TITLE
YARN JOINING DEVICE AND SPINNING MACHINE
TECHNICAL FIELD
FP17-0470-00
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a yam joining device and a
5 spinning machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] For example, textile machinery such as a spinning machine and
an automatic winder may be provided with a yam joining device. The
yam joining device may include an untwisting pipe that has an inlet and
10 an air injection hole, and in the untwisting pipe, a yam end made in yam
by cutting of the yam may be caught through the inlet by the action of
air injected from the air injection hole and consequently be untwisted
therein (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-234309,
for example).
15 [0003] In such a yarn joining device, in order to easily catch a yam end
through an inlet, an air injection portion that can inject air from outside
of an untwisting pipe toward the inlet of the untwisting pipe may be
provided to the yam joining device in a fixed manner (see Japanese
Examined Patent Publication No. H3-47330).
20 SUMMARY
[0004] However, when the stiffuess of yam is high, it is difficult to
catch the yam end through the inlet only by the action of air injected
from the air injection hole formed inside the untwisting pipe, and
consequently variations may occur in the untwisted state of the yam
25 end. Even when an air injection portion that can inject air from outside
of the untwisting pipe toward the inlet of the untwisting pipe is provided
1
FP17-0470-00
to the yarn joining device in a fixed manner, because the fixed position
and the fixed angle, for example, of the air injection portion are limited
such that drawing of yam guided to the yam joining device is not
obstructed, high stiffuess of the yam makes it difficult for a yam end to
5 be caught through the inlet, and consequently variations may occur in
the untwisted state of the yam end. When variations occur in the
untwisted state of the yam end, holding force at a spliced point between
yam ends may decrease, or appearance of the spliced point between
yam ends may deteriorate.
10 [0005] In view of this, it is an object ofthe present disclosure to provide
a yam joining device and a spinning machine that can stably perform
yam joining even when the stiffness of yam is high.
[0006] A yam joining device according to the present disclosure
includes: a holding portion that holds each of first yam and second yam;
15 a cutting portion that cuts each of the first yam and the second yam held
by the holding portion; a first untwisting pipe that has a first yam-end
inlet and a first air injection hole, and catches, through the first yam-end
inlet, a first yam end made in the first yam by cutting by the cutting
portion and untwists the first yam end in the first untwisting pipe by
20 action of air injected from the first air injection hole; a second
untwisting pipe that has a second yarn-end inlet and a second air
injection hole, and catches, through the second yam-end inlet, a second
yam end made in the second yam by cutting by the cutting portion and
untwists the second yam end in the second untwisting pipe by action of
25 air injected from the second air injection hole; an air injection portion
that is capable of injecting air from outside of the first untwisting pipe
2
FP17-0470-00
and the second untwisting pipe toward the first yam-end inlet and the
second yam-end inlet; a yam joining portion that twists the first yam
end untwisted by the first untwisting pipe and the second yam end
untwisted by the second untwisting pipe; and a movable lever that is
5 capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the first yam-end
inlet and the second yam-end inlet. The air injection portion is
provided to the movable lever.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TilE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a spinning machine according to one
1 0 embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air spinning device in FIG 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a yam joining device in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a sectional view ofthe yam joining device in FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view ofthe yam joining device in FIG. 3;
15 [0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view ofthe yam joining device in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a sectional view ofthe yam joining device in FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a timing chart for introduction assist air and untwisting
air; and
[00 15] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a yam joining device of a reference
20 example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described
in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like or
equivalent elements are denoted by like numerals, and duplicate
25 description is omitted.
[0017] As depicted in FIG. 1, a spinning machine 1 includes a plurality
3
FP17-0470-00
of spinning units 2, a yam Jommg earner 3, a doffing carrier (not
depicted), a first end frame 4, and a second end frame 5. The spinning
units 2 are aligned in a row. Each spinning unit 2 generates yam Y to
wind the yam into a package P. When yam Y has been cut or the yam
5 Y has broken for some reason in a certain spinning unit 2, the yam
joining carrier 3 performs yam joining operation in the spinning unit 2.
When a package P has been fully wound in a certain spinning unit 2, the
doffing carrier doffs the package P, and supplies a new bobbin B to the
spinning unit 2.
10 [0018] The first end frame 4 accommodates, for example, a collection
device that collects fiber waste, yarn waste, and the like generated in the
spinning units 2. The second end frame 5 accommodates, for example,
an air supply unit that adjusts air pressure of compressed air (air)
supplied to the spinning machine 1 and supply the air to the respective
15 units in the spinning machine 1 and a driving motor that supplies power
to the respective units in the spinning units 2. The second end frame 5
includes a machine control device 5a, a display screen 5b, and input
keys 5c. The machine control device 5a intensively manages and
controls the respective units of the spinning machine 1. The display
20 screen 5b can display, for example, information on settings of the
spinning units 2 and information on the states of the spinning units 2.
