BACKGROUND OF THE IN VENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a yarn monitoring 5 device adapted to monitor a state of a travelling yarn. Specifically, the present invention relates to a configuration for blowing away fiber waste in the yarn monitoring device.
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2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a yarn monitoring device having a configuration of blowing compressed air into a yarn travelling space, through which the yarn travels, to blow away the fiber waste in the yarn travelling space. 15 This type of yarn monitoring device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-230908.
The yarn monitoring device of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-230908 is provided with a yarn passage formed in a groove shape along a travelling path 20 of the yarn. The yarn monitoring device also includes a detecting section adapted to detect a state (presence/absence of yarn defect, etc.) of the yarn in the travelling space, through which the yarn travels. A yarn path guide is arranged upstream in a yarn travelling 25 direction of the detecting section to regulate a travelling position of the yarn in the yarn travelling space. The yarn monitoring device further includes a blowing section, and the compressed air is blown from the blowing section toward the detecting section and the proximity thereof. 30
More specifically, the yarn passage has one set of
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side wall surfaces arranged in parallel with each other with the travelling path of the yarn therebetween, where the compressed air is blown in a diagonal direction from the blowing section toward one of the set of side wall surfaces so that a flow of air also acts on the other side wall surface 5 and the like, thus preventing fiber waste from remaining in the yarn passage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, it was found that in the configuration of 10 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-230908, the yarn path guide is arranged at a recessed position in the yarn travelling space, and thus it may be difficult for the flow of compressed air blown out diagonally from the blowing section to reach an area proximate to the yarn path 15 guide. In this case, the fiber waste may remain in proximity to the yarn path guide. A development of a configuration capable of more efficiently blowing away the fiber waste is thus desired.
The present invention has been made in view of the 20 above circumstances, and an object thereof is to efficiently blow away fiber waste proximate to an upstream yarn path regulating member arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section in the yarn monitoring device. 25
The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above, and now, the means and effects for solving such problems will be described.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a yarn monitoring device having the following configuration 30 is provided. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device
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includes a detecting section and an upstream yarn path regulating member. The detecting section is adapted to detect a state of a yarn in a yarn travelling space, through which the yarn travels. The upstream yarn path regulating member is arranged upstream in a yarn travelling direction 5 of the detecting section, and is adapted to regulate a yarn path, which is a travelling position of the yarn in the yarn travelling space. The yarn monitoring device is provided with a first blow-out port adapted to blow fluid to a region including at least the upstream yarn path regulating member. 10 The first blow-out port includes a portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an overall configuration of an automatic winder including a yarn monitoring device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a winding unit including the 20 yarn monitoring device;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an outer appearance of the yarn monitoring device;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the outer appearance of the yarn monitoring device; 25
FIG. 5 is a schematic planar cross-sectional view of a first casing and an interior thereof;
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a second casing and an interior thereof;
FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a configuration 30 of a slot formed in the yarn monitoring device and a
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periphery thereof;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a flow path member arranged in the yarn monitoring device;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 8; 5
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a projection view illustrating a state in which a distribution flow path of compressed air is projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to a yarn 10 travelling direction in the yarn monitoring device; and
FIG. 12 is a projection view illustrating a state in which a distribution flow path of compressed air is projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the yarn travelling direction in a yarn monitoring device according 15 to an alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 20
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an automatic winder (yarn winding machine) 1 includes, as main components, a plurality of winding units (yarn winding units) 10 arranged side by side, and a machine control section 11 arranged at one end in a direction in which the winding units 10 are 25 arranged.
The machine control section 11 includes a display device 12 capable of displaying information associated with each winding unit 10, an instruction input section 13 for an operator to input various types of instructions with 30 respect to the machine control section 11, and the like.
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The operator of the automatic winder 1 can check various types of displays displayed on the display device 12, and can also appropriately operate the instruction input section 13 to collectively manage the plurality of winding units 10 with the machine control section 11. 5
Each winding unit 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured to unwind a yarn 21 from a yarn supplying bobbin 20 and to rewind the yarn around a winding bobbin 22. The winding bobbin 22 with the yarn 21 wound therearound is referred to as a package 23. In the following description, 10 “upstream in the yarn travelling direction” and “downstream in the yarn travelling direction” respectively refer to upstream and downstream when seen in the travelling direction of the yarn 21.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the winding unit 10 includes 15 a main body frame 24, a yarn supplying section 25, and a winding section 26 as main components.
The main body frame 24 is arranged at a side of the winding unit 10. The majority of the components of the winding unit 10 is directly or indirectly supported by the 20 main body frame 24. An operating section 27 to be operated by the operator is provided on a front side of the main body frame 24.
The yarn supplying section 25 is configured to be able to hold the yarn supplying bobbin 20, adapted to supply the 25 yarn 21, in an upright state. The winding section 26 includes a cradle 28 and a winding drum 29.
The cradle 28 rotatably supports the winding bobbin 22. The cradle 28 is also configured to allow a peripheral surface of the supporting winding bobbin 22 to make contact 30 with a peripheral surface of the winding drum 29. The
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winding drum 29 is arranged to face the winding bobbin 22, and is configured to be rotatably driven by a motor (not illustrated). A traverse groove (not illustrated) having a reciprocating spiral shape for traversing the yarn 21 being wound around the winding bobbin 22 is formed on the 5 outer peripheral surface of the winding drum 29.
The winding bobbin 22 is rotated by driving and rotating the winding drum 29 with the outer peripheral surface of the winding bobbin 22 in contact with the winding drum 29. Thus, the yarn 21 unwound from the yarn supplying 10 bobbin 20 can be wound around the winding bobbin 22 while being traversed by the traverse groove. The component for traversing the yarn 21 is not limited to the winding drum 29, and instead of the winding drum 29, for example, an arm-type traverse device adapted to guide the yarn 21 with 15 a traverse guide driven in a reciprocating manner at a predetermined traverse width can be adopted.
Each winding unit 10 includes a unit control section 30. The unit control section 30 is configured by hardware such as CPU, ROM, and RAM, and software such as a control 20 program stored in the RAM. With the cooperative operation of the hardware and the software, each component of the winding unit 10 is controlled. The unit control section 30 of each winding unit 10 is configured to be communicable with the machine control section 11. Thus, the operation 25 of each winding unit 10 can be intensively managed by the machine control section 11.
The winding unit 10 has a configuration in which an unwinding assisting device 31, a tension applying device 32, a yarn joining device 33, and a yarn monitoring device 30 6 are arranged in this order from the upstream in the yarn
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travelling direction on a yarn travelling path between the yarn supplying section 25 and the winding section 26.
The unwinding assisting device 31 includes a regulating member 35 adapted to make contact with a portion (balloon) bulged out to the outer side when the yarn 21 5 unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 20 is swung around by a centrifugal force. The contact of the regulating member 35 to the balloon prevents the yarn 21 from being swung around in excess, and maintains the balloon to a prescribed size, thus enabling the unwinding of the yarn 10 21 from the yarn supplying bobbin 20 to be carried out under a prescribed tension.
The tension applying device 32 is adapted to apply a predetermined tension on the travelling yarn 21. The tension applying device 32 of the present embodiment may 15 be a gate-type tension applying device in which movable comb teeth are arranged with respect to fixed comb teeth. The tension applying device 32 applies an appropriate tension on the yarn 21 by passing the yarn 21 while being bent between the comb teeth in a meshed state. Other than the gate-type 20 tension applying device, a disc-type tension applying device, for example, may be adopted for the tension applying device 32.
The yarn joining device 33 is configured to join (yarn joining operation) a yarn (lower yarn) from the yarn 25 supplying bobbin 20 and a yarn (upper yarn) from the winding bobbin 22 when the yarn 21 between the yarn supplying bobbin 20 and the winding bobbin 22 is disconnected such as, for example, when the yarn is cut with a cutting device (cutter) 16, to be described later. The configuration of the yarn 30 joining device 33 is not particularly limited, and for
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example, a pneumatic splicer that twists the yarn ends with a whirling airflow generated by compressed air can be adopted, or a mechanical knotter and the like can be adopted. An upper yarn suction pipe (first yarn catching and guiding device) 44 sucks and catches the yarn end from the winding 5 bobbin 22 (from the winding section 26), and guides the yarn end to the yarn joining device 33. A lower yarn suction pipe (second yarn catching and guiding device) 45 sucks and catches the yarn end from the yarn supplying bobbin 20 (from the yarn supplying section 25), and guides the yarn end to 10 the yarn joining device 33.
