DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
YARN WINDER
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a yarn winder (yarn
winding device) which winds spun yarn unwound from a yarn
supplying bobbin so as to form a package.
Background Art
[0002]
A yarn produced by using a spinning machine or the
like is wound onto a yarn supplying bobbin and transported
to a yarn winder. The yarn winder joints, by using a
predetermined yarn jointing device, yarns of a plurality
of transported yarn supplying bobbins with one another, so
as to form a package with a predetermined length. A known
yarn winder having such a yarn jointing device is
typically arranged to include a suction arm which catches
the yarn end on the winding bobbin side and guides the
yarn to the yarn jointing device and a relay pipe which
catches the yarn end on the yarn supplying bobbin side and
guides the yarn to the yarn jointing device.
[0003]
When yarn breakage, yarn cutting or the like occurs
in this yarn winder during a winding operation, the upper
yarn is wound onto the winding bobbin rotating by inertia
whereas the lower yarn is retained by a suitable trapping
means. Then a yarn jointing operation is carried out as
below. That is, the winding bobbin having stopped the
rotation is reverse-rotated, the yarn end of the upper
yarn to be unwound is sucked and caught by the leading end
of the suction arm, and this yarn is guided to the yarn
jointing device. Almost at the same time, the yarn end of
the lower yarn retained by the trapping means is sucked
and caught by the leading end of the relay pipe, with the
result that the lower yarn is unwound from the yarn
supplying bobbin and guided to the yarn jointing device.
Thereafter, the yarn ends of the upper yarn and the lower
yarn are jointed with each other by the yarn jointing
device, and the winding operation starts.
[0004]
On the other hand, when the yarn of the yarn
supplying bobbin is completely wound onto the winding
bobbin and a new yarn supplying bobbin is supplied, the
winding bobbin having stopped the rotation is reverse-
rotated, the yarn end of the upper yarn to be unwound is
sucked and caught by the leading end of the suction arm,
and the yarn is guided to the yarn jointing device.
Almost at the same time, the yarn end of the yarn (lower
yarn) on . the new yarn supplying bobbin is blown up by an
airflow and is sucked and caught by the leading end of the
relay pipe, and then the lower yarn is unwound and guided
to the yarn jointing device. Thereafter, the yarn ends of
the upper yarn and the lower yarn are jointed with each
other by the yarn jointing device, and the winding
operation is resumed.
[0005]
It is noted that the winding bobbin is stopped as
above by a lift-up mechanism and a package braking
mechanism of the yarn winder. The lift-up mechanism moves
up a cradle so as to move the winding bobbin away from a
winding driving unit. The package braking mechanism stops
the rotation of the winding bobbin supported by the
cradle, at the same time as the cradle is moved up by the
lift-up mechanism. The rotation of the winding bobbin is
stopped in this way, and the winding operation is
discontinued.
[0006]
In the meantime, even though an object is different
from the yarn winder above, a winder for generating a
single package from packages of a plurality of colors is
recited in Patent Literature 1. The winder recited in
Patent Literature 1 is arranged so that a wound yarn
package is formed by serially winding different types or
colors of yarns while measuring a predetermined length in
each yarn in the longitudinal direction of the yarns.
More specifically, the winder selects, by a selection
device, at least one yarn from packages of different
colors or of different yarn types, joints yarns by the
yarn jointing device, and continuously forms a package by
a yarn storage device which measures and stores the yarns
at the same time.
[0007]
In addition to the above, Patent Literature 2 recites
a yarn winding method and device that make it possible to
continue winding without interruption even at the time of
yarn breakage. The device recited in Patent Literature 2
is arranged so that a yarn unwound from a bobbin is
stored, and the winding is continued at the time of yarn
breakage by using the stored yarn until the yarn joinring
operation is completed.
Citation List
Patent Literatures
[0008]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2004-156186
'Patent Literature 2: Specification of U.S. Patent No.
3314621
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0009]
Increase in the winding speed for forming a package
has been demanded to improve the production efficiency.
Such increase in the winding speed, however, overtaxes the
running yarn, with the result that yarn breakage
frequently occurs. At the time of yarn breakage, it is
necessary to pull out the yarn from the package and joint
the same with the yarn on the yarn supplying bobbin side.
In this regard, when reverse-rotating the package and
catching the yarn on the package side in the yarn jointing
operation, the sucking force of the suction arm may pull
the surface of the package and disrupt the alignment of
the wound yarn. Furthermore, because the winding is
interrupted by the reverse rotation of the package in the
yarn jointing operation, simply increasing the winding
speed does not always result in the improvement in the
production efficiency. Furthermore, since a routine of
abruptly stopping the package rotating at a high speed and
regaining the same high rotation speed after the yarn
jointing operation is carried out each time the winding
operation is discontinued, the power consumption is high.
[0010]
In this regard, the wound yarn package of Patent
Literature 1 is arranged so that yarn winding without
interruption is achieved on account of a storage section
of the yarn. The winder of Patent Literature 1, however,
is arranged to form a package from a plurality of packages
formed by a yarn winder having a yarn defect removal
mechanism. The latter packages are the target of the
present invention, and hence the winder of Patent Document
1 does not have any mechanism of removing yarn defects.
For this reason, a yarn defect is wound from a yarn
supplying bobbin onto a package. Furthermore, the
structure of the yarn jointing device makes it difficult
to remove such a yarn defect.
[0011]
In the meanwhile, the yarn winding method and device
recited in Patent Literature 2 are arranged so that the
formation of a package is continued even if yarn breakage
occurs, thanks to a storage container for storing a yarn.
It is important in this yarn winding method and device to
efficiently remove a defect and joint yarns before the
yarn stored for continuing the formation of the package
runs out, when yarn breakage occurs cr defect removal is
needed. In .this regard, Patent Literature 2 does not
include any specific descriptions concerning ~he yarn
jointing and defect removal while continuing package
formation. Furthermore, since no mechanism for aligning
and storing a yarn is included, yarn entanglement may
occur.
[0012]
The present invention was done to solve the problems
above, and an object of the present invention is to
provide a yarn winder which can wind a yarn without
interruption from the start to the end of the formation of
a package.
Solution to Problem
[0013]
According to the first aspect of the invention, a
yarn winder includes: a yarn supplying portion for
unwinding a spun yarn from a yarn supplying bobbin; a yarn
winding section for winding the spun yarn to form a
package; a yarn storage section which is provided between
the yarn supplying portion and the yarn winding section to
store the spun yarn; and a yarn jointing section for
performing a yarn jointing operation of jointing a yarn
end of the spun yarn on the yarn supplying portion side
with a yarn end of the spun yarn on the yarn storage
section side, the yarn storage section including: a
rotational storage drum that rotates for winding and
storing the spun yarn unwound from the yarn supplying
bobbin; and a motor for rotating the rotational storage
drum in both directions.
[0014]
According-to this arrangement, since the yarn storage
section is provided between the yarn supplying portion and
the yarn winding section, it is possible to carry out the
yarn jointing while the yarn winding section winds the
spun yarn stored in the yarn storage section, and hence
the yarn winding operation is continuously done without
interruption.
[0015]
Furthermore, at the time of yarn jointing, the spun
yarn wound on the rotational storage drum is drawn out to
the yarn supplying portion side as the rotational storage
drum is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction
at the time of winding the yarn.
[0016]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of the first aspect further includes a
controller for controlling a winding operation of the
winding section and driving of the motor, the controller
having a control mode with which, in a normal winding
operation of unwinding the spun yarn from the yarn
supplying bobbin and forming a package, the winding
operation by the yarn winding section and a storing
operation of storing the yarn by rotating the rotational
storage drum in a winding direction by the motor are
executed, and when yarn jointing is carried out by the
yarn jointing section, a drawing operation of rotating the
rotational storage drum in a direction opposite to the
winding direction by the motor to draw out the spun yarn
to the yarn jointing section side is executed.