An operator can make the settings of the spinning units 2 by performing
appropriate operations with the input keys 5c.
[0019] Each spinning unit 2 includes, in the order from the upstream
25 side in a direction in which yam Y travels, a drafting device 6, an air
spinning device 7, a yam monitoring device 8, a tension sensor 9, a yam
4
FP17-0470-00
pooling device 11, a waxing device 12, and a winding device 13. A
unit controller 10 is provided for every predetermined number of
spinning units 2, and controls operation ofthe spinning units 2.
[0020] The drafting device 6 drafts a sliver (fiber bundle) S. The air
5 spinning device 7 generates yam Y by twisting a fiber bundle F drafted
by the drafting device 6 using swirling airflow. The yam pooling
device 11 eliminates slack in the yarn Y between the air spinning device
7 and the winding device 13. The waxing device 12 applies wax to the
yam Y between the yam pooling device 11 and the winding device 13.
10 The winding device 13 winds the yam Y onto a bobbin B to form a
packageP.
[0021] The yarn monitoring device 8 monitors information on traveling
yam Y between the air spinning device 7 and the yam pooling device 11
to detect the presence or absence of a yam defect on the basis of the
15 monitored information. When having detected a yam defect, the yam
monitoring device 8 transmits a yam defect detection signal to the unit
controller 10. The tension sensor 9 measures the tension of travelling
yam Y between the air spinning device 7 and the yam pooling device
11, and transmits a tension measurement signal to the unit controller 10.
20 When the unit controller 10 determines that abnormality has occurred
based on at least one of a result of detection by the yam monitoring
device 8 and a result of detection by the tension sensor 9, the yam Y is
cut in the spinning unit 2.
[0022] The following describes the air spinning device 7 in more detail.
25 As depicted in FIG. 2, the air spinning device 7 includes a nozzle
portion 71, a guiding portion 72, and a hollow guide shaft member 73.
5
FP17-0470-00
In the nozzle portion 71, a plurality of air injection holes 71b are formed
so as to be open to the inside of a spinning chamber 7la. The nozzle
portion 71 injects air from the air injection holes 7lb into the spinning
chamber 71a, thereby generating swirling airflow in the spinning
5 chamber 7la. The guiding portion 72 guides, through an insertion hole
72a, a fiber bundle F (fiber bundle F supplied from a roller pair 61
disposed most downstream among a plurality of roller pairs that the
drafting device 6 has) drafted by the drafting device 6 into the spinning
chamber 7la. The guiding portion 72 is provided with a needle 72b
10 that prevents twisting of the fiber bundle F from being transmitted to the
upstream side of the air spinning device 7. The hollow guide shaft
member 73 guides the yam Y generated by twisting the fiber bundle F
by the action of the swirling airflow in the spinning chamber 71a to the
outside of the spinning chamber 7la through the insertion hole 73a.
15 Herein, the needle 72b may be omitted for configuration reasons.
[0023] The following describes the yarn joining carrier 3 in more detail.
As depicted in FIG 1, the yam joining carrier 3 includes a yarn joining
device 31, a suction pipe (first yam catching portion) 32, and a suction
mouth (second yam catching portion) 33. The suction pipe 32 is
20 rotatably supported, and guides yam Y supplied from the air spinning
device 7 to the yam joining device 31. The suction mouth 33 is
rotatably supported, and catches yam Y wound around the package P to
guide the yarn to the yam joining device 31. The yam joining device
31 performs yam joining of joining a yam end ofthe yam Y guided by
25 the suction pipe 32 and a yarn end of the yam Y guided by the suction
mouth 33.
6
FP17-0470-00
[0024] The following describes the yam joining device 31 in more
detail. In the following description, for convenience, the air spinning
device 7 side and the winding device 13 side are respectively called the
upper side and the lower side. The side of a path of traveling yam Y
5 with respect to the yam joining device 31 is called the front side, and the
side opposite thereto is called the rear side.
[0025] As depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the yam joining device 31
includes: a first untwisting portion 40A and a second untwisting portion
40B; a yam joining portion 50 disposed on the front side of the first
10 untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B; a pair of
yam shifting levers 81 that can tum so as to sandwich the first
untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B; a pair of
twist stopping levers (movable levers) 82 that can tum so as to sandwich
the yam joining portion 50; and a pair of air injection portions 91 and 92
15 provided to the pair of twist stopping levers 82.
