connected in the axial direction is 20 mm or more and 80
13 / 33
mm or less. Similarly, the length in the axial direction
of the second untwisting pipe member 40B is 20 mm or more
and 80 mm or less. The length in the axial direction of
the first untwisting pipe 41 is 10 mm or more and 30 mm or
less. The length in the axial direction of 5 the second
untwisting pipe 43 is 10 mm or more and 70 mm or less. The
first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe 43
can be set to an appropriate length, but when the first
untwisting pipe 41 is made of ceramics and the second
10 untwisting pipe 43 is made of resin, the first untwisting
pipe 41 may be shorter than the second untwisting pipe 43
in the axial direction since the first untwisting pipe 41
is relatively weak to mechanical impact than the second
untwisting pipe. The length in the axial direction of the
15 second untwisting pipe 43 is the length excluding a
connecting portion 43c.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first untwisting pipe
41 is arranged on the front side of the yarn joining device
10, that is, the side on which the yarn end is sucked. As
20 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the first untwisting
pipe 41 is provided with a yarn introducing section 41b
adapted to take in the yarn YA, YB to be untwisted (see FIG.
2), a first untwisting air introducing section 41c adapted
to introduce the untwisting air fed from an untwisting air
25 source (not illustrated), and a first untwisting air
discharging section 41d adapted to discharge the untwisting
air. The first untwisting air introducing section 41c is
a hole section that penetrates between the outer peripheral
surface and the inner peripheral surface of the first
30 untwisting pipe 41 toward the side connected with the second
untwisting pipe 43.
14 / 33
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second untwisting pipe
43 is arranged on the back side of the first untwisting pipe
41, that is, the side from which the untwisting air is
discharged. As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the
second untwisting pipe 43 is provided with a 5 second
untwisting air introducing section 43b adapted to introduce
the untwisting air discharged from the first untwisting air
discharging section 41d, and the connecting portion 43c to
be connected to the first untwisting pipe 41.
10 The untwisting air flow path 46 in the second
untwisting pipe 43 includes a tapered portion 44 in which
the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 43a is
increased toward a direction opposite to the direction in
which the first untwisting pipe 41 is connected. In other
15 words, the tapered portion 44 is formed in which the thick
portion (thickness) of the second untwisting pipe 43
becomes thinner toward a direction opposite to the
direction in which the first untwisting pipe 41 is
connected.
20 The connecting portion 43c has an inner diameter
equal to the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface
of the portion forming the untwisting air flow path 46, and
has an inner peripheral surface larger than the inner
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the portion
25 forming the untwisting air flow path 46. The first
untwisting pipe 41 is integrally connected in the axial
direction by being press fitted into the connecting portion
43c of the second untwisting pipe 43. In the present
embodiment, the inner diameter of the first untwisting air
30 discharging section 41d is equal to the inner diameter of
the second untwisting air introducing section 43b. In
15 / 33
other words, the inner diameter of the connecting portion
43c is formed in the size in which the inner diameter of
the first untwisting air discharging section 41d is equal
to the inner diameter of the second untwisting air
introducing section 43b when the first untwisting pipe 5 41
is connected. The first untwisting pipe 41 and the second
untwisting pipe 43 have different outer diameters from each
other, and the first untwisting pipe member 40A has a step
difference in the outer diameter in the axial direction due
10 to the difference in the outer diameters of the first
untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe 43. The
inner diameter of the second untwisting air introducing
section 43b may be greater than or equal to the inner
diameter of the first untwisting air discharging section
15 41d.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7, the first untwisting
pipe member 40A is attached to the main body frame 20 via
a first cassette (cassette section) 57 and a second cassette
(cassette section) 59. The first cassette 57 and the second
20 cassette 59 are configured to be separable. Specifically,
the first untwisting pipe 41 in the first untwisting pipe
member 40A is attached to the main body frame 20 while being
inserted into an insertion section 57a (having a first inner
diameter) in the first cassette (cassette section) 57, to
25 which a bush 58 is fixed, and an insertion section 58a in
the bush 58.