The yarn monitoring device 6 is configured to monitor the state (quality) of the travelling yarn 21, and detect a yarn defect (portion with abnormality in the yarn 21) and the like contained in the yarn 21. The yarn monitoring 15 device 6 includes the cutting device 16 adapted to cut the yarn 21 when the yarn defect and the like are detected in the monitoring yarn.
Now, a description will be briefly made on an operation of when the yarn defect and the like are detected 20 by the yarn monitoring device 6 with reference to FIG. 2.
When the yarn defect and the like are detected in the monitoring yarn 21, the yarn monitoring device 6 transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit control section 30, and also activates the cutting device 16 to cut the yarn 25 21. The yarn 21 located downstream of the cut portion is once wound into the package 23. The yarn 21 wound into the package 23 in this case includes a portion of yarn defect and the like detected by the yarn monitoring device 6. The unit control section 30 also stops the winding of the yarn 30 by the winding section 26.
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The lower yarn suction pipe 45 sucks and catches the yarn end supplied from the yarn supplying bobbin 20, and guides the yarn end to the yarn joining device 33. Before or after this, the upper yarn suction pipe 44 sucks and catches the yarn end wound into the package 23, and guides 5 the yarn end to the yarn joining device 33. In this case, the portion of yarn defect and the like wound into the package 23 is sucked and pulled out by the upper yarn suction pipe 44.
The yarn joining device 33 joins the yarn ends guided 10 by the upper yarn suction pipe 44 and the lower yarn suction pipe 45. Thus, after the portion including the yarn defect and the like is removed, the yarn 21 cut by the cutting device 16 is again connected.
After the yarn joining operation by the yarn joining 15 device 33 is completed, the unit control section 30 resumes the winding of the yarn 21 by the winding section 26. According to the above operations, the yarn defect and the like detected by the yarn monitoring device 6 can be removed, and the winding of the yarn 21 into the package 23 can be 20 resumed.
Next, a detailed description will be made on a configuration of the yarn monitoring device 6 according to the present embodiment with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the yarn monitoring 25 device 6 of the present embodiment includes, as main components, a first casing 66, a second casing 67, a top plate 63, an upstream yarn guide (upstream yarn path regulating member) 64, a downstream yarn guide (downstream yarn path regulating member) 65, a detecting section 70, 30 the cutting device 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 6), and a monitoring
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control section 200.
The first casing 66 (detecting section holding section) is a casing adapted to at least partially accommodate the detecting section 70. The first casing 66 is, for example, made of resin. In the present embodiment, 5 the first casing 66 accommodates the entire detecting section 70.
The detecting section 70 is adapted to detect a state of the yarn 21 in a yarn travelling space 68, through which the yarn 21 travels. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the 10 detecting section 70 includes a holder 69, a first sensor section 51, and a second sensor section 52. The first sensor section 51 and the second sensor section 52 are held by the holder 69 mounted on the first casing 66. The detecting section 70 can also be referred to as a measuring 15 section adapted to measure the state of the yarn 21.
In the present embodiment, the first sensor section 51 is configured to detect the state of the yarn 21 (thickness of yarn, presence/absence of yarn defect, etc.) by irradiating the yarn 21 with light. The first sensor 20 section 51 includes a light emitting element (light projecting section) 37 and a light receiving element (light receiving section) 38. The light emitting element 37 is configured by, for example, LED, and the like. The light receiving element 38 is configured as, for example, a 25 photodiode, and is adapted to convert intensity of received light to an electric signal and output the electric signal.
The second sensor section 52 is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the first sensor section 51. The second sensor section 52 of the present embodiment 30 is configured as a so-called optical sensor, similar to the
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first sensor section 51.
The second casing 67 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 is a casing adapted to hold the cutting device 16 of the yarn monitoring device 6 for cutting the yarn 21. In other words, the second casing 67 at least partially accommodates 5 the cutting device 16. The second casing 67 also at least partially accommodates a flow path member 90, to be described later. The flow path member 90 is a plate-shaped member made of metal. The second casing 67 is made of, for example, resin. 10
The cutting device 16 includes a blade (cutting section) 81, and a driving mechanism 80 adapted to drive the blade 81. The blade 81 is connected to the driving mechanism 80 as illustrated in FIG. 6, where a distal end portion (blade edge 81a) of the blade 81 can be exposed to 15 an internal space of a slot 6a, to be described later (in other words, interior of the yarn travelling space 68 to be described later). The driving mechanism 80 is, for example, configured as a solenoid, and is capable of advancing the blade edge 81a of the blade 81 of the cutting 20 device 16 into the yarn path where the yarn 21 travels, and retracting the blade edge 81a with respect to the yarn path, with the driving of the driving mechanism 80. In the following description, a state in which the blade 81 is retracted with respect to the yarn path may be referred to 25 as a “standby state”. The flow path member 90 also serves as a table (blade receiving portion) adapted to receive the blade edge 81a.
The top plate 63 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a thin plate material made of metal which has an outer shape 30 that lies along the outer shape of the first casing 66 when
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seen along the yarn travelling direction. The first casing 66 is fitted to an upper side (downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the second casing 67. The top plate 63 is fixed, while being positioned through an appropriate method, on an upper side (downstream in the yarn 5 travelling direction) of the first casing 66.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the yarn monitoring device 6 is provided with the slot 6a along the yarn travelling direction. The slot 6a is formed in a groove shape in which one side (front side) is opened when seen along the yarn 10 travelling direction. In other words, the slot 6a is formed so as to penetrate the yarn monitoring device 6 in the yarn travelling direction, and is configured such that the yarn 21 can be inserted from the opened side (front side). The slot 6a is configured by three inner walls (back wall 6b 15 and a pair of side walls 6c, 6d). The yarn travelling space 68 is formed inside the slot 6a (while being surrounded by the three inner walls). The yarn travelling space 68 is a space through which the yarn 21, which is a monitoring target of the yarn monitoring device 6, can travel. 20
In the present embodiment, a slot 69a is formed in the holder 69 (see FIG. 5) mounted on the first casing 66, a slot 67a is formed upstream of the first casing 66, and a slot 63a is formed in the top plate 63. When each member constituting the yarn monitoring device 6 is accommodated 25 in the first casing 66 and the second casing 67, and the top plate 63 is assembled to the first casing 66, the slots 69a, 67a, 63a are connected thus forming one slot 6a as a whole, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
More specifically describing the slot 6a, the slot 30 69a formed on the inner side of the first casing 66 (in the
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present embodiment, mainly formed in the holder 69 mounted on the first casing 66) is configured by three inner walls with one side (front side) opened. The three inner walls include a back wall 69b facing the opened side of the yarn travelling space 68, and a pair of side walls 69c, 69d, which 5 are the inner walls other than the back wall 69b. In each of the pair of side walls 69c, 69d, an end (back end) on the side opposite to the opened side is connected to the back wall 69b. The pair of side walls 69c, 69d are arranged to face each other. 10
Similarly, the slot 67a formed upstream of the first casing 66 is also configured by three inner walls (back wall 67b and a pair of side walls 67c, 67d) with one side (front side) opened. In the present embodiment, the back wall 67b is configured by a back wall 90b of the flow path member 15 90. The side wall 67c on one side (right side) of the side walls 67c, 67d is configured by a portion (portion where the blade 81 is attached) facing the yarn travelling space 68 of the cutting device 16 held by the second casing 67. The side wall 67d on the other side (left side) of the side 20 walls 67c, 67d is configured by a portion that receives the blade edge 81a of the flow path member 90.
The slot 63a of the top plate 63 is also formed in a groove shape with one side (front side) opened.
When the first casing 66 and the second casing 67 25 accommodating each member constituting the yarn monitoring device 6, as well as the top plate 63 are fixed to each other with such configuration, the three slots 69a, 67a, 63a are integrated thus forming one slot 6a. A specific configuration of the slot 6a is not limited to the 30 configuration described above, and various changes can be
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made within a scope not deviating from the gist of the present invention.