[0026] On the upper side and the lower side of the first untwisting
portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B, a first guide plate
21 and a second guide plate 22 are respectively disposed so as to be
opposed to each other with the yam joining portion 50 interposed
20 therebetween. On the first guide plate 21, a guide groove 21a and a
guide groove 21b are formed, and on the second guide plate 22, a guide
groove 22a and a guide groove 22b are formed. The guide groove 2la
of the first guide plate 21 is vertically opposed to the guide groove 22a
of the second guide plate 22, and the guide groove 21 b ofthe first guide
25 plate 21 is vertically opposed to the guide groove 22b of the second
guide plate 22.
7
FP17-0470-00
[0027] Into the guide groove 21a and the guide groove 22a that are
vertically opposed to each other, upper yarn (first yam) Y1 (i.e., yam Y
guided by the suction pipe 32) drawn by the yam shifting levers 81 is
introduced. Meanwhile, into the guide groove 21b and the guide
5 groove 22b that are vertically opposed to each other, lower yam (second
yam) Y2 (i.e., yarn Y guided by the suction mouth 33) drawn by the
yarn shifting levers 81 is introduced.
[0028] On the upper side of the first guide plate 21, a first clamp
(holding portion) 60A is provided, and on the upper side of the second
10 guide plate 22, a first cutter (cutting portion) 70A is provided. The
first clamp 60A holds the upper yam Yl introduced into the guide
groove 21 a. With the upper yam Y1 being held by the first clamp
60A, the first cutter 70A cuts the upper yam Yl introduced into the
guide groove 22a. In other words, the first cutter 70A cuts the upper
15 yam Y1 held by the first clamp 60A.
[0029] On the lower side of the second guide plate 22, a second clamp
(holding portion) 60B is provided, and on the lower side of the first
guide plate 21, a second cutter (cutting portion) 70B is provided. The
second clamp 60B holds the lower yam Y2 introduced into the guide
20 groove 22b. With the lower yarn Y2 being held by the second clamp
60B, the second cutter 70B cuts the lower yarn Y2 introduced into the
guide groove 2lb. In other words, the second cutter 70B cuts the
lower yam Y2 held by the second clamp 60B.
[0030] With the upper yam Y1 being held by the first clamp 60A, the
25 first untwisting portion 40A catches and untwists a first yam end Y1a
that has been made in the upper yam Y1 by cutting by the first cutter
8
FP17-0470-00
70A. With the lower yam Y2 being held by the second clamp 60B, the
second untwisting portion 40B catches and untwists a second yam end
Y2a that has been made in the lower yam Y2 by cutting by the second
cutter 70B.
5 [0031] More specifically, the first untwisting portion 40A has a first
untwisting pipe 41 that is open to the front side and the rear side. The
opening of the first untwisting pipe 41 on the front side is a first
yam-end inlet 41 a, and the opening of the first untwisting pipe 41 on the
rear side is a first air outlet 41 b. In the first untwisting pipe 41, a first
10 air injection hole 42 is formed. The first untwisting pipe 41 catches
the first yarn end Yla through the first yam-end inlet 4la, and untwists
therein the first yam end Y1a by the action of air injected from the first
air injection hole 42.
[0032] The second untwisting portion 40B has a second untwisting pipe
15 43 that is open to the front side and the rear side. The opening of the
second untwisting pipe 43 on the front side is a second yam-end inlet
43a, and the opening of the second untwisting pipe 43 on the rear side is
a second air outlet 43b. In the second untwisting pipe 43, a second air
injection hole 44 is formed. The second untwisting pipe 43 catches the
20 second yarn end Y2a through the second yam-end inlet 43a, and
untwists therein the second yam end Y2a by the action of air injected
from the second air injection hole 44.
[0033] The yam joining portion 50 has a yam joining nozzle 51. The
yam joining nozzle 51 includes an accommodating portion 52 and a
25 guide inclined portion 53. The guide inclined portion 53 guides the
upper yarn Y1 and the lower yarn Y2 drawn by the yam shifting levers
9
FP17-0470-00
81 to the accommodating portion 52. In the accommodating portion
52, an air injection hole 54 is formed. By the action of air injected
from the air injection hole 54, the accommodating portion 52 twists the
first yarn end Y1a untwisted by the first untwisting pipe 41 and the
5 second yarn end Y2a untwisted by the second untwisting pipe 43.
When the first yarn end Y1a and the second yarn end Y2a are twisted in
the yarn joining portion 50, with the upper yarn Y1 being held by the
first clamp 60A and with the lower yarn Y2 being held by the second
clamp 60B, the first yam end Yla and the second yarn end Y2a are
10 respectively drawn from the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second
untwisting pipe 43 by the yam shifting levers 81, and the first yam end
Yla and the second yam end Y2a are pressed near the yam joining
portion 50 by the twist stopping levers 82.