The second untwisting pipe 43 in the first untwisting
pipe member 40A is attached to the main body frame 20 while
being inserted to an insertion section 59a (having a second
30 inner diameter different from the first inner diameter) in
the second cassette (cassette section) 59.
16 / 33
A gap between the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section 59a of the second cassette 59 and the
outer peripheral surface of the first untwisting pipe
member 40A is formed to be large compared to a gap between
the inner peripheral surface of the insertion section 5 57a
of the first cassette 57 and the outer peripheral surface
of the first untwisting pipe member 40A.
The first untwisting pipe member 40A is attached by
a screw 47 inserted into a screw hole 58c provided on the
10 side surface of the bush 58 with a rubber stopper 49 arranged
therebetween. Furthermore, the bush 58 is provided with
an air hole 58b for introducing the untwisting air into the
first untwisting air introducing section 41c. The rubber
stopper 49 prevents breakage of the pipe when the first
15 untwisting pipe 41 made of ceramics is tightened by the
screw 47.
When attaching the first untwisting pipe member 40A
to the main body frame 20, the first untwisting pipe member
40A is inserted into the first cassette 57, to which the
20 bush 58 is fixed, and the first untwisting pipe member 40A
integrated with the first cassette 57 is attached to the
second cassette 59 from the front side of the winder unit
1.
Next, a description will be made in detail on the
25 operations of the yarn joining device 10 including the first
untwisting pipe member 40A and the second untwisting pipe
member 40B. Since the first untwisting pipe member 40A and
the second untwisting pipe member 40B of the
above-described embodiment are made of a plurality of
30 tubular members (first untwisting pipe 41 and second
untwisting pipe 43) connected in the axial direction, the
17 / 33
length of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second
untwisting pipe 43 is short compared to the untwisting pipe
member formed as one member in the axial direction. Thus,
the shape accuracy of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the
second untwisting pipe 43 becomes easy to maintain, and 5 the
yield of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second
untwisting pipe 43 can be enhanced. Thus, the yield of the
first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second untwisting
pipe member 40B formed by connecting the first untwisting
10 pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe 43 can be enhanced.
As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, in the first untwisting pipe member 40A
and the second untwisting pipe member 40B of the
above-described embodiment, various materials can be
15 selected for each of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the
second untwisting pipe 43. Thus, the degree of freedom of
design is increased. For example, the first untwisting
pipe 41, to be arranged at an area where the shape accuracy
is required on the side on which the yarn YA, YB is sucked,
20 may be made of a material in which the shape accuracy is
easy to maintain, the first untwisting pipe 41 to be
arranged at an area that makes contact with the yarn forming
the package may be made of a material according to the yarn
type and the like, and the second untwisting pipe 43 that
25 forms the tapered portion on the inner peripheral surface
can be easily made of a material that is easy to process.
As a result, an optimum untwisting pipe member can be
manufactured according to the purpose.
In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
30 untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the shape accuracy of the vicinity of the yarn
18 / 33
introducing section 41b for taking in the yarns YA, YB to
be untwisted is required. The shape accuracy can be
maintained since the first untwisting pipe 41 including the
yarn introducing section 41b is made of ceramics.
Furthermore, the second untwisting pipe 43 in which 5 the
maintaining of the shape accuracy is low compared to the
first untwisting pipe 41 is made of resin, so that the
manufacturing cost of the first untwisting pipe member 40A
and the second untwisting pipe member 40B can be reduced.
10 In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the tapered portion 44 is formed in the
untwisting air flow path in the second untwisting pipe 43.
A satisfactory flow of the untwisting air is thereby
15 obtained, and the untwisting property of the yarn end can
be enhanced. Furthermore, the second untwisting pipe 43
including the tapered portion 44 is made of polyacetal resin,
and hence is less likely to break compared to ceramics even
if there is a thin portion due to formation of the tapered
20 portion 44.