[0017]
According to this arrangement, when the yarn jointing
is performed by the yarn jointing section, the motor
drives the rotational storage drum in the direction
opposite to the winding direction so that the spun yarn is
drawn out to the yarn jointing section side. The yarn is
therefore certainly drawn out to the yarn jointing
section.
[0018]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of the second aspect is arranged so that, in
the control node, the controller simultaneously executes
the winding operation by the yarn winding section and the
drawing operation of drawing the spun yarn to the yarn
jointing section side by rotating the rotational storage
drum in the direction opposite to the winding direction by
the motor, when the yarn jointing section carries out the
yarn jointing.
[0019]
According to this arrangement, because the winding
operation by the yarn winding section and the drawing
operation of drawing the span yarn to the yarn jointing
section side by rotating the rotational storage drum in
the direction opposite to the winding direction by the
motor are simultaneously done, the winding operation and
the yarn jointing are simultaneously done.
[0020]
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of any one of the first to third aspects is
arranged so that the rotational storage drum is further
provided with a guide member for guiding the spun yarn
unwound from the yarn supplying portion.
[0021]
This arrangement makes it possible to easily adjust
at which position on the rotational storage drum the spun
yarn is wound, by the guide member.
[0022]
According to th fifth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of the fourth aspect is arranged so that the
rotational storage drum has a tapered portion at a part
where the spun yarn is guided by the guide member, the
tapered portion narrowing in diameter in a direction in
which the spun yarn moves to be stored, and the guide
member guides the spun yarn to the tapered portion so as
to store the spun yarn in. such a way that parts of the
spun yarn are aligned on the surface of the rotarional
storage drum in the order in which the parts are wound on
the surface.
[0023]
According to this arrangement, the spun yarn guided
to the tapered portion is wound onto the tapered portion
as the rotational storage drum rotates, and a yarn layer
wound first is pushed by a yarn layer wound second and
moves toward the yarn unwinding side along the inclined
surface of the tapered portion. Because the parts of the
spun yarn are serially stored on the rotational storage
drum with the arrangement above, the guide member is only
required to guide the spun yarn to a point on the tapered
portion. It is therefore possible to relatively easily
dispose the yarn guiding member irrespective of the
position and orientation of the rotational storage drum.
For this reason, the rotational storage drum can be
disposed with relatively high design freedom in
consideration of an unused space in the yarn winder.
Furthermore, since the layers of the spun yarn are stored
in an aligned manner, the interruption of the yarn winding
due to yarn entanglement on the yarn storage section does
not occur.
[0024]
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of the fifth aspect further includes yarn end
capturing means for capturing a ysrn end of the spun yarn
on the rotational storage drum when the yarn storage
section performs the yarn jointing operation.
[0025]
According to this arrangement, the spun yarn guided
to the tapered portion by the guide member moves from the
yarn unwinding side to the yarn winding side of the
rotational storage drum. That is to say, at the time of
yarn breakage, the occurrence of yarn defect, or changing
the yarn supplying bobbin, the yarn does not move from the
yarn winding side to the yarn unwinding side of the
rotational storage drum due to the inertia generated by
the movement from the guide member to the storage drum.
For this reason, the yarn end of the yarn is certainly
placed at around the tapered portion at the yarn winding
side of the rotational storage drum, with the result that
the yarn end capturing means certainly captures the yarn
end of the broken spun yarn.
[0026]
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, -he
yarn winder of the sixth aspect is arranged so that the
guide member is a pipe-shaped member, and the yarn end
capturing means generates, in an internal space of the
guide member, an airflow flowing from the rotational
storage drum side to the yarn supplying portion side.
[0027]
According to this arrangement, the generation of the
airflow in the internal space of the pipe-shaped guide
member by the yarn end capturing mean significantly lowers
the air pressure in the internal space, and this makes it
possible to powerfully suck the yarn end of the yarn and
hence the yarn end of the yarn is certainly captured.
[0028]
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder is arranged so that the yarn storage section
further includes: storage amount detecting means for
detecting an amount of the stored spun yarn; and rotation
speed controlling means for controlling rotation speed of
the motor, and the rotation speed controlling means
controls the rotation speed of the motor so that the spun
yarn is wound only onto a storage area of the rotational
storage drum which area is on the tapered portion side of
an intermediate position of the rotational storage drum,
in accordance with the amount of the spun yarn detected by
the storage amount detecting means.
[0029]
According to this arrangement, because the spun yarn
is not wound onto a part of the rotational storage drum
which part is on the yarn unwinding side of the
predetermined intermediate position (i.e., on the side
where the yarn is drawn out and unwound by the yarn
winding section) , the spun yarn wound onto the rotational
storage drum and running toward the yarn winding section
rotates and runs on that part of the surface of the
rotational storage drum, with the result that broken
filaments of the spun yarn are laid down.
[0030]
According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of any one of first to eighth aspects is
arranged so that the yarn storage section further
includes: resistance imparting means for imparting
resistance to the spun yarn such that the spun yarn is
sandwiched between the resistance imparting means and a
surface of the rotational storage drum which surface is at
an end portion from which the spun yarn is unwound by the
yarn winding section.
[0031]
According to this arrangement, a tension is imparted
to the spun yarn as the resistance imparting means imparts
resistance to the spun yarn, and this tension prevents the
yarn running from the yarn storage section toward zhe yarn
winding section from being bulged (i.e., prevents
ballooning from occurring). Furthermore, because the spun
yarn runs while being sandwiched between the resistance
imparting means and the rotational storage drum, the
broken filaments of the spun yarn are laid down.
[0032]
According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of the ninth aspect is arranged so that the
resistance imparting means rotates together with the
rotational storage drum.
[0033]
According to this arrangement, because the resistance
imparting means does not move with respect to the
rotational storage drum, it is possible to prevent the
resistance imparting means from being worn away by the
surface of the rotational storage drum.
[0034]
According to the eleventh aspect of the invention,
yarn winder of the tenth aspect is arranged so that the
resistance imparting means is a rubber-made annular
component attached to a yarn unwinding end portion of the
rotational storage drum.
[0035]
This arrangement simplifies the structure of the
resistance imparting means.
[0036]
According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the
yarn winder of any one of the second to eleventh aspects
is arranged so that the yarn storage section is arranged
to be able to store, when the control mode is executed,
the spun yarn for an amount required for continuing the
winding operation by the yarn winding section until the
yarn jointing is performed at least once by the yarn
jointing section.
[0037]
According to this arrangement, the winding operation
is continued until the yarn jointing is performed at least
once.
[0038]
According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention,
the yarn winder of any one of the first to twelfth aspects
is arranged so that the yarn supplying portion is provided
with a yarn unwinding assisting device which assists
unwinding of the spun yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin
by lowering a regulator which covers a core of the yarn
supplying bobbin in sync with the unwinding of the spun
yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin.
[0039]
According to this arrangement, since the transmission
of the tension of the yarn is blocked by providing the
yarn storage section between the yarn supplying bobbin and
the winding section, it is possible ro prevent a tension
change due to the traversal of the winding section from
being transferred to the unwinding tension part of the
yarn supplying bobbin Furthermore, since the yarn
unwinding from the yarn supplying bobbin is stably
performed because the unwinding assist unit is attached to
the yarn supplying bobbin, it is possible to prevent yarn
breakage and to increase the speed of unwinding from the
yarn supplying bobbin. The efficiency in the unwinding
from the yarn supplying bobbin is therefore improved.
Effects
[0040]
According to the present invention, since the yarn
storage section is provided between the yarn supplying
portion and the yarn winding section, it is possible to
carry out the yarn jointing while the yarn winding section
winds the yarn stored in the yarn storage section, and
hence the yarn winding operation is continuously done
without interruption.