[0034] The air injection portion 91 is attached to the upper surface of
15 the twist stopping lever 82 on the lower side, and the air injection
portion 92 is attached to the lower surface of the twist stopping lever 82
on the upper side. In other words, the air injection portions 91 and 92
are provided to the pair of twist stopping levers 82 that can advance and
retreat with respect to the first yam-end inlet 41a of the first untwisting
20 pipe 41 and the second yam-end inlet 43a of the second untwisting pipe
43. In the air injection portion 91, an air injection hole 91a is formed.
When the pair of twist stopping levers 82 have turned toward the first
untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B, the air
injection hole 91a faces the first yam-end inlet 41a of the first
25 untwisting pipe 41. In the air injection portion 92, an air injection hole
92a is formed. When the pair of twist stopping levers 82 have turned
10
FP17-0470-00
toward the first untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting
portion 40B, the air injection hole 92a faces the second yam-end inlet
43a of the second untwisting pipe 43. In other words, the air injection
portions 91 and 92 are respectively positioned in front of the first
5 yam-end inlet 41a and the second yam-end inlet 43a (e.g., in positions
where the air injection hole 91a is atTanged on an extended line of the
centerline of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the air injection hole 92a is
atTanged on an extended line of the centerline of the second untwisting
pipe 43) midway while the twist stopping levers 82 are advancing or
1 0 retreating with respect to the first yam-end inlet 41 a and the second
yam-end inlet 43a. The position indicated by the expression "midway
while the twist stopping levers 82 are advancing or retreating with
respect to the first yam-end inlet 4la and the second yam-end inlet 43a"
includes a midway location while the twist stopping levers 82 are
15 advancing, a midway location while the twist stopping levers 82 are
retreating, and a location where movement of the twist stopping levers
82 changes from advancing to retreating. Thus, when the pair of twist
stopping levers 82 have turned toward the first untwisting portion 40A
and the second untwisting portion 40B, the air injection portion 91 can
20 inject air from the outside ofthe first untwisting pipe 41 toward the first
yam-end inlet 41a, and the air injection portion 92 can inject air from
the outside ofthe second untwisting pipe 43 toward the second yam-end
inlet 43a.
[0035] The following describes operation of the yam joining device 31
25 configured as described above. As depicted in FIG. 5, the pair of yam
shifting levers 81 and the pair of twist stopping levers 82 turn toward
11
FP17-0470-00
the first untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B.
By this turning, the upper yarn Y1 guided by the suction pipe 32 and the
lower yam Y2 guided by the suction mouth 33 are respectively drawn
toward the first untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting
5 portion 40B. The upper yam Y1 is introduced into the guide groove
21a of the first guide plate 21, the guide groove 22a of the second guide
plate 22, and the accommodating portion 52 of the yam joining portion
50. The lower yam Y2 is introduced into the guide groove 21b of the
first guide plate 21, the guide groove 22b of the second guide plate 22,
10 and the accommodating portion 52 of the yarn joining portion 50.
Subsequently, the upper yam Y1 is held near the guide groove 21a by
the first clamp 60A, and the lower yarn Y2 is held near the guide groove
22b by the second clamp 60B.
[0036] Subsequently, as depicted in FIG. 6, the air injection portion 91
15 starts injection of air toward the first yam-end inlet 41a of the first
untwisting pipe 41, and the air injection portion 92 starts injection of air
toward the second yarn-end inlet 43a of the second untwisting pipe 43.
Subsequently, while being held by the first clamp 60A, the upper yam
Y1 is cut near the guide groove 22a by the first cutter 70A. While
20 being held by the second clamp 60B, the lower yarn Y2 is cut near the
guide groove 21b by the second cutter 70B. At this time, because the
injections of air by the air injection portions 91 and 92 continue, the first
yam end Yla is brought into the first untwisting pipe 41 through the
first yam-end inlet 41a, and the second yam end Y2a is brought into the
25 second untwisting pipe 43 through the second yarn-end inlet 43a.
[0037] Subsequently, the injections of air by the air injection portions
12
FP17-0470-00
91 and 92 are ended, the first air injection hole 42 starts injection of air
in the first untwisting portion 40A, and the second air injection hole 44
starts injection of air in the second untwisting portion 40B. By these
injections, the first yam end Y1a is untwisted in the first untwisting pipe
5 41 by the action of air injected from the first air injection hole 42, and
the second yam end Y2a is untwisted in the second untwisting pipe 43
by the action of air injected from the second air injection hole 44.