The upstream yarn guide 64 is adapted to regulate the yarn path, through which the yarn 21 travels, in the yarn travelling space 68. The upstream yarn guide 64 is formed 5 in a shape having a substantially V-shaped groove when seen along the yarn travelling direction, and is attached to project toward the inner side from the back wall 69b of the holder 69 with the opened side made to coincide with the opened side of the slot 6a. The upstream yarn guide 64 is 10 attached to an upstream end of the holder 69. The upstream yarn guide 64 is arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section 70 (in particular, first sensor section 51). The cutting device 16 is arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream 15 yarn guide 64.
The downstream yarn guide 65 is also adapted to regulate the yarn path, through which the yarn 21 travels, in the yarn travelling space 68. The downstream yarn guide 65 has a shape similar to the upstream yarn guide 64. The 20 downstream yarn guide 65 is attached to a downstream end of the holder 69. The downstream yarn guide 65 is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section 70.
The upstream yarn guide 64 and the downstream yarn 25 guide 65 are made of a material (ceramic in the present embodiment) having abrasion resistance property. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the yarn 21 travelling through the yarn travelling space 68 travels while making contact with a bottom portion of the substantially V-shaped groove of 30 the yarn guides 64, 65. The yarn path, through which the
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yarn 21 travels, with respect to the yarn monitoring device 6 is thereby stabilized, so that the state of the yarn 21 can be stably monitored in the detecting section 70.
Next, a description will be more specifically made on a configuration of the detecting section 70 assembled 5 to the holder 69 with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.
As described above, in the holder 69, the first sensor section 51 is arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the second sensor section 52.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the light receiving element 10 38 is arranged at a part of the side wall 69c of the slot 69a formed in the yarn monitoring device 6 (holder 69). In the light receiving element 38, a surface exposed to the internal space of the slot 69a forms a surface (incident surface) to which light enters. A transparent plate 39 15 (plate that passes light) made of resin is fitted to the side wall 69d facing the side wall 69c, where the incident surface is provided, and the light emitting element 37 is arranged on a side (inside of the holder 69) opposite to the yarn travelling space 68 with the transparent plate 39 20 therebetween. The light emitting element 37 and the light receiving element 38 are arranged to face each other with the yarn path therebetween. A surface (exit surface) from which the light from the light emitting element 37 exits after passing the transparent plate 39 is formed at a part 25 of the side wall 69d. However, the incident surface may be formed on the side wall 69d of the slot 69a, and the exit surface may be formed on the side wall 69c of the slot 69a. The transparent plate may be arranged in front of the light receiving element 38. 30
The light emitting element 37 irradiates the interior
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of the yarn travelling space 68 with light (toward the light receiving element 38) via the transparent plate 39. The light emitting element 37 and the light receiving element 38 are arranged to face each other with the yarn path therebetween. The monitoring control section 200 for 5 causing the light receiving element 38 and the light emitting element 37 to function is accommodated in the first casing 66.
According to the above configuration, part of the light from the light emitting element 37 is shielded by the 10 yarn 21 travelling through the yarn travelling space 68, and received by the light receiving element 38. Thus, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 38 changes by the thickness of the yarn 21. Therefore, the yarn monitoring device 6 can detect the yarn 15 defect and the like by detecting the thickness of the yarn 21 based on the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 38. The light receiving element 38 may be arranged to receive the light reflected by the yarn 21. In the present embodiment, a detection signal output by the 20 light receiving element 38 according to a light receiving amount is input to the monitoring control section 200, and the signal is subjected to an arithmetic process by the monitoring control section 200, whereby the yarn defect and the like can be found. 25
Furthermore, the yarn monitoring device 6 includes a configuration for cleaning the upstream yarn guide 64, the first sensor section 51, and the cutting device 16. The yarn monitoring device 6 blows the compressed air (fluid) from a first blow-out port 71 with respect to the upstream 30 yarn guide 64 and the first sensor section 51, and blows
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the compressed air from a second blow-out port 72 with respect to the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 to blow away the fiber waste, thus cleaning the upstream yarn guide 64, the first sensor section 51, and the blade 81 of the cutting device 16. 5
Hereinafter, a configuration for cleaning the upstream yarn guide 64, the first sensor section 51, and the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 10.
The yarn monitoring device 6 includes a compressed 10 air introducing port (fluid introducing port) 73, the first blow-out port 71, the second blow-out port 72, and a distribution flow path (fluid flow path) 100. The compressed air introducing port 73, the first blow-out port 71, the second blow-out port 72, and the distribution flow 15 path 100 are formed in one of the first casing 66, the second casing 67, and the members accommodated in these casings of the yarn monitoring device 6.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the compressed air introducing port 73 is an opening (entrance) through which 20 the compressed air is introduced. In the present embodiment, the compressed air introducing port 73 is formed on a surface (rear surface) on a side opposite to the opened side of the slot 6a in the yarn monitoring device 6. A hose 48 for supplying the compressed air is connected 25 to the compressed air introducing port 73.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the first blow-out port 71 is a blow-out port (opening) for blowing the compressed air toward the upstream yarn guide 64 and the first sensor section 51. In other words, the first blow-out 30 port 71 is a blow-out port for blowing the compressed air
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to a region including at least the upstream yarn guide 64. The first blow-out port 71 is formed at a downstream end of a first flow path 91, to be described later.
The first blow-out port 71 is located on an outer side of the slot 6a in proximity to the opened side of the slot 5 6a.
The first blow-out port 71 includes a portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 7, considering a virtual plane P1 perpendicular to the 10 yarn travelling direction and in contact with an upper end of the upstream yarn guide 64 (end on downstream in the yarn travelling direction), a majority of the first blow-out port 71 is arranged on an upper side (downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the virtual plane P1. According 15 to such a configuration of the first blow-out port 71, the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 flows to a portion proximate to the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64. The compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 20 thereby smoothly reaches the portion proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64.
Preferably, a portion equal to or greater than half of the first blow-out port 71 is arranged on the upper side (downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the 25 virtual plane P1. More preferably, a portion of 75 or more of the first blow-out port 71 is arranged on the upper side of the virtual plane P1. More preferably, a portion of 90 or more of the first blow-out port 71 is arranged on the upper side of the virtual plane P1. Thus, the compressed 30 air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 more smoothly
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reaches the portion on the downstream of the upstream yarn guide 64 by increasing the portion to be arranged on the upper side of the virtual plane P1 in the first blow-out port 71.
When seen in a direction along the yarn travelling 5 direction, a direction in which the compressed air is blown out from the first blow-out port 71 is a direction of approaching the first sensor section 51, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and specifically, is a direction directed toward a position slightly displaced from the transparent plate 10 39 of the side wall 6d on one side of the slot 6a. More specifically, the blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 is a direction in which, even though the blown-out compressed air is directed toward the first sensor section 51, the compressed 15 air does not directly hit a surface, to and from which the light of the first sensor section 51 enters and exits. The first blow-out port 71 blows out the compressed air so as to directly hit one side wall 6d of the slot 6a. At least part of the blown-out compressed air is blown out in a 20 direction inclined with respect to the side wall 6d. Hereinafter, a direction in which the compressed air is blown out from the first blow-out port 71 (each direction indicated by a thick arrow in FIGS. 5 and 7) may be referred to as a first blow-out direction. As illustrated in FIG. 25 7, the first blow-out direction may change according to the position in the yarn travelling direction, and may be a direction that perpendicularly approaches the side wall 6d of the slot 6a, or may be a direction that is inclined toward the downstream in the yarn travelling direction as it 30 approaches the side wall 6d.