[0041]
Furthermore, at the time of yarn jointing, the spun
yarn wound on the rotational storage drum is drawn out to
the yarn supplying portion side as the rotational storage
drum is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction
at the time of winding the yarn.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0042;
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a winding unit
according to an embodimerrt of the present invention
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the
accumulator of FIG. 1.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the
controller of FIG. 1.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 shows a control flow indicating the
operation of the yarn winder.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows a control flow indicating the
operation at the time of yarn breakage.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows a control flow indicating the
operation at the time of the occurrence of yarn defect.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows a control flow indicating the
operation at the time of bobbin change.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 relates to a modification of the
present invention and corresponds to FIG. 2.
Description of Embodiments
[0043]
The following will describe a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0044]
FIG. 1 schematically shows winding units constituting
an automatic winder of the present embodiment. The
automatic winder is constituted by a plurality of winding
units 2 (yarn winders) that are aligned in the crosswise
directions of the plane of FIG. 1. Each winding unit 2

a yarn defect detection section 7, a yarn jointing section
8, and a yarn storage section 9.
[0045]
The yarn supplying portion 5 includes a yarn
supplying bobbin supporter 60 that supports a yarn
supplying bobbin 21, a yarn unwinding assisting device 12,
and a first tensor 41. The yarn supplying portion 5 is
further provided with an unillustrated bobbin supplier
which supplies a new yarn supplying bobbin 21 to the yarn
supplying bobbin supporter 60. Examples of the bobbin
supplier include magazine-type suppliers and tray-type
suppliers. When a spun yarn Y (hereinafter, yarn Y) is
fully drawn out from a yarn supplying bobbin 21 set in the
winding unit 10, the yarn supplying portion 5 ejects an
empty bobbin supported by the yarn supplying bobbin
supporter 60, and the bobbin supplier supplies a new yarn
supplying bobbin 21 to the yarn supplying bobbin supporter
60 one by one.
[0C46]
The yarn unwinding assisting device 12 assists the
unwinding of the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin 21
by moving down a regulator 40 covering the core tube of
the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in sync with the unwinding of
the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The
regulator 40 contacts a balloon-formed at an upper-part of-
the yarn supplying bobbin 21 on account of the rotation of
the yarn Y unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and a
centrifugal force, so as to impart an appropriate tension
to the balloon and assist the unwinding of the yarn Y. In
an area below the regulator 40 is provided an
unillustrated sensor for detecting a chase section of the
yarn supplying bobbin 21. As the sensor detects that the
chase section is moving down, the regulator 40 is
accordingly moved down by, for example, an unillustrated
air cylinder.
[0047]
Around a yarn unwinding assisting device 12 is
provided a yarn detector 37 that can detect the existence
of a yarn Y. This yarn detector 37 is arranged to detect
that the yarn Y is no longer drawn out from the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 and to send an empty bobbin signal to
the controller.109.
[0048]
The first tensor 41 imparts a predetermined tension
to a running yarn Y. An example of this first tensor 41
is a gare-type tensor having fixed comb teeth and movable
comb teeth. The movable comb teeth are rotatable by an
unillustrated rotary solenoid so that the two sets of
teeth are engaged or disengaged. The first tensor 41
imparls .a. constant tension..to . .the yarn Y stored in the
later-described accumulator 61, and hence the yarn Y is
neatly wound and stored in the accumulator 61.
[0049]
The winding section 6 includes an unillustrated
cradle arranged to be able to retain the winding bobbin
22, a winding drum 24 which is used for allowing the yarn
Y to conduct traversal and for rotating the winding bobbin
22, and a second tensor 42. The cradle is arranged to be
able to swing in directions approaching and moving away
from the winding drum 24. This allows the package 30 to
contact or move away from the winding drum 24.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, on the outer
circumference of the winding drum 24 is formed a spiral
traversing groove 27 to cause the yarn Y to perform
traversal.
[0050]
The winding drum 24 rotates to drive the winding
bobbin 22 which is provided to oppose the winding drum 24.
This winding drum 24 is connected to the output shaft of a
winding drum motor 116 (see FIG. 3) . This winding drum
motor 116 is turned en or off by a drive signal supplied
from the controller 109.
[0051]
The second tensor 42 is provided for controlling the
tension of the yarn Y when the yarn Y unwound from the
later-described accumulator 61 of the yarn storage section
9 is wound onto the package. As a result, the yarn Y
drawn out from the accumulator 61 is wound onto the
winding bobbin 22 while a suitable tension is imparted
thereto. An example of the second tensor 42 is, as in the
case of the first tensor 41, a gate-type tensor having
fixed comb teeth and movable comb teeth.
[0052]
The yarn defect detection section 7 is provided with
a yarn clearer 15 that detects a yarn defect. The yarn
clearer 15 is arranged to detect a defect by monitoring
the thickness of the yarn Y by an appropriate sensor. As a
signal is supplied from the sensor of the yarn clearer 15,
yarn defects such as slags and foreign matters are
detected. In addition to this, the yarn clearer 15 is
able to function as a sensor merely detecting the
existence of the yarn Y. The yarn clearer 15 is provided
with a cutter for cutting, when a yarn defect is detected,
the yarn on the upstream of the yarn defect.
[G053]
In addition to the above, on the downstream of the
second tensor 42 is provided a waxing device 17 which
waxes on a running yarn Y. On the downstream of the
waxing device 17 is provided an unillustrated sucking
section..- This sucking .section is connected to a suitable
negative pressure source, and can suck and remove dregs of
wax and yarn.
[C054]
The yarn jointing section 8 includes a splicer 14
performing the yarn jointing operation, a lower yarn guide
pipe 25, and an upper yarn guide pipe 26.
[0055]
The splicer 14 joints the lower yarn on the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 side with the upper yarn on the
package 30 side, at the time of yarn breakage, the
occurrence of a yarn defect, or bobbin change. Examples
of the splicer 14 include a mechanical splicer and a
splicer using a fluid such as compressed air.
[C056]
The lower yarn guide pipe 25 is supported to be
rotatable about an axis 25a below the splicer 14, and is
rotated by a lower pipe motor 122 (see FIG. 3) . At the
leading end of the lower yarn guide pipe 25 is provided a
suction port 25b, and this suction port 25b is provided
with an unillustrated clamping section. Furthermore, the
lower yarn guide pipe 25 receives a negative pressure from
an unillustrated negative pressure source, with the result
that a suction flow for sucking the yarn Y is generated at
the suction port 25b.
------[005-7-]- — ¦----- ----- ------ ----- ¦ -......--
The upper yarn guide pipe 26 is supported to be
rotatable about an axis 26a above the splicer 14, and is
rotated by an upper pipe motor 121 (see FIG. 3). At the
leading end of the upper yarn guide pipe 26 is provided a
suction port 26b, and this suction port 26b is provided
with ¦ a clamping section 26c (see FIG. 2). Furthermore,
the upper yarn guide pipe 26 receives a negative pressure
from a negative pressure source 120 (see FIG. 2), and
hence a suction flow for sucking the yarn Y is generated
at the suction port 2 6b.
[0058]
The yarn storage section 9 is provided with the
accumulator 61 which stores the yarn Y before being wound
onto the package 30. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the
accumulator 61.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 2, the accumulator 61 includes
components such as a rotational storage drum 71, a
rotational storage drum motor 72, a yarn guiding member
73, a blowdown nozzle 74, and a yarn passage forming
member 75.
[C06C]
The rotational storage drum 71 is a drum rotatable
about an axis C, and the yarn Y is stored such that the
-.-..yarn- Y- is .wound .onto the rotational . storage. dr.um_ .7.1 as
described later. The respective end portions of the
rotational storage drum 71 are tapered portions 71a and
71b each of which narrows toward the other end portion,
and a part of the drum 71 between the tapered portion 71a
and the tapered portion 71b is a linear portion 71c having
a substantially constant diameter.