[0038] Subsequently, the injection of air by the first air injection hole
42 and the injection of air by the second air injection hole 44 are ended,
10 and as depicted in FIG. 7, the pair of yam shifting levers 81 further tum
toward the first untwisting portion 40A and the second untwisting
portion 40B. By this turning, the first yam end Y1a is drawn out of the
first untwisting pipe 41, and the second yam end Y2a is drawn out of
the second untwisting pipe 43. By the pair of twist stopping levers 82,
15 the first yam end Y1a and the second yam end Y2a are pressed near the
yam joining portion 50. Subsequently, in the yam joining portion 50,
the air injection hole 54 starts injection of air. By this injection, in the
accommodating portion 52, the first yam end Y1a untwisted by the first
untwisting pipe 41 and the second yam end Y2a untwisted by the
20 second untwisting pipe 43 are twisted by the action of air injected from
the air injection hole 54.
[0039] Subsequently, the injection of air by the air injection hole 54 is
ended, and the pair of yam shifting levers 81 and the pair of twist
stopping levers 82 tum in the reverse direction. The first clamp 60A
25 releases holding of the upper yam Y1, and the second clamp 60B
releases holding of the lower yam Y2. Consequently, yam Y formed
13
FP17-0470-00
by connecting the upper yam Y1 and the lower yam Y2 returns to the
traveling path on the front side of the yam joining device 31.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a timing chart for introduction assist air and untwisting
air. As depicted in FIG. 8, before the upper yam Yl and the lower yam
5 Y2 are respectively cut by the first cutter 70A and the second cutter 70B
(time T2), the air injection portions 91 and 92 start injections of
introduction assist air (air for bringing the first yam end Yla into the
first untwisting pipe 41 through the first yam-end inlet 41a and air for
bringing the second yam end Y2a into the second untwisting pipe 43
10 through the second yam-end inlet 43a) (time T1 ). After the upper yam
Yl and the lower yarn Y2 have been respectively cut by the first cutter
70A and the second cutter 70B (time T2), the air injection portions 91
and 92 end the injections of the introduction assist air (time T3).
Simultaneously when the injections of the introduction assist air by the
15 air injection portions 91 and 92 end, the first air injection hole 42 of the
first untwisting pipe 41 and the second air injection hole 44 of the
second untwisting pipe 43 start injections of untwisting air (air for
untwisting the first yarn end Y1a in the first untwisting pipe 41 and air
for untwisting the second yarn end Y2a in the second untwisting pipe
20 43) (time T3) and, after the elapse of a predetermined period of time,
stop the injections of the untwisting air (time T4). The first air
injection hole 42 of the first untwisting pipe 41 and the second air
injection hole 44 of the second untwisting pipe 43 may start the
injection of the untwisting air after the injections of the introduction
25 assist air by the air injection portions 91 and 92 have ended (time T3).
[0041] Herein, the time T1 is time when a signal is switched from OFF
14
FP17-0470-00
to ON in a controller of the yarn joining carrier 3 in order to start the
injections of the introduction assist air by the air injection portions 91
and 92. The time T3 is time when the signal is switched from ON to
OFF in the controller of the yarn joining carrier 3 in order to end the
5 injections of the introduction assist air by the air injection portions 91
and 92, and is also time when a signal is switched from OFF to ON in
the controller of the yarn joining carrier 3 in order to start the injections
of the untwisting air by the first air injection hole 42 and the second air
injection hole 44. The time T4 is time when the signal is switched
10 from ON to OFF in the controller of the yarn joining carrier 3 in order
to end the injections of the untwisting air by the first air injection hole
42 and the second air injection hole 44.
[0042] As described in the foregoing, in the yarn joining device 31, the
air injection portions 91 and 92 can inject air from the outside of the
15 first untwisting pipe 41 and the second untwisting pipe 43 toward the
first yarn-end inlet 41a and the second yarn-end inlet 43a. In
particular, the air injection portions 91 and 92 are provided to the twist
stopping levers 82 that can advance and retreat with respect to the first
yarn-end inlet 41a and the second yarn-end inlet 43a. Thus, the air
20 injection portions 91 and 92 can be caused to inject air at positions and
angles that are appropriate for the first yarn-end inlet 41a and the second
yarn-end inlet 43a. Thus, even when the stiffness of yarn is high, by
causing the air injection portions 91 and 92 to inject air, the first yarn
end Y1a can be quickly brought into the first untwisting pipe 41 through
25 the first yarn-end inlet 41a, and also the second yarn end Y2a can be
quickly brought into the second untwisting pipe 43 through the second
15
FP17-0470-00
yam-end inlet 43a. Consequently, variations can be prevented from
occurring in the state of the first yam end Yla untwisted by the action of
air injected from the first air injection hole 42 and in the state of the
second yam end Y2a untwisted by the action of air injected from the
5 second air injection hole 44. Thus, with the yam joining device 31, for
example, even when yam Y is thick and the stiffness of the yam Y is
high, yam joining can be stably performed.