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When seen in the direction along the yarn travelling direction, at least part of the first blow-out direction is inclined with respect to the side walls 6c, 6d of the slot 6a, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 enters the 5 yarn travelling space 68 from the opened side of the slot 6a, and is blown against a position slightly displaced from the transparent plate 39 (position closer to the opened side of the slot 6a with respect to the transparent plate 39) of one side wall 6d of the slot 6a. 10
When seen in the direction perpendicular to the back wall 6b of the slot 6a, the first blow-out port 71 is formed in an elongate shape in the yarn travelling direction, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like. Thus, the compressed air can be swiftly blown out with a width of a certain degree. 15
When seen in the direction perpendicular to the back wall 6b of the slot 6a, a trapezoidal guide surface 71a adapted to guide the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 is continuously arranged at the first blow-out port 71. Of the two sets of opposing sides of the 20 trapezoid formed by the guide surface 71a, the opposing sides parallel to each other are directed to lie along the yarn travelling direction. The exit (first blow-out port 71) of the compressed air is arranged to be elongate so as to lie along a shorter side (short side) of the parallel 25 opposing sides, and the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 flows along the guide surface 71a. Of the remaining opposing sides of the guide surface 71a, the side on the upstream in the yarn travelling direction is substantially perpendicular with respect to the yarn 30 path, whereas the side on the downstream in the yarn
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travelling direction is inclined with respect to the yarn path so as to be on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction as it approaches the slot 6a. When guided by a ceiling surface (second guide surface) 71b formed with the side on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of 5 the guide surface 71a as one side and a floor surface (third guide surface) 71c formed with the side on the upstream in the yarn travelling direction as one side, the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 flows toward the first blow-out direction (toward the longer side of the 10 parallel opposing sides of the guide surface 71a). The ceiling surface 71b is a plane that extends in a direction parallel to the side on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the guide surface 71a and that extends in a depth direction (front and back direction) of 15 the yarn monitoring device 6. The floor surface 71c is a plane that extends in a direction parallel to the side on the upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the guide surface 71a and that extends in the depth direction of the yarn monitoring device 6. 20
Therefore, when seen in the direction perpendicular to the back wall 6b of the slot 6a, the direction (first blow-out direction) in which the compressed air is blown out from the first blow-out port 71 may, as illustrated in FIG. 7, change according to the position in the yarn 25 travelling direction, and may be a direction that perpendicularly approaches the side wall 6d of the slot 6a, or may be a direction that is inclined toward the downstream in the yarn travelling direction as it approaches the side wall 6d. Thus, the compressed air can be blown in a wide 30 range toward the inside of the yarn travelling space 68
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formed by the slot 6a. Of the compressed air blown out to one side wall 6d from the first blow-out port 71, the compressed air blown in a direction inclined in the above manner passes through the downstream of the upstream yarn guide 64, and then whirls spirally in the slot 6a, and is 5 indirectly blown against the back wall 6b and the other side wall 6c at a portion where the first sensor section 51 is arranged. The fiber waste attached to the surface on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction, and the like of the upstream yarn guide 64 is separated when the 10 compressed air is blown thereto, and the fiber waste is blown away toward the downstream of the yarn path along with the flow of air flowing spirally as described above. Therefore, the once blown-away fiber waste can be prevented from returning to the upstream yarn guide 64 with the 15 travelling yarn 21.
Therefore, by blowing the compressed air from the first blow-out port 71 toward the region including the upstream yarn guide 64, the compressed air can be made to strongly act on the region immediately downstream in the 20 yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64, where the compressed air has not reached with the conventional configuration. Therefore, the fiber waste attached to the upstream yarn guide 64 can be satisfactorily blown away by the flow of compressed air blown out from the 25 first blow-out port 71.
The yarn 21 travels upward through the yarn travelling space 68, but the fiber waste may drop by its own weight and deposit on the upper side (i.e., downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the upstream yarn guide 30 64 . In the present embodiment, however, the deposited
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fiber waste can be blown away and removed by the flow of compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71, and the fiber waste attached to the upstream yarn guide 64 can be prevented from entering the detection region in the yarn travelling space 68 with the yarn 21 and remaining in 5 the detection region.
The first blow-out port 71 blows the compressed air not only to the upper side of the upstream yarn guide 64 but also to the first sensor section 51, and hence the first sensor section 51 can also be cleaned in addition to the 10 proximity of the upstream yarn guide 64 with one blow-out port (first blow-out port 71). In other words, the portion related to the detection performance of the first sensor section 51 can be cleaned over a wide range with one blow-out port (first blow-out port 71). 15
Furthermore, since the compressed air is not directly blown (but indirectly blown) against the light receiving element 38 or the transparent plate 39, even if the cleaning level of the compressed air is low, the light receiving element 38 or the transparent plate 39 (incident surface 20 and exit surface of light) can be prevented from getting dirty by the dirt transported by the compressed air, thus preventing the detection performance of the detecting section 70 from lowering.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the end (upper end portion) 25 on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the first blow-out port 71 is located upstream (lower side) in the yarn travelling direction of the second sensor section 52, so that the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 can be prevented from flowing in excess 30 toward the second sensor section 52. Thus, the compressed
25
air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 can be intensively blown against a region including the upstream yarn guide 64, so that the relevant region can be efficiently cleaned in a concentrated manner.
The compressed air is supplied from the compressed 5 air introducing port 73 to the first blow-out port 71 through the distribution flow path 100. The supply path of the compressed air will be described later.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second blow-out port 72 is a blow-out port (opening) adapted to blow out (inject) 10 the compressed air so as to blow the compressed air toward the blade edge 81a of the blade 81 of the cutting device 16.
The second blow-out port 72 is formed at a portion constituting the back wall 67b of the slot 67a when 15 assembled while being accommodated in the second casing 67 of the flow path member 90. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second blow-out port 72 is arranged at a position displaced from the yarn path when seen in a depth direction of the slot 67a (when seen in a direction perpendicular to the back 20 wall 67b). The direction near the exit of the second blow-out port 72 is directed straight toward the blade edge 81a of the blade 81 in the standby state retracted from the yarn path. In other words, the second blow-out port 72 blows out the compressed air in the direction directed 25 straight toward the opened side of the slot 6a. Hereinafter, such a direction may be referred to as a second blow-out direction.
The blade edge 81a of the blade 81 in the standby state is arranged on an extended line of the second blow-out 30 direction. The contour of the second blow-out port 72 is
26
circular, and the diameter is formed to be preferably smaller than or equal to 1.0 mm, and more preferably smaller than or equal to 0.6 mm. Thus, the compressed air blown out from the second blow-out port 72 can be blown at pinpoint to the blade edge 81a of the blade 81 of the cutting device 5 16. The blade edge 81a of the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 is generally a location where shreds and the like of the yarn 21 are likely to get caught, and by blowing the compressed air at pinpoint to the relevant portion, the necessary portion of the cutting device 16 can be 10 efficiently cleaned with a small flow amount.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the second blow-out port 72 is formed upstream (lower side) in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64, and the compressed air is not blown against the upstream yarn guide 64. In 15 other words, the second blow-out port 72 is configured as a dedicated blow-out port for cleaning the cutting device 16. Thus, each blow-out port (first blow-out port 71 or second blow-out port 72) is provided as a dedicated blow-out port for cleaning the cleaning target (upstream yarn guide 20 64 and first sensor section 51, or cutting device 16), so that each blow-out port can be designed to optimum arrangement and shape for appropriately cleaning each cleaning target.
The compressed air is supplied from the compressed 25 air introducing port 73 to the second blow-out port 72 through the distribution flow path 100. The supply path of the compressed air will be described later.
Next, a description will be briefly made on the distribution flow path 100 with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. 30
The distribution flow path 100 is a flow path adapted
27
to guide the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing port 73 to the first blow-out port 71 and the second blow-out port 72. The distribution flow path 100 includes an introducing path 93, a first flow path 91, a second flow path 92, and an intermediate path 94. 5
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the introducing path 93, the first flow path 91, at least a part of the second flow path 92, and the intermediate path 94 of the distribution flow path 100 are formed in the flow path member 90, which is a metal member partially accommodated in the second 10 casing 67. The flow path member 90 is formed in a flat plate shape having a recess 90a. When the flow path member 90 is partially accommodated in the second casing 67, the back wall 90b of the recess 90a constitutes a part of the back wall 6b of the slot 6a (a part of the back wall 67b of the 15 slot 67a). When the flow path member 90 is partially accommodated in the second casing 67, the back wall 90b of the recess 90a and a surface (rear surface) on a side opposite to the recess 90a of the flow path member 90 are exposed without being covered by the second casing 67. The 20 compressed air introducing port 73 and the second blow-out port 72 are formed at portions where the flow path member 90 is exposed.
In the following description, “upstream in an air flowing direction (upstream in a fluid flowing direction)” 25 and “downstream in an air flowing direction (downstream in a fluid flowing direction)” respectively mean upstream and downstream of the flow path in the direction in which the compressed air (fluid) flows.