[0061]
In addition to the above, the upper right end portion
(yarn unwinding end portion) of the rotational storage
drum 71 in FIG. 2, strictly speaking, the upper right end
portion of the linear portion 71c is wrapped up by an
annular component 81 (resistance imparting means) made of
rubber, such as a rubber band or an O-ring. With this,
the annular component 81 rotates in sync with the rotation
of the rotational storage drum 71. Furthermore, as
described above, because the upper right end portion of
the rotational storage drum 71 is formed as the tapered
portion 71b, the annular component 81 does not drop off
from the rotational storage drum 71 rightward and upward.
[0062]
The rotational storage drum motor 72 is a position-
controllable motor such as a servo motor, a .DC brushless
motor, and a srepping motor, and rotates the rotational
storage drum 71 in both directions. The rotational
storage drum ""motor" 72 is provided with a rotary encoder -
153 that sends an angle signal indicating the rotation
angle of the rotational storage drum motor 72 to the
controller 109.
[0063]
The yarn guiding member 73 is a linear pipe (pipe-
shaped component) and is disposed so that the upper left
end portion shown in FIG. 2 opposes the tapered portion
71a. With this, the yarn Y having reached the yarn
guiding member 73 from the yarn supplying portion 5 side
is guided to the tapered portion 71a by the yarn guiding
member 73. As such, because in the present embodiment the
yarn Y is guided to the tapered portion 71a by the yarn
guiding member 73, it is possible to easily adjust on
which part of the rotational storage drum 71 the yarn Y is
wound.
[0064]
The blowdown nozzle 74 (yarn end capturing means) is
provided at the right side of the yarn guiding member 73
in. the figure, and includes a yarn path 146 which is
connected to the internal space of the yarn guiding member
73 and a blowdown path 147 which is connected to the yarn
path 146 and inclined with respect to the yarn path 146.
[00651
The blowdown path 147 is connected to a compressed
. ....air source_151 yia a connection pipe 149 and a connection_____
pipe 150, and a solenoid valve 152 electrically connected
to the controller 109 is provided between the connection
pipe 14 9 and the connection pipe 150.
[0066]
The yarn passage forming member 75 forms a yarn
passage 128 and is provided between the suction port 26b
of the upper yarn guide pipe 26 and the blowdown nozzle
74. The yarn passage 128- extends substantially vertically
upward from its lower end which is immediately above the
suction port 26b of the upper yarn guide pipe 26. The yarn
passage 128 bends toward the upper left of FIG. 2 at its
upper end portion, so that the upper end of the yarn
passage 128 opposes the lower right end portion of the
yarn path 146 of the blowdown nozzle 74.
[0067]
Because the yarn guiding member 73, the blowdown
nozzle 74, and the yarn passage forming member 75 are
structured as above, when the controller 109 opens the
solenoid valve 152 so that the compressed air from the
compressed air source 151 is ejected to the yarn path 146
after passing through the connection pipe 150, the
connection pipe 149, and the blowdown pazh 147 in this
order, an airflow flowing from the rotational storage drum
71 side to the upper yarn guide pipe 26 side is generated
in "the internal space of the yarn guiding member 73, the-----
yarn path 146, and the yarn passage 128. Thanks to this
airflow, the yarn end of the yarn Y wound onto the
rotational storage drum 71 is sucked and captured and is
drawn out to the yarn jointing section 8 side.
[0068]
In regard to the above, because the yarn guiding
member 73 is a pipe having an internal space which is open
only at the respective ends, the generation of the airflow
in t-he internal space of the yarn guiding member 73 by the
blowdown nozzle 74 significantly lowers the air pressure
in the internal space - of the yarn guiding member 73, as
the internal air is sucked. This makes it possible to
powerfully suck the yarn end of the yarn Y, and hence the
yarn end of the yarn Y is certainly captured.
[0069]
At the lower end of the yarn passage forming member
75 is provided a drawing sensor 154 capable of detecting
whether the yam end of the yarn Y wound by the
accumulator 61 has actually been drawn to the yarn,
jointing section 8 side. This drawing sensor 154 is
electrically connected to the controller 109, and
transmits a drawing detection signal to the controller 109
upon detecting that the yarn end of the yarn Y has been
drawn to the yarn jointing section 8 side.
. -J0X17 0] . ... .. ___ .. .......,
The accumulator 61 is further provided with a storage
upper limit sensor 155, a storage lower limit sensor 156,
and a storage lowest limit sensor 157 for detecting the
storage amount of the yarn Y. The storage upper limit
sensor 155, the storage lower limit sensor 156, and the
storage lowest limit sensor 157 are positioned to oppose
the upper end of the yarn Y wound on the outer
circumferences of the rotational storage drum 71 when the
storage amount of the yarn Y in the accumulator 61 reaches
300m, 200m, and 40m, respectively.
[0071]
This length, 300m, indicates the length longer than
the length of the spun yarn Y wound by the winding section
5 while later-described yarn jointing is repeated for, for
¦ example, three times {at least once) . With this, as
described later, a shortage of spun yarn Y is less likely
to occur in the accumulator 7 even if the winding of the
spun yarn Y by the winding section 5 is continued while
the yarn jointing is carried out.
[0072]
with the arrangement above, the storage upper limit
sensor 155, the storage lower limit sensor 156, and the
storage lowest limit sensor 157 transmit, to the
controller 109, a storage amount upper limit signal, a
storage amount lower limit signal,- and a storage -amount
lowest limit signal, respectively, when detecting that the
yarn Y opposes each sensor.
[0073]
It is noted that when 300 meters of the yarn Y is
wound onto the rotational storage drum 71, the upper right
end of the yarn Y opposing the storage upper limit sensor
155 is not at the upper right end portion of the
rotational storage drum 71 but at a predetermined
intermediate position on the rotational storage drum 71,
e.g., at a substantial center of the rotational storage
drum 71.
[0074]
Now, the structure of the controller 109 of the
winding unit 2 will be described. That is to say, the
controller 109 shown in FIG. 3 includes a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) which is a processor, a ROM (Read Only
Memory) .which stores a control program executed by the CPU
and data used by the control program, and a RAM (Random
Access Memory) which temporarily stores data at the time
of the execution of a program. As the control program
stored in the ROM is read and executed by the CPU, the
control program causes the hardware such as the CPU :o
function as a winding drum motor controller 160, a
rotational storage drum, motor controller 161, a drawn yarn
...length calculation .unit 163, and an upper pipe controller
164.
[0075]
The winding drum motor controller 160 controls the
rotation speed of the winding drum motor 116, and reduces
the winding speed Va with which the winding section 6
winds the yarn Y, when the storage amount detected by the
storage amount detector falls below a predetermined value.
[0076]
More specifically, when the storage amount lower
limit signal is no longer transmitted from the storage
lower limit sensor 156, the winding drum motor controller
160 gently reduces the winding speed Va to the extent that
yarn layers of the package 30 are not disturbed.
Furthermore, when the storage amount lowest limit signal
is no longer transmitted from the storage lowest limit
sensor 157, the winding drum motor controller 160 quickly
reduces the winding speed Va and eventually stops the
winding by the winding section 6.
[0077]
As such, the winding drum motor controller 160
reduces the winding speed Va when the storage amount of
the yarn Y in the accumulator 61 becomes low, and stops
the winding by the winding section 6 when the storage
amount of the yarn Y of the accumulator 61 becomes
extremely low: -ft shortage of the yarn Y in the - accumulator - ¦ —
61 is therefore prevented.
[0078]
The rotational storage drum motor controller 161 is
provided for controlling the rotational direction of the
rotational storage drum motor 72. When winding the yarn Y
onto the rotational storage drum 71, the controller 161
controls the rotational storage drum motor 72 so that the
rotational storage drum 71 rotates in one direction. When
the yarn end of the yarn Y on the rotational storage drum
71 is drawn out to the yarn jointing section 8 side, the
controller 161 controls the rotational storage drum motor
72 so that the rotational storage drum 71 rotates in the
direction opposite to the direction at the time of winding
the yarn. Furthermore, the rotational storage drum motor
controller 161 (rotation speed controlling means) controls
the rotation speed of the rotational storage drum motor
72, as described later.