[0043] In the yam joining device 31, the twist stopping levers 82 that
can advance and retreat with respect to the first yarn-end inlet 4la and
10 the second yam-end inlet 43a are provided with the air injection
portions 91 and 92, respectively. Thus, when the upper yam Yl
guided by the suction pipe 32 and the lower yam Y2 guided by the
suction mouth 33 are respectively drawn toward the first untwisting
portion 40A and the second untwisting portion 40B, the air injection
15 portions 91 and 92 do not obstruct the drawing of the upper yarn Yl and
the lower yam Y2.
[0044] In the yam joining device 31, midway while the twist stopping
levers 82 are advancing or retreating with respect to the first yam-end
inlet 4la and the second yam-end inlet 43a, the air injection portions 91
20 and 92 are positioned in front of the first yam-end inlet 4la and the
second yam-end inlet 43a, respectively. By this configuration, the air
injection portions 91 and 92 can be caused to inject air at positions and
angles that are more appropriate for the first yam-end inlet 4la and the
second yam-end inlet 43a.
25 [0045] In the yarn joining device 31, because the air injection portions
91 and 92 that inject introduction assist air are provided separately from
16
FP17-0470-00
the first air injection hole 42 and the second air injection hole 44 that
inject untwisting air, the injected state of the introduction assist air and
the injected state of the untwisting air can be optimized depending on
the respective purposes.
5 [0046] In the yam joining device 31, the air injection portions 91 and
92 start injections of air before the upper yam Y1 and the lower yam Y2
are respectively cut by the first cutter 70A and the second cutter 70B,
and end the injections of air after the upper yam Y1 and the lower yam
Y2 have been respectively cut by the first cutter 70A and the second
10 cutter 70B. By this setting, the first yam end Y1a can be reliably
brought into the first untwisting pipe 41 through the first yarn-end inlet
41a, and also the second yarn end Y2a can be reliably brought into the
second untwisting pipe 43 through the second yam-end inlet 43a.
[0047] In the yam joining device 31, the first air injection hole 42 starts
15 injection of air simultaneously when injections of air by the air injection
portions 91 and 92 end or after the injections have ended, and the
second air injection hole 44 starts injection of air simultaneously when
the injections of air by the air injection portions 91 and 92 end or after
the injections have ended. By this setting, due to the effect of air
20 injected from the air injection portions 91 and 92, variations in the
untwisted state of the first yarn end Y1 a and the untwisted state of the
second yam end Y2a can be prevented from occurring.
[0048] In the spinning machine 1, yam Y is generated by the air
spinning device 7, and thus the yam Y tends to have a high stiffness.
25 However, because the yam joining device 31 described above is
provided, yarn joining can be stably performed.
17
FP17-0470-00
[0049] Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been
described in the foregoing, the present disclosure is not limited to the
embodiment.
[0050] In the embodiment, the air injection portions 91 and 92 are
5 provided to the twist stopping levers 82. However, the air injection
portions 91 and 92 may be provided to movable levers other than the
twist stopping levers 82 (which may be movable levers dedicated to the
air injection portions 91 and 92, or may be movable levers that have
another function).
10 [0051] In the embodiment, the yam joining device 31, the suction pipe
32, and the suction mouth 33 are provided to the yam joining carrier 3.
However, the yam joining device 31, the suction pipe 3 2, and the
suction mouth 33 may be provided to each of the spinning units 2.
[0052] The yam joining device of the present disclosure may be used
15 for an automatic winder. In this case, the yam joining device 1s
provided to each of winding units constituting the automatic winder.
[0053] In each spinning unit 2, the respective devices are disposed such
that yam Y supplied from the upper side is wound in the lower side in
the machine height direction. However, the respective devices may be
20 disposed such that yam Y supplied from the lower side is wound in the
upper side. In FIG. 1, the spinning machine 1 is illustrated in which
each package P is wound in a cheese shape. However, the package P
may be wound in a cone shape.
[0054] In each spinning unit 2, the yam pooling device 11 has a
25 function of pulling out yam Y from the air spinning device 7.
However, the yam Y may be pulled out from the air spinning device 7
18
FP17-0470-00
by a delivery roller and a nip roller. When the yarn Y is pulled out
from the air spinning device 7 by a delivery roller and a nip roller,
instead of the yam pooling device 11, a slack tube or a mechanical
compensator, for example, that absorbs slack of the yam Y using suction
5 airflow may be provided.