The introducing path 93 is a linear flow path having 30 one end provided with the compressed air introducing port
28
73. The introducing path 93 is formed to extend perpendicular to the rear surface (specifically, rear surface of the flow path member 90) from the rear surface side of the yarn monitoring device 6. The other end of the introducing path 93 is connected to the intermediate path 5 94.
The first flow path 91 is a flow path having one end provided with the first blow-out port 71. The first flow path 91 is bent over plural times on the way. The first flow path 91 is formed over a plurality of members 10 (specifically, flow path member 90, first casing 66, and second casing 67). Specifically, the flow path from the end connected to the intermediate path 94 to the middle of the first flow path 91 is formed in the flow path member 90. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the flow path 15 from the middle to the first blow-out port 71 is formed in the second casing 67. At a portion proximate to the first blow-out port 71, a part on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the flow path is formed in the first casing 66, and the remaining portion (a part on the upstream 20 in the yarn travelling direction) is formed in the second casing 67. The first blow-out port 71 is formed to cross the first casing 66 and the second casing 67. The portion formed in the flow path member 90 in the first flow path 91 is formed from a surface (bottom surface) on one side 25 in a thickness direction of the flow path member 90 so as to extend perpendicular to the bottom surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The first blow-out port 71 is formed at one end of the first flow path 91, as described above, and the other end of the first flow path 91 is 30 connected to the intermediate path 94.
29
The second flow path 92 is a linear flow path having one end provided with the second blow-out port 72. The second flow path 92 of the present embodiment is formed to extend perpendicular to the back wall 90b from the back wall 67b of the slot 67a (more specifically, back wall 90b of 5 the recess 90a of the flow path member 90). The other end of the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94. In the present embodiment, the second flow path 92 is entirely formed in the flow path member 90.
The intermediate path 94 is a linear flow path, where 10 an end of the introducing path 93, an end of the second flow path 92, and an end of the first flow path 91 are each connected to different positions in this order toward the downstream in the air flowing direction. The intermediate path 94 extends in a direction different from any of the 15 direction in which the introducing path 93 extends, the direction in which the second flow path 92 extends, and the direction in which the first flow path 91 extends. In the present embodiment, the intermediate path 94 extends in a direction perpendicular to all of the direction in which 20 the introducing path 93 extends, the direction in which the second flow path 92 extends, and the direction in which the first flow path 91 extends. Thus, in the intermediate path 94, the end where the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is located downstream in the air 25 flowing direction with respect to the end where the introducing path 93 is connected to the intermediate path 94. In other words, the position where the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is offset toward the downstream in the air flowing direction with respect 30 to the position where the introducing path 93 is connected
30
to the intermediate path 94.
According to the distribution flow path 100 configured as above, the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing port 73 to the yarn monitoring device 6 (second casing 67) is distributed to the first flow 5 path 91 and the second flow path 92, and blown out from the respective blow-out ports (first blow-out port 71 and second blow-out port 72).
The position where the end of the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is offset toward 10 the downstream in the air flowing direction with respect to the position where the end of the introducing path 93 is connected to the intermediate path 94. Therefore, the compressed air introduced from the introducing path 93 can be prevented from being significantly deviated and flowing 15 to the second flow path 92. A diameter (diameter of the end of the second flow path 92) D2 of a circular opening where the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is formed to be smaller than a diameter (diameter of the end of the introducing path 93) D3 of a 20 circular opening where the introducing path 93 is connected to the intermediate path 94 (D2  D3). Therefore, the compressed air with weakened force is blown from the second blow-out port 72 against the blade edge 81a of the cutting device 16. Thus, cleaning can be carried out at pinpoint 25 focusing on the location where the fiber waste of the cutting device 16 easily gets caught using a small amount of compressed air, so that wasteful consumption of the compressed air can be reduced.
As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a diameter (diameter 30 of the end of the first flow path 91) D1 of a circular opening
31
where the first flow path 91 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is formed to be greater than a diameter (diameter of the end of the second flow path 92) D2 of a circular opening where the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 (D1  D2). Thus, the flow amount 5 of the compressed air flowing to the second flow path 92 can be made less than the flow amount of the compressed air flowing to the first flow path 91. As a result, in the present embodiment, a small amount of compressed air is supplied to the second blow-out port 72 for the cutting 10 device 16 that can be sufficiently cleaned by simply blowing the compressed air to the blade edge 81a at pinpoint, whereas a relatively large amount of compressed air can be supplied to the first blow-out port 71 so as to blow the compressed air with great force over a wide range (i.e., 15 over a wide width of the slot 6a) for the upstream yarn guide 64 and the detecting section 70. The flow amount of the compressed air to be supplied can be adjusted according to each cleaning target, and the cleaning can be efficiently carried out. 20
In the distribution flow path 100 having such a configuration, the diameter, the shape, the cross-sectional area, and the like of the flow path and the opening are appropriately set so that the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing port 73 can 25 be appropriately distributed to the compressed air to be blown out from the first blow-out port 71 and the compressed air to be blown out from the second blow-out port 72. The compressed air thus can be appropriately blown out for cleaning according to the cleaning target. 30
As described above, the yarn monitoring device 6 of
32
the present embodiment includes the detecting section 70 and the upstream yarn guide 64 serving as the upstream yarn path regulating member. The detecting section 70 detects the state of the yarn 21 in the yarn travelling space 68, through which the yarn 21 travels. The upstream yarn guide 5 64 is arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section 70, and is adapted to regulate the yarn path, which is the travelling position of the yarn 21 in the yarn travelling space 68. The yarn monitoring device 6 is provided with the first blow-out port 71 adapted to 10 blow the compressed air serving as fluid against the region including at least the upstream yarn guide 64. The first blow-out port 71 includes a portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64. 15
Thus, as the first blow-out port 71 includes the portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64, the flow of compressed air is formed in proximity to the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 20 64. The compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 thereby smoothly reaches the portion proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64. Therefore, the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64 can be efficiently blown away by the compressed air blown out from the first 25 blow-out port 71. As a result, the fiber waste of the upstream yarn guide 64 can be prevented from entering the detection region, in particular, in the yarn travelling space 68 with the yarn 21, and remaining in the detection region. 30
In the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present
33
embodiment, the downstream in the travelling direction of the yarn 21 coincides with a vertically upper side.
Thus, even if the fiber waste is deposited on the upper side (i.e., downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the upstream yarn guide 64 by its own weight, such fiber 5 waste can be blown away and removed by the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71. The fiber waste deposited on the upstream yarn guide 64 can be prevented from entering the detection region with the yarn, and remaining in the detection region. 10
In the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment, the first blow-out port 71 is formed in an elongate shape in the yarn travelling direction.
The compressed air thus can be strongly blown out from the first blow-out port 71 across a relatively wide range 15 along the yarn travelling direction, so that the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64 can be satisfactorily blown away.
The yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment further includes the downstream yarn guide 65. 20 The downstream yarn guide 65 is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section 70, and is adapted to regulate the travelling position (yarn path) of the yarn 21 in the yarn travelling space 68. As illustrated in FIG. 7, part of the blow-out direction (part 25 of the first blow-out direction) of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 is inclined with respect to the yarn path defined by the upstream yarn guide 64 and the downstream yarn guide 65 so as to approach toward the downstream in the yarn travelling direction with increasing 30 distance from the first blow-out port 71.
34
Thus, the fiber waste is blown away so as to move away toward the downstream of the yarn path from the area proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64, whereby the once blown-away fiber waste can be prevented from returning to the yarn travelling space 68 with the travelling yarn 21. 5
In the yarn monitoring device 6 described above, part of the blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 is formed to be in a direction directed toward the detecting section 70.
Thus, not only the area proximate to the upstream yarn 10 guide 64, but also the detecting section 70 (incident surface and exit surface of the light thereof) can be simultaneously cleaned by the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71.
The yarn monitoring device 6 of the present 15 embodiment also has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn travelling space 68 is formed with the three sides surrounded by the pair of side walls 6c, 6d and the back wall 6b. The blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 20 toward the detecting section 70 is formed to be in a direction in which the blown-out compressed air enters the yarn travelling space 68 from the opened side of the yarn travelling space 68 (space formed by the slot 6a), and is blown against one side wall 6d of the pair of side walls 25 6c, 6d.
The compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 toward the detecting section 70 thus enters the yarn travelling space 68 from the opened side and is blown against one side wall 6d of the pair of side walls 6c, 6d, 30 whereby the flow of compressed air that whirls in the yarn
35
travelling space 68 is generated and hence the compressed air is also blown against the back wall 6b and the other side wall 6c. The interior of the travelling space thus can be cleaned over a wide region.
In the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present 5 embodiment, the detecting section 70 includes the first sensor section 51 with the light emitting element 37 serving as the light projecting section adapted to radiate light toward the yarn 21, and the light receiving element 38 adapted to receive the light radiated from the light 10 emitting element 37. When seen in the direction along the yarn travelling direction, the blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 toward the detecting section 70 is formed to be in a direction directed toward a position avoiding both the 15 surface (exit surface described above), from which the light from the light emitting element 37 exits, and the surface (incident surface), to which the light toward the light receiving element 38 enters, in the side walls 6c, 6d. 20
In other words, if the exit surface of the light from the light emitting element 37 and the incident surface of the light toward the light receiving element 38 get dirty, this may affect the detection result of the detecting section 70 (first sensor section 51). With regard to this, 25 in the present configuration, the compressed air is blown out toward the position avoiding both the exit surface of the light from the light emitting element 37 and the incident surface of the light toward the light receiving element 38 in the side walls 6c, 6d, so that even if the 30 compressed air is dirty, the detection performance of the
36
detecting section 70 (first sensor section 51) can be maintained high.
In the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment, the detecting section 70 further includes the second sensor section 52 arranged downstream in the yarn 5 travelling direction of the first sensor section 51. The end on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the first blow-out port 71 is located upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the second sensor section 52.
Thus, the compressed air blown out from the first 10 blow-out port 71 does not flow in excess toward the second sensor section 52, whereby the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 can be intensively blown against the region including the upstream yarn guide 64, and such a region can be efficiently cleaned in a concentrated 15 manner.
The yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment further includes the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 and the second blow-out port 72. The blade 81 of the cutting device 16 is arranged upstream in the yarn 20 travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64, and is adapted to cut the yarn 21 travelling through the yarn travelling space 68. The second blow-out port 72 is provided to blow the compressed air toward the blade 81 of the cutting device 16. The second blow-out port 72 is 25 formed upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn guide 64.
The blade 81 of the cutting device 16 is thus cleaned by the compressed air blown out not from the first blow-out port 71 but from the second blow-out port 72, and hence the 30 first blow-out port 71 can be considered as a dedicated
37
blow-out port for removing the fiber waste associated with the detection performance of the first sensor section 51. Therefore, the first blow-out port 71 can be arranged at a position suitable for blowing away the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64, and the shape of 5 the first blow-out port 71 can be formed in a shape suitable for blowing away the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn guide 64. Therefore, each location can be appropriately cleaned by the compressed air blown out from the individual blow-out port. 10
In the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment, the yarn travelling space 68 is formed with the three sides surrounded by the pair of side walls 6c, 6d and the back wall 6b of the slot 6a. The blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the second blow-out 15 port 72 is formed to be in a direction directed toward the opened side of the yarn travelling space 68.
The fluid is thus blown out from the second blow-out port 72, whereby the fiber waste in the yarn travelling space 68 can be blown away to the outside of the yarn 20 travelling space 68.
Furthermore, the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment includes the downstream yarn guide 65. The downstream yarn guide 65 is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section 70, and 25 is adapted to regulate the position (yarn path) where the yarn 21 travels in the yarn travelling space 68. The blade 81 of the cutting device 16 is arranged at a position displaced from the yarn path defined by the upstream yarn guide 64 and the downstream yarn guide 65 when seen in a 30 direction perpendicular to the back wall 6b, and the
38
blow-out direction of the compressed air blown out from the second blow-out port 72 is formed to be in a direction directed toward the blade edge 81a of the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 in the standby state without passing through the yarn path. 5
The compressed air blown out from the second blow-out port 72 thus can be appropriately blown to the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 in the standby state in which the yarn 21 is not cut, to clean the blade 81. Furthermore, there is obtained an advantage that the yarn 21 is not swung even 10 if the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port 72 is blown against the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 during the travelling of the yarn.
The yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment further includes the compressed air introducing 15 port 73 and the distribution flow path 100. The compressed air is introduced to the compressed air introducing port 73. The distribution flow path 100 guides the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing port 73 to the first blow-out port 71 and the second blow-out port 20 72. The distribution flow path 100 includes the introducing path 93, the first flow path 91, the second flow path 92, and the intermediate path 94. The compressed air introducing port 73 is formed at one end of the introducing path 93. The first blow-out port 71 is formed at one end 25 of the first flow path 91. The second blow-out port 72 is formed at one end of the second flow path 92. The other end of the introducing path 93, the other end of the first flow path 91, and the other end of the second flow path 92 are each connected to the intermediate path 94 at different 30 positions in the air flowing direction (fluid flowing
39
direction) of the intermediate path 94. The intermediate path 94 extends in a direction different from any of the direction in which the introducing path 93 extends, the direction in which the first flow path 91 extends, and the direction in which the second flow path 92 extends. At the 5 intermediate path 94, the end (the other end) where the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is located downstream in the air flowing direction with respect to the end (the other end) where the introducing path 93 is connected to the intermediate path 94. 10
Thus, the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing port 73 can be appropriately distributed to the compressed air to be blown out from the first blow-out port 71 and the compressed air to be blown out from the second blow-out port 72 by appropriately 15 setting the diameter, the cross-sectional area, and the like of the first blow-out port 71, the second blow-out port 72, and each flow path. Thus, adjustment is made such that each of the flow amount of the compressed air blown out from the first blow-out port 71 toward the upstream yarn guide 20 64 and the detecting section 70 (first sensor section 51) and the flow amount of the compressed air blown out from the second blow-out port 72 toward the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 becomes an appropriate flow amount, whereby all locations can be suitably cleaned. 25
Furthermore, in the yarn monitoring device 6 of the present embodiment, the diameter D1 of the opening (the other end) where the first flow path 91 is connected to the intermediate path 94 is greater than the diameter D2 of the opening (the other end) where the second flow path 92 is 30 connected to the intermediate path 94 (D1  D2). In other
40
words, the opening of the first flow path 91 is greater than the opening of the second flow path 92.
The flow amount of the compressed air flowing to the first flow path 91 thus can be made greater than the flow amount of the compressed air flowing to the second flow path 5 92, and furthermore, the amount of compressed air to be blown toward the region including the upstream yarn guide 64 can be made greater than the amount of compressed air to be blown toward the blade 81 of the cutting device 16. Thus, a great amount of compressed air is supplied to the 10 first blow-out port 71 for the region including the upstream yarn guide 64 where compressed air is desirably blown over a wider region, whereas a small amount of compressed air is supplied to the second blow-out port 72 for the blade 81 of the cutting device 16 where the compressed air is 15 desirably blown at pinpoint, so that the cleaning target can be efficiently cleaned without wastefully consuming the compressed air.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the above-described 20 configuration may be modified as below.
In the above-described embodiment, the first blow-out direction is a direction in which the compressed air is diagonally blown toward one side wall 69d from the opened side of the slot 67a, 69a, but the present invention 25 is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the first blow-out direction may be a direction in which the compressed air is diagonally blown toward the other side wall 69c from the opened side of the slot 67a, 69a.
In the above-described embodiment, the compressed 30 air is blown out from the first blow-out port 71 and the
41
second blow-out port 72, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and gas (fluid) other than air may be blown out. For example, gas containing a small amount of liquid may be blown out.
The shape and size of the first blow-out port 71 and 5 the second blow-out port 72 are not limited to the above, and may be appropriately changed. For example, the shape of the first blow-out port 71 is preferably a shape in which at least a part of the blown-out fluid smoothly reaches an area in proximity to the upstream yarn guide 64, and for 10 example, may be shapes such as parallelogram, rectangle, ellipse, and trapezoid. The first blow-out port 71 may be assumed as a three dimensional blow-out port in which the guide surface 71a, the ceiling surface 71b, and the floor surface 71c are integrated. 15
Furthermore, the opening of the portion where each of the introducing path 93, the first flow path 91, and the second flow path 92 is connected to the intermediate path 94 may be formed in other shapes (e.g., polygon) instead of being formed in a circular shape as in the 20 above-described embodiment.