[0079]
The drawn yarn length calculation unit 163 calculates
the drawn yarn length which indicates the length of the
yarn Y drawn out from the accumulator 61 to the yarn
jointing section 8 side, based on the rotation angle of
the rotational storage drum motor 72 detected by the
rotary encoder 153 since the drawing sensor 154 detects
. the yarn Y. . _ . .
[0080]
The upper pipe controller 164 compares the yarn
defect length obtained from a yarn defect detection signal
with the drawn yarn length calculated by the drawn yarn
length calculation unit 1S3, and rotates the upper yarn
guide pipe 26 while keeping the clamping state so as to
guide the yarn Y which is on the winding section 6 side to
the splicer 14 and places the yarn Y, when it is
determined that the drawn yarn length reaches the yarn
defect length.
[0081]
Now, the operation of the winding unit 2 will be
described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7.
[0082]
An operator of the automatic winder (winding unit 2)
unwinds the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin 21,
places this yarn Y on the yarn unwinding assisting device
12, the yarn detector 37, the first tensor 41, the yarn
clearer 15, the accumulator 61, the second tensor 42, and
the waxing device 17, and fixes the yarn Y to the winding
bobbin 22. The yarn path of" the yarn Y in the accumulator
61 is arranged as shown in FIG. 2. That is to say, the
operator causes the yarn Y to pass through the drawing
sensor 154, the yarn passage 128 of the yarn passage
forming member 75, the yarn path 14 6 of the blowdown
nozzle 74, and the internal path of the yarn guiding
member 73 in this order. After this operation, the
operator draws out the yarn Y from the opening of the yarn
guiding member 73 which opening opposes the rotational
storage drum 71, winds the yarn i onto the rotational
storage drum 71 for about 5 to 20 times, causes the yarn Y
to pass through the gap between the rotational storage
drum 71 and the annular component 81, and places the yarn
Y onto the yarn guide 82 which is above and to the right
of the rotational storage drum 71 and then places the yarn
Y onto the second tensor 42. Although the yarn shown in
FIG. 2 is thick and an interval between neighboring yarn
parts is long for convenience of explanation, The
rotational storage drum 71 in reality always stores the
yarn Y wound for about 600 times with very short
intervals.
[0083]
(Normal Winding)
When the winding unit 2 is powered on as shown in
FIG. 4 while the state above is maintained (S300), the
controller 109 (rotational storage drum motor controller
161) starts the rotation of the winding drum 24 so that
the winding speed Va of the yarn Y wound by the winding
section 6 is, for example, 1200m/min and starts the
riri.y.i ng__Q.f. the rotational storage drum motor 72 50_.th.st___
the winding speed Vb of the yarn Y wound onto the
rotational storage drum motor 71 is, for example,
1500m/min (S310).
[0084]
With this, the yarn Y wound onto the rotational
storage drum 71 is serially unwound by the winding section
6 from the upper right end portion side, and the yarn Y is
wound onto the package 30 while being traversed by the
winding drum 24.
[0085]
Because the yarn Y at this stage runs while being
sandwiched between the surface of the rotational storage
drum 71 and the annular component 81, broken filaments of
the yarn Y are laid down. Furthermore, because the yarn Y
is sandwiched between the surface of the rotational
storage drum 71 and the annular component 81 (i.e.,
resistance is imparted to the yarn Y), a tension is
imparted to the yarn Y. This tension prevents the yarn Y
unwound from the rotational storage drum 71 and running
toward the winding section 6 from being bulged (i.e.,
prevents ballooning from occurring). Furthermore, because
at this stage the annular component 81 wrapping up the
rotational storage drum 71 rotates together with the
rotational storage drum 71, the annular component 81 does
not""move with respect to the rotational storage drum 71,
with the result that the annular component 81 is not worn
away by the rotational storage drum 71.
[0086]
At the same time, the yarn Y on the yarn supplying
portion 5 side is, as shown in FIG. 2, guided to the
tapered portion 71a of the rotational storage drum 71 by
the yarn guiding member 73, and the guided yarn Y is wound
onto the tapered portion 71a as the rotational storage
drum 71 rotates in one direction about the axis C.
[0087]
Furthermore, parts of the yarn Y wound onto the
tapered portion 71a serially move upward and rightward
along the surface of the tapered portion 71a, in a
direction more or less in parallel to the axis C. As a
result, the yarn Y is stored in the rotational storage
drum 71.
[0088]
As such, according to the present embodiment, the
yarn Y guided to the tapered portion 71a is wound onto the
tapered portion 71a by the rotation of the rotational
storage drum 71 and slides rightward and upward along the
surface of the tapered portion 71a, and a previously wound
part of the yarn Y is pushed up by a newly wound part of
the yarn Y and therefore parts of the yarn Y are serially
—stored _in. the. ..rotational storage drum 71. Far... this ... _ ..
reason, the yarn guiding member 73 is merely required to
guide the yarn Y to a single point on the tapered portion
71a. It is therefore possible to relatively easily dispose
the yarn guiding member 73 irrespective of the position
and orientation of the rotational storage drum 71. For
this reason, the rotational storage drum 71 can be
disposed with relatively high design freedom in
consideration of an unused space in the winding unit 2.
[0089]
In addition to the above, provided that, being
different from the present embodiment, a fixed storage
drum is provided in place of the rotational storage drum
71 and a mechanism for winding the yarn Y onto the storage
drum is additionally provided, the mechanism is required
to have a part rotating around the storage drum to cause
the yarn Y to be wound onto the storage drum. In this
regard, it is unavoidable that the yarn path formed in
this part bends many times. As a result, because the yarn
Y passing through this path also bends many times, the
quality of the yarn Y may be deteriorated.
[0090]
In this regard, the present embodiment is arranged so
that the yarn Y is wound onto the rotational storage drum
71 by the rotation of the rotanional storage drum 71.
" Therefore the above-described - mechanism for winding --the
yarn Y is not provided and the path on which the yarn Y is
guided to the rotational storage drum 71 does not
frequently bend, as exemplified by the path constituted by
the yarn passage 128, the yarn path 146 of the blowdown
nozzle 74, and the internal space of the yarn guiding
member 73. It is therefore possible to prevent the quality
of the yarn Y from being deteriorated.
[0091]
In the normal winding in which the yarn Y is wound
onto the package 30 while the yarn Y is undisrupted from
the yarn supplying portion 5 to the winding section 6, the
controller 109 checks, as shown in FIG. 4, whether a yarn
breakage signal has been supplied (S320), whether a yarn
defect detection signal has been supplied (S330), whether
an empty bobbin signal has been supplied (S340), and
whether a storage amount upper limit signal has been
supplied (S350).
[0092]
When it is determined that the yarn breakage signal
has been supplied (S32C: YES), the yarn defect detection
signal has been supplied (S330: YES), or the empty bobbin
signal has been supplied (S340, the control flows shown in
FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are executed, respectively,
(S325, S335, S345), ar.d the process returns to the control
flow shown in. FIG. 4.
[0093]
Since the winding speed Vb is higher than the winding
speed Va for a while after the start of the winding, the
storage amount of the yarn Y in the accumulator 61
increases. When -the storage amount of the yarn Y reaches
300m, the storage upper limit sensor 155 sends a storage
amount upper limit signal to the controller 109. Upon
receiving the storage amount upper limit signal from the
storage upper limit sensor 155 as shown in FIG. 4 (S350:
YES), the controller 109 (rotational storage drum motor
controller 161) changes the rotation speed of the
rotational storage drum motor 72 so as to change the
winding speed Vb from 1500m/min to 1200m/min, for example
(S360). The winding speed Va becomes identical with the
winding speed Vb as a result, and the storage amount of
the accumulator 61 is kept constant.