When the first untwisting pipe 41 is made of ceramics
and the second untwisting pipe 43 is made of resin, the first
untwisting pipe 41 is relatively easy to break. However,
in the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
25 untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the first untwisting pipe 41 made of ceramics
is configured to be shorter in the axial direction than the
second untwisting pipe 43 made of resin that is relatively
strong to mechanical impact, and hence the breakage of the
30 first untwisting pipe 41 can be prevented.
In the yarn joining device 10 of the above-described
19 / 33
embodiment, the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the
second untwisting pipe member 40B having high shape
accuracy are inserted into the first and second cassettes
57, 59, and hence the sealability of the first untwisting
pipe member 40A (second untwisting pipe member 40B) and 5 the
first and second cassettes 57, 59 can be enhanced.
In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the untwisting pipe member having a step
10 difference in the outer diameter in the axial direction can
be configured by the difference in the outer diameters of
the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe
43. Thus, for example, when the untwisting pipe member is
incorporated by being fixed to the yarn joining device 10,
15 the step difference can be used as a positioning portion,
and the load can be alleviated when the operator assembles
the device.
In the yarn joining device 10 of the above-described
embodiment, the first untwisting pipe member 40A (second
20 untwisting pipe member 40B) has a step difference in the
outer diameter in the axial direction due to the difference
in the outer diameters of the first untwisting pipe 41 and
the second untwisting pipe 43, whereas the first cassette
57 and the second cassette 59 have a step difference in the
25 inner diameter in the insertion direction due to the
difference between the first inner diameter and the second
inner diameter. Thus, when inserting the untwisting pipe
member 40A (second untwisting pipe member 40B) into the
insertion sections 57a, 59a of the first cassette 57 and
30 the second cassette 59, the untwisting pipe member 40A
(second untwisting pipe member 40B) can be easily
20 / 33
positioned with respect to the first cassette 57 and the
second cassette 59 with the step difference in the outer
diameter and the step difference in the inner diameter as
abutting surfaces. Therefore, the operation load can be
alleviated when the operator assembles the 5 yarn joining
device 10.
In the yarn joining device 10 of the above-described
embodiment, the first untwisting pipe member 40A (second
untwisting pipe member 40B) has a step difference in the
10 outer diameter in the axial direction due to the difference
in the outer diameters of the first untwisting pipe 41 and
the second untwisting pipe 43, whereas the first cassette
57 and the second cassette 59 have a step difference in the
inner diameter in the insertion direction due to the
15 difference between the first inner diameter and the second
inner diameter. Thus, when inserting the untwisting pipe
member 40A (second untwisting pipe member 40B) into the
insertion sections 57a, 59a of the first cassette 57 and
the second cassette 59, the untwisting pipe member 40A
20 (second untwisting pipe member 40B) can be easily
positioned with respect to the first cassette 57 and the
second cassette 59 with the step difference in the outer
diameter and the step difference in the inner diameter as
abutting surfaces. Therefore, the operation load can be
25 alleviated when the operator assembles the yarn joining
device 10.
In the yarn joining device 10 of the above-described
embodiment, the cassette section can be separated to the
first cassette 57 and the second cassette 59, so that for
30 example, the first untwisting pipe member 40A (second
untwisting pipe member 40B) can be firstly inserted into
21 / 33
one of the first cassette 57 and the second cassette 59,
and then inserted into the other cassette. Accordingly,
the first untwisting pipe member 40A (second untwisting
pipe member 40B) can be assembled in a step wise manner into
the first cassette 57 and the second cassette 59. Th5 e
degree of freedom of the assembly work is enhanced, and an
appropriate assembly corresponding to the layout and the
component configuration of the yarn joining device can be
carried out.
10 One embodiment of the present invention has been
described above, but the present invention is not limited
to the above-described embodiment.

In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
15 untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the example has been described in which the
untwisting pipe member is formed by two tubular members,
i.e., the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting
pipe 43, but the untwisting pipe member may be formed by
20 three or more tubular members. Thus, according to the
configuration of connecting the plurality of tubular
members in the axial direction, the untwisting pipe members
of various lengths can be easily formed and the members can
be commonalized.