[0055] In the traveling direction of the yarn Y, the tension sensor 9 may
be provided on the upstream side of the yarn monitoring device 8. The
unit controller 10 may be provided to each of the spinning units 2. In
each spinning unit 2, the waxing device 12, the tension sensor 9, and the
1 0 yarn monitoring device 8 may be omitted.
[0056] At least some configurations of the embodiment described
above may be optionally used in combination with at least some other
configurations of the embodiment.
[0057] As a reference example, the air injection portions 91 and 92 may
15 be provided to the yarn joining portion 50 as depicted in FIG 9, or may
be provided to a bracket or the like attached to, for example, a
supporting member supporting the yarn joining portion 50. In such
cases, the air injection portions 91 and 92 can be caused to stably inject
atr.
20 [0058] From the description above, a yarn joining device and a spinning
machine according to the present disclosure can be exemplified as
follows. Note that at least some configurations of the yarn joining
device and the spinning machine according to the present disclosure
described below may be optionally used in combination with at least
25 some other configurations of the yarn joining device and the spinning
machine.
19
FP17-0470-00
[0059] This yam joining device according to the present disclosure may
include: a holding portion that holds each of first yam and second yam;
a cutting portion that cuts each of the first yam and the second yam held
by the holding portion; a first untwisting pipe that has a first yam-end
5 inlet and a first air injection hole and catches, through the first yam-end
inlet, a first yam end made in the first yam by cutting by the cutting
portion and untwist the first yam end in the first untwisting pipe by
action of air injected from the first air injection hole; a second
untwisting pipe that has a second yam-end inlet and a second air
10 injection hole and catches, through the second yam-end inlet, a second
yam end made in the second yam by cutting by the cutting portion and
untwist the second yam end in the second untwisting pipe by action of
air injected from the second air injection hole; an air injection portion
that is capable of injecting air from outside of the first untwisting pipe
15 and the second untwisting pipe toward the first yam-end inlet and the
second yam-end inlet; and a yam joining portion that twists the first
yam end untwisted by the first untwisting pipe and the second yam end
untwisted by the second untwisting pipe.
[0060] In this yam joining device, the air injection portion can inject air
20 from outside of the first untwisting pipe and the second untwisting pipe
toward the first yam-end inlet and the second yam-end inlet. Thus,
even when the stiffness of yam is high, by causing the air injection
portion to inject air, the first yam end can be quickly brought into the
first untwisting pipe through the first yam-end inlet, and also the second
25 yam end can be quickly brought into the second untwisting pipe through
the second yam-end inlet. Consequently, variations can be prevented
20
FP17-0470-00
from occurring in the state of the first yam end untwisted by the action
of air injected from the first air injection hole and in the state of the
second yarn end untwisted by the action of air injected from the second
air injection hole. Thus, with this yam joining device, even when the
5 stiffness of yam is high, yam joining can be stably performed.
[0061] The yam joining device according to the present disclosure may
further include a movable lever that is capable of advancing and
retreating with respect to the first yam-end inlet and the second
yam-end inlet, and the air injection portion may be provided to the
10 movable lever. By this configuration, the air injection portion can be
caused to inject air toward the first yam-end inlet and the second
yam-end inlet at an appropriate distance therefrom.
[0062] In the yarn joining device according to the present disclosure,
the air injection portion may be provided to the yam joining portion.
15 By this configuration, the air injection portion can be caused to stably
inject air.
[0063] In the yam joining device according to the present disclosure,
the air injection portion may start injection of air before each of the first
yam and the second yam is cut by the cutting portion, and may end the
20 injection of air after each of the first yarn and the second yam has been
cut by the cutting portion. By this setting, the first yam end can be
reliably brought into the first untwisting pipe through the first yam-end
inlet, and also the second yam end can be reliably brought into the
second untwisting pipe through the second yam-end inlet.
25 [0064] In the yarn joining device according to the present disclosure,
the first air injection hole may start injection of air simultaneously when
21
FP17-0470-00
injection of air by the air injection portion ends or after the injection has
ended, and the second air injection hole may start injection of air
simultaneously when the injection of air by the air injection portion
ends or after the injection has ended. By this setting, due to the effect
5 of air injected from the air injection portion, variations in the untwisted
state of the first yam end and the untwisted state of the second yam end
can be prevented from occurring.
[0065] This spinning machine according to the present disclosure may
include: the yam joining device described above; a drafting device that
10 drafts a fiber bundle; an air spinning device that twists the fiber bundle
drafted by the drafting device to generate yam; and a winding device
that winds the yam generated by the air spinning device to fonn a
package.