[0094]
In this regard, because the storage upper limit
sensor 155 opposes an intermediate part of the rotational
storage drum 71 as described above, on the rotational
storage drum 71 the yarn Y is wound only onto a part on
the lower left end side (yarn winding side) of a part
opposing the storage upper limit sensor 155, and the yarn
Y is not wound onto a part on the upper right end side
(yarn unwinding side) of the opposing part. - ¦
[0095]
With this, the yarn Y unwound from the rotational
storage drum 71 and running toward the winding section 6
rotates and runs on a part of the surface of the
rotational storage drum 71 which part is on the upper
right end side of a part opposing the storage upper limit
sensor 155, with the result that broken filaments of the
yarn Y are laid down.
[0096]
(Yarn Breakage)
Now, the control flow shown in FIG. 5 at the time of
yarn breakage will be described. As yarn breakage occurs
and the controller 109 receives a yarn breakage signal
from the yarn clearer 15 (S320: YES), the controller 109
stops the rotation of the rotational storage drum 71 in
the first place (S410).
[0C97]
Subsequently, the controller 1C9 switches the
solenoid valve 152 to the open state so that an airflow
from the rotational storage drum 71 side to the upper yarn
guide pipe 26 side is generated in the internal space of
the yarn guiding member 73, the yarn passage 128, or the
like (S420).
[0098]
.....&.t -the same time., the controller 109 switches the
suction port 2 6b of the upper yarn guide pipe 2 6 from the
closed state to the open state, so as to generate an
airflow from the suction port 26b side to the negative
pressure source 120 side in the upper yarn guide pipe 26
(S420).
[0099]
Thereafter, the winding arm motor controller 161
controls the rotational storage drum motor 72 to drive at
a slow speed in the direction opposite to the winding of
the yarn Y by the rotational storage drum 71 (S430), and a
drawing detection signal from the drawing sensor 154 is
waited for (S440: NO).
[0100]
As a result, the yarn end of the yarn Y on the
rotational storage drum 71 is sucked into the opening of
the yarn guiding member 73 and drawn out to the suction
port 26b of the upper yarn guide pipe 26 via the yarn
passage 128 or the like. In this regard, since the
rotational storage drum motor 72 is a position-
controllable motor, a part of the rotational storage drum
71 where the yarn end of the yarn Y locates is precisely
moved to a position opposing the opening of the yarn
guiding member 73. It is therefore possible to certainly
suck the yarn end of the yarn Y from the opening of the
yaTT: guiding ^member—13-. - - ¦---- - - - - - -
[0101]
Furthermore, as described above, because the yarn
guiding member 73 guides the yarn Y to the tapered portion
71a, the yarn if guided from the yarn guiding member 73 to
the rotational storage drum 71 moves from the upper right
end side .which is the yarn unwinding end portion toward
the lower left end side which is the tapered portion 71a
side, with respect to the axial directions of the
rotational storage drum 71 (i.e., directions in parallel
to the axis C) .
[0102]
This arrangement prevents the yarn Y guided to the
tapered portion 71a from moving to the upper right end
side of the rotational storage drum 71 due to the inertia
generated by the movement from the yarn guiding member 73
to the rotational storage drum 71. For this reason, the
yarn end of the yarn Y is certainly placed at around the
tapered portion 71a of the rotational storage drum 71,
strictly speakir.g, above the lower left end portion of the
linear portion 71c. The yarn Y is therefore certainly
sucked from the opening of the yarn guiding member 73.
[0103]
The yarn guiding member 73 is arranged so that the
opening at the upper left end is positioned across the
. __tapered. portion 71a and the lower,, left end portion,.of the
linear portion 71c to allow the yarn guiding member 73 not
only to guide the yarn Y to the tapered portion 71a but
also to suck the yarn end of the yarn Y on the lower left
end portion of the linear portion 71c.
[0104]
As the yarn Y passes through the drawing sensor 154,
the drawing sensor 154 sends a drawing detection signal to
the controller 109. Receiving the drawing detection
signal from the drawing sensor 154 (S440: YES), the
controller 109 switches the suction port 26b from the open
state to the closed state while maintaining the low speed
driving of the rotational storage drum 71, clamps the yarn
Y by the clamping section 26c, and rotates the upper yarn
guide pipe 26 about the axis 26a downward. In this way,
the controller 109 guides the yarn Y drawn out from the
accumulator 61 to the splicer 14 of the yarn jointing
section 8 (S450).
[0105]
At this stage, the length of a newly drawn part of
the yarn Y drawn out from the accumulator 61 by the
rotation of the upper yarn guide pipe 26 is about 60cm. To
prevent the yam breakage of the yarn Y between the
clamping section 26c and the rotational storage drum 71 at
this time, the controller 109 synchronizes the rotation of
the upper yarn guide pipe 26 with the rotation of the - ¦—¦
rotational storage drum 71. After the completion of the
guide of the yarn Y to the splicer 14 by the upper yarn
guide pipe 26 (S450) , the controller 109 stops the
rotation of the rotational storage drum 71 (S460).
[0106]
In the meanwhile, the lower yarn guide pipe 25 sucks
and captures the yarn end of the yarn Y around the yarn
detector 37 and guides this yarn Y to the splicer 14, in
the same manner as the upper yarn guide pipe 2 6. ' When a
part of the yarn Y on the accumulator 61 side and a part
of the yarn Y on the yarn supplying portion 5 side are
placed on the splicer 14, the controller 109 causes the
splicer 14 to conduct the yarn jointing operation (S470).
[0107]
Thereafter, the controller 109 starts, as shown in
FIG, 2, to rotate the rotational storage drum 71 in one
direction (S480), and hence the normal winding state is
resumed (S490). The number of rotations of the rotational
storage drum 71 at this time is arranged so that the
winding speed Vb is 1500m/min (S480).
[0108]
(When Yarn Defect Is Detected)
¦Now, the control flow shown in FIG. 6 at the time of
the detection of a yarn defect will be described. It is
noted . r..hat_-some steps in this process are identical .with
those in the yarn breakage, and hence such identical steps
will not be detailed below.
[0109]
When a yarn defect is detected and the controller 109
receives a yarn defect detection signal and a yarn cutting
signal from the yarn clearer 15, the controller 109
conducts the steps S410 to S440 above in this order, in
the same manner as in the case of yarn breakage.
Receiving the drawing detection signal from the drawing
sensor 154 (S440: YES), the drawn yarn length calculation
unit 163 obtains the rotation angle of the rotational
storage drum 71 detected by the rotary encoder 153, which
indicates how many angles the rotational storage drum 71
rotates after the detection of the yarn Y by the drawing
sensor 154 (S570), and the drawn yarn length is calculated
based on this rotation angle (S580) .
[0110]
The upper pipe controller 164 then compares the
length of the yarn defect obtained from the yarn defect
detection signal with the drawn yarn length calculated by
the drawn yarn length calculation unit 163 (S590) . The
upper pipe controller 164 then waits for the drawn yarn
length tc reach the yarn defect length (S590: NO) . When
reaching the yarn defect length (S590: YES), the steps
S450 to 3480 are conducted in this order in the same
manner as in the case of yarn breakage, with the result
that the yarn jointing is conducted and the normal winding
operation is resumed.
[0111]
(When Bobbin Is Changed)
Now, the following will describe the operation
indicated by the control flow shown in FIG. 1, which is
performed when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 becomes empty.
It is noted that some steps in this operation are
identical with those in the case of yarn breakage, and
such identical steps will not be detailed below.
[0112]
When the yarn supplying bobbin 21 becomes empty and
the controller 109 receives an empty bobbin signal from
the yarn detector 37 (S340: YES), the currently attached
yarn supplying bobbin 21 is discharged and a new yarn
supplying bobbin 21 is attached to the yarn supplying
bobbin supporter 60, and the yarn Y of this yarn supplying
bobbin 21 is guided so that the lower yarn guide pipe 25
is able to capture and suck the yarn Y (S710) .