25
In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the example has been described in which the
first untwisting pipe 41 is made of ceramics and the second
30 untwisting pipe 43 is made of polyacetal resin, but the
present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the
22 / 33
first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe 43
may be both made of ceramics. In this case as well, the
yield can be enhanced. Furthermore, for example, the first
untwisting pipe 41 may be made of metal, and the second
untwisting pipe 43 may be made of resin. In this case, eve5 n
the pipe member which is difficult to be made of ceramics
or on which mechanical processing is difficult to be
performed integrally can be formed with low cost.

10 In the first untwisting pipe member 40A and the second
untwisting pipe member 40B of the above-described
embodiment, the example has been described in which the
first untwisting pipe 41 is press fitted to the second
untwisting pipe 43 and are integrally connected in the axial
15 direction. The present invention is not limited thereto,
and the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting
pipe 43 may be integrally connected in the axial direction
by methods such as fitting, screwing, adhesion, welding,
baking, and insert molding.
20
An untwisting pipe member of the present invention is
an untwisting pipe member arranged in a yarn joining device
adapted to join a pair of yarn ends, wherein an untwisting
air flow path, through which untwisting air for untwisting
25 the yarn ends flows, is formed by inner peripheral surfaces
of a plurality of tubular members connected in an axial
direction.
Such an untwisting pipe member is formed by a plurality
of tubular members connected in the axial direction
30 (longitudinal direction), and thus the length of each
tubular member is shorter than the case where the untwisting
23 / 33
pipe member is formed by one tubular member in the axial
direction. Shape accuracy of the tubular member thus
becomes easy to maintain, and yield of the tubular member
can be enhanced. As a result, the yield of the untwisting
pipe member formed by connecting the tubular members 5 s can
be enhanced.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, the plurality of tubular members may include
tubular members made of different materials.
10 In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, each of the tubular members may be made of
ceramics, metal, or resin.
In the untwisting pipe member having such a
configuration, various materials can be selected for each
15 tubular member, and hence, an optimum untwisting pipe
member can be manufactured according to the purpose, for
example, by selecting the material of the tubular member
to be arranged at the area on the side on which the yarn
is sucked according to the yarn type, and the like.
20 In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, an entire length in the axial direction of the
plurality of tubular members connected in the axial
direction may be 20 mm or more and 80 mm or less.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
25 invention, the plurality of tubular members include a first
untwisting pipe and a second untwisting pipe, the first
untwisting pipe is provided with a yarn introducing section
adapted to take in a yarn to be untwisted, a first untwisting
air introducing section adapted to introduce the untwisting
30 air, and a first untwisting air discharging section adapted
to discharge the untwisting air, the second untwisting pipe
24 / 33
is provided with a second untwisting air introducing
section connected to the first untwisting air discharging
section of the first untwisting pipe, and an inner diameter
of the second untwisting air introducing section may be
greater than or equal to an inner diameter of the 5 first
untwisting air discharging section.
In the untwisting pipe member having such a
configuration, the possibility that the sucked yarn gets
caught at the step difference can be reduced. Furthermore,
10 if the inner diameter of the first untwisting air
discharging section is equal to the inner diameter of the
second untwisting air introducing section, the sucked yarn
can be prevented from getting caught and the flow of the
untwisting air will not be disturbed, and hence untwisting
15 property of the yarn end can be enhanced.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, the first untwisting pipe may be made of ceramics,
and the second untwisting pipe may be made of resin.
In the untwisting pipe member arranged in the yarn
20 joining device, the shape accuracy in the vicinity of the
yarn introducing section for taking in the yarn to be
untwisted is desired to be maintained. This is because the
untwisting property of the sucked yarn end is affected by
the shape accuracy. In the untwisting pipe member having
25 such a configuration, the shape accuracy can be maintained
since the first untwisting pipe, in which the yarn
introducing section is formed, is made of ceramics.
Furthermore, the second untwisting pipe, in which the shape
accuracy is not desired to be maintained as opposed to the
30 first untwisting pipe, is made of resin so that the
manufacturing cost of the untwisting pipe members can be
25 / 33
reduced.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, the first untwisting pipe may be shorter than
the second untwisting pipe in the axial direction.