In the above-described embodiment, the first sensor section 51 is configured as an optical sensor including one light emitting element 37 on one side wall 6d, and one light receiving element 38 on the other side wall 6c. However, 25 the present invention is not limited thereto, and one or a plurality of light emitting elements and one or a plurality of light receiving elements may be provided. In other words, for example, one light emitting element and one light receiving element may be arranged on one side wall 30 6d, and the light receiving element corresponding to such
42
a light emitting element and the light emitting element corresponding to such a light receiving element may be arranged on the other side wall 6c. The number of light receiving elements corresponding to one light emitting element is not limited to one, and a plurality of light 5 receiving elements may be arranged with respect to one light emitting element.
In the above-described embodiment, the second sensor section 52 is configured as an optical sensor similar to the first sensor section 51. However, the present 10 invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and the second sensor section may be configured as a capacitance sensor, and may measure a capacitance between a pair of electrodes to detect the state of the yarn 21 travelling between the electrodes. The first sensor section may be 15 configured as the capacitance sensor, and the second sensor section may be configured as the optical sensor. Both the first sensor section and the second sensor section may be configured as capacitance sensors.
In the above-described embodiment, the yarn 20 monitoring device 6 monitors the intensity of light shielded by the yarn to detect the thickness of the yarn, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the yarn monitoring device 6 may monitor the intensity of the reflected light from the yarn 21 to detect 25 the presence/absence of foreign substances contained in the yarn 21.
In the above-described embodiment, description has been made using “first sensor section 51”, “first blow-out port 71”, and the like, but this is not intended to exclude 30 a case where only one detecting section or one blow-out port
43
is arranged. In other words, a configuration in which the second sensor section 52 is not arranged and only the first sensor section 51 is arranged for the detecting section may be adopted, and a configuration in which the second blow-out port 72 is not arranged and only the first blow-out port 5 71 is arranged for the blow-out port may be adopted.
In the above-described embodiment, the yarn 21 travels from the lower side toward the upper side. Alternatively, however, the yarn 21 may travel from the upper side toward the lower side. In this case, the yarn 10 monitoring device 6 illustrated in FIG. 4 and the like can be used by being turned upside down.
The yarn monitoring device described in the above-described embodiment is not limited to be used in the automatic winder, and for example, can be attached to and 15 used in other types of textile machines such as a spinning machine.
In the above-described embodiment, the compressed air flowing from the intermediate path 94 to the second flow path 92 flows along a path perpendicular to the intermediate 20 path 94 in the flow path member 90, but the compressed air flows along a path in a direction inclined to a diagonal direction with respect to the intermediate path 94 at the downstream of the flow path member 90. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the compressed air 25 may also flow along a path perpendicular to the intermediate path 94 at the downstream of the flow path member 90. One example is illustrated in FIG. 12.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a yarn monitoring device having the following configuration 30 is provided. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device
44
includes a detecting section and an upstream yarn path regulating member. The detecting section is adapted to detect a state of a yarn in a yarn travelling space, through which the yarn travels. The upstream yarn path regulating member is arranged upstream in a yarn travelling direction 5 of the detecting section, and is adapted to regulate a yarn path, which is a travelling position of the yarn in the yarn travelling space. The yarn monitoring device is provided with a first blow-out port adapted to blow fluid to a region including at least the upstream yarn path regulating member. 10 The first blow-out port includes a portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member.
Thus, as the first blow-out port includes the portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the 15 upstream yarn path regulating member, a flow of fluid is formed in proximity to the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member. The fluid blown out from the first blow-out port thereby smoothly reaches the portion proximate to the upstream yarn 20 path regulating member. Therefore, the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn path regulating member can be efficiently blown away by the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port. As a result, the fiber waste in proximity to the upstream yarn path regulating member can 25 be prevented from entering a detection region, in particular, in the yarn travelling space with the travelling yarn, and remaining in the detection region.
In embodiments of the above-described yarn monitoring device, the downstream in the yarn travelling 30 direction coincides with a vertically upper side. The
45
vertically upper side herein is not limited to only a complete vertically upper side, and also tolerates a direction inclined with a slight angle with respect to the vertical direction. In other words, the downstream in the yarn travelling direction merely needs to have at least a 5 vertically upward component.
Thus, even if the fiber waste is deposited on the upper side (i.e., downstream in the yarn travelling direction) of the upstream yarn path regulating member by its own weight, such fiber waste can be blown away and removed by 10 the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port. The fiber waste deposited on the upstream yarn path regulating member can be prevented from entering the detection region with the yarn, and remaining in the detection region.
In embodiments of the above-described yarn 15 monitoring device, the first blow-out port is formed in an elongate shape in the yarn travelling direction.
The fluid thus can be strongly blown out from the first blow-out port across a relatively wide range along the yarn travelling direction, so that the fiber waste proximate to 20 the upstream yarn path regulating member can be satisfactorily blown away.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device preferably has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device further includes 25 a downstream yarn path regulating member. The downstream yarn path regulating member is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section, and is adapted to regulate the yarn path. Part of the blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out 30 port is inclined with respect to the yarn path defined by
46
the upstream yarn path regulating member and the downstream yarn path regulating member so as to approach toward the downstream in the yarn travelling direction with increasing distance from the first blow-out port.
Thus, the fiber waste is blown away so as to move away 5 from the area proximate to the upstream yarn path regulating member toward the downstream of the yarn path, whereby the once blown-away fiber waste can be prevented from returning to the yarn travelling space with the travelling yarn.
In embodiments of the above-described yarn 10 monitoring device, part of the blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port is formed to be in a direction directed toward the detecting section.
Thus, not only the area proximate to the upstream yarn path regulating member, but also the detecting section can 15 be simultaneously cleaned by the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn travelling space is formed with three sides surrounded 20 by a pair of side walls and a back wall. A blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port toward the detecting section is formed to be in a direction in which the blown-out fluid enters the yarn travelling space from an opened side of the yarn travelling 25 space, and is blown against one of the pair of side walls.
The fluid blown out from the first blow-out port toward the detecting section thus enters the yarn travelling space from the opened side and is blown against one of the pair of side walls, whereby the flow of fluid 30 that whirls in the yarn travelling space is generated and
47
hence the fluid is also blown against the back wall and the other side wall. The interior of the travelling space thus can be cleaned over a wide region.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device preferably has the following configuration. 5 Specifically, the detecting section includes a first sensor section having a light projecting section adapted to radiate light toward the yarn, and a light receiving section adapted to receive the light radiated from the light projecting section. When seen in a direction along the yarn 10 travelling direction, the blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port toward the detecting section is formed to be in a direction directed toward a position avoiding both an exit surface of the light of the light projecting section and an incident surface of the 15 light of the light receiving section in the side walls.
In other words, if the exit surface of the light of the light projecting section and the incident surface of the light of the light receiving section get dirty, this may affect the detection result of the detecting section. 20 With regard to this, in the present configuration, the fluid is blown out toward the position avoiding both the exit surface of the light of the light projecting section and the incident surface of the light of the light receiving section in the side walls, so that even if the fluid is dirty, 25 the detection performance of the first sensor section can be maintained high.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device has the following configuration. Specifically, the detecting section further includes a second sensor section 30 arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the
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first sensor section. An end on the downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the first blow-out port is located upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the second sensor section.
Thus, the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port 5 does not flow in excess toward the second sensor section, whereby the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port can be intensively blown against the region including the upstream yarn path regulating member, and such a region can be efficiently cleaned in a concentrated manner. 10
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device preferably has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device further includes a cutting section and a second blow-out port. The cutting section is arranged upstream in the yarn travelling 15 direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member, and is adapted to cut the yarn travelling through the yarn travelling space. The second blow-out port is provided to blow the fluid toward the cutting section. The second blow-out port is formed upstream in the yarn travelling 20 direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member.