Thereafter, in the same manner as in the case of yarn
breakage, the yarn jointing is conducted and the normal
winding operation is resumed by the steps S410 to S480.
[0113]
.. Because . of ...the . steps above conducted in the winding..
unit 2, the winding of the yarn Y onto the package P in
the winding section 5 is continued at least until the yarn
jointing operation is conducted once, as the spun yarn Y
stored in the yarn storage drum 27 is unwound during the
yarn jointing in the yarn jointing section 6. To put it
differently, it is possible to conduct the yarn jointing
by the yarn jointing section 6 without interrupting the
winding of the yarn Y onto the package P in the winding
section 5.
[0114]
In addition to the above, because the yarn Y is drawn
out to the yarn jointing section 8 side by the rotation of
the rotational storage drum 271 in the direction opposite
to the direction at the time of winding the yarn Y, the
yarn Y is certainly drawn out to the yarn jointing section
8.
[0115]
In addition to the above, because the winding by the
winding section 5 and the drawing of the yarn to the yarn
jointing section 8 side by rotating the rotational storage
drum 271 in the direction opposite to the direction at the
time of winding the yarn Y are simultaneously dene, the
winding of the yarn Y and the yarn jointing are
simultaneously done.
¦~ [0116]
In addition to the above, in the yarn winding unit 2
having the above-described structure, because the
transmission of the tension of the yarn Y is blocked by
providing the yarn storage section 9 between the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 and the winding section 6, it is
possible to prevent a tension change due to the traversal
of the winding section 6 from being transferred to the
part of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin
21. Furthermore, since the yarn unwinding from the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 is stably performed because the
unwinding assist unit 12 is attached to the yarn supplying
bobbin 21, it is possible to prevent yarn breakage and to
increase the speed of unwinding from the yarn supplying
bobbin 21, The efficiency in the unwinding from the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 is therefore improved.
[0117]
Various modifications of the present embodiment will
now be described. It is noted that the same components as
in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference
numerals as in the embodiment, respectively, and the
description thereof will be omitted-
[0113]
According to a modification, as shown in FIG. 8, the
yarn passage forming member 75 (yarn passage 128) is
shorter in height than the member 75 of the embodiment
above. Furthermore, the rotational storage drum 71, the
rotational storage drum motor 72, the yarn guiding member
73, and the blowdown nozzle 74 are provided at positions
lower than those in the embodiment above and are
significantly distanced leftward in the figure from the
yarn passage forming member 75, as compared to the
embodiment above. Furthermore, the yarn passage forming
member 7 6 is attached to the lower right end portion of
the blowdown nozzle 74, and the yarn, path 146 of the
blowdown nozzle 74 is connected to the yarn passage 128
via the yarn passage 129 formed inside the yarn passage
forming member 76.
[0119]
In this case, because the components such as the
rotational storage drum 71 are provided at positions lower
than those in the embodiment above, the winding unit 2 is
provided at more or less the same height as the winding
unit having no accumuiatcr 61.
[0120]
In addition to the above, while in the modification
the positions of the components such as the rotational
storage drum 71 are significantly different from those in
the embodiment above, the yarn Y is guided tc the tapered
portion 71a in the same manner as the embodiment above,
when only the—height of the yarn passage forming -member 7-5-- - -¦-
(yarn passage 128) is changed and the yarn passage forming
member 7 6 is attached to the lower right end portion of
the blowdown nozzle 74 to connect the yarn path 146 with
the yarn passage 128 via the yarn passage 129. Also for
this reason, the rotational storage drum 71 can be
. disposed with relatively high design freedom in
consideration of an unused space in the winding unit 2.
[0121]
In addition to the above, while in the embodiment
above the yarn guiding member 73 is a pipe-shaped
component such as a pipe and the blowdown nozzle 74
generates an airflow from the rotational storage drum 71
side to the upper yarn guide pipe 2 6 side in the internal
space of the yarn guiding member 73 so as to suck and
capture the yarn end of the yarn Y of the rotational
storage drum 71, the present invention is not limited to
this arrangement. For example, a mechanism capable of
capturing the yarn end of the yarn Y stored in the
rotational storage drum 71 is provided instead of the
blowdown nozzle 74. An example of such a mechanism is a
mechanism that sucks the yarn end of the yarn Y on the
rotational storage drum 71 and carries the sucked yarn Y
to the suction port 2 6b of the upper yarn guide pipe 26.
In the case above, furthermore, the yarn guiding member 7 3
... is .not .necessarily pipe-shaped .as., long as the member is
able to guide the yarn Y to the tapered portion 71a.
[0122]
In addition to the above, while in the embodiment
above the annular component 81 made of rubber wraps up, as
resistance imparting means, the upper right end portion of
the rotational storage drum 71, the annular component 81
may be made of a material other than rubber, e.g., a
synthetic resin material.
[0123]
Furthermore, the resistance imparting means may be
not an annular component wrapping up of the rotational
storage drum 71 but a component provided outside the
rotational storage drum 71, on condition that the yarn Y
is sandwiched between the means and the surface of the
rotational storage drum 71. For preventing the resistance
imparting means from being worn out by the rotational
storage drum 71, the resistance imparting means preferably
rotates together with the rotational storage drum 71.
However, the resistance imparting means may not rotate
together with the rotational storage drum 71, i.e., the
means may be fixed to a component outside the ro-ational
storage drum 71, on condition that the resistance
imparting means is made of a material with high wearing
resistance. Alternatively, the resistance imparting means
may be a' metal ring which 'is provided with a predetermined
distance from the rotational storage drum 71.
[0124]
Alternatively, the resistance imparting means, which
is arranged to impart resistance to the yarn Y such that
the resistance imparting means and the surface of the
rotational storage drum 71 sandwich the yarn Y, may not be
provided when sufficient resistance is imparted to the
yarn Y because the yarn Y runs while contacting the upper
right end portion of the rotational storage drum 71 or
when a mechanism for imparting resistance to the yarn Y is
additionally provided between the rotational storage' drum
71 and the winding section 6.
[0125]
In addition to the above, while in the embodiment
above the storage upper limit sensor 155 opposes an
intermediate part of the rotational storage drum 71 and
the yarn Y is wound only onto a part on the lower left end
side of that intermediate part, the storage upper limit
sensor 155 may be provided to oppose the upper right end
portion of the rotational storage drum 71 and the yarn Y
may be wound onto the almost entirety of the rotational
storage drum 71. In this case, while the above-described
effect of laying down the broken filaments of the yarn Y
is less prominent, an amount of the yarn Y stored in the
rotational storage drum 71 is increased.
[0126]
In addition to the above, while in the embodiment
above the respective end portions of the rotational
storage drum 71 are formed as tapered portions 71a and 71b
each narrowing toward the other end portion, the upper
right end portion shown in FIG. 2 may be more or less
constant in diameter.
[0127]
In addition to the above, while in the embodiment
above a part of the rotational storage drum motor 72
protrudes from the rotational storage drum 71, the
entirety of the rotational storage drum motor 72 may be
contained in the rotational storage drum 71. The design
freedom of the rotational storage drum 71 is further
increased in this case, because the rotational storage
drum motor 72 does not protrude from the rotational
storage drum 71.
[0128]
In addition to the above, the embodiment above is
arranged so that the yarn Y on the downstream side is
fully wound onto the rotational storage drum 71 when yarn
breakage occurs, when a yarn defecr is detected, or when
bobbin change is conducted. Alternatively, when yarn
breakage occurs, when a yarn defect is detected, or when
bobbin change is conducted, the occurrence of such an
incident may be detected in advance and the rotation of
the rotational storage drum 71 may be stopped before the
yarn Y on the downstream is fully wound onto the
rotational storage drum 71. For example, when a yarn
defect is detected, a cutter attached to the yarn clearer
15 cuts the yarn Y and at the same time as the driving of
the rotational storage drum 71 is stopped. For the bobbin
change, a sensor for detecting the remaining yarn amount
on the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is attached to the yarn
unwinding assisting device 12 to monitor the remaining
yarn amount on the yarn supplying bobbin 21. With this,
the occurrence of the empty state of the yarn supplying
bobbin 21 is detected in advance and the driving of the
rotational storage drum 71 is stopped before the spun yarn
Y on the downstream side is fully wound onto the
rotational storage drum 71.