Since the ceramic has a property of being weak 5 with
respect to mechanical impact, the first untwisting pipe is
easily broken if the first untwisting member is made of
ceramics. However, in the untwisting pipe member having
such a configuration, the first untwisting pipe made of
10 ceramics is configured to be shorter in the axial direction
than the second untwisting pipe made of resin that is
relatively strong to mechanical impact, and hence the
breakage of the first untwisting pipe can be prevented.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
15 invention, the untwisting air flow path in the second
untwisting pipe includes a tapered portion in which an inner
diameter of an inner peripheral surface is increased toward
a direction opposite to a direction in which the first
untwisting pipe is connected.
20 In the untwisting pipe member having such a
configuration, a satisfactory flow of the untwisting air
is obtained, and the untwisting property of the yarn end
can be enhanced. The tubular member including the tapered
portion has a relatively short axial length, and thus the
25 tapered portion can be easily formed.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, the first untwisting pipe and the second
untwisting pipe may be connected by fitting, press fitting,
screwing, adhesion, baking, or insert molding.
30 In the untwisting pipe member having such a
configuration, the first untwisting pipe and the second
26 / 33
untwisting pipe can be easily connected in the axial
direction.
In the untwisting pipe member of the present
invention, the plurality of tubular members may include a
first untwisting pipe and a second untwisting pipe, 5 and
outer diameters of the first untwisting pipe and the second
untwisting pipe may be different from each other.
In the untwisting pipe member having such a
configuration, the untwisting pipe members having a step
10 difference in the outer diameter in the axial direction can
be configured by the difference in the outer diameters of
the first untwisting pipe and the second untwisting pipe.
Thus, for example, when the untwisting pipe member is
incorporated by being fixed to the yarn joining device and
15 the like, the step difference can be used as a positioning
portion, and the load can be alleviated when the operator
assembles the device.
A yarn joining device of the present invention
includes a main body frame, the untwisting pipe member, and
20 a cassette section including an insertion section into
which the untwisting pipe member is inserted, wherein the
untwisting pipe member may be attached to the main body
frame while being inserted into the insertion section in
the cassette section.
25 In the yarn joining device having such a
configuration, the untwisting pipe member having high shape
accuracy is inserted into the cassette section, and thus
the sealability of the untwisting pipe member and the
cassette section can be enhanced. The yield can be enhanced
30 even when the yarn joining device having such a
configuration is manufactured.
27 / 33
Furthermore, the present invention may be configured
as below. In other words, the yarn joining device of the
present invention includes a main body frame, the
untwisting pipe member, and a cassette section. In the
untwisting pipe member described above, the plurality 5 ty of
tubular members includes at least the first untwisting pipe
and the second untwisting pipe, the second untwisting pipe
being connected to the first untwisting pipe in the axial
direction and having an outer diameter different from an
10 outer diameter of the first untwisting pipe. The cassette
section includes an insertion section into which the
untwisting pipe member is inserted, the insertion section
having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter
different from each other in an insertion direction. The
15 untwisting pipe member is attached to the main body frame
while being inserted into the insertion section in the
cassette section.
In the yarn joining device having such a
configuration, the untwisting pipe member has a step
20 difference in the outer diameter in the axial direction due
to the difference in the outer diameters of the first
untwisting pipe and the second untwisting pipe, whereas the
cassette section has a step difference in the inner diameter
in the insertion direction due to the difference between
25 the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter, so
that when the untwisting pipe member is inserted into the
insertion section of the cassette section, the untwisting
pipe member can be easily positioned with respect to the
cassette section with the step difference in the outer
30 diameter and the step difference in the inner diameter as
abutting surfaces. Therefore, the operation load can be
28 / 33
alleviated when the operator assembles the yarn joining
device.
Moreover, in the yarn joining device of the present
invention, the cassette section may be configured by a first
cassette including an insertion section having 5 the first
inner diameter and a second cassette including an insertion
section having the second inner diameter in a manner
separable from each other.