The cutting section is thus cleaned by the fluid blown out not from the first blow-out port but from the second blow-out port, and hence the first blow-out port can be considered as a dedicated fluid blow-out port for removing 25 the fiber waste associated with the detection performance of the first sensor section. Therefore, the first blow-out port can be arranged at a position suitable for blowing away the fiber waste proximate to the upstream yarn path regulating member, and the shape of the first blow-out port 30 can be formed in a shape suitable for blowing away the fiber
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waste proximate to the upstream yarn path regulating member. Therefore, each location can be appropriately cleaned by the fluid blown out from the individual blow-out port.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device has the following configuration. Specifically, the 5 yarn travelling space is formed with the three sides surrounded by a pair of side walls and a back wall. The blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port is formed to be in a direction directed toward the opened side of the yarn travelling space. 10
The fluid is thus blown out from the second blow-out port, whereby the fiber waste inside the yarn travelling space can be blown away to the outside of the yarn travelling space.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring 15 device has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device includes a downstream yarn path regulating member. The downstream yarn path regulating member is arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section, and is adapted to 20 regulate the yarn path. In a standby state in which the yarn is not cut, the cutting section is arranged at a position displaced from the yarn path defined by the upstream yarn path regulating member and the downstream yarn path regulating member when seen in a direction 25 perpendicular to the back wall, and the blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port is formed to be in a direction directed toward the cutting section in the standby state without passing through the yarn path. 30
The cutting section in the standby state in which the
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yarn is not cut can be cleaned by appropriately blowing the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port. Furthermore, there is obtained an advantage that the yarn is not swung even if the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port is blown against the cutting section during the travelling 5 of the yarn.
In embodiments, the above-described yarn monitoring device has the following configuration. Specifically, the yarn monitoring device further includes a fluid introducing port and a fluid flow path. The fluid is introduced to the 10 fluid introducing port. The fluid flow path guides the fluid introduced from the fluid introducing port to the first blow-out port and the second blow-out port. The fluid flow path includes an introducing path, a first flow path, a second flow path, and an intermediate path. The fluid 15 introducing port is formed at one end of the introducing path. The first blow-out port is formed at one end of the first flow path. The second blow-out port is formed at one end of the second flow path. The other end of the introducing path, the other end of the first flow path, and 20 the other end of the second flow path are connected to the intermediate path at different positions. The intermediate path extends in a direction different from any of a direction in which the introducing path extends, a direction in which the first flow path extends, and a 25 direction in which the second flow path extends. In the intermediate path, the other end of the second flow path is located downstream in the fluid flowing direction with respect to the other end of the introducing path.
Thus, by appropriately setting the diameter, the 30 cross-sectional area, and the like of the first blow-out
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port, the second blow-out port, and each flow path, the fluid introduced from the fluid introducing port can be appropriately distributed to the fluid to be blown out from the first blow-out port and the fluid to be blown out from the second blow-out port. Thus, adjustment is made such 5 that each of the flow amount of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port toward the upstream yarn path regulating member and the detecting section and the flow amount of the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port toward the cutting section becomes an appropriate flow 10 amount, whereby all locations can be suitably cleaned.
In embodiments of the above-described yarn monitoring device, an opening where the first flow path is connected to the intermediate path is greater than an opening where the second flow path is connected to the 15 intermediate path.
The flow amount of the fluid flowing to the first flow path thus can be made greater than the flow amount of the fluid flowing to the second flow path, and furthermore, the amount of fluid to be blown toward a region including the 20 upstream yarn path regulating member can be made greater than the amount of fluid to be blown toward the cutting section. Thus, a great amount of fluid is supplied to the region including the upstream yarn path regulating member where fluid is desirably blown over a wider region, whereas 25 a small amount of fluid is supplied to the cutting section where the fluid is desirably blown at pinpoint, so that the cleaning target can be efficiently cleaned without wastefully consuming the fluid.

We claim:
1. A yarn monitoring device (6) characterized by comprising:
a detecting section (70) adapted to detect a state 5 of a yarn (21) in a yarn travelling space (68), through which the yarn (21) travels; and
an upstream yarn path regulating member (64) arranged upstream in a yarn travelling direction of the detecting section (70) and adapted to regulate a yarn path, which is 10 a travelling position of the yarn (21) in the yarn travelling space (68),
wherein the yarn monitoring device (6) is provided with a first blow-out port (71) adapted to blow fluid to a region including at least the upstream yarn path 15 regulating member (64), and
the first blow-out port (71) includes a portion arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn path regulating member (64).
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2. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the downstream in the yarn travelling direction coincides with a vertically upper side.
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3. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first blow-out port (71) is formed in an elongate shape in the yarn travelling direction.
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4. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to any
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one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by further comprising
a downstream yarn path regulating member (65) arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section (70) and adapted to regulate the yarn path, 5
wherein part of a blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port (71) is inclined with respect to the yarn path defined by the upstream yarn path regulating member (64) and the downstream yarn path regulating member (65) so as to approach toward the 10 downstream in the yarn travelling direction with increasing distance from the first blow-out port (71).
5. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that part of the 15 blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port (71) is formed to be in a direction directed toward the detecting section (70).
6. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 20 5, characterized in that
the yarn travelling space (68) is formed with three sides surrounded by a pair of side walls (6c, 6d) and a back wall (6b); and
a blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the 25 first blow-out port (71) toward the detecting section (70) is formed to be in a direction in which a blown-out fluid enters the yarn travelling space (68) from an opened side of the yarn travelling space (68) and is blown against one of the pair of side walls (6c, 6d). 30
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7. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 6, characterized in that
the detecting section (70) includes a first sensor section (51) having a light projecting section (37) adapted to radiate light toward the yarn (21) and a light receiving 5 section (38) adapted to receive the light radiated from the light projecting section (37), and
when seen in a direction along the yarn travelling direction, the blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the first blow-out port (71) toward the detecting 10 section (70) is formed to be in a direction directed toward a position avoiding both an exit surface of the light of the light projecting section (37) and an incident surface of the light of the light receiving section (38) in the side walls (6c, 6d). 15
8. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 7, characterized in that
the detecting section (70) further includes a second sensor section (52) arranged downstream in the yarn 20 travelling direction of the first sensor section (51); and
an end downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the first blow-out port (71) is located upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the second sensor section (52). 25
9. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by further comprising:
a cutting section (81) arranged upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream yarn path regulating 30 member (64) and adapted to cut a yarn travelling through
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the yarn travelling space (68); and
a second blow-out port (72) adapted to blow fluid toward the cutting section (81),
wherein the second blow-out port (72) is formed upstream in the yarn travelling direction of the upstream 5 yarn path regulating member (64).
10. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 9, characterized in that
the yarn travelling space (68) is formed with three 10 sides surrounded by a pair of side walls (6c, 6d) and a back wall (6b);
the second blow-out port (72) is formed in the back wall (6b); and
a blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the 15 second blow-out port (72) is formed to be in a direction directed toward an opened side of the yarn travelling space (68).
11. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to 20 claim 10, characterized by further comprising
a downstream yarn path regulating member (65) arranged downstream in the yarn travelling direction of the detecting section (70) and adapted to regulate the yarn path, 25
wherein, in a standby state in which the yarn (21) is not cut, the cutting section (81) is arranged at a position displaced from a yarn path defined by the upstream yarn path regulating member (64) and the downstream yarn path regulating member (65) when seen in a direction 30 perpendicular to the back wall (6b), and
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a blow-out direction of the fluid blown out from the second blow-out port (72) is formed to be in a direction directed toward the cutting section (81) without passing the yarn path.
5
12. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by further comprising:
a fluid introducing port (73) through which fluid is introduced; and
a fluid flow path (100) adapted to guide the fluid 10 introduced from the fluid introducing port (73) to the first blow-out port (71) and the second blow-out port (72),
wherein the fluid flow path (100) includes:
an introducing path (93) having one end provided with the fluid introducing port (73), 15
a first flow path (91) having one end provided with the first blow-out port (71),
a second flow path (92) having one end provided with the second blow-out port (72), and
an intermediate path (94) having the other end of the 20 introducing path (93), the other end of the first flow path (91), and the other end of the second flow path (92) connected at different positions, and extending in a direction different from any of a direction in which the introducing path (93) extends, a direction in which the 25 first flow path (91) extends, and a direction in which the second flow path (92) extends, and
in the intermediate path (94), the other end of the second flow path (92) is located downstream in a fluid flowing direction with respect to the other end of the 30 introducing path (93).
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13. The yarn monitoring device (6) according to claim 12, characterized in that an opening where the first flow path (91) is connected to the intermediate path (94) is greater than an opening where the second flow path (92) 5 is connected to the intermediate path (94).