[0129]
As such, because the driving of the rotational
storage drum 71 is stopped before the yarn Y is fully
wound onto the rotational storage drum 71, the yarn end of
the yarn Y is stopped while the yarn Y hangs down or. the
upstream of the blowdown nozzle 74 of the accumulator 61
or the yarn passage forming member 75.
[0130]
Since this allows the upper yarn guide pipe 26 to
capture the yarn end hanging down from the accumulator 61,
the step of drawing out the yarn Y by the yarn end drawing
mechanism is eliminated and hence the yarn jointing
becomes more efficient. According to this arrangement,
since the drawing sensor 154 is provided, it is possible
to check whether the yarn end of the yarn Y stored in the
accumulator 61 stops in the state of being receivable by
the upper yarn guide pipe 26, i.e., whether the yarn end
certainly stops in the state of hanging down on the
upstream of the accumulator 61. This makes it possible to
shorten the time required for drawing out the yarn end of
the yarn Y from the yarn storage section to the yarn
jointing section side.
[0131]
As such, the drawing mechanism of the present
invention is capable of not only drawing out the yarn Y
having completely been enclosed inside the accumulator 61
but also drawing out the yarn Y stopping at the position
below the accumulator 61 to the yarn jointing section 8
side. Furthermore, the rotation speeds described in the
present embodiment are mere examples, and therefore the
rotation speeds may be set differently or may be indicated
by other units of velocity.
Reference Signs List
[0132]
2 WINDING UNIT
5 YARN SUPPLYING PORTION
6 WINDING SECTION
9 YARN STORAGE SECTION
21 YARN SUPPLYING BOBBIN
30 PACKAGE
71 ROTATIONAL STORAGE DRUM
71a TAPERED PORTION
72 ROTATIONAL STORAGE DRUM MOTOR
7 3 YARN GUIDING MEMBER
7 4 YARN SUCKING MECHANISM
81 ANNULAR COMPONENT
CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A yarn winder comprising:
a yarn supplying portion for unwinding a spun yarn
from a yarn supplying bobbin;
a yarn winding section for winding the spun yarn to
form a package;
a yarn storage section which is provided berween the
yarn supplying portion and the yarn winding section to
store the spun yarn; and
a yarn jointing section for performing a yarn
jointing operation of jointing a yarn end of the spun yarn
on the yarn supplying portion side with a yarn end of the
spun yarn on the yarn storage section side,
the yarn storage section including:
a rotational storage drum that rotates for winding
and storing the spun yarn unwound from the yarn supplying
bobbin; and
a motor for rotating the rotational storage drum in
both directions.
[Claim 2]
The yarn winder according to claim 1, further
comprising:
a controller for controlling a winding operation of
the winding section and driving of the motor,
the controller having a control mode, with which, in a
normal winding operation of unwinding the spun yarn from
the yarn supplying bobbin and forming a package, the
winding operation by the yarn winding section and a
storing operation of storing the yarn by rotating the
rotational storage drum in a winding direction by the
motor are executed, and when yarn jointing is carried out
by the yarn jointing section, a drawing operation of
rotating the rotational storage drum in a direction
opposite to the winding direction by the motor to draw out
the spun yarn to the yarn jointing section side is
executed.
[Claim 3]
The yarn winder according to claim 2, wherein,
in the control mode, the controller simultaneously
executes the winding operation by the yarn winding section
and the drawing operation of drawing the spun yarn to the
yarn jointing section side by rotating the rotational
storage drum in the direction opposite to the winding
direction by the motor, when the yarn jointing section
carries out the yarn jointing.
[Claim 4]
The yarn winder according to any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein,
the rotational storage drum is further provided with
a guide member for guiding the spun yarn unwound from the
yarn supplying portion.
[Claim 5]
The yarn winder according to claim 4, wherein,
the rotational storage drum has a tapered portion at
a part where the spun yarn is guided by the guide member,
the tapered portion narrowing in diameter in a direction
in which the spun yarn moves to be stored, and
the guide member guides the spun yarn to the tapered
portion so as to store the spun yarn in such a way that
parts of the spun yarn are aligned on the surface of the
rotational storage drum in the order in which the parts
are wound on the surface.
[Claim 6]
The yarn winder according to claim 5, further
comprising:
yarn end capturing means for capturing a yarn end of
the spun yarn on the rotational storage drum when the yarn
storage section performs the yarn jointing operation.
[Claim 7]
The yarn winder according to claim 6, wherein,
the guide member is a pipe-shaped member, and
the yarn end capturing means generates, in an
internal space of the guide member, an airflow flowing
from the rotational storage drum side to the yarn
supplying portion side.
[Claim 8]
The yarn winder according to any one of claims 5 to
7, wherein,
the yarn storage section further includes:
storage amount detecting means for detecting an
amount of the stored spun yarn; and
rotation speed controlling means for controlling
rotation speed of the motor, and
the rotation speed controlling means controls the
rotation speed of the motor so that the spun yarn is wound
only onto a storage area of the rotational storage drum
which area is on the tapered portion side of an
intermediate position of the rotational storage drum, in
accordance with the amount of the spun yarn detected by
the storage amount detecting means.
[Claim 9]
The yarn winder according to any one of claims 1 to
8, wherein,
the yarn storage section further includes:
resistance imparting means for imparting resistance
to the spun yarn such that the spun yarn is sandwiched
between the resistance imparting means and a surface of
the rotational storage drum which surface is at an end
portion from which the spun yarn is unwound by the yarn
winding section.
[Claim 10]
The yarn winder according to claim 9, wherein,
the resistance imparting means rotates together with
the rotational storage drum.
[Claim 11]
The yarn winder according to claim 10, wherein,
the resistance imparting means is a rubber-made
annular component attached to a yarn unwinding end portion
of the rotational storage drum.
[Claim 12]
The yarn winder according to any one of claims 2 to
11, wherein,
the yarn storage section is arranged to be able to
store, when the control mode is executed, the spun yarn
for an amount required for continuing the winding
operation by the yarn winding section until the yarn
jointing is performed at least once by the yarn jointing
section.
[Claim 13]
The yarn winder according to any one of claims 1 to
12, wherein,
the yarn supplying portion is provided with a yarn
unwinding assisting device which assists unwinding of the
spun yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin by lowering a
regulator which covers a core of the yarn supplying bobbin
in sync with the unwinding of the spun yarn from the yarn
supplying bobbin.

ABSTRACT

A yarn is continuously wound by a yarn winder without interruption. When a yarn guiding member 73 guides a yarn Y to a tapered portion 71a which is the lower left end portion of a rotational storage drum 71, the yarn Y is
wound onto the tapered portion 71a as the rotational storage drum 71 rotates and moves rightward and upward along the surface of the tapered portion 71a, with the result that the yarn Y is stored in the rotational storage
drum 71. The yarn Y unwound from the rotational storage drum 71 passes through a gap between a rubber-made annular component 81 wrapping up the rotational storage drum 71 and the surface of the rotational storage drum 71 and runs
toward a winding section 6. Furthermore, an airflow flowing from the rotational storage drum 71 side to the upper yarn guide pipe 26 side is generated by a blowdown nozzle 74 in the yarn guiding member 73 and the rotational
storage drum 71 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction at the time of winding the yarn, so that the yarn end of the yarn Y on the rotational storage drum 71 is sucked and drawn out to the upper yarn guide pipe 26.