In the yarn joining device having such a
10 configuration, the cassette section can be separated into
the first cassette and the second cassette, so that for
example, the untwisting pipe member can be first inserted
into one of the first cassette and the second cassette and
then inserted to the other cassette to assemble, in a step
15 wise manner, the untwisting pipe member to the cassette
section, whereby the degree in the freedom of the assembly
operation can be enhanced, and appropriate assembly
corresponding to the layout and the component configuration
of the yarn joining device can be carried out.
20 According to the present invention, an untwisting
pipe member capable of enhancing the yield and a yarn
joining device equipped with the same can be provided.
29 / 33
WE CLAIM:
1. An untwisting pipe member arranged in a yarn
joining device adapted to join a pair of yarn ends,
wherein an untwisting air flow path, through 5 which
untwisting air for untwisting the yarn ends flows, is formed
by inner peripheral surfaces of a plurality of tubular
members connected in an axial direction.
10 2. The untwisting pipe member according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of tubular members include tubular
members made of different materials.
3. The untwisting pipe member according to claim 1
15 or 2, wherein each of the tubular members is made of ceramics,
metal, or resin.
4. The untwisting pipe member according to any one
of claims 1 to 3, wherein an entire length in the axial
20 direction of the plurality of tubular members connected in
the axial direction is 20 mm or more and 80 mm or less.
5. The untwisting pipe member according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, wherein
25 the plurality of tubular members include a first
untwisting pipe and a second untwisting pipe,
the first untwisting pipe is provided with a yarn
introducing section adapted to take in a yarn to be
untwisted, a first untwisting air introducing section
30 adapted to introduce the untwisting air, and a first
untwisting air discharging section adapted to discharge the
30 / 33
untwisting air,
the second untwisting pipe is provided with a second
untwisting air introducing section connected to the first
untwisting air discharging section of the first untwisting
pipe, 5 and
an inner diameter of the second untwisting air
introducing section is greater than or equal to an inner
diameter of the first untwisting air discharging section.
10 6. The untwisting pipe member according to claim 5,
wherein the first untwisting pipe is made of ceramics, and
the second untwisting pipe is made of resin.
7. The untwisting pipe member according to claim 6,
15 wherein the first untwisting pipe is shorter than the second
untwisting pipe in the axial direction.
8. The untwisting pipe member according to any one
of claims 5 to 7, wherein the untwisting air flow path in
20 the second untwisting pipe includes a tapered portion in
which an inner diameter of an inner peripheral surface is
increased toward a direction opposite to a direction in
which the first untwisting pipe is connected.
25 9. The untwisting pipe member according to any one
of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first untwisting pipe and the
second untwisting pipe are connected by fitting, press
fitting, screwing, adhesion, baking, or insert molding.
30 10. The untwisting pipe member according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of tubular members
31 / 33
include a first untwisting pipe and a second untwisting pipe,
and
outer diameters of the first untwisting pipe and the
second untwisting pipe are different from each other.
5
11. A yarn joining device comprising:
a main body frame;
the untwisting pipe member according to any one of
claims 1 to 10; and
10 a cassette section including an insertion section
into which the untwisting pipe member is inserted,
wherein the untwisting pipe member is attached to the
main body frame while being inserted into the insertion
section in the cassette section.
15
12. A yarn joining device comprising:
a main body frame;
the untwisting pipe member according to any one of
claims 1 to 4, the plurality of tubular members including
20 at least a first untwisting pipe and a second untwisting
pipe, the second untwisting pipe being connected to the
first untwisting pipe in an axial direction and having an
outer diameter different from an outer diameter of the first
untwisting pipe; and
25 a cassette section including an insertion section
into which the untwisting pipe member is inserted, the
insertion section having a first inner diameter and a second
inner diameter different from each other in an insertion
direction,
30 wherein the untwisting pipe member is attached to the
main body frame while being inserted into the insertion
32 / 33
section in the cassette section.
13. The yarn joining device according to claim 12,
wherein the cassette section is configured by a first
cassette including an insertion section having 5 the first
inner diameter and a second cassette including an insertion
section having the second inner diameter in a manner
separable from each other.