[0066] With this spinning machine, because the yam joining device
15 described above is provided thereto, yam joining can be stably
performed even when the stiffness of yam is high.
[0067] In the spinning machine according to the present disclosure, the
air spinning device may include: a nozzle portion that generates swirling
airflow in a spinning chamber; a guiding portion that guides the fiber
20 bundle drafted by the drafting device into the spinning chamber; and a
hollow guide shaft member that guides the yam generated by twisting
the fiber bundle by action of the swirling airflow in the spinning
chamber to outside of the spinning chamber. Although yam generated
by this air spinning device tends to have a high stiffness, because the
25 yam joining device described above is provided, yam joining can be
stably performed.
22
FP17-0470-00
[0068] According to the present disclosure, a yam joining device and a
spinning machine that can stably perform yam joining even when the
stiffuess of yam is high can be provided.
23

We claim:
1. A yam joining device (31) comprising:
a holding portion (60A, 60B) that holds each of first yam (Y1)
and second yam (Y2);
5 a cutting portion (70A, 70B) that cuts each of the first yam (Y1)
and the second yam (Y2) held by the holding portion (60A, 60B);
a first untwisting pipe (41) that has a first yam-end inlet (41a)
and a first air injection hole (42), and catches, through the first yam-end
inlet (41a), a first yarn end (Y1a) made in the first yarn (Y1) by cutting
10 by the cutting portion (70A, 70B) and untwists the first yam end (Y1a)
in the first untwisting pipe ( 41) by action of air injected from the first air
injection hole ( 42);
a second untwisting pipe (43) that has a second yam-end inlet
(43a) and a second air injection hole (44), and catches, through the
15 second yarn-end inlet (43a), a second yam end (Y2a) made in the
second yarn (Y2) by cutting by the cutting portion (70A, 70B) and
untwists the second yarn end (Y2a) in the second untwisting pipe (43)
by action of air injected from the second air injection hole ( 44 );
an air injection portion (91, 92) that is capable of injecting air
20 from outside of the first untwisting pipe ( 41) and the second untwisting
pipe ( 4 3) toward the first yarn-end inlet ( 41 a) and the second yam-end
inlet ( 43a);
a yarn joining portion (50) that twists the first yam end (Y1a)
untwisted by the first untwisting pipe ( 41) and the second yam end
25 (Y2a) untwisted by the second untwisting pipe ( 43); and
a movable lever (82) that is capable of advancing and retreating
24
5
FP17-0470-00
with respect to the first yam-end inlet (41a) and the second yam-end
inlet (43a), wherein
the air injection portion (91, 92) is provided to the movable lever
(82).
2. The yarn joining device (31) according to claim 1, wherein the
air injection portion (91, 92) is positioned in front of the first yam-end
inlet (41a) and the second yarn-end inlet (43a) midway while the
movable lever (82) is advancing or retreating with respect to the first
10 yam-end inlet (41a) and the second yam-end inlet (43a).
3. The yam joining device (31) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the air injection portion (91, 92) starts injection of air before each of the
first yam (Y1) and the second yam (Y2) is cut by the cutting portion
15 (70A, 70B), and ends the injection of air after each of the first yam (Y1)
and the second yarn (Y2) has been cut by the cutting portion (70A,
70B).
4. The yam joining device (31) according to any one of claims 1 to
20 3, wherein
the first a1r injection hole ( 42) starts injection of mr
simultaneously when injection of air by the air injection portion (91, 92)
ends or after the injection has ended, and
the second air injection hole (44) starts injection of mr
25 simultaneously when injection of air by the air injection portion (91, 92)
ends or after the injection has ended.
25
5
10
15
FP17-0470-00
5. A spinning machine (1) comprising:
the yarn joining device (31) according to any one of claims 1 to
4·
'
a drafting device (6) that drafts a fiber bundle (S);
an air spinning device (7) that twists the fiber bundle (F) drafted
by the drafting device (6) to generate yam (Y); and
a winding device (13) that winds the yam (Y) generated by the
air spinning device (7) to fonn a package (P).
6. The spinning machine (1) according to claim 5, wherein
the air spinning device (7) comprising:
a nozzle portion (71) that generates swirling airflow in a
spinning chamber (71a);
a guiding portion (72) that guides the fiber bundle (F)
drafted by the drafting device (6) into the spinning chamber (71a); and
a hollow guide shaft member (73) that guides the yam
(Y) generated by twisting the fiber bundle (F) by action of the swirling
airflow in the spinning chamber (7la) to outside of the spirming
20 chamber (71a).